From Ft. Myers to Key West! January 14, 2022

 

January 14, 2022

From Ft. Myers City Marina (one night) to a beautiful anchorage on Marco Island to Key West!

We left Ft. Myers City Marina on Monday.  It was a beautiful day, and it took us about 4 hours to get to Marco Island.  Based on recommendations from friends and reviews, we decided to anchor in Smokehouse Bay.  There were several boats there when we arrived, and there was plenty of room.  The bay is surrounded by condos and houses, and was very quiet.  We had a simple dinner and went to bed early.

After checking the weather from several sources multiple times, we decided to go out into the Gulf on Wednesday at first light.  If it seemed ok, we would do the 10 hour cruise to get to Key West.  So, we got up before sunrise and made our way out to the Gulf.  Once we were out there, it seemed to be just fine.  We had traveled to Marco Island during a time that the Coast Guard had issued small craft advisories.  Having experienced no problem at all, we decided that maybe our trip to Key West would be just as uneventful.

The first four hours were just fine, likely because we were still somewhat sheltered by islands and the mainland to our east.  Once we got out into the open Gulf, though, that strong east wind really stirred up some waves that rocked us pretty bad for the rest of the 10 hour cruise.  We were never in danger, but it was extremely uncomfortable.  We arrived in the marina around 4:30, and were beyond tired!  We got the boat secured, walked about 1 block to our favorite eatery, Harpoon Harry’s, for dinner.  We really needed to eat – I had lost my breakfast, and we had had no lunch!  Arriving back at the boat, we were both in bed and dead to the world by 7:30!  We slept until after 6.  Fortunately, Harry’s opens at 6:30, so we got a wonderful breakfast and we were ready for our Key West visit!

Trip home to Michigan, return to boat, first days travel 12/16 thru 1/11/22

 December 16 thru January 11, 2022

Trip home, trip back to the boat, first day’s cruise

We flew home from Ft. Myers on December 16.  Friends who also had their boat at the Doyle’s dock, Rick and Monica on Best Mate, kindly drove us to the airport.  We had an uneventful flight, and our friend, Bob Ridgway, gave us a ride home.  We so appreciate our friends!  We found no surprises when we got home after our three month absence – always a relief! 

We had a very nice time while at home, reconnecting with friends and family.  I was able to spend a day with each of my three Michigan grandchildren.  Isaac, age 12, wanted to go to the Detroit Science Museum.  I took him first to a unique old Detroit place, Green Dot Stables, for lunch.  Ella, a 14 year old young woman, loves Mexican food, books, and Starbucks drinks, not necessarily in that order!  We went downtown to Mexican Village for lunch.  I had hoped to take her to The Whitney, an elegant restaurant in an old mansion, for dessert – but, they were not open at that time of day.  Instead, we went to the bookstore, where there is also a Starbucks!  Declan, a young man of 16, wanted to go to The Henry Ford, one of Dan and my favorite museums.  Dan went with us, and I was so glad he did!  Dan is interested and knowledgeable about so many subjects, and Declan and he enjoyed the machines, cars, and other things – I enjoyed watching them!  I LOVE my time with these kids, who are delightful companions.

We spent Christmas with my son and family in the morning, then afternoon and evening with them and my niece’s family and my sister-in-law and her husband.  Fun times!

Our Christmas present from Travis and Lisa was an evening together with them – first, dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Traffic Jam and Snug.  Then we attended a Manheim Steamroller Christmas concert in the fabulous Fox Theatre.  My favorite Christmas present from them for sure.  The rest of our time home, we were able to reconnect with our neighbors, Fred (had over for dinner) and Claudia (had us over for coffee and cookies0.  I had time with friends, Claire, Colleen, Peggy and Bob, and Laura.  We had plenty of time to relax, read, catch up on our TV shows (we don’t watch TV while on the boat). 

We were approached by a tree service company – they noticed our scraggly and huge blue spruce in the front and gave us a quote for removing it.  We ended up calling a company we had used before, and they did an amazing job of removing the tree – in and out in 90 minutes!

