In Fort Myers now with Jennifer, Mead, Janet, and Patty.  Yesterday, we went to the local landfill (!) with Mead to see some Sand Hill Cranes building a nest.  Saw an alligator there, too, and many, many other birds.  Then we went to Sanibel Island, where Jennifer and I rode the "Sanibel Thriller," a large speedboat that circumvents Sanibel and Captiva Islands, often bringing playing dolphins in its wake.  Some pictures and some film for you, taken by Jennifer:

Having trouble loading the video of the following leaping dolphins.  Once I figure it out, it will go up.

Off today to explore the north end of Pine Island.  It's about 13 miles from where I'm camping.  Got up there to find very little.  One tiny beach bordered by private property.  So, the pcitures I took are from there.  Went back through some of the off -the-main-road roads.  Some nice subdivisions.  Lot of undeveloped land here.  I was surprised by this.  The scooter ride up there was a little harrowing. The crown in the road needed to be attended to virtually all of the time, since my extra wheels constantly sought contact with the road.  This pretty much meant that I had to ride the middle of the road.  At one point, the whole road was sloped to the east, making me feel I was going to slide off to the right on the way up, off to the left on the way back.  The worst thing, though, was that people kept leaning on their horns, even though I was positively scrupulous about slowing down and getting way over to the right whenever passing was allowed.  Needless to say, the ride made me nervous.  It was one of  the very few times I really wished I had a big ole Harley.

All that said, this is a really nice island, at least according to my tastes.  Not dense with people; and I think if I had more time I might be able to find some nice little places near the water off the beaten (beating?) path.

BIG day tomorrow -- Jennifer flies in and we meet up with Janet, Mead, and Patty in Fort Myers!!  I have been on the road a very long time now, and simply can't wait to see Jen!!!  This final stint (except for getting back north) will close my trip; and though I have had a good time and met some lovely people along the way, I will be happy to get home.

Here are the few pictures I got today:

Got in here at Pine Island yesterday afternoon after a frustrating drive through the VERY busy Naples.  Wanted to see the gardens and zoo there; but the only lot for buses and RVs was full.  Sorry to have missed it.  But was glad to get back on the highway heading north.  Since living in rural KY, my tolerance for congestion seems to have thinned considerably ...

So, after a long, but successful (with good help) attempt to back into my assigned site at the campground (no pull thrus here), I got settled in last evening.  The campground wifi won't be working until Tuesday; but my trusty little Virgin Mobile mifi device served very well, and let me watch some stuff I'd missed on PBS.

Today, part of the the plan was to see if my new "Dish Anywhere" service would let me watch the UK women's basketball game with LSU.  A little glitch here and there, but it actually worked and I was just delighted to be able to watch the game.  Happily, our girls won, after some pretty distressing losses....

Then I took off to explore Pine Island.  It's nothing like Marco Island, except there are many canals here as well.  The houses are much less grand than on Marco; but I like it -- a WHOLE lot less crowded -- indeed, not crowded at all -- and seems to mosey at an "Island Pace."  I stopped for some pictures at a place called "Woody's Waterside," where I was temporarily adopted by some bikers -- Doug, Joan, Steve, and Wendy.  There's a picture below -- actually, it's like 1 second film clip.

Then I went to the two southern points of the island.  The first was ok, a  little beach; the second was really terrific.  There were 4 or 5 dophins that started playing around just after I got there.  By the time I retrieved my phone, I got a (bad) picture or two and a bit of film.  Sorry about the film not being edited.  I have not figured out how to do this....

Went then to a really neat potter's studio and shop -- "The Potter's Workshop and Gallery."  The artist is Ingeborg.  We chatted a bit.  Lovely, lovely stuff
( www.the pottersworkshop.com ).  I hope to come back
with Jennifer and friends when we're settled in Ft. Myers after Tuesday.

Tomorrow, I plan to go to the north end of Pine Island.  Much further from the campground.  If no one hears from me in 48 hours, do send out a posse.

Pictures for you follow.

Sunshine!!  Finally got to do some exploring on the scooter today.  My campground is about 9 miles from Marco Island itself, but it was a nice drive in.  It's very crowded on the Island, and very upscale.  It's certainly very different from Sugarloaf Key, which isn't grand at all.  Sugarloaf is pretty rural, and seems to house mostly working class people.  But much of what I saw of Marco Island is certainly grand.  The canals are just beautiful.  And most of what I saw is thoroughly manicured.  Many enormous hotels along the beach.  As far as I could tell, there is just one public beach. But therre are marinas galore and many, many beautiful boats.  Here are some pictures for you:

Well, I was up early and all set to take a bunch of pictures around Marco Island for you.  But it was pouring overnight and hasn't given up as of nearly 2 pm.  So, I am waiting out the downpour and, now no longer believing that things will improve today, hopeful that tomorrow will be better, which the forecast does say it will be.  I have only today and tomorrow in this location, so this is a very frustrating setback for me.  Am positivewly dying to get out and about on the scooter ....

On the other hand, I am using the dark and dreary time off to watch creepy films on Netflix.  They have made me more than ready for a nap -- with my door safely locked.

Sorry for no pics; more as I can.

Miami / Kendall Florida

Have been in Miami / Kendall Fl the past two days.  Met up with various faculty and led a graduate seminar on marriage equality, thanks to the kind invitation of my dear colleague in feminist philosophy, Professor Laurie Shrage of the Philosophy Department there. Great students!

A HUMONGOUS campus!!  I'd been there back in 1996 to give a talk; but this time was treated to a very nice tour of the campus by old friend Professor Bruce Hauptli, also of the Philosophy Department. Impressive place; very fine people.  Here are some pictures.

Laurie Shrage

Bruce Hauptli

The atrium of the building housing Philosophy is hung with these incredible air plants.  It's all pretty new, so the plants haven't yet grown much.  It will be even more amazing when they do.

Left Miami/Kendall this am and had a wonderful drive through the Everglades.  No pics, since it rained much of the way.  Am now on Marco Island, outside Naples, in a very crowded but very friendly KOA campground.  Plan for tomorrow is to scooter around the island and see what I can see.  

Hope you are all staying warm . . .

Sugarloaf Key

Have been tooling around Sugarloaf Key today.  Great fun!  Here are some brown pelicans for you.