Sanibel/Captive Islands FL

It was a Sanibel Island day. We left the RV at 10:30, but it took us 45 minutes to get off Pine Island. They were doing construction on the bridge and only had one lane open, so we had to take turns with the cars coming on the island. We also were in a line to get on to Sanibel, but once there we stopped at the visitor’s center to pick up some maps. We went right to Ding Darling Nature Preserve and went to that visitor’s center. We got a map, some brochures, and borrowed a set of binoculars before heading out on the 4 mile drive. The tide was rather high, so we didn’t see lots of birds. However, there was one sand bar that had lots of pelicans, some cormorants, and a ton of willets. We also saw our first tri-colored heron right by the road down on some rocks checking out the fish. A cormorant was playing in the water, swimming around, flapping his wings on the water. The volunteer who was there said he was just playing.

We didn’t see too much more in the preserve, but it was a pretty drive. We stopped to walk around a shell mound left by Calusa Indians a long time ago. Because the shell mounds are higher than the surrounding area, they support some varied trees and bushes like the gumbo limbo tree we saw. We returned the binoculars to the visitors center and drove up to Captiva Island. We passed The Bubble Room where we intended to have an early dinner, and at 4pm there was already a line forming outside for the 4:30 opening. We went to the end of the road at Captiva, and Bill went to stick his toes in the water. I sat at a picnic table and got homesick for Hawaii. I miss the easy access to the beaches of Hawaii and the free beach parking.

We drove back to The Bubble Room at 4:30 and barely found a place to park. We waited in line and once inside were taken to a nice quiet table. This is an old-time Sanibel restaurant started in 1979. The interior is filled with old celebrity photos, Christmas lights (including old-time bubble lights), a small area with all kinds of Christmas mannequins and toys, small aquariums. The tables are made of shadow boxes with all kinds of old-time toys, clothing items, music, etc. It is rather an interesting place. We were brought some bubble bread (hot slices of French bread with melted cheese) and sticky buns. Both were excellent, but we were a little confused about the sticky buns before a dinner. We got two appetizers to share: she crab soup and ksseri cheese flamed with brandy and served with bread. The soup was good, and the cheese was excellent. Our dinners came with salads. Bill had a house salad, and I had a Greek salad that was quite tasty. Bill got a filet and I got grilled grouper. His steak was great. I have decided that I am not particularly fond of grouper. My dinner was served with a twice-baked potato, fresh green beans, candied carrot coins, and baked apples. Bill had the same, but he got black beans on rice instead of the potato. Our server was a guy our age dressed in a boy scout uniform who said he would be our ‘bubble scout’ for the evening.

The food wasn’t bad, but it certainly was way too much and rather pricey. Our ‘bubble scout’ brought over a tray of huge slices of cake to tempt us with dessert. They certainly were tempting, so much so that Bill got a chocolate cake thing with amazing whipped cream filling with strawberries to bring home.

We got in the car at 6 to leave. Lola (the GPS) at first said it was only six miles to our campsite (apparently as the crow flies). Lola quickly calculated and said it was 49 miles home. It took us an hour and a half to get home. It was a pleasant day, but I don’t think we will plan a return trip to Sanibel. We are definitely going to return to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve while we are here. It is a wonderful elevated 1.2 mile boardwalk where we saw all kinds of birds and alligators when we were here two years ago. We may put that off until Friday and just stay here tomorrow.