February 10-16, 2014 on the way to Marathon

update  with pictures 2/24/2014

February 10-17th

It was a beautiful day as we headed the dinghy out of the anchorage towards to Bokeelia Island to visit with Joan and Dave.  Its about a 9 mile journey one way and we were armed with our portable mapping GPS (Garmin 76cx) with the map chip I purchased at West marine in Dunedin.  We had a few mis-steps trying to get into the little passage which leads into the area, but we made it without undue harm.  Shallow waters back in there but very nice. 

Meeting Dave and Joan at Bokeelia

Dave and Joan met us in their little skee-doo jet boat so we decided to tie up at the marina dock close bye and have lunch.  They had a really good restaurant.

We headed back to their house, a rented placed complete with heated pool and a dock.  Nifty place. 

They took us over to the local Winn Dixie where we lightly re-provisioned.  Took a little drive into Matlache Island too.

Dave and Joann's beautiful place at Bokeelia

When we returned to their place we loaded the dinghy and, noticing the heavy looking fog north of us, elected to leave right away.  As we got out into Pine Island sound we were literally socked in with fog.  Couldn’t see 10 feet in front of us.  Luckily the little gps had our track to island saved so I just followed that back to Cayo Costa and the Pelican Bay anchorage.  Whew!

 

Fog heading back to our anchorage.  It was 3pm

We had made plans to meet them at Cabbage Key the next day which fit our schedule perfectly because we basically didn’t have anything else to do and we could sleep late.  We hopped in the dinghy around 11 and headed out the backside of the anchorage.  It’s a little shallow in there but I had seen big boats anchored and sure enough, by picking the route carefully we had 7-8 foot depths all the way out to the ICW.

Beach where we beached the dinghy

It was a few miles to Cabbage Key and as we got in towards the marina we could see several boats jockeying for a placed to tie up.  The dock master, notorious for being rather “abrupt”, waved us over to a small beach where we beached the dinghy.  We had about an hour before Dave and Joan were arriving so we walked around the island on a convenient path.   There were many little signs imparting botanical information on the green plants and tree’s around.  It was really a pleasant walk

Walls of Dollar bills at the bar

When we returned to the restaurant Dave and Joan hadn’t arrived yet so we sat at the bar.  Yes, this is the place where there are several thousand, one dollar bills stapled to the ceiling and walls.  Pretty impressive! 

That's Floyd on the right stalking those with food

Mary left to go to the head (bathroom) and ran into Dave and Joan on the way back so they all sat down outside (first come first served) leaving me in the bar discussing my seltzer and Captain Morgan concoction with the nice bar tender until a waitress came in looking for some long-haired old guy in a yellow shirt.   I was summarily ejected from the bar and led out to a table where Dave, Joan and Mary were sitting.  And Floyd.  Well, Floyd wasn't sitting, he was lurking behind the puny little chain fence surrounding the outdoor eating area.  Floyd, is a rather large white Heron who patrols the periphery of the restaurants outdoor seating area.  He also doesn't care one wit about humans being so close.

We all had a drink talked for awhile until the food arrived.  Cheesburgers for the most part since that’s what this place is famous for.  Floyd shuffled closer noting that there was fresh food and possibly a sucker who might toss a morsel his way.

And yes, I was the sucker.  I tossed him a piece of my bun but he took a taste and flung off to the side staring at me with those beady little eyes.  Ok, I thought.  Maybe he’ll like lettuce.  So I offered some of the Cole Slaw.  He ignored that too but kept staring at me with those beady little eyes and that long spear of a beak.  

Ok, so the bird doesn't eat anything good I thought.   But in the back of my mind (which I tend to ignore) I was thinking why would he hang around tables if he didn't eat the offered food.

As I was contemplating this I heard Dave grunt something and as I turned towards him, Floyd’s beak shot past my arm, grabbed half my cheeseburger and backed away from the table trying to get the thing down his gullet.  He was having a hard time. Calculating his chances of consuming the whole thing before loosing it to converging sea gulls, he took off down the hill.  Meanwhile, stunned, we all just looked after him wondering how such a gawky looking animal could be that brazen and quick!

Dave apologized for not grunting a warning earlier as the waitress came over to offer a stern warning about feeding that “vexing” bird.  Wonder why she was only looking at me?

So Floyd won this round but we will be returning so I can sit right in front of the beady eyed creature and eat a whole burger right in front of him.

We parted with Dave and Joan planning to dinghy of to Captiva Island and meet them the next day.  As it turned out it was foggy most of the day which nixed that idea. 

Curt and Marilyn along with Field Trip arrived later in the day so we had a little cocktail party aboard that night.

The next day was cool so we just hung around the boat and made ready to leave for Ft. Meyers the next day.

Leaving the anchorage

We headed out of the anchorage on a rising tide with Castaway (Curt and Marilyn) and Field Trip.  The entrance is a little tricky since it shallows up pretty much unless you stay about 50 yards off the beach.  We made it fine though and headed down Pine Island sound. 

We turned into the Caloosahatchee River and turned up the 8 miles towards Fort Meyers.  Castaway ducked into Cape Coral to see some friends while we continued on up the river to the Yacht Basin Marina where we fueled up and tied up alongside the inside wall.  I took the dinghy over and fueled it up as well.

Heading up river on a weekend ... crowded!

Next day we rented a car and did the Walmart to West Marine to Publix replenishment tour.  Had two full carts to lug back to the boat but at least now we have food, booze and other stuff.

