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Published: December 19th 2012
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Pine Island feels like home. We have been coming back for at least two visits each year for the past seven years! The KOA/Encore/Thousand Trails RV Park is friendly and relaxing. This time back we were thrilled to find a new hot tub and a newly enlarged, paved and landscaped pool deck. We never left the island at all this trip. The funky Matlacha shops, familiar restaurants, chatting at the pool, reading up a storm and occasional a piece of client work kept us occupied and satisfied for over a week.
You’ll find our other Pine Island Blogs by hitting the previous button a few times. I’m working hard at not being repetitious when writing about this oft visited island. This trip started out with a 12-12-12 party at the Low Key Tiki with the great local duo, Gary & Kerri, was a great way to dive in to “Pine Island mode.” Great weather, lively (friendly) crowd, great burgers (it can't always be seafood)!
One of the islands foodie bargains would have to be the $.25 (yes, a quarter each) oysters at the bar at Reds. Aw shucks, week days only for this deal which
Santa in the Stern!
We sat on the porch with the owners of TowUS (a triple A sort of service for boaters) and watched the boat parade get "staged!"
is only available Monday - Thursday from 4-6pm.
We were so glad to be here on a Monday evening for Yard Dog Charlie's Mardi Gras Monday and $3.50 Margaritas at Woody's Waterside, 3051 Stringfellow Rd., St. James City. Important aside; the Yard Dogs as we have known and loved them have suffered a break up; mutual and friendly but “over” according to Charlie.
We ordered Pizza from the Ragged Ass Saloon one night and ate in the Motor Home! The RA's pizza is thin and crispy; absolutely the best on the island. We surprised ourselves with breakfast at the RA. Hobo’s (with famed Jackie at the grill) was closed on Monday so it was “Country Benny” for Wes and French toast for me. Country Benny is like Eggs Benedict with fried chicken replacing the Canadian bacon; and sausage gravy in place of the Hollandaise. All in all right up Wes’s alley!
Oysters and Grouper bites as we watched the Bokeelia Lighted Boat Parade finish up at the Lazy Flamingo at the Four Winds Marina. After which, we learned that AAA makes service calls to Pine Island from Cape Coral.
The Jeep was displaying something of a warning; and we really didn't want to be broken down on H. Stringfellow at night.
Many Florida communities have lighted boat parades during the Hols and PI is no exception. Two were staged at the same time on the same evening. We chose the Bokeelia Yacht Club’s parade and have posted some photos from the staging area. Other boater/RVers will find the DIY project “Boat A Home” of interest. It’s a jazzed up pontoon boat that doubles as an RV when it’s on its trailer. You have to see it to believe it!
Our most elegant evening (I even wore the dress I picked up at the free trade shop in St. Augustine) was our dinner at the Tarpon Lodge with Sister Kaite at the keyboard. We sent her a Stella and during her break we learned about the sailboat near Stan’s in Goodland that she and her husband call home! Tarpon Lodge has an outstanding executive chef with three other chefs sharing duties in the kitchen. Our meals were wonderful. We moved to the bar after dinner to hear more of Kait’s original songs
Lazy Flamingo
This Bokeelia restaurant, located adjacent to the Four Winds Marina, has the freshest seafood. Docks for a group of "boataminiums" signal the good life!
and chatted with a couple from Germany who were staying at the inn.
On our last night, the plan is to jeep to Matlacha Micelli’s to enjoy great Italian food and music by "Man Down" (Soapbox Girls)!
On Thursday the Jeep goes in for repairs; the RV gets "de-crumbed" (we are careful not to invite rodents and ants) and put into storage and the wonderful Pine Island Taxi will come and whisk us to the Fort Myers Airport (almost an hour away) and on home to Ballston Lake for Christmas. We'll reverse the process in early February! Ta ta Pine Island!
Details:
KOA Campground, 5120 H. Stringfellow Road, St. James City - $30/night plus check in fee and tax for a $36.63 total (off season rate). Full hook ups, great pool, hot tub, library, side trips, occasional social events with music. It's probably our 14th visit here; so needless to re-state the obvious! Next time back, we might avail ourselves of some of the trips and special events offered at the park. Pool aerobics, a bus trip to Sanibel, catching a local band in the club house, BINGO
Lovegrove Gallery
So, the surprise this year is that there is a "tip jar" sort of thing collecting $1 to go from the wonderful shop/gallery to the "canal side 'botanical' garden!" A gal has to make a living!
or a pool party come to mind. Stay tuned!
BTW, our Garmin doesn't recognize "Stringfellow Road," preferring the more formal "H. Stringfellow. Also, one little short coming of Pine Island is the “no seeums.” A fairly effective (but pricy at 10 bucks) spray is available at the KOA camp store. One other niggling feature is that PI is lacking in PBS reception!
If you are planning a trip to Pine Island, grab the latest issue of the free publication "The Pine Island Eagle." It will get you around the island and put you on notice re: what band is where and dining specials.
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OffOurRocker
Charlie & Kerry
Have a good Xmas at home. We'll still be in the Keys through February, doing the three S's -- softball, snorkeling and seafood. If you get down that far in February, let us know.