Wednesday, February 9 2005

We left the dock at Cape Coral on Saturday the 5th.  Motored out the Caloosahatchie River to a beautiful anchorage, Glovers Bight, just east of Sanibel Island.  While having breakfast on Sunday morning we were greeted by a pod of dolphins that had come in  to feed.  What a treat to be back with the dolphins!  It was such a peaceful anchorage and so lovely that we decided to stay another day and chill out.  We went out in the dinghy with our new fishing tackle and did some practice fishing among the mangroves.  Alan taught me how to cast - I still need a lot of practice - but it was a lot of fun and very relaxinng.  No fish for dinner though.  Watched the Super Bowl on the TV Sunday night - a good game.

On Monday morning we left the anchorage around 9:15 am and headed out toward the Sanibel bridge.  It opens every half hour so we made the 10:00 am opening.  It was sunny and mild with a northeast wind of about 10 knots - a perfect day for sailing down the coast to Naples.  Entered Gordon Pass to Naples around 2:30 pm.  We called the city dock only to find out that there are no longer any moorings in Naples - something about the DEP.  Since there were no other places to anchor we took a dock at the City Dock for the night.    Went into the Everglades Angler Orvis shop and got some local fly fishing info.  Bought a bunch of fly's and some leader line, etc.

Sailing along Fort Myers Beach

On  Tuesday morning we dinghied over to the Naples Yacht Club to meet our old friend Mike Hall who is now dockmaster.  He and his wife Christine shared a dock with us in Noank CT for some years before they moved to Florida.  Mike gave us some good information on the area and we're looking forward to getting together with him and Christine and our friends the Gobbee's in March when the Gobbee's come to Naples.  We dinghied to other marinas inquiring about dock space and where we might locate if we wanted to run the business out of Naples.  We're in the process of getting a permit to do pickups at the City Dock but haven't found a location to keep the boat.  Turns out there's a lot going on there with the DEP(Florida Dept of Environmental Protection) and marinas and boaters.  At the City Dock only transients (like us) are allowed to spend the night on their boats.  All others cannot.  At other marinas boat owners are only allowed to spend five nights on their boats and then they have to go out for at least three days.  And then they can only spend a total of ten nights in every 30 day period.  So the bottom line is your paying for a dock slip that you can't live at.  Guess they have a problem with people living on their boats.  To say the least it's not a cruiser friendly town. 

Tuesday afternoon we left Naples and headed over toward Marco Island.  Found a fabulous anchorage just behind Keewaydin Island which is just off Little Marco Island.  Water is clear blue and bottom is sand.  We dinghied over to the Island and walked the beach.  This is a very popular day spot for all kinds of small boats with families going to the beach.  By late afternoon everyone had cleared out and we had the place to ourselves.  More dolphins, palm trees, and sun.    Decided we're going to spend some time here.

At anchor between Little Marco Island and Keewaydin Island

Wednesday morning we took the dinghy to the beach again.  Alan did some surf casting.  Lots of fishing going on here.  Walked the beach and came back to the boat for lunch.  Before dinner we went out in the dinghy to fish again.  This time Alan tried his hand at fly fishing with the new lures he bought yesterday.  I continued to work on my spin casting.  While we were out the dolphins really put on a show - jumping completely out of the water!  Their whole bodies were several feet above the water - thought we were at Sea World!  This is fun.!

Thursday afternoon we decided to head over to Marco Island to another more protected anchorage.  A front was coming through with winds  20-25 knots out of the north.   Found a great spot to anchor in a place called Smokehouse Bay.  We were sitting there among multi-million dollar homes - they're  amazing.  We picked up a local free newspaper and it was full  of ads for real estate - building lots go for $1,300,000. - way too many zeroes for us!  Spent the afternoon walking to a urgent care clinic because I had been sick with sinus problems, sore throat and cough for a month.  Turned out I had sinusitis and bronchitis.  Got some meds and hope I'll soon be back to normal.  After dinner we heard someone singing and when we looked around it was a gondolier giving a couple a gondola ride - pretty cool to watch.  The Marco and Naples area is big on creating a Mediterranean/Italian aura.

