January 13-14, 2015 Anchored near Alligator Creek Punta Gorda and Windmill Village

On Monday the forecast was for steady rain.  So we decided it would be much better if we simply stayed in the marina one more day and did all the laundry and shopping.  And enjoyed the rain at the dock instead of contending with showers anchored.  

As it turned out, the rain wasn't steady and it was rather pleasant temperature wide.  The weather forecasts once again weren't quite accurate.  But it worked out ok.  We don't have a schedule so another day isn't a big deal.  We'll leave tomorrow.

The next morning I was trying to decide whether or not to get a pump out here and fuel up or wait until next week when we’re in Ft. Meyers beach.  When I returned our laundry card to the dock master, he reminded me about the 5% discount on fuel if you stayed at the marina.  Ok, so 5% isn't anything to sneeze at and even though its pretty tight by the fuel dock I've seen other sort of big boats go in there.  

Seemed to be a logical choice to take advantage of the discount and proximity.  So we untied but only after myself and on of our dock neighbors finally got the electrical unhooked.  Seems when they connected our electrical cord, they didn't twist it on.  These plugs are supposed to be pushed in and then locked by twisting them clockwise.  We couldn't twist it because it was never twist-locked into the power pedestal.   I finally just pulled and it almost dropped of in my hand.  Sheez …

Leaving Fisherman Wharf marina after fueling up

We left the dock out and made the three 90 degree turns towards the fuel dock only to find a sailboat occupying a good portion of the dock.  Undaunted I went in anyway and was able to snuggle up to the far end of the dock.  As soon as we tied up the sailboat left.  

We fueled up (only 129 gallons) and pumped out the holding tank.  We had to wait a short time until another boat that had snuck in, left.  We backed away and turned around and out the channel we went. 

It was low tide but we had plenty of water as we made our way the 7 miles down river towards an anchorage near Alligator Creek. 

Anchored in Peace River near Alligator Creek

We found a decent spot that would shield us from the expected north winds tonight and dropped the hook.  But, the windlass suddenly began free-wheeling.  Uh Oh.  It stopped after a few seconds but that isn't supposed to occur.  So we have a windlass problem I think.  We’re staying here another night so I’ll have time to tinker around with it.  Hauling all that chain and anchor by hand is not giving me happy thoughts.

We eventually brought the dinghy down using power from the inverter.   I need to run the generator tonight to make water so we'll have several hours of charging time available.

We secured the davit since we will be towing the dinghy for the next few weeks simply because we’ll be using it so much. 

It started right up and we took off for Alligator Creek which is the access to the Peace River for many of the developments in Punta Gorda including Windmill Village where Mary’s parents lived for several years back in the 70’s.  And I distinctly remember Uncle Ed talking about this 35 years ago when he and lived down here. 

The creek is around 5 feet deep most of the way and it’s a long trek to WindMill Village.  It winds back and forth along mangrove banks on one side, and homes on the other.  Just as we approached a couple in a small boat I noticed the woman using a fish net to bring in what turned out to be a 36 inch snooker.  Ironically we had talked with these folks at the fuel dock a few hours before.

Lock in Alligator Creek

There is a lock about halfway up the creek which was wide open and not operating when we passed by.  I think it connects Punta Gorda Isles to Alligator Creek?  If not PGI, then  some other development.  

We finally found ourselves in the vicinity of WindMill Village, confirmed by a couple sitting on their porch as we went by.  We turned into a small channel and found ourselves in a small basin which turned out to be a secondary marina of sorts.  A nice gentleman directed us to head up the creek a little ways where we’d find the main marina, clubhouse and pool.  And sure enough, we turned into this little canal at marker 55 and after 2 more 90 degree turns we were in the marina basin which I remember from the 70’s.

Windmill Village canal

Windmill Village pool and shuffleboard courts

Windmill Village pool

Windmill Village clubhouse from the marina

Windmill Village clubhouse from the road

The pool looked the same, the clubhouse was all new and most of the homes looked new too.  I went out to take a few pictures and ended up chatting with a man who, it turns out, was from Wisconsin.  He told me after hurricane Charlie swept through much of Windmill Village was rebuilt.  Only the pool and shuffleboard course were basically unchanged.

I couldn't remember where the houses were here back then so I didn't bother walking to where I think they were located.  We just took a few more pictures and headed back out the creek and eventually back to the boat.

Windmill Village marina.  Thats Mary in the dinghy on the left

The anchorage here is quite nice.  We aren’t too close to shore due to depths but the mangroves provide a good barrier against the winds and there’s very little current here even though the tidal levels are about 2 feet.  And ideal place to be.  And weirdly enough we get several broadcast TV channels.  The clearest is showing the original superman programs with George Reeves.  Too bad the sun is setting and its cocktail time!

Today we were going to leave but Mary wasn't feeling well and pretty much slept the whole morning.  So the weather was pretty crappy with heavily overcast skies.  The winds were out of the north and should continue from that direction for the next few days which is good for us since we are nicely tucked in here along the mangrove shore which is a good wind and wave break.

While Mary slept I emptied our gas can into the dinghy and then took off back to Windmill Village to mail a letter.  Well, a bill actually.

The gloomy day made the journey a bit less enjoyable but I had to get that bill in the mail.  Perserverence!

I soon tied up in the Windmill Village marina and started walking to the club house next to the marina.  I asked a nice lady who was driving a golf cart where a mail box was located.  She stopped and said in the mail room, and then just took the letter out of my hands and said she'd drop in the mail.  Ok,  I've learned not to argue with little old ladies.

Drove back to boat and basically spent the day cleaning up boat documentation files and bemoaning the pitiful output from the solar panels.  It'll be a long generator run tonight.

Tomorrow though, if Mary feels better, we'll head to Cay Costa.  The weekend is forecast to be sunny and warm and there is a great beach there.