Day 6 Monday Oct 17, 2016 Sarasota to Edison/Ford estates to Naples, Florida

A back road route.... well, much lighter traffic roads, out of Sarasota after a couple of miles in heavy traffic... then 90 miles of cruisin'  Nice smooth pavement, 60 mph and few small towns.  We made it to Fort Myers by 11am.

Along the way Sally noticed the citrus groves with oranges and grapefruit coming on for the season.

Fort Myers is a beautiful city thanks to the support of many in the wake of the Edison and Ford gifts of property and gardens.  The palms on the main street are stunning. 

First Ave Fort Myers

 

Anchoring the Edison and Ford estates is a popular seafood eatery and bar called Pinchers.  They were expecting us and made room on their deck. Since we arrived a bit before the rest of the gang we got dibs on the corner table.  Best seats in the house.

Andy Leo insisted in taking this photo with my camera because, he says, I am in so few pictures.  So there I am, in the corner.

Looking up the deck the whole group takes up several tables.

But the view off the deck to the water side is really the personification of today's Florida.

 

Then off to the Edison and Ford Museum and estates.  Here Tom himself welcomes everyone and invites photos.  Again, Andy grabbed my camera and took this:

Our tour guide spent and hour with us showing us the grounds and explaining the history of this winter home estate for Tom Edison and later Henry Ford joined him with another home next door.

The photo below is of Mr. Edisons study, a separate small building he constructed to have a place to work after his laboratory was moved to Greenfield Village in  Detroit by Mr Ford.

Here is Edison's winter home... next to it is an identical, yet in reverse layout, guest "cottage."

One of the cars experienced a technical failure today as they entered Fort Myers.  Robin and Christine  Bycroft's 1989 Morgan Plus 8 fan decided to part ways with several of its blades causing the car to overheat and blow anti-freeze all over the road.  The gang assisted to get the car to the restaurant parking lot, then went to the parts store and bought a fan and engine coolant.  After the estate tour they tackled the car and within about an hour a new fan was in place and the Bycrofts were mobile again. 

Then it was a hour drive down the Tamiami trail to Naples and the Cove Hotel and Restaurant.  Some time to freshen up and off to dinner.

Here is the view from our hotel room... nice eh?

Dinner at the Cove Dockside restaurant... with the entire GatorMog group.  The best meal we've had on the trip thus far.

Tomorrow we head for the Keys.