Rock Bottom

Feb 24 - Mar 1, 2010 Leebo's Rock Bottom Bar that is...

The bar is aptly named and, at once, a highlight and lowlight of our visit to Chokoloskee Island. Though the bar is little more than a rough screened in porch--wrapped in plastic (seriously)--with a concrete floor, three picnic tables and one mobile propane heater to hover by, it offers some of the best live music around.

Leebo, the owner (second from left) charmed me from the start. "We got kissed by angels. Twice," he said as he pointed out the dimples in our cheeks. Derek (far right) has awesome jiggy dance moves that I could never hope to grasp. I tried.

Leebo's Rock Bottom Bar is the kind of place where the owner/bouncer/guitarist has to cut his own cousin off the drink and show him the door, where the father of a toothless ultimate fighter named Tank shares his bag of popcorn with the entire crowd--all eight of us, where dogs are welcome, and where locals bring their own Tequila Rose to shoot back by the plastic pill cupfuls.

One of my favourite things about Chokoloskee Island is the view from our campsite. Constant activity: a big stretch of rippling water, pelicans, fishermen, kayakers, etc. An osprey snagged a big fish right in front of our site, and that was a sight!

Just as delightful, the Havana Cafe across the street.

If you have the chance, try the huevos rancheros, even if it's not on the menu. It was on the menu one day then scribbled off the menu the next after the owner mother and cook son argued about the dish. However, if you talk nice to the server, she'll sweet talk the cook and you can still have some. :)

We drove the Tamiami Trail to Clyde Butcher's gallery of photography. On the way we saw comorants drying in the mangroves, egrets, vultures, a "wild hog bbq" at a rundown fire station, and gators.

More Chokoloskee Island to come...

-P