Caladesi Island ( like Gilligan's Island)
                                                            and Dunedin                                                           

                                                         Caladesi Island
                                                                  

.                                       

ARMADILLO -  LOOK HARD!

Caladesi Island is uninhabited, a state park accessible by boat.   The beach is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is full of shells. The interior of the island is tropical, has a great nature trail and looks like Gilligan’s Island. I saw an armadillo 5 feet from me. According the the Florida State Park Service the Florida landscape changes at Caladesi and becomes tropical from here on south. There are manatees in the water, but we didn't see any. There are lots of dolphins everywhere.
                                                                   

                                                                     

The beach is solid shells

    Bill had his feet dangling in the water while on the zodiac and a dolphin came up within 2 feet of his foot.  It scared him - he thought it was going to eat his toes.  The dolphin turned on his back, made 2 circles in the water just like Kayla our dog does, then swam away.

                                                                    

 

 Denedin is a cute little town (like a smaller Boyne City) with shops and restaurants.  We were at Marker 1 marina which made it easy for us to Zodiac over to Caladesi Island (a mile across the bay). Charlie and Al drove up here and went to dinner with us in Dunedin.

                                                           

GIANT HORSESHOE CRAB (IT'S DEAD!)

  We have had a lot of thunderstorms and are constantly having to adjust our schedule around the weather.  The storms don't last long, but the wind/gusts are really fierce. They get  lots of rain here in Florida!