Trip back to the boat

Instead of flying back to Ft. Myers, we decided we wanted to drive…for a couple of reasons.  Dan was able to find oil and filters for a couple of oil changes, plus some other items we wanted to have on the boat.  Plus, since we will be staying in marinas for a total of 6 weeks in the Keys, we’d like to have a vehicle with us.  We canceled our flights (and applied for a refund), and planned to leave the morning of January 5.  We had the car all packed, the house secured, the thermostats turned down, and were ready to pull away….then, Dan made one more check in the basement to find that our boiler was cold and unresponsive.  Darn!  However, it was a really really good thing to discover BEFORE we left instead of getting really bad news while we were away, i.e. frozen pipes, flooded basement…  We called repair folks, and were very fortunate to get a company to send someone out that same day.  He diagnosed the problem, replaced the part, and we were on the road at 3:00.  We didn’t get more than 4 hours from home that day.  Next day, Thursday, we left from Dayton in some blowing snow….that fairly soon turned into snow that wasn’t blowing.  People down there in Kentucky really have no idea how to drive in snow and ice.  Suddenly, there were accidents on both sides of the freeway – time to remove ourselves from that craziness.  We crept in traffic to the next exit and turned into the Days Inn that was right there.  We stood in line with other wise folks and got a room for the night.  So, for our second day’s travel that should have taken us to Atlanta or beyond, we made it about 2 hours to Lexington!  We had a surprisingly good time in the bar/restaurant at Days Inn with other stranded folks. 

Next day, we were on the road again – this time, in stop and go traffic behind snow plows that blocked every lane!   After two hours of that, we were able to get around them and make better time (than their 5 mph!).  Soon, we were clear of the bad roads and got down to just north of Atlanta.  Next day, we made it to Gainesville, Florida, about 4 hours from the boat in Ft. Myers.  We arrived back at the boat around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, two days after we had planned.

In our absence, there had been a big storm with winds 55 mph.  The front of our bimini had pulled out of the boat, meaning Dan had some fiber glass work to do before the screws could be reinstalled.  Our friends, Rick and Monica, had secured the bimini so no further damage was done.  Before we could leave, it had to be repaired.  We took the canvas off the frame and scrubbed it.  I went to the grocery store for provisions.  Next day, we managed to reinstall the bimini (not easy!). With high winds looming in coming days, we decided to go ahead and head out.  On trying to leave the dock, we discovered that one of our lines (because of the high winds) had gotten securely wedged between a post and the dock.  We COULD NOT get it out!  Finally, we tied it tight to the boat, started the boat, and managed to drive it out!  Off we go!

We got as far as the Ft. Myers City Marina (less than 2 hours down the river!).  We heard the Coast Guard warning of small craft advisory, high winds, etc.  Plus, we were really exhausted.  So we decided to stay for the night.  Next day, same warning was being broadcast, but it seemed ok to us.  We decided to brave it and see how far we could get.  We were scheduled to be in Key West on Wednesday, and we really were excited about being there.  What we found, once out on the ICW and then on the Gulf, that the cruising was delightful and not a problem at all!  We got all the way to Marco Island, to an anchorage recommended by Rick and Monica.  Lovely bay surrounded by residential properties, very quiet.  Several boats were already there.  We had a nice evening, dinner on board, and were prepped for an early morning departure for Key West. 

Ft. Myers, Florida Doyles' dock 12/12 - 01/09/2022

Ft. Myers, FL  David and Barbara Doyles home dock  12/12 through 1/9/2022

As I mentioned, friends Dave and Barbara Doyle had heard we needed a place in Ft. Myers to leave our boat during a trip home for the holidays.  They contact us.  We had met them in Cheboygan, Michigan in May when they had sold their boat, Miss My Money.  They said they had vacant dock space and we could leave the boat there.  What a relief!  Not only was the price they charged us very minimal, but they would be home to check on the boat while we were gone.  As it turns out, that ‘checking on our boat thing' was very useful – they had a strong wind storm, 33 mph, that caused our front of our bimini to rip out of the boat.  Yikes!  Dave took some straps and tied it up so no further damage was done. He sent us pictures, so we'd know what to expect.  We’ll have to repair that when we return.

The first night we were there, Ft. Myers had their Christmas boat parade – it went right by their house!  Dave and Barbara had us, another couple whose boat was there, and a neighbor couple to their house for drinks and snacks and to watch the boats.  What a treat! 

We had met these other people in a previous year – we remembered them when we saw them!  We enjoyed their company while we were there – they had a loaner car and took us a couple of places, including dinner one night.  They also drove us to a great place for lunch and to the airport for our trip home!  Boaters are the greatest people!

