Sanibel Captiva Island Message Board

[saustin43]

Thursday, July 15, 2010 (Shelby's turn)

Went to breakfast at Sanibel Café. While we were there we ran into Tootie & Gary!
Good food and service.
We bought the wedding present and had it shipped back home.
We spent an hour or so at the pool before eating lunch at the condo.

Thriller! South Seas!
We arrived at 2:30 to get the good seat in the back for our Thriller adventure.
Barely out of the marina we saw our first dolphins!
The farther we went the darker the sky got. By the time we came to the end of Captiva, the sky was very angry looking. Finally, after circling a few times, our captain took the boat into the marina at South Seas. By this time the wind had really picked up and it was thundering and lightning quite a bit. The harbormaster gave us permission to dock and to come ashore to wait out the storm. We milled about in the marina gift store waiting for the all clear.
Later we found out this was the first time something like this has ever happened on a Thriller adventure. The man across the isle from Nana was singing the Gilligan’s Island theme song. Finally the captain gave the all clear and we had a safe journey back to the Sanibel Marina.

To celebrate our safe return we went to Pinochio’s and had ice cream.

Now we are staying in for the night.

[vshorn]

Your trip sounds wonderful. We'll be there a week from Sat. YEA! All I really need to know is how the shelling is! I live to shell.

[Snowbird]

We must have just missed you at the Cafe this morning as we had breakfast with Gary and Tootie.

[saustin43]

Nancy, I wish I had looked around better. I didn't see Tootie and Gary until they were leaving. Next time I am going to have a party and invite my Sanibel friends. If you have time before you leave for the north, come see me. I'm sending you info.

[Snowbird]

Sue, we left before Gary and Tootie. There was no one else there when we left. I sent you a PM back.

[saustin43]

In my perfect world I would take my really cute beach chair, my really good book, and a really good cool beverage down to the waters edge. I would set up my really cute beach umbrella and enjoy the gentle ocean breezes. And I would be thin.

But in my real world the beach chair is on its last leg (literally), I forgot to take a book, The umbrella blew away. I’m not thin.

[saustin43]

Friday, 7/16/2010 (Sue’s turn)

Another great day in paradise.

We ate breakfast “at home” and then spent the morning on the beach, at the pool, and in the condo. I am staying out of the sun more than usual and to my surprise, I am happy to just watch the waves from indoors. The view from our condo is wonderful. All condos at Ocean’s Reach are ocean front and only steps to the beach. The pool is also ocean side, which I like.

Lunch was at one of our favorite restaurants, Doc Fords. It was very good, as usual.

We stopped at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum after lunch. We have toured it several times, this time we only went to the gift shop. Stacy bought Christmas cards.

The afternoon was much like the morning. It has been very windy most of the day, but no rain. The waves were higher than usual and Stacy and Shelby had fun playing in the ocean.

After a quick trip to Bailey’s for a few things (cake) we are taking a beach walk and then in for the night.

Our trip report looks very boring, but we are having a great time.

If I had done a trip report in the past it would be all about the shelling. I have taken more than my share of shells home. In fact, I have a small “shell garden” at home.

But this year is different . . . .

In April I was diagnosed with an eye problem. I have some weird restrictions: no heavy lifting, no bending over, coughing, sneezing or vomiting. That sort of eliminated the Sanibel Stoop for me. I wasn’t going to tell this, but I decided you needed to know why I’m not talking about all the shells I’m finding.


Here's a link to our Sanibel Pictures We will update when we have time.

[jamie704]

Sue thanks again for the great trip report. It sounds like you are having a great vacation. Love your pictures. Showed my husband and daughter today. Have a wonderful time!

[saustin43]

Hi jamie 704, Thanks for reading and commenting on our trip report. I hope we aren't boring everyone. It has been fun to try to remember what we did each day. Yes, we are having a great time. Ten days are slipping by too quickly.

[saustin43]

Saturday, July 16, 2010 (Stacy’s turn)

Shelby and I went to breakfast without Mom this morning, as she wasn’t feeling up to par. We went to Blue Giraffe to eat. We walked all the way to the door before realizing that we were too early. They don’t open for breakfast until 9AM and it was 8:30. So we drove to CVS to buy some more bug spray, which only killed 10 minutes. We then decided to try Island Cow. A few years ago we ate there and did not have a good experience, and being bullheaded, never went back. But I have been reading this forum since we came and had read many good reviews. I had the Coconut French Toast, which was fantastic, but very rich. I had to get a to-go box as I could only eat one out of three French toasts. Shelby had the blueberry pancakes and loved them. Just goes to show that reading this forum helps make our experiences here even more pleasurable.


