Courtesy Parking and Bike Night.....

I never seem to sleep well the night before "moving day".  One would think after a year of doing this I would be sleeping like a baby, but that's just my nature.  I'm always thinking about how to best exit the current spot we are parked in....each spot is, of course, unique, so I'm always anticipating a potential problem.  Additionally I'm thinking of all the things I must do before I turn over the DD.  Of course, as it always turns out, exiting most sites is very easy, and all of the tasks get done quickly.....although it seems I almost always forget to turn off the pilot light on the water heater.  I know, I know......but I really don't like making lists anymore......just as much as I hate making reservations.  Besides I do have a voice activated reminder program.....I just say out loud....."Elaine, have I forgotten anything?" and she tells me if I have.....it works great.  I just wish I could get a good night's sleep the night before "moving day".  That's what I'm going to work on this year.......letting tomorrow take care of itself.

After I got everything done, except unplugging the electrical, TLE and I took the T'Bird over to a local car wash.  This is the first time she has been through a car wash in a long, long, long time.  After that was accomplished we ran by our friend's "home" and said our "until next times" and then headed back to the coach to unplug, and load the 'Bird for our 142 mile trip south to Fort Myers.  Backing out of our pull in spot was very easy, and it took just a few minutes to load the car.  We headed south on 301 to I-4, which took us to I-75 southbound.  I really like Florida roads......smooth and flat!

We stopped to "pay rent" at a CITGO in Brandenton.....I only put in $300...hoping to find a better price down the line....$300 bought us 75 gallons at $3.99/gallon....we've got about 2/3 of a tank now, and that will be good for a few weeks based on our travel plan.  So far we have only paid $500 in diesel rent since October 3rd!

From Brandenton it was another hour to Fort Myers.....we arrived just after 3 pm.   Elaine's cousin, Gail, and her husband Jimmy have a very nice home with a BIG, LOOONG driveway, which we were able to pull into easily, and for once I will not be thinking about backing out....it will be a cinch!  We're just a few steps from their screened in pool.  They live on a golf course, and are just a block from a river.

Around 7 pm we headed over to Cape Coral to the local "Bike Night" festivities......local motorcycle owners show up and have a big block party.  There were stages at each end of the street with bands playing, and a lot of vendors.  TLE and I each bought a cigar to smoke while we walked.  There were an estimated 800 bikes there last night....certainly not Sturgis, or Daytona Bike Week, but a pretty good size crowd.

Some cool bikes lit up with LED's....and there is one of the aforementioned cigars

A great first night in Fort Myers....tomorrow a very special adventure awaits us.......

Thanks for stopping by!