This is our last Friday to spend in Florida for this
snowbird season. Next week plan to spend Friday night in Georgia.
During these two bonus weeks, we have been spending as much
time as we can outside. And for the past two days, we have been finding more
geocaches.
Yesterday, Thursday, we went back to Cape Coral. We visited
the seven islands development which was made ready for development several
years ago, but nothing has happened for a long time.
I saw some beautiful tracts of land on which I would be
happy to build a nice house---after I win a big lottery, that is!
We walked around the highest terrain we have seen so far
here in this flat land.
At one cache site we saw this memorial for James Arthur. We
wondered who James Arthur was and if his ashes were scattered there or did he
die on that spot or was it one of his favorite places? It certainly was a
peaceful place.
Today, Friday, we drove to Pine Island Pine Island which is
the largest island in the state of Florida. It is a 30 minute drive from Ft. Myers and is
situated on the Gulf of Mexico.
It is likely that the Calusa Indians inhabited Pine Island
until 1513 when it is believed that Ponce de Leon landed there. The Spanish
skirmished with the Calusas and imported serious European diseases. By 1750 the
Calusa culture had vanished leaving behind only shell mounds, some of which can
be seen today.
Surrounded by mangroves, three aquatic preserves, acres of
palm, tropical plant and fruit groves Pine Island has escaped the cement and
skyscraper development so predominant on other Florida islands. The waters of
Pine Island Sound provide not only some of the finest fishing in Florida, but
are a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Hiking trails, kayak and canoe
waterways, ancient Indian shell mounds add to the outdoor adventures. Home
to many artists, authors, song writers and poets, Pine Island is also known as
“Florida’s Creative Coast”.
Like several other sites here in southwest Florida, we saw
an abandoned housing development with fire hydrants and underground utilities
already in place.
We “hiked” 1.2+ miles in Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve
where two geocaches are hidden.
At the information board, we learned about the
wildlife that inhabits the preserve. It was very quiet when we were there late
this morning and we did not see any Roseate Spoonbills, Gopher Tortoises, or
snakes. However, we were serenaded by some lovely bird songs.
I believe that the sun is much hotter here than at home.
Perhaps that is due to the angle it shines during this time of the year. When I
felt the skin on the back of my neck burning, I used my Baltimore Orioles towel
to shade it. I have adopted the Orioles’ motto “We Won’t Stop” as my motto for
geocaching also.
When we left the Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve, we went to St.
James Creek Preserve where we walked along the St. Jude Nature Trail. It is an
approximate one-mile round-trip trail through flatlands and a mangrove forest.
The vegetation being restored is native to this area. It was given the name of
St. Jude by the developers who were trying to catch Danny Thomas’ attention as
a pitchman or investor; the actor was known for founding St. Jude’s Hospital.
The trail is built on an old roadbed constructed several
decades ago as part of an "intended" St. Jude Parkway. The parkway
was to be a boulevard lined with shopping centers and restaurants leading to a
skybridge connecting Pine Island with the southern end of the Sanibel Causeway.
Fortunately, the permits were withdrawn before further damage to the mangroves
occurred.
The trail is lined with memorial benches as it follows the
old roadbed. All the benches have names carved in them, several which are in
memory of someone.
We liked this nicely shaded picnic table placed on the
trail. Someone had even left cushions.
At the end of the trail, there is a boardwalk with an
observation deck. The rails and wooden deck are completely covered with names
of supporters of the Calusa Land Trust which owns and preserves the surrounding
land.
We have seen some interesting dog waste pick up stations and
here is a different one that is in this preserve.
These wild flowers are not from a nursery, but I thought
they are just as pretty.
My favorite geocache today was one that had been replaced by
our local friend, Brian, and as with most all his caches, each one is a bit
unique. The person who was there two days before us wrote the following in
their log: “I wouldn't have tried this one if I had remembered this was that
location. AND on top of all that....a dead snake. ya. that finished it for me.”
We were amused when we located the cache which was attached to a fake snake!
We ate lunch at Low Key Tiki Bar. Our local friend, Brian,
took us there last year and we enjoyed it so much we definitely wanted to
patronize it again this year.
We like the grass thatch like covered outdoor eating area
and the decorations. The food is delicious.
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