We had been complaining that we had been in Florida for weeks and had not seen one alligator!  Well, there is one gator that lives in the canal where the Doyles live  - we had been there 3 or 4 days and still had not seen him.  Finally, we got a call from our neighbor boater – “Come outside – the gator is just out there!”  So, now, we have seen one alligator.  

Just a sample of the boat parade - much prettier in person!!

Ft. Myers Beach, Salty Sams Marina, 12/10 - 12/12

 

Salty Sams Marina,  Ft. Myers Beach, Florida    12/10 – 12/12/2021

Coming down the ICW into the Ft. Myers area, my navigating skills were brought into good use!  We have taken to using an app called Aquamaps on my tablet to supplement the Garmin GPS display at the helm.  This helps, since I can drill down to get more detail, look further ahead for anchorage and other destinations.  I’m still learning, but I recently learned that I can actually plot a course, and save it, to give Dan guidance on things to look for in our cruising.  The waterway into Ft. Myers/Ft. Myers Beach is VERY busy, not only with boats, but with the various channels into various destinations.  I was able to save us some time and frustration by having the routing information easily to hand.  To get into Salty Sams, we had to go past the main channel into Ft. Myers.  There were so many marinas there!  We did manage to find the marina and got into our slip – they actually had some good dockhands to help, unlike most places we have experienced on this trip!

A few words about docking…  Although I had some training (4 years ago!), I have had very little practice and NO confidence in docking.  Those slips look SO narrow!  Dan has lots of experience and confidence and even he has had problems on occasion – especially in windy or with strong currents.  But, we have gotten pretty good in our partnership with docking.  One thing that helps tremendously is our ‘marriage savers’, wireless headsets with which we can talk to each other in a normal voice.  Dan needs to know how close the boat is in the back, where he cannot see.  I tell him that and also any other guidance that feels right, and I have fenders and lines ready to deploy.  Usually, I can hook one line to a dock post or cleat, tighten it up, then can jump onto the dock to finish up.  We don’t really need any help.  When there is help, I find myself cautioning them “Don’t pull on the boat – Captain is very capable of placing the boat where he needs it!”  The wise and experienced dockhands will just hold the line until the boat stops moving, then secure it.  Young and inexperienced dockhands tend to jerk on the lines to try and move the boat where they think it needs to go…

There are quite a few boats on this journey who are being piloted by a single person – I am in awe of them.  I can’t for the life of me figure out how they do it all – docking, locking.  Not to mention, they have to do all the planning, deciding where to go, making reservations.  And, then there’s provisioning, cooking, laundry – all chores that Dan and I share. 

Back to Salty Sams – there are TWO restaurants there, both with live entertainment and Happy Hours every night!  Fortunately, we were located some distance from them and couldn’t hear the music from our slip.  We tried both restaurants, and enjoyed them.  We also had the opportunity to visit with another friend, Linda Brack, from our church back home.  Linda has a very nice condo there in Ft. Myers Beach where she lives for six months a year.  Linda drove us out to the end of Captiva Island, to her favorite restaurant there, where we had a delicious lunch.  We enjoyed checking out all the beautiful homes on the way there and back.

Our next stop is at David and Barbara Doyle’s home, where they have invited us to put our boat at their dock for the next few days and then for our trip back to Michigan.  What a great benefit!

Visitor to the dock!

Linda Brack with us at the restaurant

Delicious dessert - shared by three of us!

This was the fun restaurant

Cayo Costa - beautiful anchorage, 12/8 - 12/10

Cayo Costa, anchorage near Captiva, Florida

We enjoyed a beautiful anchorage in this bay, bounded on one side by the Cayo Costa State Park, and an island, just off the ICW.  When we arrived, there were already quite a few boats anchored.  Just minding some shallow spots as we entered, we had plenty of water and plenty of space.  What a great place to put our dinghy to use!  The state park is fairly rustic – cost is $2 per person, on the honor system.  On the one side, there are the docks, and about a mile across is the Gulf with a lovely beach.  We started to walk, then were picked up by their tram.  It’s a great place for families, with camping in tents and cabins.  In the bay itself were 2 or 3 unnamed islands – nothing on them, just beach, crushed shells, and not even much in the way of vegetation.  They were perfect for beaching the dinghy – from the shore, it sloped gently down for about 4 or 5 feet, then dropped off quite a bit.  Pull the dinghy up on shore, and the motor can stay submerged!  People were there with their dogs – perfect place for them to run.

