3/7-3/12 Spring Break in Fort Myers Beach

March 7
We travelled 35 miles from Naples north to Fort Myers Beach. We were happy to get a mooring ball here. Just 2 blocks to the beach! We walked all around this colorful, casual, funky town! College spring break was in full swing! The San Carlos bridge comes right into the center of town- an area known as Times Square. This is where the shops and restaurants are.

Coming into Fort Myers Beach 

Looking down on the beach from a rooftop bar.

The mooring field- we were way out there!

March 8

We met Carol's cousin Ann and her partner, Arch for lunch. They are retired teachers from Pennsylvania and winter down here. Got reacquainted and talked a lot about Gram and Gramp's trips to this area. Ann and Arch took us out to their "villa".  It was a lovely neighborhood with tikis and multiple pools. A great home with airy porches and very beachy!

March 9

Carol swam laps at the public pool, directly across from the beach!

Walked over to the Lani Kai Hotel- spring break headquarters, on the Gulf beach. The firefighters from Cincinnatti. put on a stage show here every year for 2 weeks in March.  They have been coming here for 29 years and raise money for charity.  It was a hoot with the guys dancing and bringing girls onstage and throwing out beads to the crowd.

Lani Kai- a kinda tacky Hawaiian themed hotel- Spring Break headquarters!

The Cincinatti Firefighter Show. Never seen anything like it!

March 10

Ann and Arch drove us over to Sanibel Island. We rented bikes and used the separated bicycle/pedestrian paths to explore the island.  Had lunch at Doc Fords. Quiet here.  This is the island known for shelling.

Sanibel Lighthouse

March 11

Did a day of provisioning. Bought shrimp at the market where the fleet docks.

March 12

Today was Fort Myers Beach famous Shrimp Festival! We joined Ann and Archs' friends and watched the parade downtown.

The firefighters had a float!

The shrimp ladies float!

This is a mermaid.

Then we went to dockside Bonita Bills and had fish sandwiches for lunch and listened and danced to the music of DJ Peppermint Patty playing the oldies. It was a riot!

Here is our fun-loving group!  Even Peppermint Patty came out for the photo!

Feb 22-March 6 Marathon to Naples

2/22- 2/28
We contracted a bad case of "Keys Disease" during our 3 month stay in Marathon! We had all the classic symptoms- frequent partying, inability to make a decision or deadline, and accomplishing very little daily!

We researched the Bahamas and the Florida west coast as destinations in terms of weather and wind forecasts. It has been a windy winter here! Rumor has it it has to do with El Nino.
Decided to run up the west coast of Florida, then head east across the Okeechobee Waterway. And then continue north on the ICW.

We provisioned and said goodbye to all our "summer camp" friends we had hung out with. Loved Boot Key Harbor!

Stone crab claws at The Keys Fishery

Captain Jack- At age 91 he still lives on his boat on the dock.  Uses this Home Depot cart as his walker! Lots of interesting characters here.

Our neighbors in Boot Key Harbor out for a farewell dinner.

2/29

Crossed Florida Bay headed north to explore the Everglades. We anchored in Little Shark River. Enjoyed watching the hard working pelicans dive for fish then struggle to get them down their throats. We dinghies around looking for alligators, but couldn't find any. So quiet!

Great day for bow riding!

Fishing underway- just a few nibbles.

3/1

On up the coast- The Everglades have miles of beautiful white sand beaches all along the Gulf, undeveloped.

Stopped in Ten Thousand Islands at Indian Key after a nice sailing day. Beautiful serene anchorage! Watched the dolphins feed around us.  Lots of tour boats from Everglades City.

3/2- 3/4

Continuing north, we came into Marco Island.  The Gulf was like a lake! Back to civilization. We met up with some friends from the Keys and anchored with them in Smokehouse Bay.  Went out to Mangos, dinner and dancing!

The next day we rented bikes and toured all around the island. Stopped at the Marco Island Historical Museum to learn how the island was developed. Almost every home lot is on a man made canal. And the beaches are wide with lovely fine white sand.

Lunch with Tammy and Micheal on Aria.

