Pelican Bay
We arrived at our planned destination about 2 pm. Cayo Costa is about 15 miles off the mainland of Florida consisting of large areas of Mangrove swamps and low lying sandy keys. We rafted up with Razors Edge and Odyssey and let the last day of the year unfold. We were boat hopping with our dinghy (stopping by to say hi to other Looper boats) when we passed a boat anchored in the harbor. “Look”, I said to Sue, “there is another Heritage East just like our boat.”
Well before you know it they were waiving us on board as they had seen our boat earlier. We have rarely seen other Heritage East’s on the water. So we invited them back to the evenings festivities. Although nobody made it till midnight we all had a blast sharing tales and stories we had experienced on the Loop.
There was even a couple there that was on Day 1 of their Great Loop adventure along with three of us who recently earned the right to fly the Gold Burgee. Pelican bay is very serene teaming with wildlife. Many shore birds like pelicans and Ibis, alligators and loads of fish darting about in the shallows. It is great Dinghy territory with all kinds of nooks and crannies to explore. On New Year’s Day we went to a little known place called, “The Tunnel of Love.” Get you minds out of the gutter, will you? It is this shallow, narrow, over grown path thru the mangroves that leads to a secret lake which edges right up to a secluded beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
It is not a 101 dinghy trip. It involves ducking and pulling on the branches to claw your way thru all while trying to avoid hitting submerged logs in the water. Branches were host to all kinds of critters like black fiddler crabs, snakes and spiders. Yes, we saw them all. Not for the timid. The reward was a beautiful remote shell covered beach with standing dead cypress tree trunks.
Im sure most of us can barely remember but one or two truly memorable New Years Eve parties. This one will truly be a New Years Eve celebration we will never forget!
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