The resort was at the very northern tip of Ft. Myers Beach and a short walk to a park that covered the top of the island. Sucker was PINK..either because the name was The Pink Shell or because the owner had stock in Pepo-Bismol? Despite the color it was a heck of a place to make base camp. Three heated pools, great breakfast and flat ON the beach.
Looking south down the beach from the hotel toward
the pier and Times Square (village not unlike Gatlinburg
before the tattoo parlors but still with Rebel Corner)were
less than a half a mile walk. Easy because when the tide was out the beach ran almost to Texas.
Looking north from the resort was the park and
off to the left Captiva. Reportedly folks
loved the shelling and after the tide went out
many were seen humped over looking for them.
Years ago after after a Florida tide went out all
you found were panties, condoms (too soggy for re-use), and beer cans. All
gone now, very VERY clean beaches!
At the far end of Captiva were two good
beaneries. The first was the Mucky Duck.
Off the wall "shack" elegance with some
really good food. Outside an "Island" guy
was entertaining on the pans, trumpet, guitar,
and flute.
The man (too old to be called a dude) could play anything on any of his instruments mixing
Duke Ellington with Jimmy B. Lots of folks
came off the sand about sundown (a major event on Captiva)
and enjoyed several adult beverages while listing to
this guy.
The beaches
on Captiva were withoutcommerce as in hotels, T Shirt shacks,and
Surf Shops.. miles of really nice sand
with multimillion dollar homes
hidden just behind the flora and
fauna.
Another place near the Duck
that defied description but dished out
some really good grits (yep they had one
grit on the menu) was
the Bubble Room.
Staff dressed in Boy Scout uniforms (had to
deep six the official badges cause the real
scouts got pissed at their uniforms being
worn by those who served adult beverages)
and thousands of toys covering the walls, floors and
shadowboxed into the tables took dinning
to a new level. Flaming cheese (no not a
THING to do with an alternate lifestyle)
BUBBLE BREAD and a tray of goodies
after the meal that gave several servers
hernias make this place special. Off season
(the summer) it packs out just at sunset, rest of
the time it is always crowded.
Just a few more pictures starting
with the lab at Tom Edision's
summer home in Ft. Myers
Edision's house
Beach outside the suite at Ft. Myers
Boats for rent
across the street from the resort.
Sunset cruise coming in
on Captiva. Guy was singing
Jimmy B's Lovely Cruise and
he sounded just like Mr. B!
EARLY morning..thunder heads....
dock....sun up..
Calm on the back bay at
Ft. Myers
Elderly HIPPIES
love to ride the beach
