Official Thread 11/7/2014 Cayo Costa
 

1) The website for Cabbage Key is "cabbagekey.com" to look at accommodations that are available. Their phone number is 239-283-2278. Talk to Angela or Sue and tell them you are with the Seacraft group. (Lat/Lon 26-39-23 / 82-13-19)

2) The website for Cayo Costa State Park is "floridastateparks.org/cayocosta" to see about campsites and cabins. Their phone number is 941-964-0375. (Lat/Lon 26-41-09 / 82-14-42)

3) I ain't got no dang website for Casa del la Costa. I got enough other stuff down there to maintain without fool'in with one of them too. If ya' go the my "Member's site" - albums and look at "Cayo Costa" you can kinda' get the gist of the place and the lay of the land. Never really charged anybody to stay there, but I think had a couple of people pay me once to take'em back to Pineland. It's kinda like camp'in in a plywood tent! Kids, dogs and Clyde Butcher like the beach there. (Lat/Lon 26-37-53.5 / 82-13-44.5)

You need to come up with a place to lay yur head down though, 'cause the elixir of Don's will sneak up and put a head lock on ya' like dang Dusty Rhodes. We just need to find a picnic table for Sandy to sleep on.

I tried to bring Terry and Sandy's posts to this new thread for info...so now GFS appears to have posted Terry's comments from the old thread and GFS's comments are gone. Apparently this error is not far from reality. Is it a coincidence that both members have never been seen together and both are very creative?? I think not!

I need a Handi Wipe.

Quit using my new Nom de Plume, Sandy!("Gofastsandman")

But while I got ya' I got a couple of questions about Cayo Costa since you got everything figgered out about that place -
Can we cast net or gig mullet off the dock at your place on Cayo Costa? Do you have a smoker on the island? How high is the water tower on Cabbage Key? Where's Conner's secret oyster bank? Does that spring 25 miles out in the Gulf really have Spiney Oysters on it the size of softballs?

Now quit it, you two(and there really are two of the crazys). You will have me so confused I won't be able to FIND Cayo Costa.

Don't make us stop the car.

Thanks guys for rolling with it!! My bad!! Tell me more about those oysters, Terry! Sandy-VRO fuel pump diaphram was split.

Reservations have been made! We will be staying at Cabbage Key, wife and I can't wait!!

Same here. We reserved the Heratage house for the gathering and a few days into the next week just in case....

Ding ding! Great snews.

Are you guys staying at the Inn? Or someplace else?

There are several (numerous) oyster beds near Terry's. Oysters are at the waterline at low tide. They average kind of small, you have to cull a lot to get 3 inchers, but believe me, that is no problem, there are enormous numbers of them. When we get closer, I'll be calling for volunteers to help me gather and shuck.

Very tasty, tangy, saltier than Apalach oysters, more like New England. I like'em best chilled on the half shell, add a little bit of fresh water to the ice and they are a lot like Apalach. Also outstanding roasted or in oyster soup.

I meant to say the Harborview cottage.

Sign me up!!

Made reservations for picnic table #6...:D

So does that mean you are not coming?

We are booked at the inn for friday and saturday...:)

Room #6 at the Inn....
No fridge, no "drinking" water...:eek:

Way better than a tent! ;)

Will be launching from Pineland Marina..
PHONE: 239-283-3593

$15 a day Truck & trailer, no reservation required.

I can sleep on the trailer...what kind of air mattress would be best for loading and launching?
Power load and shotgun launch? What? Wide OPen sleeps there.

How do I work sheep into this?

Please remind me to bring my camera. Annie Liebowitz is wrong. I Phones are not great
cameras. Not in this sheep`s hooves anyway.

Sandy, remember pretty much everything in life is a compromise. If you launch the air mattress at Pineland, fire up the Eska, head over to Cabbage Key and can't find a suitable picnic table to call home, you always have the last "wrung in the ladde" - Casa de la Costa! Just take a heading SSW from the water tower and pick out the center of 5 docks over on La Costa Island (Cayo Costa)
You can throw you air mattress on the dock, on the beach, under the house, on the porch, in the loft or inside the house. Nobody cares.
WE DON'T Have A/C but we have hot freshwater showers and two toilets! You can learn how Solar Power develops the same HP/ BTU's/Newtons/KW/torque as a Hamster Wheel and why you need a Yamaha Generator to do the "heavy lifting" even if that is only a blender for drinks with umbrellas in 'em!
Here are the downsides of Casa de La Coata -
1) The Woods family may be there and you know those kids are one GPA point away from Reform School. Complete Renegades! They'd make Jose Gaspar proud!
2) Mrs. England emits strange noises when she is sleeping. (Please don't mention this in her presence because she is very sensitive about this and always wants to blame me)
3) We eat steamed oysters from Conner's Oyster Bank and Smoked Amberjack that Kmoose is gonna' get from that spring in 100 feet of water, harpooning 'em while he's on life support! "0" by-catch!!! (He's almost like hav'in Mike Nelson around)
4) The biggest downside of Casa de la Costa is that to overcome this band width of sounds emitted by Ms. Marsha, I have to play the following "REAL LOUD!"
a) Willie and the Hand Jive,
b) Molina,
c) Polk Salad Annie,
d) Diggin on James Brown,
e)Caledonia,
f) Crawfishin'
g)Shake a Tail Feather,
h)Tampico Trauma,
i) Baby Workout,
j) and sometimes Uneasy Rider
This tends to git under the skin of certain new wave, grunge, pop, hip-hop, Ragge' Sailfish Types and sets up a "force field" all the way to Captiva Island!
So anyways you got a lame, standby, second string, Devil Rays type option if ya' can't find a picnic table at Cabbage that suits your rigid specifications.
Your Mom told you to stay away from Annie Liebowitz anyway - she's nothing but trouble. (and in my opinion, you are like the Hotel California of trouble - but I am not a professional in that field. I'm still try'in to figger out "sanding aid")

Thanks to you marshmellow.....
I have to buy a new monitor in the AM ....:p

Cause' I spit my well mixed fashionable adult beverage all
over it and watched it smoke! :eek:

Secuze me while I kiss the sky......:cool: sip sip..

