MORE ABOUT SUMMER PAST

YES!!!! SUMMER IS OVER BUT THE STORIES LIVE ON!!

We've told you about the Useppa Mooch March...Useppans visiting other Useppans at their summer abodes.  And, we've told you about the Swigerts who drove almost 10,000 miles to see their many friends.  While taking all prizes for time, tenure and distance, we did have other travelers.

The Trinos visited us in Maine where we were joined by the Beisswengers for some hiking in Acadia National Park.   
                  We did eat some Lobster!!

And climbed to the top of Great Head!! 

 

And, "marched" through the woods on our way to the beach.  In August....we could hear the screams when they hit the water!! COLD!

 

          And, we did some boating in Somes Sound

And, then there's Ligibel, who left Useppa a year or so ago, but keeps showing up. 

Once a Useppan, always a Useppan.

And, he just can't stay away from those sailors...or they, him!

                                    ....visiting with the Bacons
                                                      Did you notice the pig....on the wall??

And, then again with the sailors'n crew    

                                            

AN ORIGINAL USEPPAN

Here's Gretchen with Chessie, one of the first people we met when coming to Useppa in the early 80s.  Guess what Gretchen is holding??!?! 

Our ad in Croquet News!!  Complete with a full page story!!

Check it out!!

The Summer was good for us all... and there are many more stories to share.  To be quick...

The VanVeldhuizen family, new neighbors in The Village,  

              married off one of his 11 kids....

Who then flew off into the sunset?  Just a couple more daughters to go.

Another new neighbor, Dave Thomas and wife, Julie Lachman, had some suggestions for Useppa after being up in Cedar Key for a long weekend.

....thought Useppa should think about having a "real bar"... to go with the Grotto theme?!?

Speaking of the Grotto....

it  has continued to collect collectibles with varying messages, from young and old...

....the artistic

...the demented

...and the WINNERS!!!    38 TO 20 !!!!!!

GO GATORS!!!!

Kim and Aimee Lockhart went out west, where Kim caught tons of fish 

And Aimee took GORGEOUS photos

   And, Kim caught more fish...and more fish

and then, more fish....

 I have another couple dozen photos. 

LET'S JUST SAY...it was a good "fishing summer!!"

Last of all...

Brian and I joined Vic and Suzy Trino in Lerici, Italy

Their apartment is at the top of the hill, to the left of the old fort.  GORGEOUS VIEW and a fantastic little town.

Brian learned the most important Italian phrases

And, Suzy and Vic saw to his every gastronomic need in the most gorgeous places.  This takes "Boating for Food" to a whole new level.

The Hosts with the Most

We boated La Spezia Bay on the Ligurian coast and climbed mountains in the Italian Riviera on the way to the highest of the Cinque Terra towns, climbing above the town, then down, into Corniglia, the only town in the Cinque Terras that is not on the water,  residing on a bluff near the top of a mountain.

  

 using the same trail used by those picking grapes.

 2500' ASL and straight up!

                  And, that was our SECOND day
                          with the Trinos!!! 
The rest of our stay in Italy was fantastic but the Trinos are an impossible act to follow!!
                          Ciao, for now!!

            FALL IS HERE!!!  IT IS COOL!!
            BRING YOUR STORIES TO US!!
What do Useppans do when they're not doing
                       "Useppa Stuff"???

Croquet on Useppa Island: Play On!

Croquet took root, sprouted, evolved and exploded on Useppa Island over 30 years ago! In 1978, Bob Sumwalt, our “Father of Croquet” dedicated himself to teaching all that would come, to learn, play and love Croquet. And, we did!!

Our first Nine-Wicket Tournament was in 1978, followed by the introduction of Six-Wicket in 1984, when we built “the perfect” Six-Wicket court overlooking Pine Island Sound. Women jumped in and competition really ramped up!

In 1989, we had our first Six-Wicket Tournament and subsequently, co-hosted several Invitational Tournaments with Boca Grande Croquet Club. Over the next several years, Useppa spawned more than a dozen nationally-ranked players. Our court and the resident level of play, in concert with the sheer beauty of the Island and many activities, drew members and attracted new home owners.

The REAL fun, however, began in 2003 with the emergence of Golf Croquet. Passersby saw the fun – the tailgating, laughter, incredible shots and pure exhilaration…an unbelievable esprit de corps that was not only on the playing field, but permeated the entire Island. It was contagious!

And, since you can’t play Croquet every hour of every day, croquet players participated in other island activities, joining The Useppa Yacht Club (No Dues! No Rules!) with a fleet of 15 ft. Marshal Cat Boats that race every Saturday, through April. All of the spirited competition on the water is followed by cookouts on the beach, moonlight and destination sails. Players also enjoy the fishing, boating and beaches, especially during the holidays with family and friends, young and old.

Regardless of the activity, everyone falls in love with the communal feel that permeates Useppa Island – the melding of compatible souls. The joy is fueled by an innate sense of adventure and love of nature, being with friends and enjoying an environment and atmosphere that evokes fond memories of a simpler time. No matter where people hail from, the common sentiment is that Useppa is “their neighborhood.”

 

Membership continues to grow with tournaments scheduled often. You can count on Nine-Wicket Beach Croquet, where everyone plays each December 30th (a 30-year tradition), along with three-day tournaments for Six-Wicket, Golf Croquet and Nine-Wicket in the Spring and Fall. There are always pick-up games in the afternoons.

And practice games! And those re-match games that go on…forever.

Miller’s Dockside: Part 4 in the Boat for Food Blog Series- A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island!

