Friday November 18th 2016

Last night I checked the time of low tide on Sanibel Island. My plan was to check out the shell hunting on the world famous beaches of Sanibel Island. It wasn’t to be today. I got started late around 10AM which coincided with the time of low tide. Then my confusion about the area roads bit me again.

I knew from my map study that I had to get off Interstate 75 before the airport and head west. I expected the road signs to indicate Sanibel Island as one of the destinations at the exit. I found very little indications of destinations on the highway signs. Most just contained the name of the road or route number at the exit. It turns out I exited the interstate one exit to far south. This wouldn’t have been to bad except that the road looped around to the east and entered the airport. I looped around through the airport and then went an additional exit south on the interstate looking for a road west. At this point I didn’t know I was to far south. When I reached US 41 I had another choice of north or south. Again I chose the wrong direction. I went south.

The last time I was in this area was 2013. I stayed at a motel on US 41 south of Fort Meyers. I recognized the motel when I passed it and knew I was too far south. Plan B was to go to the gulf beaches in Bonita Springs. I found the road to Bonita Beach and successfully found the Gulf of Mexico in the gaps between buildings. I turned the car north looking for a beach access. Every now and then a sign indicated a public beach access. Unfortunately, each access only had two or three parking spaces each of which were taken. I kept driving north toward Fort Meyers Beach looking for an access.

Fort Meyers Beach has a special event going on. The 30th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship started today through the 27th of November. Once the sculptures are complete this might be a fun event. I’m guessing that opening day isn’t the best day to tour the event. Like yesterday in downtown Fort Meyers, the inexpensive parking was taken and event parking was $10 near the beach. Further north, major road construction had concrete barriers down the middle of the road. I couldn’t get across the barriers to enter the few available beach access parking lots.

I enjoyed my drive north along the Gulf Coast. It would have been better if I could have wandered the beach a little, but I was off the barrier island area before I knew it. I still wasn’t far enough north to reach the access road to Sanibel Island. The route I was on inland did intersect the correct road, but it was more than 3 hours past low tide when I reached the decision point for the turn. I chose to come back another day. Looking for shells in a rapidly rising tide doesn’t sound like a very successful task. The good news is I followed the road back to the interstate. I know how to get to the island the next time.

Afternoon visitors to my campsite.

Egrets hanging out on the far bank.

A gator in the river.

Another egret feeding on the bank in the setting sun.

The campground was quiet this afternoon. Many people left this morning and the replacements didn’t arrive until almost night fall. I’m guessing they are from the local area in for the weekend or maybe the holiday week.