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

Adventures to treasure and ones I could live with out

February 6, 2016

January 31, 2016

Tarpon Basin

Coordinates-25.12060N,80.42140W

Mile 1140

February 1, 2016

Tarpon Basin

Coordinates- 25.12060N,80.42140W

Mile 1140

February 2, 2016

Islamorada

Coordinates-24.92541N,80.63603W

Mile 1163

February 3, 2016

Fat Deer Key

Coordinates- 24.74041N,81.01382W

Mile 1185

February 4, 2016

Coordinates- Channel Key

24.78935N,80.91698W

Mile 1180

February 5, 2016

Cape Sable Beach

25.13739N,81.11201W

No Mile Marker

February 6 and 7, 2016

Smokehouse Bay

Marco Island

Coordinates-25.9557N, 81.73060W

How the days go by when you aren’t anywhere, but on your way to somewhere. When starting a new post I check the log for coordinates, so I can tell those who want to know exactly where we are on the map.  I am afraid I often take the joy away from them for pinpointing us on the map because they might get the coordinates several days after we have left. Oh well, I never promised to be on time.

I can’t believe the time that has past since I last did a post except for, of course, my favorite day to this point.

Swimming with the dolphins!!

Key Largo is a town on Key Largo.  I really had fun there and wish we had stayed longer instead of rushing to see if we could get to Key West.

Active Captain always tells where you can tie up a dinghy.  In Key Largo the dinghy dock is very nice and very convenient.  There is a nice park with free WIFI when you step off the dinghy dock. Behind the park is the Government Center, what a lovely place.  We walked in to find an art display of 6”x6” pieces of art by different artists.  The best part, we met some very delightful people that took us for a tour of the town. Whenever there is a tour from a local person it is always the best.  Dennis and Lee spent the afternoon with us, we had lunch at a local favorite and they told us about so much, valuable education.

Went swimming off the boat in such beautiful blue water. 

We left for Islamorada, which was a fun anchorage although our time there was short because we decided we wanted to go to Key West and ended up at our next stopped, Fat Deer Key. Who comes up with these names? We abandoned the idea of going to Key West for four reasons, no moorings, no anchorages, all marinas were full and the weather was not good for traveling.  We had to turn back and take an anchorage on Channel Key because we were a little more protected, still not a comfortable night. Channel Key was good for one night.  Consulted NWS and made a run for the Everglades and found a protected beach.  No Cell, no internet and no boats all day.

The dinghy needed gas while we were at Islamorada so we asked the locals where we could find it, part of what I like best is talking with the people that have lived in the area all their life.  The man who pumped our gas had a lot to tell about the laws, the manatees, the fish and the boats.  I learned so much from him.  It was that or "party" at the local hangout they talk about in Active Captain.

I had heard about the parrot fish that are big, little, purple, and all colors of the rainbow. We found one at the dock so now I know what to look for.  He said that the manatee need fresh water and there is a spring off the end of the dock where they come to drink. I guess there are certain things people do that they are not fined for, but sent to jail by the Florida Fish and Game. He said that fines can run as high as a thousand dollars a fish if you catch and keep the fish. We saw the humps of the back of manatees sometimes and other times we see the shadow of them just under the water.  As I have said many times in my posts, I just love the wild life.  After my swim with the dolphins, I better be careful not to jump in the ocean with them I could be put in jail.

Left for Panther Key with less than one foot seas.  Late in the day we decided to go to Marco Island.  VERY BAD IDEA!  The seas picked up to 4-5’ seas, then 5-7' as we careened into Marco Island at sunset to an anchorage in the dark.  It was the worst weather we had seen.  Rob did an amazing job managing the boat and getting us to safety. At one point Rob described seeing the boat surf on the top of a wave and looking over the bow of the boat not being able to see anything over the edge.  The autopilot stopped working at the beginning of the trip making it much harder to travel.  One of the windsheild wipers stopped working, the v-berth hatch was leaking a lot of water, water was sneaking in other places and the floors were covered with the contents of the boat spilling on to the floors.  Every bone in my body hurts from the stress and the tension from holding on preparing for each wave that hit.  I just realized we have to go back out in the water sometime if we are going to get home. 

We are now in Smokehouse Bay, well protected, but the wind is so strong the boat is twisting, water is rough and the palm trees are giving in to the blow.  You know what howling winds are like.

We met friends from home in the morning for breakfast.  It was so nice to have that to look forward to after such a harrowing experience.  

Pictures tell it better than words.

Water over the bow, too rocky to take any more pictures.  I thought about the Perfect Storm.  

Finally a swim

Look very closely so you can see a man and his dog on a paddle board

A very relaxed guy and a relaxing day

 The boat, the guy and the feet

 The art show

A few examples

She nibbled my finger and was mad to find I didn't have anything to offer

Good Old Boy/Boat

Friends are the best

I do love my birds

Susan this is for you

blackbirds on the dinghy

In case your old and your sight is going, the boat name is

Sea-Nile

Special Addition

A Very Special Day

Axl and Ige

Valentine

No better ride

Axl is not the only one flying high

How could this day be made more special? Two of us had Alx and Ige all to ourselves.  The woman that I did it with has stage four breast cancer and was there in a program that provides terminally ill people their wishes.  She was there from Michigan and her friend that came with her has stage four pancreatic cancer however he didn't want to do this program with us he chose to do the shallow dolphin swim. Linda was so happy and smiled through that entire swim.  We hugged when it was over.

Dedicated to Linda from Michigan.

All the best to all of you and my wish for you to someday have this kind of experience in your life.

Tricia