Across the Big "O"

Sat-Mon Feb 11-13, 2017

We departed Ft. Myers looking forward to new adventures. But I will miss the Florida west coast water. It is such an amazing sea foam green. 

Just 15 miles on the Okeechobee Waterway at the Franklin Dam, the lockmaster hollers at us that he is from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Never too far from homefolks!

LaBelle was a nice place to stop for the day and it was free! Only a 4 block walk to Dollar General Market for fresh veggies.

Sunday we entered the Ortona Lock and they opened the upstream gate to let water in the lock to lift us up to the next level--we had to really hold on to the lock lines! The water leveled out and the lock gates fully opened. But we let loose of the lines too early and the current spun us completely around. Kelly kept the boat from crashing into the walls and we finished the spin heading in the correct direction. Whew-we were lucky! It happened too fast to get pictures or a video.

We arrived at Roland Martin Marina for the evening. Remember way back, he had a fishing show on Saturday mornings? He no longer owns the marina, but this iguana was really cool!

Today we had to travel across the Okeechobee Lake. The route around the southern shore is more scenic, but the Corps of Engineers was working on a bridge and had the channel blocked. So the weather forecast was decent and off we go across for a 3-1/2 hour ride. The sunshine was bright and a slight chop on the lake for almost half the lake. Then the wind picked up and with it the clouds and 2 to 4 foot waves. 

 

Much of Lake O is very shallow, so we had to pay attention to stay on course until the last 5 miles when the wind died down. A good time to stop at the St. Lucie Locks Marina.

Ft. Myers

Tuesday-Friday, February 7-10, 2017

So what did we do in Ft. Myers?
Short Answer: not much and we are happy with that!
Long Answer: we walked (no bicycles) to Publix every other day. And of course watched the river!

One day we ubered (is that a word?) to West Marine to get oarlocks for our dinghy. The driver waited and then drove us to Edison Ford Winter Estates. The houses and gardens were preserved as if the Edisons and Fords still lived there. I never realized there were so many types of palm trees.
Then we toured the museum of everything Edison. Wow!! He invented and improved so many different things in addition to the lightbulb. Telegraph, phonograph, recorders, cement, rubber..... This place is a must see!

Plenty of sunshine and friends this week. We did some chores like laundry and washing the boat. 
Our 21st anniversary was Thursday so we walked over to Joes Crab Shack. On the way back we met with Dan and Jean from Time Out! We hope to see them many times at different ports along the Loop. 

And then on Friday our friends Don and Anna, and Bruce and Beth drove down from Bradenton. Great day to just visit and relax and eat sandwiches.

And I think you need to see some more Florida sunsets!

Boaters, a lookout, a shack, a barge, and another junk!

Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4

Our last day at Sanibel and somone knocked on the boat. It was fellow loopers Nick and Barb on RioMarLago. Thanks to Holiday Point Marina for telling them that In Deep Ship was out there on the Loop!!!

We moved to Legacy Harbor Marina in downtown Ft. Myers. Along the way it felt like a washing machine and is called "the miserable mile"--the current of the river mixing with the tide in the bay.

And look at the sights and the traffic coming down the Caloosahatchee River!

It was strange to see a tow and barge coming down the river. We haven't seen a river type barge since we were on the Tenn-Tom Waterway!

And here is another Chinese junk! We heard that the one we saw on Kentucky Lake capsized while crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The owners were rescued by another boat traveling with them. This one looks to be in much better condition.

Time to Ride

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Good news--Terri wanted to rent bicycles to tour Sanibel Island.

Bad news--I agreed. I haven't been on a bike in a very looooong time! I thought I was gonna die. My legs don't work right and I don't have any balance!! We must have traveled 50 miles on a 6 mile island. But I did survive.

 We eventually found our way to the island lighthouse and watched a dolphin play in the water.

Almost to Sanibel

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Last night was very quiet, almost dark with a little moonlight, and only the sound of the waves gently lapping at the sides of the boat. No rush to get anywhere yet. But for once we have no reservations before we get to the next 2 marinas. The weather is supposed to be warm and I hope no wind!

It was low tide when we left Cabbage Key this morning. Looks like a chance for all the birds to stand on dry land before the tide covers it again!

There was lots of traffic on the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) today. All the boats were passing pretty fast and with lots of rocking and rolling for us. So early this afternoon we just pulled over to a wide spot and anchored. Kelly grilled burgers and we waited for sunset. Not the most exciting sunset, but can you guess who?

Greatest Show on Earth!

Saturday, January 28, 2017

We stayed in the Venice area another day to visit the Ringling Circus Museum. The real circus was in Tampa but was sold out. The next several months will be the last chance to see a live circus ever--go if you have a chance! The museum shows the fascinating history and development of the circus with films, costumes, and actual animal cages and railroad cars used in the circus. Just as interesting is the minature circus hand-made by one man. He has spent 50+ years on his hobby!

Also in Sarasota is a huge statue of the iconic kiss from WWII.

Sunday

It was a rainy day as we traveled to Gaspirilla Marina and it was just a convenient place to stop for the day. There was no scenic view, maybe 50 boats and hundreds of runabouts and fishing boats stacked in 2 huge buildings. Guess what--we saw another phone booth beside the waterway!! Don't know if it tok a dime or a quarter.

Monday

We only travel for about 2 hours to stop at Cabbage Key. It is a small island, but they claim it is the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet's song "Cheeseburger in Paradise". A tourist couple from France stopped to talk with us about America's Loop.  He said it was their dream to someday to travel the Loop!

Still plenty of daylight and the weather is warmer so we walked the nature trails. The "snake spotter" (who else but Kelly) had to stomp on the ground to get the snake off the trail. It looked like a black snake about 3-4 feet long.

Dinner was excellent, I had the triple tail fish and of course Kelly had a cheeseburger! Cabbage Key is known for tour boats to stop just for their meals and the well stocked souvenir stand.

What a Week

Wednesday and Friday
January 25 and 27, 2017

After the stormy weather at the first part of the week, Wednesday was near perfect weather for a boat ride with friends.

Debbie, Beth, Todd, Terri, Bruce, Don, Anna, Kelly

We got out to Tampa Bay but it was too bouncy so we turned around and took a great ride up the Manatee River.

Daybreak on Friday did not look good for our departure, but the clouds cleared as we left the Twin Dolphin Marina.

There was only a light chop on the river, but when we got to the bay the waves were 4' on the beam. Some of these waves hitting us on the side were teeth jarring! We only had to skirt the southeast corner of the bay before we turned south into Anna Marie Sound and the seas flattened.

Debbie and Todd drove over to downtown Sarasota and were right by the purple pier so we waved bye and kept heading south.

It was a very nice day for a leisurely cruise to Venice to stay at the Crow's Nest Marina.