Integrity Cruise

Day 261 - Pelican Bay to Cabbage Key and back

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Day 261: Thursday, January 12th: Yes, we did a round trip again. This morning we awoke to thick, thick fog. It was the first fog we have had in a while and normally would have burned off by about 9:30am, but it was still thick at 11:30 today; take a look:

We had planned to leave about 11:00 am, stop at Cabbage Key for a "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and cruise on to Cape Coral, FL and anchor. The total travel time would be about five hours, plus an hour for lunch, to arrive by dusk. Cool plan.

Well, the fog burned off about 12:30pm which put us too late to make Cape Coral. We pulled anchor and went to Cabbage Key anyway for lunch. Going into the harbor we had this view. That's the restaurant to the left and the "boathouse" to the right (notice how nice and clear the day has become):

We were assigned the slip on the right next to the dark blue boat:

Perhaps some explanation is in order. In 1929, Alan Rinehart and Grace Houghton Rinehart bought the island of Cabbage Key (100 acres for $2,500). They built their "summer home" here ($125,000). Needless to say, the estate is worth countless millions today, and is operated as a resort. The restaurant is sort of rustic, and is reported to be the place where Jimmy Buffet was moved to write the song "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

It's also a tradition for visitors to sign a dollar bill and stick it to the ceiling or wall. That way, if they ever come back, they won't be broke. The tradition goes on, and people come here to have a cheeseburger and some fun. The burger is good, but, without the lore, would not be so popular.

This is the outdoor dining at the Cabbage Key restaurant:

And the dollar bills inside are stuck on everything:

Us…thanks to a nearby diner:

We both had a cheeseburger (that's why we came), although we have been here before with our next-door neighbors, Vince and Jane. Here is Vince enjoying his 'burger in May 2004. Yes, it is a two-hander!

On our way back down the path to the boat, we spotted these turtles (terrapins?) in a discussion about the condition of the burrow. The fellow on the right was bobbing and weaving his head and stomping around for some reason:

We got underway and headed back the five miles to the anchorage at Pelican Bay behind Cayo Costa, where we have been for the last three nights.

We were still so full at suppertime that we skipped eating. Another nice day in paradise! The high today was about 80 degrees.

Position tonight: N26 41.074 W082 14.501

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