Sunday October 10th

[19:45 EDT]

Today was a bit of a mish-mash. We started off by getting a couple of bikes from our location. We then cycles the short distance down to the corner of Sanibel Island where the old lighthouse resides. The place is a sun trap though and it was far to hot to stay there for too long.

Time was getting on anyway, as we had to make out way over to the Sanibel Marina to catch our ride around the island on the Sanibel Thriller.

We managed to sit at the back of the boat as we know you get the better photos from there. It wasn't long before the captain picked up the dorsal fins of dolphins nearby. Three times on the way around, he managed to attract the dolphins into playing with the spray that the boat throws out - they jump and fling themselves through the foam.

At one point, we had a whole pod jumping about - including a tiny baby that couldn't have been more than 18 inches in length!

We got some great photos, some of them are in the montage at the end of this page. I also took some video - well, I thought I did. I've just checked it and I couldn't have pressed REC hard enough... all I have is video of me putting the camcorder into my pocket when I'd finished... doh.

We were out on the boat for a couple of hours - so if we are not burnt tomorrow, I don't know what else we can do :)

Once off the boat, I enquired at the Marina about hiring a boat for tomorrow. The guy was all smiles until he realised I have no sea experience at all. He rapidly backtracked! Sounds like I'll have to stick to the kayaks that the resort offer for rental.

Before returning to the resort, we took a drive up to the northern part of the island and did a nature drive (yes, this is the US!) through the mangrove swamps there. We say plenty of jumping fish, some herons, ospreys and a couple of turtles.

Stopping off on the way back at the bank to get some cash out, I had a go at the first drive-in ATM that I've ever come across (as I said before, this is the US!!)

We had a quiet evening in the room.