A Ferry Ride to Cayo Costa Island!

We picked up Melissa and Chuck at 8:30 and headed to Jug Creek Marina to get on the Ferry, the Tropic Star for a 1 hour boat ride to Cayo Costa Island.  Boat is the only way you can get there.  Upon arrival, you get on a free tram that takes you across the island (3/4 mile) to the beautiful gulf coast shoreline.  Cayo Costa is a State Park and offers many trails both for hiking and bike riding.  You also can tent camp or rent the cabins there, but it is fairly primitive.  We arrived at 10:30 and took the tram ride to the beach.  We did some shelling and walking on the beach before enjoying the lunches we had packed.  Then we decided to take some of the trails to get our 10,000 steps.  Ken and Melissa led the way, and two times we got to the beach and no more trail!  So, we had to retrace our steps.  Not sure what happened to our navigation gurus!  When we got back to the ferry we had almost 13,000 steps, and all of us were tired.

Waiting to get on the ferry!

We are excited about our upcoming adventure!

Leaving Jug Creek Marina!

It was a full ferry!

What an interesting "wake"!

The Tram ride to the Gulf Shore!

What a magnificent site!

A young lady caught this cap shark!

Our Beach set-up!

Relaxing after the walk on the beach and lunch!

We did about a 6 mile hike starting at Cemetery Trail!

At this point of the hike, we were on the right path!

The best part of getting on the wrong path was having the
opportunity to see this armadillo!

Good Bye to Cayo Costa!

We were back to the CG by 5 and we went to our own motorhomes for dinner and showers.  We went to their "home" at 7 to play some games.  None of us can believe we have been here 2 weeks!  I can't believe the weather forecast for back home in Lanc. County!  Another big snowstorm on Thursday.  It is crazy!

Another Beautiful and Busy Day on Pine Island

Today was an exceptionally sunny warm day on the Island.  Started out a bit cool, but in no time it was around 80 with lower humidity.  The 4 of us left the CG at 8:15 and drove to the center of the island.  Then we got on our bikes and rode about 6 miles to the Raymary Restaurant where we had a delicious breakfast.  Back on the bikes to ride to the end of the island at Bokeelia and then back to the cars after a 16 1/2 mile ride.  That took care of our steps for the day.  

If you are ever on Pine Island, this is a wonderful

reasonably priced place to have breakfast or lunch!

This osprey was having "brunch" - a fish she caught!

Hard to tell, but these are white pelicans!

Looks like a Kodak moment to me!

Chuck and Melissa at the back of a lot that is for sale
at Bokeelia.  Can't imagine the cost, but the view is priceless!
Found out it is $699,000.  I think we will buy 2!!!

We went into Matlacha to get 3 more lbs. of fresh shrimp to have for our Happy Hour/Dinner.  Ed and Sandy, whom we have known for several years, will be joining us.  They live here in a park model about 8 months and in their RV trailer in NY the other 3 or 4 months.  She is the activity director here at the CG.

Ken and I made several additional stops before returning to the CG around 2:45.  Where does the time go????  Definitely less hours in a day on "Island Time". 

Ken and I spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for Happy Hour.  Ed, Sandy, Melissa and Chuck were here by 4:30 and we were able to be outside.  We enjoyed snack food with our wine and then Ken grilled the shrimp.  They were fantastic, again!!!!  We ate all 3 lbs.!!!!  The 6 of us had such a good time together.  Sandy and Ed left around 7:45 and then the 4 of us played 5 Crowns - the women won!  We called it a night at 9:15.  Another wonderful day on Pine Island! 

A Kayaking Day

Ken and I were up at 7:15 and decided we should take a walk before Church and get ahead start getting our 10,000 before Melissa and Chuck.  So, off we went for a long walk winding thru the CG.  Whom should we see but Melissa and Chuck up ahead of us trying to beat us to the steps.  We sneaked up behind them and the 4 of us burst out laughing, each trying to get the upper hand on the "steps situation".  So, we joined up and did it together.  Why fight it????? 

On our way to the Church Service here in the CG, we stopped by Neil and Nancy's site to say good-bye and wish them safe travels.  They are leaving Pine Island this morning and we probably won't see each other again on this trip. 

Neil, Nancy, Tatum, and their 5th Wheel!

 Then we met Chuck and Melissa at the Church Service at 10.  Very nice time and the clubhouse had a great crowd!  Ken took a picture of me with Susie, the minister here at the CG.  It has been a tough time for her, having her husband pass away on Christmas Day here at the CG.  She will be returning to North Dakota on Feb. 20th to do necessary paperwork and other details.  Susie wanted the photo because she says she has a friend back in ND who looks just like me.

This is the clubhouse where church is held!

Susie and Me!

We returned to Waldo in time to change, pack some snacks.  Neil and Nancy stopped in front of Waldo all hooked up and heading out of the CG.  Another good-bye and off they went. 

Neil and Nancy leaving Pine Island.  Nice Rig!!!

