Dave Page

Friday 21 March

Barely beat the snow closings out of MKE airport. Arrived on time in Ft Myers. Karin and Sam were at the Twins game. We stopped at the “used food store” (Dixie’s Discounted Wine) on Bonita Beach Rd just east of US 41 for some wine and discount food. Then we had to stop at Publix. The detour is not worth it. Checked in at West Wind. Got a drink at the pool bar and waited for Karin and Sam.

Dixie’s Discounted Wine • 9080 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs,FL 34135

Saturday 22 March

I rented a 24 speed recumbent bike on the Internet the previous week from Billy’s Rentals. They delivered it to the West Wind to keep it from disappearing like the rest of their bikes — thanks guys! It has chopper style handlebars, which is a whole new trick. I finally got it to go straight, but turns were a problem. Fast hard turns would put me on the ground. With my hip acting up, it was torture.

Rode around the island to the lighthouse. Overcast but warmish; good riding. 15 mins into the ride, it started to rain. We kept going to the lighthouse, looked around, and headed back up Periwinkle for lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe, the “hippie” cafe next to Sporty Seahorse. Great food, great atmosphere. And busy — prepare to wait. We ate lunch, but split a banana pancake just to try it — it was warm and gooey in the middle. Sam wanted to come back the next day for breakfast. So we did.

Karin bolted back on her bike. Sam followed her, and Bette and I stopped at a few shops on the way back. It started to clear up a bit and we got back in time

Dinner with Sam and Karin at Sanibel Steakhouse. We had the Crab Cake appetizer, yum. I had the 16oz NY Strip, I think my favorite cut, with baked potato. Mmmm. Karin and Bette had the 12oz NY Strips. Sam and I started a bottle of Dynamite Zinfandel. Bette and Karin had a glass of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc. Sam had the blackened Ahi tuna. Yum, but when in a good steakhouse, I get a good steak. Dessert was Chocolate Lava and a Keylime Pie slice to go around. Recommended. $80/ea for 4 people w/o gratuity w/wine. Pricey but good.

Billy’s Bike Rentals - 1470 Periwinkle Way
Lighthouse Cafe - 362 Periwinkle Way
Chip’s Sanibel Steakhouse - 1473 Periwinkle Way

Sunday 23 March

Decided not to do church. The sun was out. Time to build a sand sculpture. Sam had borrowed the book on Sand Castle building from Sons of the Beach and was raring to go.

Started with some simple columns and structures. I played with the dump method of sand. Working out of the bucket was a good way to do it. Then figured out the Padre Island snow balls. Cool. Taught Sam.

Then started the octopus. Started out as a pile, but soon saw that a sea creature terrorizing the village would be very nice. Karin built up some tentacles and buildings and upholstered everything. Sam and I moved the sand into position and Sam and Bette lugged water.

One of our favorite restaurants in Sanibel was the Twilight Cafe at 751 Tarpon Bay Rd. It sat behind an art gallery so you could browse while waiting for your table. Once inside, the decor was — unique — kind of Cheesecake Factory weird — but very nice. Very crowded, but cool entrees. Their symbol was the stylized sun, half in shadow — hence Twilight.

Our favorite was the grilled veggies accompanying each entree. Once we asked for the recipe, and the waitress handed us the business card — I guess they got asked this a lot — and there was the recipe on the back.

We lost the card, I wrote back with a SASE and they sent me another one.

I just found the card under a pile. Last year, we saw they had closed. So they probably won’t mind if I post this recipe so I don’t lose it again.

“Our World Famous Broccoli”

• Blend Red Onion with equal parts Soy Sauce and Red Wine Vinegar with 3 parts vegetable oil.
• Marinate 4 hours
• Grill and enjoy

Simple, but good. Like most timeless recipes. Thanks, Chef Robert W. Parks Jr., and I hope you have success in your new place!