Sanibel Island, Florida

We're spending the next 2 nights at Periwinkle RV Park on beautiful Sanibel Island. It was 80F today and we're expecting the same again tomorrow. We managed to ride the half-mile to the beach soon after arriving and spent a good few hours there until sunset. The beach was long and sandy and full of lazing Sunday afternoon vacationers. Us included. Denise did a long beach walk while Doug sat with the girls as they built alligators out of sand. Last night we stopped in at Collier-Seminole State Park and were surprised to see that it was completely full upon our arrival. Fortunately we had made a booking. It was fun to see a colorful and eclectic tent and RV city packed with families and bikes. We arrived there late in the afternoon because we'd taken time to stop at Shark Valley on the north end of Everglades National Park to enjoy a very close-to-nature bike ride along the path that is festooned with all sizes of alligators. Doug did a longer ride to the viewing tower as the girls turned their bikes around part way to head back. The girls lucked out on their return ride by seeing a clutch of 10-15 small 'gators with their mother. It was very cool to be so close to such large alligators in their natural habitat! The mosquitoes seemed to have retreated a little since the Flamingo Campground onslaught. We're all much relieved and planning to eat outside again this evening. It is homemade Sushi night.