Cabbage Key

Steps up to water tower platform
They're serious about saving water!
Water tower with osprey nest on top
The main house and restaurant
Garbage day at the key
Approaching the key
Beautiful bush
The mosquitoes own this path!
We jumped on another weather window to get back towards the mainland. This time we weren't
disappointed in the wind. We were able to sail over 90% of the way back. The wind started
to fade after sunrise so we were able to fly the spinnaker for the first time this trip. We
only had to motor about 7 hours of the entire trip and most of that was maneuvering around
channels. We had planned to head back to Fort Myers beach but the wind took us to Boca
Grande pass. We wanted to visit Cabbage Key anyway so it worked out well. We ended up
staying at the dock there. We thought we would be able to refill our tanks and pump out but
it was not to be. The key is a privately owned collection of cottages, trails and other
amenities. It was once a family's winter haven but now is open to those wanting to
experience the old Florida. Water comes from a well and supply boat so it is a precious
commodity. The sign at the shower house is not a joke! They also don't want to take your
trash since that also involves a big expense for them. We did enjoy a great dinner and
breakfast in the restaurant and met more interesting characters. We planned to climb the
tower and walk the paths before we left but only made the tower climb. We walked less than
200 yards down the path before we were swarmed by mosquitoes! You'd think we were in the
north woods! We didn't expect them to be so thick at 8 am. We beat a hasty retreat and
decided to cast off for our next destination-back to Venice YC.