More Moorings

February 24, 2016

Stuart, Florida

Mile Marker 6 OWW

We loved the Okeechobee Waterway all 146.8 miles and three days.  The weather was perfect.  We stopped at an anchorage in Southbay that seemed in the middle of nowhere but it wasn’t, we just couldn’t see any town or other goings-on from where we were.  When we anchored we saw a small Bayliner, probably from the 80’s that was just right for taking out on the lake or pond for snacks and drinks before dinner. Before long the Bayliner headed out but not without giving our boat a good look.  They circled around and came back to visit after all they were from the “County”.  County is the name people in Maine give Aroostook County.  The couple has a camper in an RV park over the “hump”. They offered to take us to the grocery store or anywhere else we might need to go.  Nice folks

The people had come into the anchorage to see the rookery of white birds.  We had seen the birds gather there as well, an amazing sight. I didn’t take a picture of the birds in the trees but if you think about a tree filled with white apples you can make a picture of it yourself.

It was Sunday that we traveled the last part of the journey to Stuart. We fueled up just before arriving at Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage.

You cannot make a reservation for one of the Sunset Bay Marina moorings. It is first come, first serve.  I guess there have been rather heated conversations between boaters thinking that they were the ones that got to the mooring first. We didn’t get a mooring when we first arrived and had to anchor.  Anchoring means no laundry, shower, dinghy docking and lounge privileges.  There were four of us looking out for someone raising a dinghy, battening down the hatches and just plain looking like they are leaving so we can get a mooring before someone else. We now are on a mooring, thanks to Sue and Paul, but it came with strings attached. Because it belonged to another boater and they are gone for a few days we have to be off by Thursday. At that time the lookout starts again and if we didn’t get to a mooring we will have to return to anchor if.  All the time we are looking for a mooring. There are boaters circling around the mooring field looking for signs that people are moving on. Anyway that is the personality of this marina.  

There is this wonderful river walk that is very unique. It is wooded in most places and concrete in others.  I don’t know how long it is but, quite long.  We saw pelicans, red crabs, a beautiful bird, interesting trees, friendly people, places to have a margarita and sit and relax. We can't go on a walk today because it is pouring and rainy.

You will notice that the mile markers a going from high to low and that is because the OWW starts in the east and goes west.

I hope that you are having as good a day as I am.

The pictures

This is the last hand cracked swing bridge in Florida.  If you look closely near the man on the left you can see the hand crank.  The men loved having their picture taken.

Bird of the post

Beautiful bird we saw on the river walk I don't know what it is so if anyone does let us all know.  Melissa? Since I have free Wi-Fi today I am sending lots of photos

I don't think this is a Mangrove but it sure is interesting.

Parts of the river walk

The first two pictures were taken seconds apart and the colors are so different.

 The smoke in the background is from the burning of sugar cane.  We saw some of the bass boat fisherman with bandanas over their nose and mouth and I wondered if this was because they didn't want to breath in the smoke.

The sky has many personalities

Parting shot

Eider

Tricia

A lightbulb moment

February 19, 2016

February 15-17, 2016

Coordinates 26 39.02.5”N 81 52. 31.3”W

Fort Myers , Florida

Mile Marker 135 of the GICW (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway)

While at Fort Myers we spent four hours touring the Edison and Ford winter estates.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was not all cars and inventions but much much more. I wish I could tell you about all that I learned but I can’t recall it.  I remember that Edison has been the only person to ever have a patent every year for 65 years, with a total of over 1000 patents.  Edison and Ford had adjacent property in Fort Myers, hearing about their lives was absolutely fascinating.

It was a wonderful stay at Fort Myers.  We connected with some nice people.  The couple is heading out in two weeks to do the Great Loop which includes the Great Lakes. The marina had a BBQ for everyone, so we socialized a bit.  We took the free trolley around town just to see where it went.  I had a couple of DVDs that I intended to leave at the marina, but gave them to the woman on the trolley instead.

We also spent a little time with Sue and Paul going over the route across the, OWW (Okeechobee Waterway) for the East coast of Florida.  I have enjoyed the West coast but I’m  looking forward to places that we have been before and places on the East coast we have not yet seen. The “cross” includes several locks and bridges. Sue and Paul were with us in previous locks, so taught us the “ropes”. Remember learning how to tie your shoes, it was a little bit like that, hard at first?  