Marco Island Gondola

Sunday, February 13, 2005

After a few great days at Marco Island we decided to leave with the tide and head back up to Fort Myers Beach.  The morning was clear with a nice breeze.  We were able to sail along the coast for a good two hours with no motor.  Then the wind died down so we had to start the engine.   Picked up a mooring in San Carlos Bay just behind Fort Myers Beach.  The town has two large mooring fields and they cost $10/day.  A great deal since it includes marina facilities at Salty Sam's Marina.  As we were picking up the mooring we were greeted by Dave from "Destiny".  Dave was the organizer behind our Thanksgiving feast at St. Mary's.  Took a dinghy ride around the bay and stopped at Mantanza's Restaurant on the water for dinner. 

Monday, February 14, 2005

Took the dinghy exploring again.  Found a small marina on the beach side of the bay where we might be able to get a slip next year if we're interested.  Stopped at the fish market where the shrimp fleet docks and picked up some more great fresh shrimp.  Just tied the dinghy up amonght the shrimp fleet and went into the market.  This is shrimp heaven - there's nothing like freshly caught shrimp.  Also bought a piece of grouper - another favorite down here.  In the afternoon we went over to Bonita Bill's (a colorful establishment) where we tied up the dinghy and walked over the bridge to the beach area.  Took a long walk on Fort Myers Beach.  Stopped at an information kiosk and talked to the guy about doing charters.  He said they needed more charter boats and put us in touch with someone who might be able to help us find a pickup place.  No problem living on your boat in Fort Myers Beach area like up in Naples.  On the way back we stopped to Dumont Marine to talk to them about doing some generator work for us.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Left the mooring field at Fort Myers Beach and started our way back to Cape Coral.  Made the 10:00 am Sanibel bridge opening.  Arrived back at the dock at the house around 12:30.  Took a drive to West Marine in the afternoon to pick up our solar panels that we had ordered in an effort to solve some of our energy problems. 

Our newly installed solar panels

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

I spent the morning doing work on the computer - bills, etc.  Also helped Alan install the solar panels.  In the afternoon we went back to West Marine to purchase a propane gas detector.  Installed that too.  Alan did some calling around about finding a location where we could pick up passengers - no luck.  In Fort Myers Beach we can live on the boat but can't find a location to do pick ups.   In Naples we have a place to do pick ups but can't live on the boat.  I told Alan I think someone's trying to tell us something - just go cruising!

Friday, February 18, 2005

Left early to drive over to Miami for the boat show.  Traffic getting out of Fort Myers and Naples was horrible.  The trip across the state on Alligator Alley went real quick.  Arrived in Miami, parked the car and did the boat show thing.  This was the best boat show we've been to.  Really done well.  We looked at generators, outboards, ribs, etc.  Walked over to Lincoln Road, a pedestrian area of block after block of outdoor restaurants and shops.  The food at all the restaurants looked great.  We had lunch there and then went back to the boat show.  Spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express in Hileah which is out by the airport, about a 20 minute drive from Miami Beach when there's no traffic.  Couldn't afford anything any closer. 
 

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Back to the boat show to look at sailboats (multihulls in particular).  Then we headed down to Ocean Blvd and the South Beach area.  We fell in love with all the "flavors" of Miami Beach.  What a great place - so diverse and colorful.  We just had a ball.  Had lunch at Mango Tropical Cafe on Ocean Blvd.  What a hoot - live Latin music and the waitresses and waiters danced on the bar.  Pretty hot dancers!  They also had a  guy was walking around with two parrots that he'd let people hold to take pictures.  After lunch while we were walking down the street we came across a guy with two large yellow snakes that he was letting people put around their necks - I could go for the parrots but not the snakes!  Unexpectedly bumped into some friends from NY who are spending the winter in Miami Beach - small world.  We left Miami Beach around 4:00pm to drive back to Cape Coral - lots of traffic getting out of Miami Beaach but fast once we got to I75.

We're planning on spending the week in Cape Coral because Alan's sister, Donna, is coming down and Alan wants to be available if she needs help around the house.  Then we're off again.