Cabbage Key

 Decongestants seem to be controlling the worst affects of the red tide so we're pressing on from Charlotte Harbor to Ft. Meyers.  This is a particularly beautiful stretch of the waterway.  We usually like to go into Pelican Bay and go ashore at Cayo Costa State Park, but it is still closed from the bay side due to extensive hurricane damage.  We hope it's open on our way back to the Panhandle.  We did stop at another favorite place, Cabbage Key.  It is an historic place that successive owners have worked hard to preserve it's natural beauty while welcoming thousands of visitors every year.  The island has taken a hit with each hurricane but after nearly 100 years, they have figured out how to minimize damage and get back up and running quickly.  The only way to reach the island is by ferry or private boat.  All supplies must be boated over daily and all the detritus of running an inn and restaurant sent back to the mainland.  The water is supplied by a well pumped up into an iconic water tower.  The trails have been cleared and are always fun to walk and see what's new.  Cabbage Key is a place to visit and spend some time.  

A view from the inn's porch looking down to 

the marina and boathouse.

Looking up at the in and restaurant from the dinghy area.

Lots of cabbage palms on Cabbage Key.

This weird looking cactus grows up into 

bushes and trees.  You can see two tendril

hanging from a top tier of the palm.

The afternoon we visited, it was very crowded.

we were lucky to find a sliver of a spot to

park the dinghy.  They have a long dock for bigger

boats that come for a meal along with several slips

for overnight visitors.

The island has numerous gopher tortoises.

They are classified as an endangered species and

these seem to have a good life here.

Looking across the ICW to Useppa Island.  We 

are anchored just off the island our of the way of 

other boat traffic, at least we hope so.

The water tower is solidly built.  It has 

survived numerous hurricanes since it

was built in the 1930s.

A bunch of steps to reach great views.

One of the draws of the inn is the Money Room

in the restaurant.  The current estimate is about $70,000

on every wall and pillar in the room.

One of the newly graded and cleared pathways.

There were a lot of seashells on trees and bushes along

the paths but this one was really loaded!