The 4 of us left at 11:45 to go to Matlacha to where you can rent kayaks. Melissa and Chuck were renting single ones and Ken and I planned to use our inflatable Sea Eagle.  After many unsuccessful attempts to inflate it, we realized that a casket was missing that is needed to keep the air from escaping when pumping.  No place to get one at that time, so Ken and I rented a tandem kayak and away the 4 of us went.  We did about a 2 1/2 hour paddle changing boats in a shallow area about halfway through our trip.  Melissa was a sport and decided to do it when all three of us shamed her into doing it.  That wasn't nice! When she got our of the kayak she lost her footing and ended up sitting in the water.  No good!!!!  We think her phone will be okay!  Boy, are we in trouble!!!!  We had decided to switch, because they wanted to try the tandem kayak to see which they liked the best.  I was also excited to try a single one! We all decided single kayaks are much easier to paddle and steer.

Getting ready for our kayak launch!

Melissa liked her single kayak.  A little further down the
waters, she lost her hat!

Chuck is moving right along!

We found a shallow area where we could switch kayaks.
It was a successful venture for most of us!!!!

A change of transportation!

Melissa and Chuck found the tandem kayak more of a challenge
to paddle and steer!

On our way back to the CG, we stopped in Matlacha at Sweet Licks for some delicious homemade ice cream.  What a treat!!!!  Ken wanted to get photos of Leona's small trailer that she uses as an office.  She is an artist (she painted the trailer) and has Lovegrove Gallery in Matlacha, specializing in the Beatles. Isn't that trailer just crazy?????

Certainly not lacking for color!!!  Definitely 1 of a kind!!!

After dinner, we went to the Clubhouse for Open Mike night, offering lots of good music from fellow campers and local musicians.  Always an entertaininng evening.  Back to Waldo to play Sequence Dice and the men won 3 to the women's 1.  Not sure what happened!!!!  We called it a day at 10:30.  Another fun filled day on Pine Island!

Another Craft Show Day!

Ken and I were up by 6:15 to get ready to go to the craft show at the Lutheran Church here on Pine Island.  We finished loading, ate breakfast, and were on our way by 7:30.

Set-up complete and we are ready to sell!!!!

It was a gorgeous day to be outdoors for the show - 80 degrees and sunny! Set-up went well and it was a very rewarding day.  Many of the buyers were repeat ones from last year and I appreciated their kind words regarding my jewelry.  Some were wearing pieces they bought last year or brought what they had purchased so they wouldn't get the some colors again.  For not being a "local", I was flattered.  It ended up being a very good show for us!

We were back to the CG by 1:45, unloaded the CRV, put everything away, and changed for our 2:30 walk with Chuck and Melissa.  I felt tired when we started our 10,000 steps, but when you are walking and chatting with friends, it goes quickly and you forget you are tired!

Another nice walk on Pine Island

Then it was time to shower and get ready for a 6:00 Happy Hour at Neil and Nancy's where they are planning to have a campfire!  They invited 3 other couples plus Chuck and Melissa.  A nice evening to sit around a cozy campfire! Neil and Nancy are fellow Lanc. Co. folks who just bought a new 39' Redwood 5th wheel and a "new to them" one ton dually truck.  Their 5th wheel is positively gorgeous!  Unfortunately, Nancy had a bad cold the last 3 days and they haven't been able to do too many things with us.  We returned to Waldo at 8:30 to enjoy watching the Olympics.  1st time we have tuned in since they began.  TV watching takes such a "back seat" when there is so much to do with friends.

The campfire at Neil and Nancy's with their new 5th wheel
and truck in the background!

A nice evening around the campfire!

Tomorrow we will go to church here in the CG and then do a kayaking trip with Chuck and Melissa.  Neil and Nancy will leave tomorrow and head to a CG near The Villages after a one night stay at Lazydays.  They hope to return to Pine Island for another 2 weeks in March before heading back to PA.

What A Fabulous Day on Pine Island!

What a fun day!  We were up early and met Chuck and Melissa to do our 10,000 steps.  We walked along some new roads seeing more palm tree plantations and new homes.  The steps go so quickly when walking and talking with friends!  We were back to the CG by 9:45, finished with our steps for the day!

Walking along one of the Palm Tree Plantations

We met again at 10:15 to play some shuffleboard, just like the old folks!! Chuck and I won both games.  Then we got on our bikes and rode about 6 1/2 miles stopping to walk on the 1 mile St. Jude Preserve Trail, an old roadbed trail through the mangroves to a Pine Island Back Water area.  It is so quiet and peaceful there.  We just stood talking and enjoying the stillness, birds, and water.  Back to the CG by 1:00 to make lunch.

The beginning of the St. Jude Trail

Beautiful roadbed trail thru the mangroves!

The trail ends on a wooden bridge/pathway on the water!

What a beautiful view and oh so peaceful!

Ken decided to spend the afternoon relaxing in Waldo and taking a short nap. The 5 of us went to the pool to sun and enjoy the refreshing water.  A fun time.  Back to Waldo by 3:45 to shower and get ready for a musical evening at the Clubhouse with the group, The Last Resort.  We enjoy them every year. It is also pizza night - the resort makes pizzas ordered by the campers and serves them before the concert.  

The musical group The Last Resort.  3 of them have been
with the group 6 years and stay here at the CG!

Sometimes we get each other laughing so hard we cry!!!

Paul, Regina, Betsy, Coy, and Betsy's sister sat with us
to listen to The Last Resort.  We had a  fun time!