ORTONA COE PARK, NOV. 3-14, 2010

 

On our way south, we stopped at The Villages and had dinner with Dave and Gay.  Their new home is lovely and we continue to be amazed at all there is to do in this adult community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived at Ortona Corp of Engineers Park and spent a restful and relaxing time there.  This park is located right on the Caloosahatchee River and we always enjoy watching the boats moving through the locks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hank had spent time this summer building a bird house to replace the one behind our campsite here.  Imagine our surprise when we saw that the old structure had already been replaced.  We left Hank’s project with the rangers and they promised to install it somewhere else in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are always amazed and delighted by the variety of wildlife and birds we see at Ortona.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most exciting of all, we had 2 separate sightings of a female Florida panther.  We have seen panther crossing signs for years here and are thrilled to have finally seen one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our busy fall, this was the perfect beginning to our winter in the south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARK’S MOVING DAY, OCT. 27, 2010

 

Today we moved my brother, Mark, into Gilbert Residence.  Our family is so pleased to have found this wonderful place and to know that Mark is going to be safe, well-fed, busy and happy in his new home.  Many thanks to Hank, Ben, Mike and Chris for all their help in making this all possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, OCT. 11-14, 2010

 

We left Shenandoah National Park—having spent one more day there to walk part of the Appalachian Trail—and headed to the Maryland seashore and Assateague Island National Seashore.  You may have heard of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  That is located at the Virginia end of this same barrier island.  This island is known for the beautiful beaches, amazing birding and the wild horses that roam freely all over the island. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The island belongs to the horses and we are merely guests.  You may notice how bloated their bellies are and this is because of the brackish water they drink.  You are warned not to leave any food outside and you can see why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends from SSK, Glen and Kathie, were campground hosts on our circle, and have been coming to this special place for many years.  They gave us lots of history and hints about the area.  We went into Ocean City for lunch and returned to find the horses had gotten into a bag of dog food they had left outside their camper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen and Kathie urged us to visit the near-by town of Berlin.  This delightful town is where they filmed the movie Runaway Bride.  We especially enjoyed the Atlantic Hotel where many of the scenes were filmed.  The whole city was celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with pink ribbons posted all over town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also shared a dinner with Penny and Dick, more friends from the Keys.  We are so happy to have seen and explored some of this beautiful area.