Monday, April 11, 2005

Left the dock at 1:30 and made a stop at Bob Willaford's Dive Service on the Congo Canal just off the river on our way out.  He has a service where you just pull your boat up to his workboat and tie off while he dives.  Had him change the zincs (wasn't much left to them) and wash the bottom.  Picked up a mooring at Salty Sam's around 5:00pm and had steaks on the BBQ.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

One of our routine days at Fort Myers Beach.  Long walk over the bridge to get there, stop for iced coffee, walked the beach, lunch at Wahoo Willies on the beach, walked the beach some more, back over the bridge with a stop at the fishing fleet market to pick up fresh swordfish for dinner.  A beautiful day.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Squall line came through in the morning then it cleared up for another beautiful day.  Took a walk to the fish market again and picked up fresh shrimp for dinner.  We sure are going to miss these wonderful fish markets and fresh fish.  In the afternoon we went off to try our hand at a little fishing.  I landed a small gafftopsail catfish - my first catch!  Within fifteen minutes I hooked a second fish.  This guy was larger and a lot of fun until  I got him under the dinghy and he bit through my line and took off with my lucky lure!  Score:  Joyce 2/Alan 0!

Thursday, April 14, 2005

We left the mooring in the morning and headed back to the house to take care of a few things before the kids get here.  Doesn't look like we're going to get the RIB before we head back out.  The guy who bought our dinghy picked it up this afternoon so it looks like we won't have one for a while.  We have a dock slip for the week at Fort Myers beach so it doesn't really matter. 

Sunday, April 17, 2005

On Friday we did more work around the house and on the boat.  Packed up some of our clothes/stuff and mailed them home.  Stopped at Little Havana Cuban restaurant for lunch.  Had Cuban tamales, fried yucca, and chicken croquettes - very good, especially the fried yucca.  We've found two Cuban restaurants that we enjoy and also a Cuban bakery where I buy pastries on Sunday morning.  I need to learn some Spanish.

On Saturday we left the dock around 11:00 am and arrived at the marina at Fort Myers Beach around 1:30.  We then had to find transportation back to the house to pick up the Jeep since we needed to have it here for the week.  Walked down to the beach and had an iced coffee at our favorite coffee shop and took the trolley that dropped us off at a mall , where we picked up a bus that took us to another mall , where we picked up another bus that took us across the bridge to Cape Coral and dropped us off at a transfer station, where we could get another bus that would take us within 4 blocks of the house.  We had a 45 minute wait for the last bus but we noticed the Twisted Conch, a restaurant/bar, across the street so we walked over, Alan had a beer and I had a wine and we finished just as the bus was arriving - life is good!.  All of this took about 2 1/2 hours and cost all of $4.30 but hey it was another adventure!  Picked up the Jeep and drove back to the marina.  Walked the beach again and had dinner (bar food - the best buffalo shrimp going)  on the top of the Lani Kai, another of our favorite places.  From the 6th floor rooftop bar you can watch a fabulous sunset, listen to good live entertainment and watch the "wild" entertainment down on the beach at their more infamous beach bar!

On Sunday we walked the beach road and stopped at a  little French Bistro that was run by two French speaking ladies.    Great food, great view - now I need to brush up on my French!

Sunday, April 17, 2005

When to the airport last night at 10:30pm to meet the kids.  It was so good to see them all.  Even though it was late they were wired and in great spirits.  We helped with all their gear - Ray and Matt's golf bags, Sydney's medical gear, and luggage for 4 adults, 4 kids. We got back to the house with everyone's luggage a little after midnight and then headed back to the boat.

Monday, April 18, 2005

Went to the house at Bonita Beach in the morning and got the gang together for a beach day.  Spent the day at the beach club.  We all had a great time building sand castles, walking the beach, swimming, etc.    Went back to the house for swimming in the pool and dinner.  Sharon cooked steaks and chicken.  William came with Alan and I back to the boat.  He's going to spend nights with us on the boat all week.

Fun at the Beach

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

We left the Mystic Jitney to head back to Bonita Beach around 10:00am.  Got our act together at the house and headed out for another day at the beach club.  The kids wanted to spend time at the pool instead of down on the beach.  Ray went golfing.  Alan, William, and Matt spent some time surf casting on the beach then headed off to Big Carlos Pass to do some more fishing.  Emma, Sharon, Katie and I stayed at the pool with the kids.  I cooked shrimp for dinner at the house.

