Can we sit still for a day or so?

February 7-8th: Now that the weather has finally warmed up enough for us to wear short sleeves and sandals and not use the heater at night, and after 5400 miles, it's time to take a day off. So we pick a spot south of Tampa, called Pine Island, just off Fort Myers. We find a KOA campsite which looks in the book as if it is rural and quiet, book ahead for two nights and head south. We start out on the coast road, but realize that the Saturday traffic buzzing around all the shopping centers is going to prevent us making good time. So we head for the I75 and soon are approaching Tampa and St Petersburg. There are two options - stick to the 75 and bypass them totally, or take the I275 which runs through Tampa, across Old Tampa Bay (a 7 mile bridge), through St Petersburg and across the southern end of Tampa Bay where it meets the sea (a 15 mile bridge), rejoining the I75. We're suckers for long bridges, so the 275 was the choice. And truly worth it. The bridge after St Petersburg is wonderfully elegant.

Rejoining the I75, we continue on to North Fort Myers where we leave the highway and head west out to Pine Island. The island is just how we like Florida - very slow pace, small cottages and stores painted in bright pastels, lots of flags and pots and flowers and produce stands and fish shops and people walking along the roads or sitting in groups in front of homes, boats, stores, cafes, enjoying the warmth and the sun.

How about this for a selection of new and different seafood?

Time for coffee in the sun.

The roads are quiet, with some very interesting traffic! Yes, this wonderful original definitely had a dickie seat at the back!

We find our campsite, which is (thank heavens) as advertised - very rural, although quite sizable. Our site is on the outside edge, so we can back up to a wonderful wilderness of grasslands, vine-covered red-flowered trees and palm trees. We sit outside and enjoy the warmth of the dying day and watch the stars and almost-full moon. People walk and bicycle a lot around this campsite, so we are greeted frequently by passers-by and asked about our long trip from Washington.

Next day is Sunday - sounds like a great excuse for having a long lie-in, coffee in the sun, and even, believe it or not, digging out the baby loom and starting a new weaving project!

By the end of the day, we're both suffering from a little too much sun, but relaxed and rested and ready for more southing tomorrow - time to go see those alligators.

By now, we know that we will not be seeing the shuttle launch, since it has been delayed again and we need to get back to Bellingham by March 1. Too sad. But we are looking forward to meeting up with Phyllis and Dennis plus dogs on Wednesday at Cape Canaveral and re-planning our time together.