The next day I polished up the dinghy fiberglass, cleaned up some wiring and re-installed the wash down pump which fails to work at the moment.  So we took the dinghy over to Legacy  Marina, a high priced resort place, to view the multi-million dollar yachts from our wretchedly dirty dinghy with the sparkling fiberglass.   People waved though so either they’re friendly folks or they thought we were their hired boat cleaners.

Approaching the Ft. Meyers Yacht Basin marina

We stayed aboard that night while Field Trip who we traveled with, were with friends.

Next day we hauled the dinghy aboard and got it covered while I fiddled with the darn wash down pump to no avail.  Also put the cover on and strapped it down.  We took a walk into the historic district where we ate at Morgan House.  Really good food but their seltzer and rum drinks were lousy.

We are located along the wall 4th in from the right

Next day Bad Bob and Diane, who we traveled with down the rivers, stopped over to see us.  They are staying at a marina a few miles up river from us.  A short time later Dave and Dana showed up with their friend Tony and Sue.  We all had a few drinks aboard before Bob and Diane left and the rest of us piled into Tony’s car for the short ride over to Joe’s Crab house.  I’d probably not go back there again.  It was grease personified.   As we were leaving it started pouring, so Tony gave us a ride back to the boat.

At least the rain storm washed all the salt off the boat.  But the next day the wind was howling and blew the cover off the dinghy again.  I took it completely off and stowed it away.  Gotta find a better method for securing the darn thing.

Don and Carole drove up from Venice the next day.  They have a house there but we missed them when we stayed there a week ago.  We had a few drinks and caught up on everything and then had lunch at Morgan House again.  They left in the afternoon and I, gracious soul that I am (right Don?), took care of his parking ticket.  I’m a Florida resident now and know how to handle these things.  Just have to know the right people.

We did some planning during the day.  We are getting a little anxious to be in Marathon before LeAnn and Brant meet us there for a visit during their Twins Baseball trek to spring training in Fort Meyers.  To that end we decided to leave Friday without Field Trip. 

Best laid plans … the weather was looking pretty ify so we decided to stay until the weather patterns calmed down.  So we were stuck in Fort Meyers for two more days, but Curt and Marilyn came puttering in during the day,  but then promptly disappeared somewhere.  We didn’t catch up with them until the next day when Marilyn saw me walking back to the boat during the big Edison lights evening parade they were holding over the weekend. 

In the morning I biked to Publix for a few things and both times witnessed elderly people tripping on a sidewalk that had lifted up.  I’d say it was frost heave but ….…  The second time a poor lady went down face first and I had to help her sit up before grabbing a police officer who summoned an ambulance. 

Edison's home

Mary and I walked to the Edison Home/Museum in the afternoon but elected not to take the tour.  We had been there before and were pretty sure there wasn't much we hadn't seen.  Returning to the boat, we went through old Ft Meyers downtown in the midst  parade preparations.  I guess this thing is a real big deal.  They have a flea market in the park along with a band stage and food of course (Mary had the giant beef hot dog while I went in for more ethnic fare, a gyro.

Edison Light Parade and festival preperations

Back on the boat I stopped over to see Bob and Martha about leaving in the morning while we had a few drinks.  We had pumped out both boats earlier in the day and were all set.  I also talked with a couple on a power catamaran who was also heading to Smoke House Bay in Macro Island and he verified pretty much what I had been thinking, basically it was an easy run and nice anchorage.

I did receive a call from Reunion, owned by a Denise and Carol from Racine Wisconsin.  They were staying at Sanibel marina and expressed a desire to travel with us down to Marathon Key.  So we agreed to contact them once out in the Gulf.

Approaching the Sanibel bridge while Mary sings to the dolphins

We were up at 7:30 and underway by 8am down the river.  As we emerged out into under the Sanibel bridge I heard from Reunion about 7 miles away so we proceeded to stay in touch with them during the 45 mile trip. 

Arriving at Marco Island we navigated the mildly confusing cluster of buoys as we headed into the narrow channel leading to Smokehouse Bay.  After tootling along for several miles gawking at the gargantuan homes we popped into the bay and anchored in about 12 feet of water.  Very placid place which contributed to a restful night.

We did forgo to usually cocktails because everyone was too lazy to launch their dingy but establish that we would leave around 8am the next morning to Russell Bay which is a little area along the channel leading to Everglades city.

And we were up at 8am.  And the batteries were still almost fully charged! 

It was another 40 miles or so and the Gulf was a little bumpy but as we got in closer it became calm.  Crystal clear blue green water that was a little over 70 degree’s.  We ran along with several more pods of dolphins (really porpoises).  They tended to stay alongside awhile even though Mary sings to them.

Russell Bay.  Placid place to anchor

We pulled into Indian Pass where Russell Bay is located and dropped our anchor.  Field Trip wanted to raft off with us so they came alongside but unfortunately that prevented us from using the dinghy so we just relaxed on the boat.  Reunion meanwhile took their dinghy the 4 miles into Everglades city. 

Soon, as dusk approaches, we will be hunted by multitudes of tiny little blood sucking 
insects, or so goes the stories.  To that end, we have the screens all ready.  And I dug out 
bug spray from my golf bag.  No insect is going to befoul my rum!


Tonight the stars are beyond description.  Incredible!

We’re planning on leaving tomorrow for Cape Sable where we’ll anchor off the beach.  Then Marathon which is only about 30 miles from there.