The water on the Okeechobee Waterway can be “dicey, a word used to describe the personality of the water. Another word that is used to describe the seas is “chop”. I am beginning to think I am watching the “Food Network” a network. The network is okay but I would rather be watching it than on it.

Because the water can be “dicey” or choppy we will take the “rim route” instead of the “crossing” it, it is 10 miles longer, very narrow and has more shoaling in parts but a lot less like the Food Network.  We called and found out the depth of the water on the rim route and it seems that it is fine to travel, the route has nice scenery where the crossing route does not.

We started the route and went about 36 miles to Lollipop anchorage, a very short canal off the shoreline.  I immediately didn’t like it.  There were two sailboats rafted (joined together) in the middle of a very narrow canal, poor judgement I thought.  We continued passed them to an open place but the water was 32’ deep, so we could not stay.  We tried a more shallow place but the anchor didn’t hold.  Off we went to the River Forest Yachting Centers about 200 or 300 yards away, what a gem. The people are wonderful, the fees are the best yet, the facilities are top notch and the setting is beautiful. The town is 19 miles away but we don’t need anything. We will stay an extra day to wash windows and clean the outside of the boat.  It was great to have the sunshine to sit in when we had breaks.  We spent the evening with a couple from Alaska and exchanged information so we can stay in touch. Hope to see them again soon.

Another thing that we experienced while we were at this marina is black ashes on the boat.  When we asked the manager of the marina he told us that it was the burning of sugar cane. The farms burn the grass around the stock of the cane and then harvest the it.

All for now except for the pictures.

The Banyan Tree on the Edison and Ford Estate that covers about one acre

The other end of the Banyan Tree

The husband enjoying the Edison and Ford Estate

The Bamboo Tree, a source for the filament in the light bulb

Lots of trees on the estate that had other plants growing from the sides and limbs

Model TT

I would like to look this good when I have aged, oh yes the Model TT has had a facelift 

Here is the bird of this blog

The pelican was around for a long time curious about Rob bailing out the boat.

Parting Shot

The most beautiful marina

Unheard of, a paved winding road to the marina office

The working part of the marina

The cat on the far left belongs to our new friends

This is what the water looked like the day we left for the Okeechobee

Parting Shot

Hair salon house type boat at the marina in Fort Myers, genius.

                                                                                  

It is Five O'clock somewhere

February 14, 2016

February 12, 2016

Coordinates 26 27’ 40.9" N 82 05 ’21.9" W

Sanibel Island, Florida

Mile Marker 6 of the GICW (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway)

February 13, 2016

Coordinates 26 41' 15.0" N 82 14' 36.6"W

Cayo Costa State Park, Florida

Mile Marker 25 GICW

I want to tell you how excited I was on February 12th when we realized we could meet up with Sue and Paul, our cohorts in starting this trip.  There have been so many times on this journey that we have been in the right place at the right time.

We thought that Sanibel was going to be a great stop but it wasn’t.  There weren’t any anchorages with protection from all directions. We stayed one night and moved on to Cayo Costa State Park to meet up with Sue and Paul, a lovely stop.  Because it was the weekend there were a lot of boats. We went on three dinghy rides twice to the state park and one to a tiny body of water. The walks in the state park took us to the beach on the Gulf Coast that was good for shelling.  

I think that it is well worth it to repeat exactly how the Waterway Guide describes getting to the anchorage.

“With caution, a little help from the tide and a reliable depth sounder, boats drawing up to 5 feet can normally get through Pelican Pass into Pelican Bay. From red daybeacon “74,” travel southwest toward the tip of the sand beach on Cayo Costa.  Stay to within about 75 feet of the sand beach and just past the little sign in the water, turn slightly to port (east) and follow the beach up into Pelican Bay.  You will find 5-6 feet of water in the pass.  When inside Pelican Bay, pay attention to your depth sounder as there are several very shallow areas.  You can anchor in 7-8 feet with plenty of swinging room and really good holding.  This is a very popular anchorage so it can get crowded on weekends.  One of the prettiest areas is in the southwest corner.  Take your dinghy and look for a very small but deep creak and venture in.  The depth is more than adequate for dinghies.  It opens in a small lake of about 200 yards in diameter.  There is a small dock that was once used for loading supplies on the island.  You can land your dinghy there and explore inland.  Very pretty!  This is one of the best anchorages on the west coast of Florida.”

