Got stalled in writing and sharing, but I’m back at it now.
I got to Labelle and spent a few days with my Dad, catching up, taking drives and going to his favorite social spots (the Moose club, American Legion and VFW).
Labelle is an interesting little place. Main industries are farming, fishing and construction. It’s flat and green and very warm. It sorta reminds me of Maui without the beach or a mountain in the distance. Lots of sugar cane fields. There are a TON of snow birds here, so a large portion of the population are retired.
My dad likes it because it has a golf course he enjoys and he has made friends who he golfs with 2-3 times a week.
Labelle is on the Caloosahatchee River which originates from Lake Okeechobee. I don’t know alot about Florida yet. But, basically, the whole state is a marsh. I moved to Florida to be on the ocean. But while I can’t be directly there right now, I am so grateful that I can be near water and water creatures. The flora is thick and diverse, and the fauna is plentiful and abundant. So much to explore and learn.
On Sunday, we took a little road trip west to Pine Island and Matlacha (pronounced Matt-La-Shay).
We went to this little place to get stone crab. The place is at the end of a sandy road on the bay. I told my dad it was like doing a drug deal out there. Not that I would know anything about that. ?
These are delicious and are served with an aioli dip (mayo, Coleman’s dry mustard, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper).
Later, we went to a little restaurant on the river. This is where the Caloosahatchee opens up to the gulf of Mexico.
YARD-HOUSE CHARLEY! Funny and talented.
My dad and Judy had plans to go East to the ocean, so I took a little trip to explore the gulf coast. More of that to come….