Sanibel Kicks Off the Blog for 2016

Well, not exactly timely, since I haven't posted on this blog since July of 2015 and here it is the 14th of March, 2016.  I will not rewind through all the travels that have elapsed since then, but suffice it to say, am on the road again.  It' been the island of Sanibel, on the Gulf Coast of Florida that has been graced by not so august presence.

Sanibel, is particularly well know as having great shelling beaches, and my sister Susan has been doing her best to deplete the beaches early morning for sunrise and again getting in her Fitbit walking in the afternoons.  Me, well, not quite such a draw, though I have been known to do the Sanibel stoop and pick up a couple of nice Coquina shells (those fingernail size shells of multi-hues), or a Lightning Welk.

Reddish Egret in the Ding Darling Preserve

Sanibel is also known for the Ding Darling reserve, a national wildlife reserve amongst many on Sanibel set aside for wildlife as opposed to condominiums and private homes, which still abound on this sunny, sandy isle.  The reserves are most often populated by mangroves and have a water source from Tarpon Bay.  The Ding, abuts  Tarpon Bay, and the ebb and flow of the waters feed inland lakes which are in turn populated by stay- around and also migrating water fowl, including most all the egrets, roseate spoonbills, night herons etc.  We have taken numerous walks and drives through these reserves, with the family all birdwatchers by nature.  The water has been high in some of the reserves this year due to heavy rains in January, so wading birds like the egrets are not as frequently seen in these areas as on previous trips.

A Pan Handling Great White Egret on the Fishing Pier

I first visited Sanibel in 1961, when it was sparsely populated and had no causeway.  Transportation to the island was via Bailey's car ferry, and most of the roads were still sandy stretches between mangroves.  We were fortunate to have experienced the old Bailey Store and meet old an Bailey at that time.  Here is a pic of the old Bailey Homestead.

Old Bailey Homestead

Family at sunrise near Sanibel Lighthouse

Swamp Potato plant in Bailey Homestead Preserve

While Cassie and Andrea with with us we took a boat tour out of the South Seas Plantation Marina to Cabbage Key, where Mary Roberts Rheinhart, the author from the 1930s and later owner of Rheinhart Publishing had a home in the late 1930s early 1940s.  Here is one of the denizens of Cabbage Key, a Gopher Tortoise, found strolling the grounds of the home cum restaurant.

Gopher Tortoise

Joining me on my Sanibel trip is the ever effervescent, Bettina McCleary, my mother, who at a spry 96 is enjoying all Sanibel has to offer, while providing historical perspectives along the way.

Bettina enjoying Sanibel

Enough said for now.  Am told these blogs of mine are too long winded, and there is probably truth in that statement.  Aloha, Boyd