Sanibel and the Post Ride BBQ

Monday Februay 23rd

When I woke up this morning the news said there was fog and fog there certainly was.   It didn't stop the PFW SW-FL contingent from driving to the Bike Bistro in Punta Rassa....which means smooth waters....for our ride over the Sanibel causeway into Sanibel and Captiva.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanibel_Causeway

What would I do without wikipedia!

Our plan was to stop at J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge once on Sanibel and on our way to the end of the island to Captiva and for a coffee stop at La De Da Coffee House.

Once over the causeway Sanibel became very busy and we got yelled at to get off the road.  Sanibel was voted one of the top biking destinations although I never feel that way when when I am there.  Angry motorists have spoiled this island for me.  We did, however, get on the paved trails that followed the roadway and we all felt safer.

Our first stop was J.N. Ding Darling Refuge.  Here is a link that tells all about J.N. Ding Darling.

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn_ding_darling/

For cyclists there is a $1 charge to ride the 4 mile one-way road through the refuse.  For those who have the senior pass.....the pass is accepted at this park as it is a national refuge area and you will get in for free.  Bob Smith had one but guess where he left it.....in the car!   Haven't we all done that?   Well, Bruce was kind enough to pay for all of us.  Thank you Bruce.

It was an interesting ride although it is all about birds.  We stopped at one overlook and Bruce said....Oh there's a crane.  Nope.  One of the visitors corrected us and said that it was a pelican.   It was a huge pelican but without proper camera equipment my IPhone photo did not capture this big bird so I did not post it.   You just have to come and see him for yourself.  This pelican was definitely well fed and hard to miss....kind of like Larry.  More on Larry later.  This refuge is good place for plenair painters and bird watchers alike.

We headed out of the refuge and back onto the main road out to Captiva.  Again on the paved path for a good part of the way out there we rode five miles into the town of Captiva and riding through Blind Pass which is nothing more than aroadway with an S curve and a beach on the left.  There was no bike path on our side of the road so it felt a little dangerous riding the roadway but we safely arrived in Captiva.

There is a definite difference between Sanibel and Captiva.   Captiva is more upscale, busy but not as much as Sanibel and there is an air of upper class not seen or felt in Sanibel.  The homes of Captiva are beautiful, large and expensive and more secluded.  

We arrived in town and decided to continue on to the end of the island and the beach area and would head to coffee shop on the return.  Captiva Beach is non descript and much like any of the other Florida beaches.  We stayed just minutes and headed back for coffee.   It was getting hot and it would be good to take a break before fighting a headwind on the way home.

Boy....I have to say the coffee shop was overrated.  Not one I would go back to anytime soon.  Here are some photos of the rest stop.

Cheesy shot

Even cheesier!  Just in case you didn't recognize the second face....that's Bruce!

You can get this coffee anywhere.

Our newest guest rider...Matt....who joined us today.  He lives near Everglades City but goes back to Buffalo...could you guess he's from Buffalo?.....so that he can work at Letchworth State Park as a park ranger in upstate NY.  It's called the Grand Canyon of the east.  What a life!  He looks pretty happy to me.

Here is a link to Letchworth

http://nysparks.com/parks/79/details.aspx


While we were at the coffee shop Bob ...Mr. Personality...struck up a conversation with two ladies who were enjoying their morning brew.  They told him of another way back through Sanibel which would be a bit longer but quieter and away from the traffic.   I listened in on the conversation and knew enough about the roads they recommended to give it a try on the way home.

We stopped for some last photos of Captiva

The Boys.  Handsome aren't they?

The PFW SW-FL contingent.  Of course Dennis Whitney and Bob Wood are missing. 


As it turns out it was a great alternate route back right to the causeway.  It was Gulf Shore Drive and took us by some of the residences and hotels.  Of course there was a bike path which made the ride back very enjoyable.

We crossed back over the causeway and got into our cars for the 40 minute ride to my home for the post ride BBQ.   When I arrived back...with Matt following....Don Sprague and his wife Judy were already here and since I wasn't home they explored the town a bit.  They said they were impressed!  We were lucky enough to arrive earlier than the 2 PM BBQ start time so we quickly showered and I also got to walk the girls before the other guests arrived.

My family.  They are pretty spoiled but were apprehensive when all the guests arrived.  The house is usually so quiet I don't think they knew what to make of all the people.



It was great to have everyone here.  Unfortunately Dennis and his wife and Bob Wood and his wife had company and were unable to join us.  I did invite my neighbors who also lived in NJ near Cherry Hill.  They are a big part of my life now and they often invite me for dinner and they help with walking the girls when I go on longer cycling rides.

Here are some photos from the BBQ

Don and Judy

Bob Smith.  Doesn't he look relaxed?   His wife Meg was a big help with the BBQ and was probably in the kitchen cleaning up when I took this photo.

Bruce and Diane

Matt....our grill master

Angela and John...my neighbors from NJ.  Meg, Bob's wife is finally enjoying the BBQ.

And finally.......

Larry the Pelican.   He is my newest patio friend who I picked up at a yard sale!  He watched everyone enjoying themselves.  I say good morning to him every morning.  I consider him part of the family too.


A nice time was had by all and the BBQ finally broke up around 5:30.   It was a nice way to end the day of cycling....with food and temperatures in the mid 80's.  Thank you all for attending, bringing food, smiles and lots of laughter.  I will truly miss the non resident NJ folks when they all head back home.