We stayed there 2 nights.  The boat O’Tug pulled up the second day – another of those folks that we meet and re-meet as we traverse the Loop!  We took the dinghy over to Cabbage Key, about 1.5 miles.  Turns out we should have gone over to the ICW and up their channel – we ran aground twice, not as big a deal as on the Kittiwake!  But, since I had on my Crocs, I hopped out, to pull us off the sand bar.  Dan lifted the motor, and I could easily pull the dinghy until we were clear….until the next time!  I ended up absolutely drenched.  I do believe that the gentleman sitting on his cockpit at the Cabbage Key Marina must have enjoyed our show....  As we have said many times, "Sometimes you watch the show, other times you ARE the show!"

We had a nice lunch, apparently where the Cheeseburger in Paradise was invented.  We enjoyed watching the gopher turtles and ducks on the lawn.

Fabulous sunset!

Gopher turtle at Cabbage Key

Outdoor dining area at Cabbage Key

Indoors decor - LOTS of dollar bills!

And, then there's the bar...!

One of the islands in the bay

Our dinghy beached on the island

Closeup of our dinghy - new motor this year!

Gulf beach in the State Park

Sign to greet visitors

When there's fog there, oh my!

It comes in slowly, and then...

Can't see ANYTHING!

Well, actually, we could see this one boat!

another beautiful sunset

shows all the boats in the bay - lots of room!

Venice, Fl. Crow's Nest Marina 12-4 12/8

 

Venice, FL  Crow’s Nest Marina  12/4 – 12/8

One of my favorite cities in Florida, Venice did not disappoint.  The Crow’s Nest Marina is another one that has a lovely restaurant on site.  We enjoyed the marina, and met several other Looper folks who were there.  One couple had the identical boat to the Kittiwake.  It’s always fun to see what other people have done to the boat as compared to your own changes.  This couple only overlapped their stay with us there by about 24 hours, but they did take advantage of coming on board to see what changes/enhancements we had.  

Here, we also re-met with Clarke and Rosie on Alegria!  Venice had their Christmas boat parade, and their boat made the perfect viewing stand!  Don't know when we might see them again, since they're going through the Okeechobee Canal to Stuart, Florida, and leaving their boat there for an undetermined amount of time.  They will have finished their Loop at that point, and haven't decided what to do next - either another trip on the boat or sell the boat and return to Texas...or something else! 

We made good use of our e-bikes here – the Crow’s Nest was over a mile from downtown, so it was just a fun ride.  Venice is beautiful, and their downtown has lovely landscaping, nice shops, and restaurants.  I had spent time there in the past visiting with my first husband’s aunt and uncle who had a condo there.

One fun day we went to Snookhaven, a not typical Florida place.  Actually it is typical Florida, but it’s OLD Florida.  It’s an old fish camp, right on the Myakka River.  They serve barbeque and beer.  While we were there, they had a band called Bandana (play on Santana!).  The band members were our age and older!  And, they played OUR music, from the 60’s and 70’s.  It was fun listening to the music and watching all the old people dancing their hearts out on the dirt dance floor.

I was able to take advantage of being close to the beach, and took several morning walks.  I like to walk along the water, keeping a sharp eye out for good shells.  Once I’ve walked for a while, I like to just sit and be quiet, listening to the waves.  Heaven!

I took literally a hundred shots of the Venice Christmas Boat Parade

I just selected some of the shots to share!

My happy place

The band, Bandana - pretty old, and really good!

Myakka River

Snook Haven tourist boat

Myakka River - we didn't see, but could imagine alligators!

Myakka River

my happy place

Happy me, on the beach, with all my wrinkles!

corner on Venice Avenue

Lovely Venice downtown

More downtown Venice

I suppose you can tell I love Venice!

Cool decorated seahorse

Also, still never tire of the flowers this time of year!

Park on the boulevard on main street

I'd choose to live here in Venice if I could!

I love the mature trees

the marina dock

sunset just getting started

one of the more spectacular sunsets

my little bird companion on the beach

can't ever tire of the sunsets!

another lovely sunset

Someone on the ICW built a really fun structure for the kiddos!