Up early this morning to get to Boca Grande before it gets too hot. Even at 8:30 am the sand can feel like walking on a hot griddle. Boca Grande is made of a series of small islands just off Cape Haze, about 5 miles from us. The islands, which are deemed a wildlife park and managed by the Boca Grande Management Board, are reached by a toll bridge ($4) and then a series of smaller bridges across the blue Gulf waters that form Gasparilla Sound. Boca Grande is a dream location with many of the homes built on or close to the beaches, offering superb views out across the Gulf or towards Port Charlotte harbour and Punta Gorda. Many properties start at $1 million, although the recent finanical gloom has reduced some prices. If you can't stump up the dosh for a super cool pad here, try renting one - immaculate, well-maintained and worth the likely $1000 plus per week rent....!
The area is awash with golf carts and not just because of the several golf courses here - the locals use them in preference to cars and trucks. There are times when it can resemble the 60's hit TV show "The Prisoner" and even "The Stepford Wives". The latter view is not meant to be derogatory but you need to spend some time here to appreciate the comment. Neat, clean and tidy, grass all cut at prescribed height and heaven help anyone who steps out of line.
The beach is virtually deserted - most sane people have either already done their early morning beach-combing or wll venture out later in the day as it cools. Not the Brits...! You can spot them a mile off. Lobster-red from too much sun, all oiled up, chairs, sun shades and cool boxes at the ready, territory marked out and the patriarch standing guard over "their plot". Funny that, as there is about 100 square yards per person available on the beach!
The beach we usually use is at just up from the town centre and has an old lighthouse as a backdrop and is in the centre of the island chain. This is also just south of the location where the record-beating hammerhead shark was caught, but don't let that put you off..!
Well-cared for beaches are cleaned and combed daily, the sand is usually like fine talcum powder but over the past couple of years broken shell debris has also found its way on the beach. The local chamber of commerce has recently had the beaches built up to halt the erosion and also to help the young turtle community, especially at breeding time.
Boca Grande has some quaint roads and tracks, many of which are covered by large banyan trees. Old buildings have been painstakingly restored and used either as shops, homes or the local school. Hotels are unobtrusive - even the one used by both the former Presidents Bush and families. Indeed, George Dubbya even used one of the local restaurants.
Boca Grande was once an important rail hub as a deep and rich vein of phosphate was uncovered in Arcadia some 30 miles away. This was shipped to the southern part of the island which has one of the deepest harbours in the Gulf of Mexico and is near to easily navigable rivers.
The main road through Boca Grande leads eventually to the town centre. There are many restaurants, coffee bars and other shops. Two good restaurants are The Temptations and The Loose Caboose , which specialises in homemade ice creams. The latter was actually the rail station in years gone by as a great trade was made from the rich and famous of New York who would journey down the east coast of America through Massachusetts, North & South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in their expensive private Pullman rail coaches to enjoy the local beauty and surroundings. Sadly the railway no longer comes to the island, although the bridges across the water can still be seen. I feel there's an opportunity being lost here...!
Wildlife abounds here and not just in the sea. The islands are home to all sorts of birds - eagles, flamingoes, and herons. Other wildlife includes turtles, and giant iguanas, well pretty big ones anyway. They appear to be running rampant at present and often try to hitch lifts off the islands underneath cars and in the backs of trucks!
A glorious place, superb beaches, lots to see and do - kyaking, canoeing, fishing and sight-seeing, good food and drink and well worth the toll fee. Just try a couple of hours at a time.
