Pine Island

2/26/22

We moved on to our next spot, which was just recently reserved at a KOA park.  We were in a conundrum a week ago.  Looking ahead at our reservations, in order to secure a spot for the weekend we had found a state park, Highlands Hammock.  But it was just 2 nights, and not in the area that our route would be taking us.  We couldn't extend at either of the parks before nor after the weekend.  We did find this last minute 2-nighter at the Fort Myers/Pine Island KOA which aligned better with our route, so we weighed the higher price at the KOA against the 119 miles each way to Highlands Hammock.  Pine Island won that one.  Gas being about $3.50/gall, and getting almost all of our fee back from the State Park, helped swing the needle.  After driving to our new campground, we're very happy to be here.  Pine Island is a small island just off the coast from Fort Meyers.  It seems like this is a low key spot, without crowds.  We've only explored the southern part of the island so far, but have only seen small hotels and restaurants.  The pastel colors of beach houses are the theme here, even the Dollar General has the island theme!

We ate a great dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant, overlooking the canals coming in from the Gulf.  We had a very good grouper basket and fish and chips.  Both rated 2 thumbs up!

2/27/22

We went for a bike ride this morning that was a nicely paved route along the main road that runs north/south on this island.  We really enjoy riding our ebikes.  And it's so flat here!  Instead of gravel for parking areas and roads, they use crushed seashells!  And we saw a different kind of pine tree on this ride, the needles are really fine and have little nodes along them.  I hope that shows up in the picture of them.  They are very soft and drape from the branches, kind of like a weeping willow.  Bob looked for it in his reference and it might be the lob lolly pine.

I keep putting pictures of our trailer in here, not because I'm completely obsessed with it, but because it helps me later to remember the campgrounds!  Although I am a wee bit in love with it!