Estero Bay Field Trip

On October 11, our Colloquium class took a trip to the Estero Bay Historic Cottage and Matanzas Pass Preserve. As soon as we got off the bus, we were taken into the cottage and were seated. An older woman began talking to us about the history of the Estero Bay and discussed the many changes that have taken place in the last fifty or so years. She had lived on the island her entire life so she was a first hand witness to the changes that had taken place. She passed around pictures of bridges that have been built and hurricane damage that has occurred. There was something about hearing it from someone who has actually experienced the changes that Estero Bay had to undertake. It made it more realistic than simply reading about it in a book. The cottage had been used as a school house for the children of the community. After the presentation, she offered us lemonade, cookies, crackers, and sea grape jelly. I think the snacks were everyone's favorite part. 

After the refreshments, we walked along the boardwalk until we reached the bay. The waters were calm but Neil pointed out the cloudiness of the water. The water was a brown murky color and it was difficult to see the bottom, even in shallow waters.