After almost a month on the road we have finally slowed down our pace and are really relaxing. Sitting by the pool in the morning Marsha does crossword puzzle and sudoko while Harry reads or computes. Then we decide on one activity for the day.
Today we drove out to Marco Island for lunch at the Snook Inn Restaurant. We've eaten here on previous sojourns in Naples and love the atmosphere. You wait for your table on the upper deck overlooking the waterway watching the boats and the birds. The outside tables (can't understand those who choose to eat inside when the temperature is 70 degrees in February) are all picnic tables that are essentially on a covered pier. The food is good the vacationing Northerners are all happy, the wait staff is attentive. The singer just croons out an endless variety of oldies. Life is good.
Looking for something else to do on Marco Island we consulted Trip Advisor and headed to Mackle Park. Where we sat on a Bench overlooking a large body of water that was a favorite stopping place for a variety of birds. First there was a young snowy egret who decided to hang out on the shore directly in front of us. We watched as he shooed other interlopers away from his territory. When he departed a Pelican swooped in and assumed his regal pose. Only raising his wings when a little girl tried to approach. That did the trick and she retreated. Then three adult ibises and one juvenile flew in and ate their way along the edges of the water. After a while they began what seemed to be the ritual of their evening bath. Splashing water over their feathers and over each other. Then they would climb out of the water and preen their feathers. This continued as other small groups of ibises flew in a short distance away performed the same ritual. Fly in - eat and walk - bath - preen. This continued until there were over a dozen ibises. All this time the Pelican stood it's ground until the undeterred little girl approached again and he flew majestically out over the water just skimming its surface. It was delightful to watch and to have the time to do just that.