We got up early and headed to Sanibel Island across the bay at Ft Myers We passed a coast guard boat named Crocodile or Alligator cant remember but it is the first one i have seen named like that.Nice little trek across the bay and anchored out outside some very pretty houses and close to the inlet we are going to dinghy into. We waited to make sure the anchor held good then dropped the dinghy and headed into the inlet. Surprisingly the marina and restaurant were very close on our left/port side and a wonderful man came out and helped us tie up and directed us over to Grandma Dots restaurant. It being mothers day there was a waiting line for about 30 min or so. We were seated inside right by the door(i mean the door was right by my back) lol. It was such a cool little place and our waitress advised us it was under new ownership. The food was good and we enjoyed the atmosphere. The outside patio with tables looked like a garden area. There were some bronze dolphins and the bathrooms were outside with very nice tile and shower inside. We read we could leave our dinghys there and ride our bikes into town. So we took our bikes with Andrea and Barry on their scooters and headed to the end of the island. We came to a lighthouse near the beach entrance with hundreds of people on the beach cooking out swimming eating and having a great time. We walked a little ways on the beach and then rode our bikes back to the pier area where a small boy was throwing a fish net, practicing catching fish while the white ibis were waiting to be thrown a fish or two. A big dog was there and stood by Steve and Barry as they looked over the rail as if saying, “whatcha lookin at?”. We rode on around the island toward the other end taking the back road with great bike riding trails, sidewalk and road provided for bikes and scooters. Sanibel is very bike friendly. And it is soooo pretty! Passing a purple tennis court and tennis courts of bahama blue dark blue outlined with light blue teal and many other colors and styles as we rode. SO many tennis courts! Many cute bridges and beach entrances neat and clean with no trash here. We rode the whole island coming out close to a restaurant that is called, “The Island Cow” and ate there. It was good food but the ice cream place next door was YUK I asked for a Hot fudge Sundae with wet nuts(walnuts in syrup) she said she had them, and I received a bland bunch of vanilla ice cream with a little bit of fudge and chopped up dry peanuts YUK. It is no longer a family owned but big corp owned so YUK. Wait and go to the Dairy Queen on the island or JOEYS custard. The yukky place was called Pinocchios ice cream. Riding on we stopped at a little shop that had its stuff outside and some of the coolest shells, loved the place bought a couple of neat stone bracelets there. Over the cool bridges past lots of cute houses and back to the marina. I cannot describe all the beautiful natural places we went, trees leaning over the sidewalk, shady tree and plant covered areas with all kinds of little trails running through them(animal trails), pretty waterways as we went over the small bridges, just so pretty and quiet and peaceful. I will be back to this island again.Such friendly people willing to help you and a place to dock your dinghy!

Captains Log: Anchoring near the inlet at Sanibel has great holding.