Shorts, pelicans, Edison & Ford

The first things to notice when you come from the cold country are people walking around in shorts and sleeveless tops in February. Then there is walking out of the grocery store finding it warmer rather than colder out there. And of course there are the palm trees, the sun the birds...

We had quite the busy day. Early this morning we drove back to the airport to get our rental car and then drove north to meet Dorothy's cousin and her husband for lunch on the deck of Pop's cafe overlooking the canal. They led us around Venice and to Casey Key along the beach. We reserved a room there, on the beach, for Friday and Saturday night as that will put me closer to the town where I will be meeting my "pen pal" friends for lunch on Saturday, and Dorothy will have a delightful place to relax and enjoy the sun and sand.

 We said our goodbyes and drove back to Fort Meyers for a visit to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Though there was quite a difference in there ages, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford became good friends and had adjoining properties where their families would vacation together, exploring southwest Florida.
We learned a lot here from our guide. Some facts I had known and forgotten - like that palm trees are not actually trees, they are a kind of a cross between grass and trees. On the premises is the largest Banyon tree in the continental U.S.. When the first tree was planted it was four feet tall and two inches in diameter --  now it takes over about an acre, and it has had to be cut back several times. The Banyon is in the family of the Ficus and Rubber trees.

 It was nice to hold the hand of Thomas.

 And we enjoyed seeing Henry's Model T and Model A. Wish I had read the information board as I do not know what the differences of these models are, except one looks a bit more plush -- and bigger.

 We drove around a lot today and saw a lot today, and now we are both tired. Time for bed to rest up for yet more adventures tomorrow.