>Jim I want to post a query to Fla but don't know the county. What county would >Useppa Island be in? Thanks Joe >Jmiller789@aol.com USEPPA ISLAND (12/98) It was a beautiful December day about 11 a.m. when three boats pulled out of the Sanibel Harbor Marina headed for Useppa Island. Boat #1 was a Baja 272 Islander owned and piloted by RalphC. Boat #2 was a SeaRay 24 Deckboat owned and piloted by RogerD. Boat #3 was a Regal 24 Deckboat rented from Port Sanibel Marina and piloted by PaulW. On board these boats were 26 members of the Lexington Boating & Fishing Club. Skipping over the glittering waters of the Intercoastal Waterway and Pine Island Sound, the three boats passed on the leeward side of Sanibel Island, Captiva, North Captiva and Cabbage Key. The sun splashed the passengers and talk of remembered travel adventures filled the airways within the boats. With an eye toward passing boats, a wave here and a wave back signaling recognition of one of the great assets of living in Southwest Coastal Florida, the hour and fifteen minute ride to Useppa went by too quickly. Dolphin watching was high on the agenda and the human-friendly mammals did not disappoint. The approach to Useppa immediately suggests that this is not your typical barrier island sandbar. It is hilly and the vegetation dense, with a variety of stately old Florida structures - including The Collier Inn, named after Barron Collier, being the focal point of the island. After docking we disembarked and began a truly beautiful winding quarter mile walk to the Inn. Overhanging the walkway were hundreds of tropical plant varieties that acted as a cooling canopy. It was like we were caste into a lifestyle of another time as this grand walkway made its way through the majestic foliage past seaside cottages and private homes. Looking down a forty to fifty foot embankment on the left was a wide beach that was once the training site of the foiled Bay of Pigs Invasion by the Kennedy Administration. On a high bluff overlooking the water on both sides of the island, we were treated to lunch. Many of our members were interested in visiting the local museum where they donned head phones and listened to the history of the Island's colorful past while also viewing a variety of paintings and artifacts. The Island's history has been documented to over ten thousand years ago when nomadic people roamed in search of food in prehistoric times. The Calusa society is well documented to have inhabited the island for centuries. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the island played a role in the early days of Florida exploration by the Spanish, and was later a mainstay to the Caribbean Pirates - for which it got its name. In terms of modern history, the island has become known for its hospitality and its fine living. Guests at the Inn, beside the Lexington folks, include the Rockefellers and Roosevelts, movie stars and numerous heads of state. Today the island is operated as a private club: The Useppa Island Club and thanks to RalphC, we were privileged to be guests of his for a day. At about 3 p.m. we departed for our Lexington home and just outside the Useppa harbor, we saw a rare sight. Over 100 White Pelicans were sunning themselves on a sand bar. Heading into the wind, our friends, the Dolphins, rejoined us as we retraced our wake for the Sanibel Harbor Marina, docking shortly after 4. Judging by the comments, it was a great day had by all. Found the above with Excite search engine. Anne Futch