Naples Boat Club, Naples, Florida

Cooler this morning. Rained overnight, and stayed cloudy this morning. We took the car over to Fort Lauderdale, had lunch, then visited some big marine stores: Sam the Sailerman, West Marine and Boat Owners Warehouse. Sam the Sailerman has both new and used things, it is a big place with a lot of stock to look over. The West Marine is probably the biggest one we have seen yet, and Boat Owners Warehouse had some different things. It was a good afternoon poking around these stores. The drive over and back was on Highway 75, which is known as Alligator Alley, since it goes through the Everglades. We watched for alligators both going and coming, but they didn't seem to be out sunning in the open areas we could see. The highway has a high fence along both sides for miles and miles. We thought it was to keep the alligators out, but Nancy and Eddie tell us it is to keep the tourists away from the alligators. Apparently there is always someone trying to get their child to feed an alligator, and people have been killed.