for tying my dinghy up. So I moved across the river to Bradenton Bch and anchored- town maintained dinghy dock, with clean (free) tiled showers and bathrooms 1 1/2 blocks away from $1.29 a bag ice. Right across the street form the ice location was the stop for the free shuttle that ran the length of the island- Hardware stores, West Marine, Pharmacies, and a big grocery store.Shuttles ran every 20 minutes.

Got treated as a visitor, instead of "one of those boat people" as I was called in Cortez.

Oh and there's a great little restaurant just a few blocks away called "the Gathering Place" I recommend it.

Plus it's a VERY short walk (2 block) to the gulf beach.

I heartily recommend a pass on Cortez- go across the river instead