Here's a link to our Sanibel Pictures We will update when we have time.

[kpressley]

sounds like you guys are having a great time!!!! I love the picture of the Dolphin from the Sanibel Thriller.

[Beth]

Your trip sounds far from boring to me. I would love to just listen to the waves and drive around exploring old favorite and new places. Just being on Sanibel is relaxing and enjoyable no matter what you do. Keep the reports coming!

[saustin43]

Saturday, July 16, 2010 (Stacy’s turn)

This morning was nice& lazy around the pool. Basically it was all ours for an hour or so. We enjoyed a light lunch on the lanai, and then Shelby and I played in the surf for a while. After we tired out, we sat on the beach for a while with Mom. We’re now sitting here trying to decide what and where to eat.

We ate at Jerry’s. I wanted a gelato from PocoLoco but I couldn’t even finish my Seafood Croissant. So the gelato will have to wait until tomorrow or the next day.

We are going to go walk the beach now.

Here's a link to our Sanibel Pictures We will update when we have time.

[Carly]

Last year we had an unusual Thriller experience. There were really strong waves that day, so we didn't go on the gulf side of the island. They took us up to the N. Captiva/ Cabbage Key islands instead. On our way back it started to rain and there was lightning in the distance. We had to dock at South Seas for about 20 minutes, but we didn't have to get out of the boat.

it sounds like you are having a great trip!

[saustin43]

Carly, that sounds like an adventure! Did you get off the boat at Cabbage Key? I was nervous about the lightning and was very glad they let us get off the boat and take shelter in their small store. There was a very loud and nearby strike while we were there.

[saustin43]

Sunday, July 18, 2010 (Shelby)

Nana took her usual sunrise beach walk. She was pleased to see that the tent that had been left out from the night before had been tagged. Nothing is to be left out from 10PM to 7AM.
This morning we had breakfast at Over Easy. Nana had the Sanibel Scramble, Mom had the Portabella Omelet, and I had the pigs in blanket.
When we came back we went to the pool.
Our lunch was at Blue Giraffe. Mom had the Sanibel Island Wrap, Nana had the Greek Salad, and I had Shrimp & Chips. We also got a piece of key lime pie to go. We have always loved going to Blue Giraffe even when it was formally known as Gully’s.
We spent a while at the pool again.
Mom and I went to the beach for all of 10min… The sun started to hurt the sunburns on our shoulders.
We decided to take a trip to Captiva to go to Keylime Bistro.
We got our $10 key lime pie (one piece) to go.
A little pricey, but very good.
On our way back we stopped by Twilight Café to get an order of broccoli to go.
We wish to thank Chef Robert Parks, Twilight Café,
for gifting us with a double order of broccoli.
It was fantastic!
We had dinner at the condo.


Here's a link to our Sanibel Pictures

[stefne65]

I splurge on that Keylime Bistro key lime pie myself - and agree - it is worth it

[brimac]

The desserts at teh Keylime Bistro are worth every penny! We always get them to go after dinner on Captiva.

[saustin43]

It was very yummy. And the presentation was great. We are still trying to decide what the sauce was under the slice of pie.

[jamie704]

Hi Shelby
Your trip report is making me hungry for the delicious Sanibel and Captiva food! Have a great day.

[saustin43]

Our last full day. . . It has been ten days of quality time spent with my daughter and granddaughter. We all agree it has been very restful. We have had a lot of laughs (mostly at my expense).

I’m not the sharpest tack in the box when it comes to technology, especially computers. Stacy teaches computers to elementary children. This week she has been teaching me a few things about maintaining a web site. Do you think this makes this trip a tax deduction? LOL

We had breakfast in the condo, lunch at Sanibel Café and for Shelby’s benefit, dinner was from Schnapper’s Hots. She loves that place!

It has been a lot fun doing this trip report, but I don’t think I will ever do it again. In the future I will try to comment and encourage trip reports I read, not just be a silent lurker.

Thank you to everyone who has read our trip report.

[PD]

Thanks for sharing. Great reports. It helps the rest of us to vicariously enjoy the islands.

[kathynorth]

Thank you for the trip report! It was fun seeing how your vacation evolved. I just wish ours could be as long as yours, but I'll just need to be satisfied that I'll be able to extend our annual 4 day trip to 7 this year! Have a safe trip home.