Ft Myers to Marathon

OK...We've been in Marathon for a few weeks and it's been cool (60's) windy and rainy so I have no excuse for not posting sooner other than we've been working hard to make the best of it. Truth be told I probably would have put off posting longer if we hadn't run into a fellow boater and blogger today who reminded me how long it's been since my last post. You faithful followers deserve more...both of you.

After an enjoyable Christmas in Ft Myers we left on the 26th and ran out in the gulf down to Marco Island. There is some of the old ICW below Ft Myers but we would have to go out above Naples anyway so the gulf it was. Seas were less than 2 feet so it was a pretty easy run down. Things got pretty busy once we entered the pass into Marco but we got into Rose Marina without any real issues. Any of you that have been to Marco know it's a $$$ kind of town and not really our speed but it is a good jumping off point for the keys. We were there for 3 nights waiting for the wind to calm down (again), It would be a 2 day run to Marathon from Marco with an anchorage in the Everglades on the way.

One highlight while in Marco was a dinghy ride up the Marco River to the town of Goodland. Every Sunday in the winter Stans has a party that is off the charts!! If going by boat you have to get there early, heck the parking lot fills up early too. The party officially starts at 1:00 with the National Anthem but we were there before noon just to get a spot. We were lucky enough to get there a few years ago while Stan was still alive but they have carried on the party pretty well since his passing.

Stans on Sunday

We pulled out of Marco early on the 29th for a 60 mile day to Little Shark River in the southern Everglades. Once past Cape Romano just south of Marco we really started getting into the crabbing area. There were small Styrofoam floats everywhere along the route. Problem is they are connected by a poly line down to the crab trap that can foul your prop and bring things to a shuddering halt if you pick one up. The line of traps run for miles and not always in the direction we're headed. Some are painted dark colors that blend with the water and are hard to spot until you're on it. Luckily we were able to avoid getting one caught but it was a pretty stressful day.  The picture below was a rarity. Brightly colored floats and going in our direction. We have been eating crab since we've been here just to thumb our nose at them!

Once inside the boundaries of Everglades National Park there is no crabbing allowed so that provided a nice break. We puled into a nice cove at Little Shark River and were greeted by a lovely sunset and about a zillion stars once the sun went down.

Early the next morning we had the anchor up and were headed toward Marathon. We stayed in the park as long as we could but were back into the crab pots in about an hour. Luckily there were less once we got into the Keys National Sanctuary and we were into Faro Blanco by 1:30 and will be here for 2 months. 

 

This is a very nice marina and there are several other Loopers here with more on the way. We have been getting some boat projects done as well as exploring the area on our bikes. We've been down this way a bunch by car but it's amazing how many little dive bars we miss when going by at 50 mph. 

Starting end of the month and continuing through February we will be having friends and family visiting from up north, sure hope it warms up for them! We have had one visitor already who is always fun to see. I call him Bobby........

 

Even though it's been cool and rainy don't worry about us. We've been eating OK. Until next time....

Dunedin to Ft. Myers Beach

We finally untied and left Dunedin on December 14th. It was a nice 2 week break and we now had 2 weeks to get down the west coast of Florida and into the keys. I figured it made sense to break the trip into 2 posts...don't want to overwhelm anyone!

The first day was a pretty short run to Tierra Verde which is near St. Pete Beach. We had planned to get across Tampa bay but the winds had been blowing pretty hard all day and we decided not to chance it. Next morning the winds were down and we got across the bay with no issues. Passed the Sunshine Skyway as we were heading out into the bay, pretty impressive site from the water.

Big Bay, Skinny Channel.

Across the bay we re-entered the Intra-Costal at Bradenton Beach. We had a short wait for a draw bridge and were on our way. We were heading for Sarasota and making good time when....

The fog set in!

I can honestly say I've never seen fog develop so quickly and at mid day. Luckily it didn't last too long and we didn't hit anything along the way. We were able to pick our speed back up and got in to the mooring field by mid afternoon. Sarasota has developed a very nice mooring field right in downtown and an easy dinghy ride to Marina Jacks ($$$$). A mooring ball is a nice alternative at $25.00 a night to anchoring or paying over $3.00 a foot for a slip.

Sarasota

  We met up with our friends on Knot Sew Easy while in Sarasota. We had last seen them in Alabama and it was nice to catch up. That seems to be how this loop thing works...you meet people and hang out for a while then go off to see different things. A few days or weeks later you run into everyone and catch up over "docktales"

After 2 nights we set off again. This time the plan was to head up Charlotte Harbor and see Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte. Along the way we passed under several lift bridges and a couple of older swing bridges. On the swing bridge the tender walks out to the middle of the bridge after stopping traffic and turns the bridge from the middle. Then she walked over and had a chat with us as we went by...I think the bridge went to Mayberry.

A short way up Charlotte Harbor we stopped for the night at Burnt Store Marina. I have no idea how it got it's name but I assume there was some type of mercantile disaster involved. I've seen many marinas lately where there is some sort of ceremony at sunset. It may be the blowing of a horn or firing of a cannon but Burnt Store is the only place where we've seen a bagpiper at sunset...no lie!

After Burnt Store we headed up to Punta Gorda for the weekend and a stay at their mooring field. On the way there a cool front came through and the winds behind it blew hard from the East for 2 days. Saturday we didn't leave the boat as it would have been a very wet ride getting to the harbor. Sunday was better and we had a good time exploring town during the afternoon. The marina even had free bicycles and we covered some ground!

Mooring Field

Cool Rides!!

Can you believe we found another brewery?? What are the chances???

 Monday we headed back to Burnt Store to tie up to something that didn't rock all night and top off fuel. They were giving a Christmas special of $1.00 a foot and fuel was good too. Bagpiper had the night off though.....

Jill has been trying to get a good dolphin picture since we hit salt water but they seem as elusive as those Monarch Butterfly's back in Tennessee. Well heading down Charlotte Harbor we finally got a great shot, video even. You have to look quick because he was halfway through the second jump but its there!!

Next afternoon we made a short run to Cayo Costa State Park and a nice quiet anchorage. We did a bit of exploring in the dinghy and saw a small alligator. We tried to Dinghy over to Cabbage Key but the waves were still up outside the anchorage. Cabbage Key is where it is said Jimmy Buffett got the inspiration for Cheeseburger in Paradise...I guess we'll have to find out next time.

Jill said all she wanted for Christmas was to be tied to a dock so we headed for Ft. Myers and Salty Sam's Marina. Despite the salty name it is a very nice marina and there is so much to do in the area by dinghy. They even offered 50% off dockage with our Boat US membership.

Salty Sam's

Christmas day we decided to dinghy over to the beach since everyone would be home enjoying time with family. Well, I guess we did that up north because it is so cold, down here everyone goes to the beach!!!

Find Jill....

Well, we had a very nice Christmas even though we were missing family and friends. Ft. Myers was a very nice stop and I can see spending more time there in the future. Boxing Day we headed out into the gulf for the run down to Marco Island. I'll catch you all up on that next time.

BTW, Happy New Year!!!!!