Will and Papa fishing

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Ray rented a pontoon boat today.  We arrived at the house by 9:00am.  Alan, Matt, William and I took the pontoon boat out for a short fishing trip up the canal.  No bites.  Arrived back at the house at 11:00 and loaded up everyone else for a day on the water.  Went to New Pass, saw dolphins, beached the boat for a swim and some exploring then back on the boat.  Had lunch then headed back out to Big Carlos Pass, saw more dolphins, beached the boat again, went swimming, etc.  Left Big Carlos Pass and made another stop at Fish Tales restaurant for snacks.  Everyone had a great time, the kids were terrific and we arrived back at the house around 4:00pm.  A long day on the water.  Emma, Matt, Sharon and Ray had planned a night out to dinner so Alan and I took William and Sydney back to the Mystic Jitney for the night.  It was Sydney's first night on the boat and she was great.  We ordered pizza for dinner.

A day exploring on our pontoon boat

Syd and Will on the Mystic Jitney

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Alan and I along with William and Sydney headed back to the house around 10:00 am.  Alan dropped us off and he headed over to his dad's house in Cape Coral for the afternoon.  His brother, Ron, and his wife Marie arrived yesterday from NY with their truck to pack up some things from the house that they are taking.  Alan spent the afternoon helping Ron get the Boston Whaler over to the boat ramp and on a trailer.  Matt and Ray went golfing and took William and Liza with them.  Sharon, Emma, Katie and I went back to the beach club with Sydney and Charlotte for the afternoon.  Emma cooked burgers and hot dogs.  Alan and I took William back to the Mystic Jitney for his last night on the boat.

Back at the house for dinner

Grandma, Papa and the kids

Friday, April 22, 2005

We brought William back to the house in the morning.  Then we all headed out to the Everglades Nature Wonder Park to see some wildlife.  Couldn't let them come to Florida and not see all the critters that life here.  Saw alligators, crockadiles, flamingos, panthers, snakes, and everything else that lives down here.  The kids got to pet the baby alligators.  It was a lot of fun.  Ray and Matt spent the afternoon at the house with all the kids.  Emma, Sharon and Katie had the afternoon off and went shopping in Naples.  Alan and I went back to the house in Cape Coral to help with the packing up.  It was "dress up" night.  Sharon and Ray hosted a dinner at the house.  Their friends Scott and Michelle, who have moved to Naples from CT, joined us with their two children.  It was great fun with plenty of great food that even included special food for the kids and great service.

Enjoying the wildlife

Matt, Emma, Sharon and Ray back at the house for dinner

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Alan and I drove back to the house in Bonita Beach around 9:00 am for breakfast.  Matt made eggs and Sharon made crepes with fruit.  After breakfast Alan and I said farewell to everyone and left to take the Mystic Jitney back up the river to the house in Cape Coral.  The kids have an early flight out in the morning.  Arrived at the dock in Cape Coral around 1:30pm.  Ron, Marie, Shirley and Candace were there working to greet us.  They'd been working on packing up the house.  Ron and Marie drove us down to Fort Myers beach around 6:30 so we could pick up the Jeep and get it back to Cape Coral.  We all had dinner on the Lani Kai rooftop - the best buffalo shrimp going.  There was a front moving in and the wind was blowing like stink but we stuck it out in an enclosed gazebo. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Been finishing up packing Alan's dad's house and starting to work on "summerizing" the boat- a bit different than "winterizing" up north.  It feels weird to be putting the boat up for the summer.  I'm already looking forward to coming back in the fall and continuing our explorations.  We're planning to spend some time in the Keys next winter. 

Some of the furniture is being moved out of the house into a PODS (Portable On Demand Storage unit) today for Donna who will come down to get her stuff later.  The PODS is basically a big storage unit that is delivered to your house.  You load it up and then they come and truck it away to a storage location for you.  Our plans right now are to move the boat over to Don and Shirley's house on Saturday and be ready to head home on Monday or Tuesday.  This sure has been quite an adventure.  We've been on the boat for just about a year now.  Moved on last May for the summer season in CT and have been aboard since, with the exception of a few trips home.  It's going to feel weird moving back on land but we're looking forward to spending time at home in Saratoga with the kids, friends, and family. 

Hope you've enjoyed following our travels as much as we've enjoyed living our dream and sharing it with you.  As we look forward to the future and more adventures  may each of you  enjoy some adventure in your own life.

Cheers!

Joyce and Alan