Well past the halfway point how, and into some warm weather unmarred by chilly blasts. Also we all seem to be well. It’s Tuesday, and Barb, Roger and Dot have been absent since 11am, apparently calling at Starbucks on the way to repeating my Redfish Pass walk. Poured with rain first thing, but once that moved on the air was warm, and the breeze likewise. Would have gone on the walk too, but my metabolism isn’t suited to early-morning walks, and it turned out to be a wise decision. Instead went to dock and beach, checking on reported high tide two foot above normal. Eventually realised that this would only bring the water halfway up the beach anyway, so plumped for the dock, where the water was certainly the highest I’ve seen it, but not in any danger of coming over the top. The only problem water-wise was the deep puddle left by the rain across the entrance to Sunset Captiva, but I scrambled round that on the way out and returned by a slightly circuitous route involving the Chapel by the Sea. Incidentally have finally discovered the right address for this place, courtesy of a letter from the US Census this morning. Obviously I can’t reveal what it is.
Saturday was the low point for Roger and Barb: both were flaked out on the sofa. In the end Dot and I got a sandwich from the deli, and brought in a Bubble Room desert for Roger. We watched the Olympic curling final, won by Canada against Norway in pretty convincing fashion.
On Sunday Roger was still pretty bad, so the three of us still on our feet walked down the beach to Tween Waters, at which point I returned for the car while they continued to Blind Pass. I picked them up there and we continued on to Sanibel, where we bought some medicine for Roger and some ice creams for us – superb black cherry in waffle cone for me. Later Dot and I walked over to the dock and on to the gift shop and then Starbucks, where I had a caramel cider drink, which would have been nice if it had been about a quarter of the sweetness. While there we witnessed (or to be more accurate, I heard) a car park collision. Just dents, but as one guy put it, “that’s the end of our day”. When we left (after I had posted cards round the corner) the police/security people still hadn’t arrived. Later we returned to the deli by car with Barb to get a sandwich. Watched The Human Stain (on DVD) and Proof (on TV). Both were good films, but in the first Nicole Kidman was too young and pretty. and in the second Gwyneth Paltrow was too wimpishly annoying. This was a warmer day, but still with a sharp wind.
Yesterday was a big improvement, both in health and weather. There was still a touch of cold breeze, but hardly enough to notice. We started out at the Lighthouse Cafe, the did the tour of the Ding Darling nature reserve. Not quite as much wildlife activity as last time, and no sign of alligators, but still an impressive place. More bird activity later on the dock, where a fisherman was inundated by pelicans, a heron and an egret while gutting his catch. Finished the first Randy Wayne White book, which was good but not one of his best, then ended the day at the Mucky Duck. We had a 75-minute wait which turned out to be very pleasant – chatted to two women from Minnesota – then had a cheeseburger. Afterwards went to video shop on Sanibel and then watched Amelia, which was quite good but not riveting.
The other three have just got back, and Barb, Dot and I are about to drive over to Sanibel. Roger is resting – sensible man.