Part VII From the best day to the worst day? Nah!

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Packed up all my stuff again and checked out! The reason I was here was for the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife refuge.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. 

After yesterday, I kind of had high hopes but also didn't know if it would top that! In the end it didn't. It was a nice drive and stopped a few times on the one way drive going through here. Saw a few cool birds again, but nothing like yesterday! I did see a manatee come up for air a few time (see video). And again, there was almost nobody else around. But again 3 out of the 4 walks/boardwalks were closed due to hurricane damages. But another peaceful area!

Fisherman

Hurricane damages

Manatee

After about an hour and a half I finished the drive and got off the island. This was the last bit of the West Coast and driving to the East Coast today! Drove down towards Naples, and saw a sign Naples Botanical Gardens. That was on my list before and also another beautiful nature trail but I realized I'd already done that years ago and so I decided to skip it this time. Because of that, I also forgot about the Botanical Gardens but decided to check it out anyways. It was a little detour and I again wondered if it would top any of the nature I'd already seen but decided to go and stretch my legs before the biggest part of the drive. 

It was okay, again not a lot of people around, maybe 7 haha. And so very quiet all around. Wasn't too impressed to be honest. But then...and this is why I also always look up...I saw Woody Woodpecker hihi. I've been wanting to see one for a while at home. I always hear them, but never see them and now I did. After that I was happy I made this stop after all! Went into the giftshop to look around for a bit before heading to the exit. And when I grabbed one of the books, the stand fell behind the shelves. I looked around if anyone saw me but there was nobody and the lady at the register was busy so I couldn't tell her. Walked around for a bit and a thought popped up, that I had to tell the lady or I'd have bad karma and so I told her and she kept thanking me. Now keep that in mind, cause I'm coming back to the karma thing.

Another rainbow tree!

Headdress of palm leaves hihi

Woody!!

And here I was, minding my own business, driving and singing along to the songs if I could. Not much to see on the way and 70 miles an hour all the way. And there was a truck in front of me with a white cloth on the back and I've never liked driving around or behind trucks ever since that Final Destination movie, the one with the logs falling off. And so I didn't really want to be behind this truck. Then something flew off the truck from under the cloth and I heard a hard tap, it had hit my window. It happened really fast and a small crack appeared, which grew and grew. I figured, must be a karma bill that had to be settled haha, which is why I told you to keep it in mind. Although I told the lady and so must be for something else hihi. I'm not insured for it, it used to be included in your insurance but because it happens so often (especially in Florida) you need an additional insurance nowadays and I didn't add it cause what are the chances? It has never ever happened to me, not with rentals and not at home. And funny thing is, with the nature drives I was afraid the tires would get damaged, also in the extra insurance that I didn't add and so in the end, rather this then a tire. And so I could have gotten angry or sad or bumped out. I know people that would have something like this ruin their day but what good would that do? So I shrugged my shoulders and Lionel Richie came on the radio pretty much right after and so I sang along and kept going my merry way. Nothing I could do now and would sort if out when I got to the hotel. I had about an hour left to go. 

I found out the next day that I might be insured through my creditcard for part of the costs but if not, my salary came in the next day so all good either way hihi. The 3rd picture is of the day after, the crack 'grew' twice it's size overnight. And 4th is a car that pulled up next to me somewhere.

It can always be worse, the entire windshield is cracked on this car. And yes, this person was just driving around like this (could have gone to the garage though but I doubt it). I've seen a lot of damaged cars over the years while I visited, cars with missing parts or parts hanging loose, cars with pretty much everything ducktaped, cars with bulletholes, this is a first though. One of my friends said 'yup, that's Florida'. And I remember my aunt told me on one of my first visits here, when I saw the car with the bulletholes I think, that she and my other aunt would 'play' find the wreck of the day when she visited because there were plenty of potential winners. I think that as long as the basics work, you can drive around in anything. 

Got to my next accomodation, staying here for 3 nights! Meeting family and friends. Went out to dinner by myself the first night. $5,99 martinis and margeritas so I tries a few (or 5-6 haha, again, fun and different flavors from the once we have at home) and left around 9pm. Happy Hour started at 9 and the drinks went from 5,99 to 3,99. It was a good thing I was leaving haha.

I had a sh*t night that night. I was used to quiet sleeps and everything was making noise here. The fridge, the a/c thing on the balcony. But my a/c was off, so I guess one of the neigbors was on and the doors are not soundproof so it annoyed me. Woke up around 3 and finally fell asleep again at some point, must have been at least an hour later. I hope it's not going to be this for 3 nights. Other than that, great place!

Private rooftop pool this time with ocean views

Maybe not completely private. Bird hotspot at dusk! They kept coming, 20 or so. Drinking, washing, singing.

Sunset :-)