February 16 and 17 - Keewaydin Island

February 16

We are not able to leave due to wind, so we got up and went shelling.  We passed a few people and went farther down the coast and found many treasures!  

In the morning, the beach is empty.

By about 9:00 a.m. boats come from everywhere and anchor on the beach.  Most of the boats are privately owned, but some are shelling tour boats, rental boats, and three pontoons selling ice cream, food, and alcohol.  Once the shelling boats leave, the shells are pretty much picked over.  We had a cheeseburger today for lunch.  

We were watching people slide off the front of their boats to the beach, but there was no ladder to help them get back into the boat from the beach.  People were climbing up motors, being pulled by others by their arms and legs, and asking for a "lift" from those of us on shore.  We can't believe they didn't have a ladder!  It would have been much easier.

We showered on the boat, had dinner, and had a relaxing evening.  

February 17

Kip was up before I was and watched the dolphins feeding.  I got up a bit later and we sat around and drank coffee, listened to music, and watched the world go by (which is really fun when the rental boats come in and attempt to anchor on the beach)!  We left the beach around noon and went back to Marco Island's Smokehouse Bay (using the shorter, shallower route) to get groceries and anchor out for the evening.  

After groceries we relaxed on the boat.  It is amazing how many boaters use this Bay and Kip watches every one of them go by (I was reading).  Kip took a short nap and when he got up, he asked this question "We have a dilemma.  Should we get ice cream before or after dinner?"  I started laughing, but he said "No, really, that is a serious question."  Ice cream for dinner won.  

Tomorrow we will check the wind and decide if we can safely start our trip to Evergreen City.