Ken, when you git your new electronics set up let me know when you and Patti are heading west on 44 to "Scallop Central". Professor Woods and Co., Eric and Cindy and the Ruskin Bootlegger and Ms. Nancy and I wanted to roundeveau at the Freezer, if you could give us a waypoint on the calendar. It would be like an unauthorized Short, Mini Scallop Gathering. (Not to be confused with Mini Skirts and /or Short Shorts like Daisy Duke wore)

Ken do not forget your coffee pot...we do not want you running out for your eighth B&D...or maybe just bring 2 of them so I will not have to go out and buy one....:D:D

No worries my friend, Cafe Busteo will be served 4 times daily at Casa Grande de los alces!

Cabbage Key / Cayo Costa
 

Danny, we better circle back around and pick up the stragglers before it's too late. So here is what I understand is the synopsis -

Fall Florida West Coast Gathering - November 7 - 9, 2014
Cabbage Key / Cayo Costa (Boca Grande, Fla.)
Camping option - www.cayocostastatepark.com. ph - 941- 964-0375
Island Resort option - www.cabbagekey.com. ph - 239 - 283-2278
Mainland Resort option - www.tarponlodge.com. ph - 239 - 283-3999
Cayo Costa Homeless Shelter / Elderhostel - no web site - ph. 727 - 365-1092

Tentative Draft Agenda (*)
Friday - 4:00 PM Cocktails - Cantina de la Kmoose
7:00 PM Dinner - Cabbage Key
Saturday - Fish, boat, BS, Dive, beach walk, raid Connor's Oyster bar, etc.
12:00 SeaCraft Parade to Doc Ford's (Ft. Myers beach) for Lunch
4:00 PM Cocktail Hour Cayo Costa
6:00 PM cookout at Casa del la Costa
Sunday - Wine flu recovery and ease toward the ramp

(*) yet to be approved by Snookerd, Commodore, Southern Seacraft Command.

Tide is low at 9 am. Good time for oysters unless you guys want to get some freediving gear on. On second thought, that won't work, if they don't stick out of the water, how'm I goin to find'em?

Terry-That schedule looks identical to the one that I was thinking about :D! We do need to pick up the pace on this event. I am really looking forward to those oysters, Connor. everybody ready to do a roll call? Who do we have coming for the next installation of the mother of all gatherings?

is sunday pack up and go pretty much? I ask as its the one day im generaly free come November

Mike, I think check out time is 11:00 at Cabbage Key, but some of us will be fool'in around over at Cayo Costa until mid-afternoon. Remember, the days get "Cropped" after daylight savings time switches the end of October. Come on down, we'll hang witch ya' Bro.

Mel and I have the big house at Cabbage Key from the 5th thru the 11th. Hoping to cover all of any fish fry needs that may occur durring the event. I will also offer up a run to Cedar Key for clams before we come down if any want in on some.

put me down for a bag of clams

I'll be leaving Terry's about noon on Sunday, maybe a little later if I can't get Terry and Bushwacker to stop talking

"maybe a little later if I can't get Terry and Bushwacker to stop talking"

If they're talking about Pratt jet engines or SC boats....good luck!! :)

They "Yack" more than an Yamaha RD-350 with chambers

Julie and I will be coming down Saturday with our friends Greg and Karen who joined us for the fall gathering last year. Hopefully, we can be there in time for lunch at Doc Ford's. We're staying in the Blue Heron Cottage (gee, what a coincidence...) until the 11th. Julie and I both have Veteran's day off, so it made sense to take Monday off for an extra long weekend.
Dave

P.S. I'll be looking for advise on where to launch and store truck and trailer.

Guess I better get on the stick and reserve a room.

Wing a ding ding ding. Dick Lally had a Kawasaki H2 500. Wasn`t fast enough, so he put a turbo on it. Shoulda put a fork brace and steering dampener on instead. She was a high speed wobblah. Good thing he sold her.

Best place I know of is Eldreds, just north of Boca Grande, easy run to Cayo Costa. Place is owned by some old Florida rednecks who live on the property and take a dim view of anyone who messes with their customers trucks or trailers. Very safe place to leave your trailer. Ramp looks rough, but is actually very good. Best place to park is beyond the ramp, on the peninsula. We will launch from there.

Dave, Conner's suggestion is the best since you'll be coming in from the north and the rock channel coming out of Pineland would probably give you the "willies" in the 25. It's fine but it is just kind of freaky the first time. Incoming boats have the right of way. You "mill" at the basin until you have a clear shot at running the 1/2 mile until it opens up wider and there are gnarly bolders on the south side that you run about 15' from think'in "that would leave a scar"

Cabbage Key / Cayo Costa
 

72 days and counting, Boys.

If you are planning on being part of the worlds largest SeaCraft gathering you'd better "Tighten up", Archie Bell.

Check post #24 on this thread, if you're still wringing your hands about what to do.

If you are already "locked in" - fasten your seat belts and put your tray in the upright position - Danny's in the cockpit!

No need to worry....but I believe we are on a collision course with that date!:eek:

I can't commit due to scheduling on the big boat. I wont know until that week.

I've traveled that area on the job, and been looking for an excuse to bring one of my own boats over, we'll see if I can pull it off (especially if it's not raining:p).

Lloyd

Oh man!!! How could we forget the "wet and not so wild" LP 2014, never took the boat off the trailer....poop!! :(