Being in there was delightful.  We found the pelicans landed on the dock before we did so we appreciated the area from our dinghy and did not go ashore.  We saw the path onto the island had not been used in a very long time.  There was a small opening from the “lake” and in there was a home.  

We saw pelicans, after all it is Pelican Bay, hawks, cormorants, fish jumping and peace and quiet well worth the ride if you are anchored in Pelican Bay.

Before I started this journey I had no idea what the Waterway Guide was talking about most of the time, now I understand what the guide is saying.  I didn’t have one point of reference to call on to help me understand the book.  I didn’t study any books last winter since I only became frustrated.  A scary feeling like jumping in a black hole hoping that you can adjust to the darkness, especially in Penobscot Bay where mountains live under the water.

We celebrated Valentine’s Day with rib eye for dinner and an old movie, Kelly’s Heroes we loved it! The cast of characters included Clint Eastwood, Telly Savals, Don Rickles, Carroll O’Connor and Donald Sutherland, a movie from 1970. I hope you can watch it some day make sure you are prepared for the 143 minutes it takes to watch it.

Today we are off to Fort Myers where fun is bound to be.

Here are the pictures that we all enjoy.

The world is my kingdom

Check out all the birds in the background

Day of the birds

The designers takes colors from nature

Story is that Active Captain reports a missing marker.  Sue and I wondered if this was the one that left its position and if so what kind of storm was it that unhinged this bugger?

Parting Shot

I wonder if the wealthy have a better time than...

February 11, 2016

Naples, Florida

Coordinates-26.13831N,81.79061W

No Mile Marker

We have been at the Naples Boat Club Marina since Monday, February 8, 2016, a welcome rest from the Florida Bay.  I have enjoyed getting off the boat and walking anywhere we want. The slip is ninety dollars a night plus ten dollars for shore power. See why we anchor ninety-five percent of the time?

While using the “free laundry” I met a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. According to AKC the spaniel is in the toy category, what an adorable dog. He is going to be a therapy dog as soon as he is certified. While on our walk one day we saw another CKCP, only this one was a mix and had very curly hair.  I think owning a dog would be more practical than a cat if we are going to travel.  What do you think?  We are on an adventure in more ways than one.

I had a great Margarita at the Dock restaurant and it being Margarita night it was the drink of choice.  We had an appetizer of shrimp nachos. I recommend something else.

Today promises to be a great day to travel to Sanibel Island.  We have to travel on the “Outside” and that means in the Florida Bay of the Gulf of Mexico without the protection of land.  It is 38 nm at 6kts. 

There evidently is a “lot” of money floating around Naples. We walked past an open house where we were nabbed to take a look. On the outside it looked quaint but not inside. You know when people say they have expensive taste, if you say that you haven't been to Naples. The land cost two million dollars and had over four thousand square feet at a total of over four million dollars.  It was on a tiny lot and no place to be outside, but you could go to the second level by elevator.   

We have done lots of walking while here including Naples 5th avenue shops carrying mostly the same merchandise.  I think it is so funny that all the women going into the shops and all the spouses find a place to chit chat.  3rd Street South in Old Naples was more fun than 5th avenue.  

We walked the beach while in Naples against my friends advice. Red tide warning was in effect, not much different in Maine, but with an addition of being careful of the area with dead fish that can put off something in the air that causes respiratory discomfort and be sure to wash hands and feet. When I came out of the restroom Rob was laughing because there are two choices of knobs to wash off, one for a full shower and one for just feet.  Even though the woman's husband told her which one was for her feet she hit the full shower button.  She proclaimed to her husband "you can't take me anywhere".

Here are some great photos, some from the canal we took from Marco Island to Naples and the other photos from here.

The Army Corp of Engineers or a state or federal program put the "pans" for hawks to use for their nests.  Who says the government isn't good right now?

We were on the flybridge so we could look down into the nests and there were hawks in every nest we saw on the canal from Marco Island to Naples.  I bet there were 40+ nest in the short distance we traveled that day.

The attractive houses in Naples

We were told that when or if  the property is on the market it will cost two million for the lot and the house will be taken down to make way for a larger one.  What a shame

Sponges on the beach

Rob carrying the backpack on most trips out and about

Are you missing any keys?

Parting Shot

Honorable mention, picture missing.

Our neighbors from home were visiting and staying at her sister's home in a town nearby.  I wanted to see the bungalow maybe next time.

Tricia