Category: Trella Diaries

Thursday, April 10, 1986
Visited Azalea gardens in S. C. In full gorgeous bloom.

Wednesday, April 9, 1986
[No entry]

Tuesday, April 8, 1986
[No entry]

Monday, April 7, 1986
Left at 8:45 for Rookery Bay on Marcos Road down I-75 and 95 Estuarian National Parks and Biggs Nature Center. Hot walk on boardwalk through Pine Palmetto- black sedge to edge of mangrove. Not much seen in wildlife or birds. Hot. Back up I-75 to Koreshen Historic Site- followers of Teed who taught we lived inside earth. Picnic before walking among buildings mostly unrestored since 1908 when Teed died. He planted many exotics. To coin laundry to wash and dry. Mailed income tax that arrived Saturday. Saved $350 by having it done over. Call from Sue Bales. They want to move. Gave notice for May 8th. On beach for sunset. Packed.

Sunday, April 6, 1986
Day of Rest- and I needed it. On beach a.m. To Penney’s- Ken wanted red trousers- Mary PJs and I needed underpants. On way to see where Jack Cooper lives we stopped on Sand Dollar Lane to visit Maxine Alspach Veach. She’s still slender and dignified. Ellis is nice. Kenny hardly looked at Cooper’s house in Lely. Ate dinner at Beach Barn at Route 41 and Bonita Beach Boulevard. Found Nutella- made in holland. TV and bed at 9:30. reading “Out of Africa.”

Saturday, April 5, 1986
Mary and I went comet viewing from 4:30 to 5:30. Has moved to right from Thursday and moon not bothersome until about 5:15.

At 9:15 left from Beach House Motel for Corkscrew swamp. Stopped at Szabo’s Nursery- marvelous selection. Found liseanther plants in bud and bloom! Also bought Jasmine and bougainvillea and gerbera daisies. Into Sanctuary at 10:20 out at 2:00. Met group related to Paul and Avenel Spiegel Bechtle in Marion. Photographed wood stork on nest, alligators, anole, iris. Picnic in Pine Grove watching quails, red-bellied woodpecker, Red Wings and bronze blackbirds, cardinal, blue jay. Back past Buckley Wholesale Bedding Plants on Route 31. Acres of bloom.
Bought groceries at Spring Shopping Center.

Friday, April 4, 1986
Mary’s 67th birthday. Gave her a photo album and a perfect olive shell I found at Sanibel. Bought lunch and dinner for both her and Kenny. His birthday is April 23rd- he will be 72.

To Sanibel Island Ding Darling Preserve- excellent birding about 20 species. 2 Ospreys on 2 nests. Lunch at Coconut Grove- had quiche. Walked beach and went to tip of island to see lighthouse. Could see water tower at Bonita Beach from there. Dinner at Morrison’s- bed early.

Thursday, April 3, 1986
Diagram of Scorpio constellation with Halley’s Comet at bottom

Up at 3:30 to go comet viewing with Mary and Ken. Up the road about a mile to New Ppass pulled off side and Mary set up telescope still having trouble focusing camera through telescope not enough light. Halley’s Comet a fuzzy spot. no tail discernible. back to motel at 5:30 left at 6:30 for Shark Valley. skeins of geese in Sky had to wait for 8:30 opening at 9:00 train ride. watched wood stork shade water to scare up feed. glossy ibis, Roseate spoonbill, white ibis, black and turkey vulture, greed., coot, cormorant, anhinga, little blue heron. Also white phase. On down to Coot Bay but not like it was in ’60s- only birds on picture board. Bought Papaya at market near Homestead. Home at 7:55- 360 mi.

Wednesday, April 2, 1986
Beautiful morning on beach after breakfast in room. Saw 3 men in dory let out net and drew in sheepshead, etc. Snowy Egret, red breasted merganser, gulls, pelicans on beach. P.M. drove to Naples through Pelican Bay- Vanderbilt and Naples millionaire’s homes. Landscaping outstanding. Stopped at Nature Conservancy and at Pohler’s. Missed Bill and Louise but Bill’s sister Annabelle and Leonard Young showed us their garden. Ate at Hospitality Cafeteria between 4:00 and 5:00 to get 15% discount. Back to Beach House to watch sunset. To bed by 8:30.

Tuesday, April 1, 1986
Luncheonette at Newark People’s Express- Fare $129- hot dog $1.85 Sprite 75 cents on plane snack tray $3.

David took me to Port Columbus to catch 10:30 People’s Express to Newark. He left me about 9:45 as he had 11:00 appointment in Cincinnati. In to Newark 11:35 take off 12:50 landing. Crowded terminal but not difficult to find my gate and I got enter #95 so no windows seat but could see Gulf coastlines. Leave Newark 3:04 take off- 5:23 landing Fort Myers. 37 minutes early but waited at top of escalator and Mary and Ken soon showed up. To Mrs Appleton’s buffet for dinner $5.25 but too full to appreciate it. Out at 7:15 dark. Down Route 41 to Bonita Beach Drive and Hickory Drive to Beach House Motel. Real nice two room plus Kitchen and Bath and view of the gulf. Mary has lots planned for next 7 days.