The time is growing shorter before we head back to Star Mt. We've enjoyed these months and all the fun that is to be had in Florida. As always happens an enormous amount gets squished into the last weeks. We had lovely company last week (Paul, Sherry, and Katie) and we all made the most of their short trip with golf, fishing, beach, swamp tour.
Beach action. We drove up to Captiva Island north of us to see the sights. Perfect weather, good shelling, and of course lots of people out enjoying too. It's end of season here so crowds were not too bad.
While in Captiva we stopped at a restaurant I had been at 2 years before. The Bubble room - yup, it's still the same. 40 years running, a place hard to describe with every spare inch covered in memorabilia and antique/junk things, waiters dressed in boy scout uniforms, model trains zooming around ceiling trim, Xmas bubble lights on everywhere, and crazy assortment of food. My shrimp and mango salad in a pineapple named Carmen Miranda for example.
The day before we had headed out to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary deep inland east of us. It's a protected wetlands area that is part of the everglades ecosystem with the largest Bald Cypress forest in North America. It's home to some rare ghost orchids as well, but they were not in bloom yet (June -Sept). Did see more than one alligator, obligingly close to the boardwalk walking trail.
In the meantime, the boys were out fishing with a guide deep in the mangroves. Definitely a different kind of fishing than mountain streams...
We ended with a lovely brunch at Bay House. A special place on the river with great food (loved the beignets) Great visit come anytime....
