3 Sep 08 Caladesi Island

Wednesday morning we were up early and ready for our boat ride to Caladesi Island at 10 am. As we were waiting to board, we met a woman who was going to the island for the day with her brother. She told us her husband passed away just two days prior and she needed a day on Caladesi Island. She said she and her husband came to Honeymoon Island in 1960 for their honeymoon, and never left. They found teaching jobs and stayed in Florida. Her story was sweet and we shared a tear with her while she was telling us her story. We got on the boat, all a little quieter, and reflective, about our lives. I love the beach, the sand, the water, and how it makes me feel alive again.

The water was crystal clear, and we found buckets of conch shells, sand dollars, cat's paws and many other kinds of sea life. We returned at 2:30 after 4 hours scouring the beach. We will return for sure. It's no wonder Caladesi has been voted #1 beach in America for so many years. You have to cover your head when eating, or the birds will snatch your sandwich right out of your hand.

After our day at Caladesi, we stopped at J.J. Gandy's Pie Shop to get the famous key lime cookies, and low and behold, they had key lime pie on a stick, covered with chocolate and frozen! Just like on the Food Network!

Dinner found us in downtown Dunedin at the Chic-A-Boom Boom restaurant. After watching the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the NY Yankees during dinner, we decided to get tickets to the game on Thursday night. Why not? Toni hasn't been to a big league game so it will be fun!