Visitors from Chicago - Days 105 to 107 - Captiva, FL

We expected to have a great time when Steve, Becky, Dakota and Nathaniel visited and the weekend exceeded our expectations.  It was terrific.

Note: Steve and Becky Betts are former neighbors who we have known for 12 years.  Dakota was born when they lived in our complex and we fell in love with her.  Then they moved to Glenview where Nathaniel was born and our love affair continued with him.  We consider them family.

The weekend started off on Friday when we met them at the Fort Myers airport at 10:00 PM.  We literally arrived at the airport moments before they finished getting their luggage.  We then drove them back to South Seas Island Resort and deposited them at their Tennis Villa.

We met on Saturday morning and the first order of business was playing with Kodi.  Then a walk of the beach and lunch at the pool.

Happy people on a beautiful day

Dakota and Kodi exploring the beach

Nathaniel and Diana talking at lunch (at the pool)

Saturday's special event for Dakota and Nathaniel was Sea School from 1 to 4 PM, where the kids got a hands on exposure to the local wildlife while Steve and Becky got to play tennis. 

The Sea School

Dakota holding a life starfish

Nathaniel holding a live conch cell

Making clay models of sea creatures

Steve and I started playing backgammon and after two games the score was Steve 2, Les 1. Then Marshall and Brenda joined us for cocktails on Guided Discovery.  We opened one of my few remaining bottles of Mount Veeder 2005 Cabernet Savingnon and enjoyed conversation on the back of the boat.  Dinner was at the Mucky Duck.

Marshall took this great photo

We had a 40 minute wait for a table for 8, which was quite pleasant.  We sat outside under heat lamps, which made it very pleasant and had cocktails while we listened to live music.  There was even a game for the kids to play.

Diana and Kodi watching the "tree game"

Sunday started off with a dingy ride.  Dakota helped me launch the dingy and then Dakota, Nathaniel Becky and I went for a ride out to Redfish Pass.  Dakota drove part of the way and then Nathaniel decided, for the first time, that he would drive.  We spent the next few minutes helping Nathaniel steer the boat straight to a desired location.  He got on fast.  Then Dakota took over and expertly piloted the boat up to Guided Discovery.

Then we Dakota, Nathanial and Steve went swimming, which included playing on the water slides.  It looked like so much fun that I went back to the boat and got my bathing suit.   I did the slide four times and swam with the kids in the heated pool.  It was great.

Lunch at the pool was followed by a Dolphin Cruise on a Santiva.  I was going to joke with the Captain that we should get our money back if there were no dolphins.  No luck.  The dolphins started chasing us as soon as we left the dock.  I suspect they have them under contract.


Santiva's sister ship

 

Becky, Steve, Nathaniel and Dakota waiting for departure

Their other boat, the Lady Chadwick was out as they had lots of people wanting to see the dolphins.  As the two boats cruised on parallel courses we watched the dolphins in the Lady's wake.

We loved the dolphin cruise

After seeing a large number of dolphins we cruised by South Seas Island Resort and the through Redfish Pass where we explored the Gulf side of Northern Captiva, an island that was once part of Captiva and which was severed in a 1921 Category 5 hurricane.

Redfish Pass was created by a 1921 Category 5 Hurricane

South Seas Island Resort

We learned that the houses on northern Captiva have no electricity and are only used as vacation homes.  They can only be reached by boat.

Houses on Northern Captive as viewed from the Gulf

View of the docks from the Pine Island Sound

Luxury home just outside Captive City Center

We visited the Bubble Room and then had dinner at Holy Smoke.

Steve and I ended the evening by downloading photos and finishing our backgammon match.  We agreed on a five point match and continued playing from where we left off.  Two games later the match ended; Les 5, Steve 2.  Perhaps that is why I felt the weekend was so terrific.  Steve usually beats me at whatever we play.

Written by Les.