Mainland Florida held the promise and anticipation of connecting with many old friends, some quite unexpected. While in the Keys I was on a text thread with a bunch of guys wishing each other Happy Holidays when one of the guys reached out. “Where are you”? Mile marker thirty eight in the Florida Keys, I replied. Not sure who had asked but I was sure they were jealous as I had posted a picture of our campsite decorated for the holidays in the feed.

Some time had passed and I was leaving the marina at Sunshine Key headed back to our campsite when I received a phone call. The phone display read, Fort Myers, Florida. I answered expecting a telemarketing call.

In a friendly voice the caller said, “Hello, this is Ghassan, friends with Dusty, I used to come into your bar in Costa Mesa, CA. How are you”? I was ninety percent sure I knew exactly who it was but over twenty years had passed since we had last seen each other. He said, “we live in Fort Myers’s and if you are coming this way we would love to see you and I would like to give you and your family a beach day”. A beach day, what do you mean a beach day, I asked?. “I run a water adventure company on the end of Captiva Island, we offer parasailing, wave runner tours and stand up paddling, in addition to a beautiful beach, I want to host your family for a day at the beach”.

I was standing alone in the marina parking lot surrounded by boat trailers looking around to see if there were hidden cameras as it seemed I was in the middle of an American Express commercial. I was taken by surprise and completely humbled by his generous offer. It was the end of December and I let him know we would be heading his way the second week of February. He said to give him a call when we were getting close. I hung up the phone still blown away at his offer. I went back to camp excited to tell the family. We reconnected through Facebook and a flood of memories filled my head as I looked through his feed in anticipation of our visit.

The toll bridge landed us on the causeway between the mainland and Sanibel Island. On our way over the bridge we couldn’t help but notice the color of the water. It was poo brown, yuck. Our dreams of clear tropical water were dashed.  We pulled off next to the water, got out to stretch our legs and call Ghassan to let him know we were in town. As I watched the family comb the shoreline I got him on the phone.  We were both excited to see one another. As we spoke he said, “make sure you don’t go in the water!” What? Due to excessive rains in January and February the Florida water authority had drained Florida’s largest Lake Okeechobee, to provide flood relief. The result was millions of gallons of water making it’s way into the gulf picking up pollutants along the way. As bad as the water was at Sanibel Island, Captiva Island to the north was not as affected. Ghassan gave us directions to his house and we made our way there to set up our coach for a couple days.

We arrived a bit late, settled in and got to know his young family. Keeping everyone up too late as our kids bonded we finally made it to bed in anticipation of our day on the beach. This area was never on our radar until Ghassan brought it to our attention. We were so glad he did because there is so much to explore in this part of the world.

What, there’s more?

Our tour guide, Captain Eli took us on an adventure north of Captiva Island along the gulf and back through the inter coastal waterway. Along the way we made several stops while he shared information about the area and it’s history. A few highlights being a recent shipwreck in the gulf, Pine Island, the ice houses and cabbage key. This area while developed still feels isolated and wild.

After parasailing, a jet ski tour of the area and a private tour of the South Seas Island Resort our heads were spinning. We capped the night off with our friends around a campfire complete with smores in our hosts front yard. Once again we giggled ourselves to sleep counting our blessings, grateful for our friends and our day. Josie, thank you for your great company and taking such good care of Charlie while we were goofing off all day. If your ever in south / west Florida visit Sanibel and Captiva Islands, it shouldn’t be missed.