Island Time

Day 256  |  Punta Gorda    

It was a great day for a road trip to Sanibel and Captival Islands. We arrived at the Sanibel visitor's center at 10:30 and while chilly, we were thankful that there was no snow to be wiped from our shoes. We picked up a map and set off for the easternmost point of the island -- Mile 0 -- where the Sanibel Island Light stands. The 98-foot tall iron skeleton tower was first lit in August 1884.

We took a stroll through the surrounding wildlife refuge and along Lighthouse Beach. The most interesting thing we saw was a piece of outdoor "carpet" leading to the beach. This simple addition does a great job of both protecting the dunes and making it easier to walk across the sand. We spotted cacti mixed among the dune grasses and "grapes" on this sea grape. A nice network of boardwalks snaked through the woods. From the lighthouse we headed west and then north to Captiva Island, one of my favorite places. We stopped for lunch at The Green Flash where we looked out over the GICW from our table. Afterwards, we walked to the water's edge and checked out the beautiful clear water from the restaurant's docks.

We travelled as far as the road took us, and parked at the Redfish Pass public beach. A short walk over the dune (more carpet) put us on a beach covered with shells. A single wave consistently formed and broke just offshore. The sun was shining and it was warm enough to enjoy a nice long walk down the beach. Barry took the high road and I preferred to get a little more into my surroundings. I was not disappointed. This is still one of my favorite places.

Birds were as common a sight as people. We swapped taking photos with another couple walking in the opposite direction. In the middle of enjoying this perfect afternoon, we did have thoughts as to the weather back home. We both agreed that 44 degrees of separation was just enough. We picked up a few small shells, but made absolutely no dent in the accumulation in the surf line.

On the way back to Crossroads, we stopped at Sun Harvest Citrus in Fort Myers with the lure of fresh juice samples and BOGO ice cream. They ship directly from the attached warehouse which was visible through large windows. We arrived back at Burnt Store Marina just in time to enjoy another great sunset over Charlotte Harbor. This evening we got to watch it from the bow of Miss Utah. Chris and Roger arrived this afternoon and it was great sharing stories about our travels since we last saw them in St. Petersburg.