16th March 2014

Sanibel Island revisited.

The lighthouse at the eastern tip of Sanibel Island was the guiding light for ships entering Punta Rassa Harbour in San Carlos Bay.  In the 1800’s cattle were driven here from the ranges in central Florida and shipped to Cuba from Punta Rassa.

Sanibel Lighthouse

Storm leftovers

Osprey guarding chicks

Osprey on the wing with fish dinner

This undeveloped section of the coast is yet another extraordinary wildlife habitat with an abundance of fish.

Snowy egret

Sunset back at the ranch

17th March

Today we paid a visit to the winter home of the men who changed the course of American history. Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and the occasional guest, Harvey Firestone. Between them they set up a research centre to grow rubber that wasn’t dependent on rubber from foreign lands. The rest is history.

Ford, Edison & Firestone ca 1932

The ultimate man's shed

Early juke box

I'm not changing that light bulb

Mr Ford's 1932 flathead V8

The engine that America fell in love with

Edison's camper van

These guys loved to explore the Everglades and called themselves the Vagabonds

and were the original tin can tourists.