Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006--Finally a bright and sunny day in Florida, after a rainy Christmas. We took a day off from packing Doug and Matt's belongings for their move, and headed for Sanibel Island, a barrier island off the Gulf Coast that is a tourist destination.
Our first stop was the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, above. The keeper's house and surroundings are maintained by the local island government, and the light is still operated by the Coast Guard. It is not open for tours, but the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce had decorated it for Christmas.
Then Norm and I joined the people who were shelling on the beach. It was a rare noon low tide, and there were lots of lovely shells to pick up. Norm found one that is unusual, and I just picked up the pretty purple and yellow ones!
Also living on the beach was this pair of ospreys, who were nesting and apparently feeding some young at the top of a tall platform near the lighthouse.
At the "point" of Sanibel, just beyond the lighthouse itself, I observed the tide coming in at a 90-degree angle from both the left and right. I have no idea if this is unique to Sanibel, if it is rare or if it happens at all islands, but it seemed noteworthy. Ft. Myers is in the distance.
After shelling on the beach, in a very brisk and cool wind, we set out to find lunch and ate at a place called the Hungry Heron, aptly named. We would recommend it. Once full, we were ready to head for the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, to see what else we could see.
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