Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau: “In 1995, visionary writer/director Richard Stanley (HARDWARE, DUST DEVIL) got the green light for his dream project: An epic adaptation of H.G. Wells’ ‘The Island Of Doctor Moreau’ starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. But only days into production, an unprecedented storm of natural disasters, monstrous egos and disturbing imagery – along with chaos, insanity and witchcraft – would trigger perhaps the most infamous behind-the-scenes catastrophe in modern movie history.”
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Bert’s Bar & Grill
If you are passing through the small community of Matlacha, you MUST stop at Bert’s Bar & Grill and sample the delicious food or at least grab an ice-cold beer while you enjoy the scenic waterfront view. According to the official website, “Bert’s Bar is composed of two buildings. The original building was the bar near the road. It was built in the 30’s as a ‘sweet shop.’ Then in 1941 the hotel building was built. It consisted of eight sleeping rooms. During WWII, army bases were set up at Page Field and many of the soldiers would come out for a weekend to Matlacha to go fishing off the ‘fishingest bridge in Florida’ at Matlacha Pass. They became regular customers of the hotel and bar. The hotel had the reputation of ‘ill repute’ and ladies of the night. Imagine that!” The menu at Bert’s features something for everyone! We tried the Fish Dip, Peel & Eat Shrimp, Hamburger, Shrimp Caesar Salad and Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. It was simply amazing! Bert’s also features live entertainment nightly. Check it out!
Matlacha
On the way to Jug Creek Marina in Bokeelia the other day we stopped by the funky little fishing community of Matlacha (population: 735) and walked around. It’s a cool spot to stretch you legs and stroll through the colorful art galleries and gift shops, as well as grab a bite to eat at one of the handful of seafood restaurants. Believe it or not, Matlacha is pronounced Mat-La-Shay!
Cayo Costa State Park
We spent an adventurous weekend exploring one of the most remote state parks in Florida: Cayo Costa State Park, which is located four nautical miles west of Pine Island. In fact, the only way to reach Cayo Costa Island is via Tropic Star ferry or private boat. We had a pleasant ride aboard the Tropic Star and enjoyed talking with Captain Bruce. It took about 55 minutes to reach the island, where we checked in and purchased some firewood and bags of ice. Then a tram (which runs on the top of the hour between 9 AM and 4 PM) took us about a mile across the island to the campground. We camped at campsite #6, which was spacious and a short distance away from the beach access and restrooms. Note that there is no electricity on the island, but potable water and cold showers can be found at the restrooms. So logistically speaking, you must plan out your meals and bring plenty of supplies, since the gift shop on the other side of the island only stocks snacks, sodas and water bottles (along with Klondike bars!). After pitching our tent, we strolled to the amazing, practically deserted white-sand beach and caught a beautiful sunset. At night, we sat around the campfire and then headed along the Cemetery Trail with just our flashlights to guide us to the Pioneer Cemetery. Real creepy and very cool! There are just a handful of graves here and one of the most notable is that of Captain Peter Nelson, who died on September 7, 1919, at the age of 80 years and whose inscription reads, “After life’s fitful fever/he sleeps well.” The next morning we woke up before sunrise and strolled down the deserted beach for a little shell collecting (we also came across the gulf calico crab pictured above). Then I explored some of the miles of hiking trails in the center of the island. Oh yeah, as we set about cleaning up our campsite, we noticed a four-foot snake with a black head slithering out from underneath our tent! The park ranger later told us we had witnessed a rather harmless eastern coachwhip snake. Good times! Bottom line: Cayo Costa State Park is a great campground, one of the best we’ve experienced during our Florida travels, but make sure you are totally prepared for this rustic adventure!
Hike #25: Cayo Costa State Park
Hike #25, 52 Hike Challenge: Cayo Costa State Park. One of the great things about camping on remote Cayo Costa State Park (you need to take a ferry from Pine Island to get to Cayo Costa Island) is the incredible diversity of hiking trails on the island. Due to time constraints, I only had the opportunity to take a beach walk and sample about half of the trails (Cemetery Trail, Scrub Trail, Quarantine Trail and Pine Wood Trail), but I was truly impressed! Distance: 3.5 miles.
Filmworker (2017)
Filmworker: “The remarkable, untold story of Leon Vitali who gave up fame and fortune to serve for decades as Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man.”
Wakulla Springs, 1949
Trivia: Both Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) were filmed here.
Hike #24: Shingle Creek Regional Park
Hike #24, 52 Hike Challenge: Shingle Creek Regional Park, Kissimmee. Although Shingle Creek Regional Creek Park lies just off bustling U.S. 192, it seems worlds away once you take to the hiking trails! Fortunately the weather cleared up and I was able to knock out both the Babb Landing and Steffee Landing sections of the park. In addition, I caught a glimpse of a white-tailed deer on the Babb Landing side and a rare white squirrel on the Steffee Landing side (see if you can spot it in one of the photos above!). According to the Florida State University Coastal Marine Laboratory website, “The white squirrel is actually a genetic anomaly due to a mutated gene from the common Eastern Gray Squirrel. It is called leucism, which is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals caused by a recessive allele. Unlike albinism, it is a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. White squirrels lack red eyes and also tend to have a gray patch on their heads and what is referred to as a ‘dorsal stripe’ down their backs.” Shingle Creek Regional Park is home to The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. Wildlife Sightings: White-Tailed Deer, White Squirrel. Distance: 3.1 miles.
Gator Joe’s Beach Bar & Grill
I’ve always wanted to go to Gator Joe’s Beach Bar & Grill and finally got the opportunity Saturday after we dropped by nearby Lake Griffin State Park. Billed as “a family friendly restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere & island cuisine,” this lakefront eatery, which was established in 1926, lived up to all our expectations! According to Gator Joe’s official website, the legendary eatery “got its name from a famous alligator who lived in Lake Weir from approximately 1930-1952. In 1934, while trying to find the Ma Barker Gang, the FBI intercepted a letter mentioning an ‘Old Joe’ near the Barker hideout. Lake Weir was pinpointed as it was found to have a big gator known as ‘Old Joe.’ On January 16, 1935, the FBI found the Barker gang in a historic home 1/8 mile from Gator Joe’s and in a 4-hour gun battle, Ma and one of her sons were killed. ‘Joe’ on the other hand lived until 1952.” Diners can even view Gator Joe’s encased foot near the entrance to the restaurant, which is located at 12431 S.E. 135 Avenue in Ocklawaha. Believe me, it’s worth the trip!
Lake Griffin State Park
Encompassing 620 acres just north of Leesburg, Lake Griffin State Park is home to the second-largest oak tree in Florida! A short trail leads off a small parking lot to the right just after the ranger station to this massive live oak tree. The sign in front of the live oak tree reads, “This live oak tree is the second largest oak tree in the state of Florida and is estimated to be between 300-500 years old. It serves as a home for many species of mammals and birds and may even have been a landmark for the Timuca Indians who frequented the area before settlement and later the Seminole Indians. The first settlers discovered the tree in 1811, since then it has attracted tourists from the entire nation.” In addition, the park features two hiking trails, campground, canoe/kayak rentals and guided pontoon boat tours. Lake Griffin State Park is located at 3089 U.S. 441-27 in Fruitland Park.
Wandering Florida 