Coming into Marco Island

3/4- 3/7 

Took a short trip north to Naples. Had a nice sail with the jib. Able to get a mooring ball at the city dock. This is a fancy place! Women in high heels on the dock, men in capri pants and pastel shirts, fancy cars like Miami, private jets coming and going. We walked for miles throughout the town and to the pier and beach. Had lunch at Tin City, an old oyster processing plant on the river. Went to a jazz concert in the park. We were the youngest ones there!

Carol doing laundry on the city dock in Naples

Waterfront estate in Naples.

Jan 22- Feb 21 Still hanging out in Marathon

1/22-2/22
Yes, we are still hanging out in Marathon.  Boot Key Harbor is such a unique and friendly place! Its a bit like being at summer camp- lots of activities going on everyday.  For example,
In the park- yoga, tennis, softball, bocci, all scheduled for you
In the big lobby- jewelry making, rug making, basket making, card games and dominoes
In the tiki hut- DVD exchanges, sing alongs, pot lucks, educational talks for boating
And lots of happy hours on boats!

One day a fellow cruiser came in and made jewelry glass blowing.
Louie, "the pirate", actually an ex-cop, made an octopus necklace for Carol while we watched.

 

We learned to play Mexican Train Dominoes on bad weather days.

   

Kathy and Gary McCoy, friends from out homeport, were down on vacation. They drove us to the infamous No Name Pub, a former brothel, on Big Pine Key. Great pizza!
 

Pam Kazaba, Chad's mom, came down for a visit and even stayed onboard with us!

Girls Day Out in Key West

Made a trip to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. This little guy had a chunk of his side taken out by a shark.  He had surgery and was recovering well.

Pam relaxing on the boat.

We sailed down to Newfound Harbor, off Ramrod Key of a few days with Mike and Tammy on Aria. We got to snorkel and dinghies into shore for lunch at The Looe Key Reef Resort. Best fish sandwiches we have had! The stars were unbelievable there! Coming home was a bit rough out in Hawk Channel.
We found some local color at our anchorage off Picnic Island with locals hanging out on the sandy island with palm trees. They had furnished it with picnic table, grill, and chairs and hammocks. As we were hanging out there, Jerry pulled up. He had a pontoon boat that he had built a wooden structure on, sort of like a Huck Finn raft.  He had made a steering wheel from a bicycle metal wheel with keg taps all around as handholds! Jerry looked like a ZZ Top band member. He travelled around the near shore islands and lived on his raft.  Quite a character! Even had a Yeti cooler! Wish I had gotten a picture, but left the camera onboard!

Entrance to channel to Looe Key Resort

Rough seas

Tammy and Michael from Aria

Also took a bus up to Miami and attended the Miami International Boat Show and Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Got to visit with friends, Bill and David and Cheri, our traveling companions on the ICW.
Boat Show pix

 

Arts Festival

We are now starting to plan our next leg of the trip. Mother Nature is in charge and we have had a lot of wind and some rainy days this winter. Looking for a good weather window to travel!
Stay tuned!

 

Dec 21- Jan 21, 2016 Marathon

Dec 22- Jan 21, 2016
Its been a whole month since our last blog!  We flew home at Christmas to spend a week with our family. Got back to Marathon and have spent a relaxing month in the harbor on a secure mooring ball.
We have gotten to know our boat neighbors and also had some out of town visitors!

Here are some pix from the month!

New Year's Day- My kind of Polar Bear Plunge!

                                                                  

Tried free yoga in the park with fellow cruisers.

Carol's friend , Jeri, visiting Key West from Ohio.

Burgers with fellow cruisers from Rock Hall.

Ann and Henry (previous dock neighbors in Rock Hall) met us in Key West for lunch.  They took the fast ferry from Marco Island to Key West for the day.

Spent some time at the local Sombrero Beach.

Tried fishing in the mangroves- Unsuccessful!

Entered the Chili Cook-Off. Here are the competitors in the poultry division.  Carol did not win, but had a lot of fun!

Did some never ending teak work

Dana, Chad, and Charlie came to visit. Unfortunately we had a cold spell, but we still had a wonderful time.

Cool dude!

Charlie on his first dinghy ride.  He wasn't too sure about this.

Liz and Ray, from North Carolina, were down at the same time as our daughter's family.  They even let us do our laundry at their rental place!

Liz and Ray daysailing with us to Sombrero Reef.

The guys went fishing one day and we cooked the catch at Liz and Ray's house!

Porgies, yellow tails and snappers.

Great meal!!!