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Published: February 17th 2012
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The Hippie Van
Tie-dyed 6 inch shag carpeting on the floor of this fun van! The owner is very proud of its original features and let me sit in the driver's seat! We are once again staying at the KOA on the St. James City side of Pine Island. Pine Island has no traffic lights, a four way stop in the center of the island is a BIG reference point. Turn right from Matlacha Road onto Stringfellow and you go north toward Pineland and Bokeelia. Turn left onto Stringfellow and you head toward St. James City.
There is no beach; there are no condos; there are no crowds to speak of. So what brings us back to Pine Island time after time? The good eats listed in the previous blog are part of the answer; but Joanne and Wes don’t live by bread alone! We’re attracted to Pine Island’s laid back, unhurried, artsy (visual and performing) culture!
We appreciate (since we still both work) that our PC’s and mobile phones connect without interruption. We feel comfortable in the KOA / Encore RV resort – it’s not fancy, but it’s friendly and complete with a pool, hot tub, laundry, library, store (with ice cream case), and occasional community events like dinners, games and entertainment in the club house.
This
Get Ready For the Kayak Tour
We loved our eco tour with Eldon from Pint Island Paddling! is the second time that we have been on the island for the annual Pine Island Art Association Fine Arts Show & Sale. We ran into Joanna Bowles, a local artist whom we met in November. She had already sold one painting from the show and showed us three amazing water color botanicals and a self portrait. Her work is wonderful –Cameras are not allowed at this show or I would share. This is an indoor, two day show; free to the public. Each exhibiting artist submits 6 "minis" to be sold for $10 each to raise money for their group (for master class lessons and scholarships). Wes and I bought three minis. One of mine was a painting of a clothesline by a woman, Marilyn Hedlund, whose work was judged best in show for watercolors. I'm posting a photo of our purchases.
It was Creative Coast Weekend - sort of like "Art Night" in Pine Island. We heard the Yard Dogs at the Fish House and Matlacha Crackers Cafe. We bought a book from a local author, Nancy Leake, at Harborside Consignment Gallery in Matlacha, and we went to a fund raiser concert at
Colorful Signage at Jug Creek
It would be extra fun to go boat camping in this area. Bokeelia Cracker Cafe featuring Sunny Jim White of Margaritaville Radio fame.
We celebrated Valentine's Day with a great meal and a fine sunset on the deck at the Waterfront. Raw oysters (fresh and juicy), chowder, Caesar salads with grilled shrimp, and a pitcher of sangria satisfied as the sun slipped away. Waterfront is on the Monroe Canal, which is dotted with nice homes most of which have docks and boat lifts. It’s a lifestyle that we could take on easily.
Eldon from Pine Island Paradise Paddling took us on an eco Kayak tour of the St. James Creek estuary. What was promoted as a 2 hour tour at $35 each turned into at least 3 hours of quiet birding and unspoiled scenery. Eldon treated us to homemade gingersnaps and honey bell oranges. He supplied everything we needed (even water) and went out of his way to make us comfortable. We highly recommend Pine Island Paradise Paddling. They also outfit for the fairly new sport of stand up boarding.
We nabbed a delish pizza and a couple of draughts on our last PI night at the
Ragged A_ _ Saloon. A bar crowd of colorful local people shared snippets of gossip about the antics of a few college girls the night before at the Waterfront that made TV news. A fun round of a game called the "Meat Raffle" highlighted the grand finale.
Moving from one camp site to another requires a bit of unhooking, storing a few table lamps and moveable items and being sure all the outdoor stuff – chairs, pool toys, camp stove, outdoor lights, etc. are stowed in bins below the rig. No packing up the fridge, clothes, bedding, etc. it all goes with us so it’s a relatively easy transition. Heading for Sarasota. A week at Sun N Fun RV Resort and a week at Turtle Beach (right on the beach) at Siesta Key. Sorry to leave PI; but always LOVE Sarasota.
Hope you like the blog and feel free to share it. Its purpose is to let travelers – armchair and real - know about some of the less well known aspects of Florida travel. I think there is a way to rate the photos if you are so inclined. I think
The Yard Dogs in the Fish House Yard
Brian, Charlie & Kip! They call it Swamp Music - the set started with Jambalaya Craw Fish Fry Fillet Gumbo! the Anginga in this post is pretty special. More photos are posted after the following “jump!” Happy trails!
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