My Mom and a friend had come down for a week long visit and we'd done several things....
Ski-a-Rees show, out to dinner to several places, Van Wezel for a play and just visited. I'm sorry to say the entire week they were here our weather didn't cooperate very well....so Mom didn't get her beach time, but I think she still had a good time. They left on Thurs and we left on Sunday for our trip. But first, on Saturday nite we did a Publix cooking school Valentine's special....it was YUM, as always.
So cool how they have the TV's set up so you can watch everything.
They altered our menu just a bit, said the oysters didn't look good when they came in but we got a great Lobster and Crab Bisque instead...then some scallops with a roasted tomato vinaigrette and then......
Chateaubriand with Asparagus Risotto....this was amazing...
Our final course, I ate so fast I forgot the picture, was a flourless Chocolate Cake...oh wow!! As always, wine pairings and we left full and happy....always a good time.
Then Sunday morning, we were up and out and headed south. We had to drive about 2hrs to Pineland Marina to catch the charter boat over to Cabbage Key....no bridges to this island and no vehicles on the key...peace and quiet.....
We all piled in and off we went....these Pelicans were really all over the trees...the water is a bit cool still
So long Pine Isle for 2 days.....
These dolphin were having a ball jumping our wake.....
First glimpse of Cabbage Key....
The water marker so boats know where they are, there are lots of islands out here, and where the channel is....
He slowly went down the channel and since we had a cabin with a private dock, he let us out on our dock....cool...and there was our home for 2 nites.
Nice screened porch....2 bedrooms/2 baths, full kitchen.
We were going to be just fine.....the cabin was unlocked and waiting on us, on bother with keys...it was great.
We did walk down to the store at the dock and check in, but still no bother with keys. Lock yourself in at night, otherwise...no worries....love it.
The main marina/docks were busy. Lots of folks come here for lunch...supposedly Jimmy Buffet wrote Cheeseburger in Paradise after being here and having the burger...well, it is good...but we later heard he just "dedicated" the song to Cabbage Key...didn't write it here. He was good friends with one of the owners and used to come here to fish and relax and play a little...but they have not seen him lately.
We'd stopped an eaten at a small place on the water coming down so we just headed back to our dock...
And this is where we chilled the rest of the day....didn't leave the dock until dark.
The channel ran right in front of our dock...we waved, chatted and watched boats and birds all day.
Had many feathered friends visit our dock...you could tell folks fed them...which is really bad for them....we didn't, but they sure did hang around to find out.
All of a sudden...right over our heads and too fast for me to get a good pic a pontoon plane went over...I got a picture..but he was a bit far out, and he never came back, but that was cool
After a wonderful afternoon on our dock we cleaned up and headed for the only restaurant on the key for dinner....at this point you need to understand the history of Cabbage Key.
This show where it is.....
This tells you all about it...the Key has an interesting history. The Wells Family owns it now and has for 40yrs...except for one end and a house on that end spot....
Inside the restaurant are LOTS of $1 bills on the walls. This started many years ago when fisherman used to go out, catch fish, go sell it and come back to the key for a beer. Only sometimes there was no catch and no money for beer. So, they would put money on the wall with their name on it to pay for the beer if it had been a bad fishing day....that has grown into a novelty. The poles you can see are 2x4...they are that thick with money....
Even the bar area has money on the walls.
Because of the uniqueness of the Key..all employees wear this shirt...telling where they are and answering the most asked questions.....
They had a special Valentine's menu and we both had a wonderful dinner. Then by flashlight we headed back to our little cabin on the water for a peaceful nights rest. We had TV, but it was basic...who cares....our phones did work....but it was nice to be quiet.
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