Days 255 - 256

Cabbage Key FL - Sanibel Island FL

• Start 10:00 AM
• End 12:30 PM
• Underway 2:30 Hours
• Distance 19 Miles
• Total Miles on Trip 4384
• Av Speed 7.1 knots
• Weather Cloudy , 70 Degrees, Wind 6 Knots NW

The trip from Cabbage Key to Sanibel was another great day. Getting off the dock at Cabbage Key was much easier than getting into the slip. We are still traveling with Dan & Cheri (Cheri Baby II). Once again we saw several dolphins underway, this time I was able to video a couple of them as they swan alongside of us. No matter how many times we see them, it is amazing every time. It is even more amazing when they swim alongside of us. It also makes me truly appreciate the autopilot. I can comfortably walk away from the helm to watch and video them.

We arrived at around 12:30, only to find out we could not get into our slip until 2:00pm. It seems that the marina's with restaurants like to keep their docks open for the lunch crowd. We anchored in the bay outside of the marina and waited for our slips to open. Rather than raft off with Cheri Bay II, we both dropped anchor, I was concerned that the wakes from passing boats would make rafting difficult. Of course as we waited the wind continued to build, and I was concerned it would make docking difficult. Luck or skill, I am not sure which, but I was able to get into the slip with no issues. One of my favorite sayings when it comes to docking is "Some days you watch the show, some days you are the show". Since our slip was right in front of the restaurant with every table full, I am very happy I was not the show!!!!

Sanibel is beautiful, I know I keep repeating myself, but each stop in Florida is nicer than the last. After we got settled in, we took the bikes down and rode to the beach. After going 2 miles in the wrong directions, because turning the wrong way out of the marina, we turned around and found the beach. We quickly found out why Sanibel is the known as the sea shell capitol of the world. The postcards you see of all the shells, are real.

Monday we returned to Lighthouse Beach Park at low tide to collect shells. Low tide was early, and we foolishly thought the beach would not be crowded. We spent the morning looking for shells then relaxing on the beach. We also walked around the lighthouse fishing pier. You cannot get into any of the buildings, or the lighthouse, but it is still very impressive. While we were walking the trails we saw a gopher turtle walking alongside the trail with us. As soon as we stopped to look at it, it turned off the trial and hide under some leaves.

After the beach we returned to the marina for a late lunch at Gamma Dot's Restaurant. Lunch was ok, but the view was perfect. (We sat overlooking our boat!)

We could have spent more time in Sanibel, there are bike trails throughout the island, but this has been the most expensive marina we have stayed in on this trip. Tomorrow we will be heading to Naples.