Burnt Store Marina

This morning we left lovely Cabbage Key at 0700. We had a great sail up Charlotte Harbor (about 15 miles), and came into the Burnt Store Marina for a couple of days. We are going to visit Robert & Laurel Webber; friends from Punta Gorda. We will be making a car trip to Largo, FL tomorrow to visit the Island Packet Factory; where Kismet was born.

Very Cool!

 

A Tunnel of Mangroves

 

Our Path To the Beach

 

Beach At Cayo Costa

 

More Shells

 

Our First Catch

 

Porty Goes To Cayo Costa

Yesterday we dinghied to Cayo Costa via Murdock Bayou. We paddled when it got too shallow through the mangroves which led us out to the Gulf side beach. The shells are gorgeous; and I have been gathering many. When we returned to Kismet, Jim got out the fishing pole (which has only been out a couple of times!); and caught our first fish! Since we weren't prepared for the next step; cooking it; we threw it back. If anyone can identify what kind it is; let us know!

The Porty Man

 

Cabbage Key Watertower

 

View From the Watertower

 

Generous Laurie

 

Here Comes The Sun Behind Cayo Costa (At Last)!

 

A Night To Remember

Yesterday we left Fort Myers Beach and sailed North in the Gulf of Mexico to Cayo Costa. This was a 30 mile trip. Our plan was to anchor off of Cayo Costa which should have been a protected spot because the wind was SUPPOSED to blow from the NE. To make a long story short - the wind and wave blew from the NW; about 20 knots and 3 foot waves. If we had left earlier; we could have reached a better anchorage before dark; but we didn't & did not want to go into an unfamiliar anchorage in the dark. The boat was taking the waves on the beam; and rolling and pitching violently for 6 hours (til after midnight) when the wind finally did switch to the NNE. We couldn't even walk down below - we held on to each in our berth counting the hours til dawn! Neither of us could recall a worse night. Today made up for that experience. We sailed through the Boca Grande Pass to Cabbage Key where we threw down the hook in a lovely protected anchorage between Useppa Island (private) and Cabbage Key. We dinghied over to the Inn on Cabbage Key for lunch - a very unique spot with great cheeseburgers, and dollar bills ($70,000) taped to the walls. Each year they donate $10,000 to charity. We walked the nature trails around the island & climbed stairs to the top of the water tower. It was interesting to see the remmants of damage from Hurricane Charley in 2004. All of these islands/Keys are accessible only by boat. This is a beautiful area of Florida - the prettiest so far. Tomorrow we will dinghy over to the beach at Cayo Costa; a state park, also only reached by boat.

Time Flies in Fort Myers Beach

We had another great week in Ft Myers Beach! Our plan is to leave tomorrow (Monday) and head towards Punta Gorda to see Bob & Laurel Webber; friends from Katlynn in Sodus. On the way we will explore the islands in Pine Island Sound. We are ready to start moving again. Fort Myers has been truly enjoyable - great facilities & easy access to groceries,etc. We spent fun times with Anne & Dick "Grey Hound" who have moved on to Key West & the Dry Tortugas, "Swan", "Blackfoot", "Cambia", "Haven", "Destiny", and a surprise visit from Gary & Annette "Sabbatical" from Upstate NY.

Treasures From Sanibel Island

 

Way Past "Cruiser's Midnight"

 

Tapas on Kismet

 

"Pieces of Eight" Tour Boat

 

Jim & Jamie - Walking the Beach

 

Foggy in Fort Myers

For the past four days we have had unusual fairly dense fog in Fort Myers - just when you think the day is going to be sunny & clear; the fog rolls in. We had a great visit from son; Jamie - he quickly adjusted to our cruising life. He was amazed at our social life; the gathering of 12 - 20 folks each evening for happy hour. We had planned to go sailing & anchor out in Pine Island Sound but the fog nixed that idea. We went to Lovers Key on Valentines Day - a very beautiful beach with tons of shells, did dinghy exploring of the mangroves, and Bowditch Park, and just relaxed! Tomorrow we are going to rent a car & go to The Miami Boat Show with Dick & Anne "Grey Hound".

The Boys with Their New Sunglasses

 

Our New Neighborhood

Yesterday we had a lovely sail with the Code Zero the final 12 miles to Fort Myers Beach. We arrived in the mooring field to be greeted by old friends - Pam & Frank on "Blackfoot", Dave on "Destiny", and Ed & Betsy on "Haven". We were immediately impressed by our surroundings. The mooring field is very roomy, and there are shrimp boats, restaurants, pretty houses, and palm trees. Pam graciously offered to drive us to the airport to pick up Jamie at 11:00pm. We stayed up far beyond "cruisers midnight" (9:00pm)! Today we began to explore Fort Myers - this is a great place! The facilities at the mooring field are the best - very nice showers & laundry, convenient pump out at the boat, and a close dinghy dock. The beach was spectacular - the softest sand I think I have ever walked on; Jamie even went for a swim. Today is also Jim's Birthday. We celebrated by going to the Beach Grill for dinner with Jamie, Dave, Pam & Frank. Today was definitely a "10"!

Sunset at the Little Shark River

 

Our New Favorite Anchorage - The Gulf of Mexico

Jim was ready to lose his mind, or at least what is left of it, if we stayed in Marathon another day! On Saturday, at 0700 we departed the anchorage at Boot Key Harbor. We followed the Moser Channel through the bridge and past the Shoals until we could sail across Florida Bay to The Little Shark River (about 54 miles). We had hoped to sail with three other boats, but all decided that the wind wasn't exactly perfect for them. We sailed the course with a reefed main & jib & staysail - doing 7+ knots. The Little Shark was spectacular - egrets. manatees, herons, osprey, hawks, & dolphins (it is good we have a vet on board to identify all the wildlife)! When we departed Sunday morning at 0700, we prompted got "stuck in the mud" for a couple of hours at the mouth of Little Shark due to the extreme low tides caused by the full moon & northeast winds (three feet below the charted depths). By 0900 we were on the move again - great sail to Indian Key (where we anchored outside to avoid yesterday's problem). Today we left Indian Key at 0620 - (again, the depths were below charted levels) and we sailed 51 miles to north of Naples, FL. We are anchored just North of Wiggins Pass about .5 miles from the beach in the Gulf of Mexico! (if we drag, our new address will be Texas!) Tomorrow we will pick up a mooring ball off of Fort Myers Beach; just in time to meet Jamie!

Having Fun on Grey Hound

 

The Monitor Of All Things - At Work

 

Anchored in Boot Key Harbor

After the big blow; we headed into the Harbor to find anchorage (all the moorings were taken). We are safely anchored in west anchorage by the bridge since last Saturday. On Monday a strong front came through around 8:00 pm - we were having hors'doevres with Barry & Susan "Swan" on "Kismet". The rain came through with 49.9 knots of wind - WOW! The wind continues to blow from a Northerly direction at around 20 knots. The temp this morning was in the low 40s! We are waiting til the wind settles abit (hopefully) & blows more from the east before we leave to head up to Fort Myers. There are several boats that are planning the same - Grey Hound, Passages, and Swan. We are spending time reprovisioning, laundry, & "monitoring all things" (Jim's constant new job & enjoying the company of Dick and Anne, and many other new and old friends. It is amazing to meet so many people that have connections to upstate New York. Yesterday in the laundromat, we met a woman on "Gypsy B" who went to Whitney Point High School! Still having a great time!