We must be in a rut. Here we are again, heading north to Boca Grande for lunch. Plenty of fine places to visit south of here, but there is only so much time for boating and eating. We’ll get to the southern eateries soon enough.

From Useppa, we go north up the ICW, across Charlotte Harbor. The Tarpon fleet is long gone, the fish scattered up into the harbor and the numerous canals in Cape Coral, Englewood, Cape Haze and Punta Gorda.Today we enter the Boca Grande Canal and take a sharp left to the Boca Grande Marina, home to two restaurants: Millers Dockside and the Eagle Grill. You won’t confuse the two. This trip we did the Dockside, the Eagle will come later.

 When boating for food, convenient dockage is important, and the marina provides a complimentary tie- up for lunch patrons. It is just a few steps into the restaurant, as well as the ships store. Dock master and attendants are ready and cheerful.

The Dockside means just that, you are right next to the dock. We watch as fishing guides come in and release their live bait, gas-up or meet fresh customers, all 10-15 feet from our table. Boats come and go, with fisherman shopping in the ships store and waiting for a table. We are seated quickly and our server promptly showed up.

 

The menu is really eclectic for a casual venue, with everything from Boca Dogs and Burgers (think soda fountain fare), quesadillas to shrimp and grits, fresh tuna nachos and Duck Dim Sum. International fare, who would have guessed? As usual, I go for the health food-dogs and fries with a beer. There are salads on the menu, of course, and Mary had one-of course.

Another day boating for food from Useppa Island, what a tough day!

Will Boat for Food Blog Series Part 2: Barnacles Restaurant

A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island  

We turn our sights south for our next gastronomic exploration, to our neighboring island of Upper (or North) Captiva.  Bridgeless like Useppa but having shores along the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound, Upper Captiva is home to 400+- beach houses, ranging from the bohemian to top shelf, all kind of mixed together. We can see this island and Captiva Pass, from the south and west shores of Useppa Island.

Barnacles on Upper Captiva

Today we visited a local icon of truly laid-back island dining, Barnacles Restaurant, but everybody still calls it Barnacle Phil’s. Phil has been gone for years now, but it was his creation. Most visitors dine under the huge palm-thatched tiki hut, seated on wooden picnic benches. From this vantage point one can watch the boats come in to dock, which is frequently excellent entertainment as well as a lesson about marital relations or, how not to have any (never raise your voice to the first mate, even if you crush several pilings).

Outdoor Seating at Barnacles

The restaurant also has inside dining and the demands of modernity have caused it to be air conditioned. We remember when it had no A/C, and it could get so hot in there they had to build a tiki hut where you could cool off. This improved the view, too.

Barnacle’s is known for their black beans, and I have had plenty of them. They are very good. But today seemed more like an All American Day, and usually that means a burger for me. But, being an adventurous diner I decided to go international. They call it the Barnacle Dog, a tasty ¼ pound wiener smothered in internationally famous Black Beans. With chopped onions of course. And French Fries. How international can you get? An American adopted German sausage, Spanish black beans, and potatoes with a French influence. Yes sir, I know how to mix’em up! Like an international gourmet tour in one basket. Yum!

The gotta try Barnacle Dog!

No fruity drink with this lunch-it is totally about the cold beer.

And guess what? Mary had the salad, with grilled shrimp. Said it was really good.

Even the salads at Barnacles are delicious!

Located in Safety Harbor, Barnacles is a 12-minute boat ride, well within our 20 minute goal.

Coastal Beauty of 304 Useppa Island Featured in Luxury Home Gallery: DuPont Registry

DuPont Registry is featuring 304 Useppa Island on their homepage.

duPont REGISTRY is the intermediary between luxury home sellers and buyers. Our classifieds include luxury homes and real estate, island property, mansions, ranches, estates, waterfront, and mountain property and more.

Useppa Island, Florida

360 Degree Views - Captivating Useppa Island Location

304 Useppa Island
33924
$3,000,000

Situated on an attached island appendage to Useppa with 360 degree views and a protected cove with docks and a lift is a home designed in the "old Florida" coastal vernacular, nearly 3300 SF. With architectural details that enrich and enlighten the sensory experience, a flowing indoor to outdoor floor plan creates a dialogue between shelter and the complicity of sky, land and water.

View DuPont Registry

Flood Insurance Update: Keeping Florida Home Owners Informed

This hot topic is changing from moment to moment.

Here's an important update for Useppa Island:

The bill was expected to come up today -- meaning it would need a two-thirds majority vote to pass. But members coming out of the GOP meeting yesterday morning said they did not think it had enough votes to clear that hurdle. GOP leaders are now refusing to run the bill through committee, and instead, are negotiating directly with the Democrats. Read the article

Prior Report from the Florida Association of Realtors

U.S. House releases its own flood insurance bill

WASHINGTON – Feb. 25, 2014 – Florida Gov. Rick Scott pressed for help in high places on flood insurance in a meeting with President Barack Obama on Monday, but the issue may be decided in the GOP-controlled U.S. House.

The issue has split some Republicans in coastal states like Florida from GOP hard-liners who say some folks need to pay significantly more to help the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) get out of $24 billion in debt and discourage building in flood-prone areas.

Congressional Democrats said there is no deal yet but one lawmaker said conversations with GOP leaders have been “productive.”

A new House version of a bill to address the problem could be considered as early as this week. It eliminates, not just delays, certain triggers for a huge, immediate jump in premiums, such as the sale of a home, a lapse in coverage or the remapping of flood zones. Read the report