Relaxing, soaking up sun

February 24, 2014 Fort Myers Beach

Hello
We are enjoying the sun and finally have thawed out. Tom has chipped away at his maintenance list, our running lights are fixed or replaced, fuel filters changed, and some sound deadening foam added to engine cover that has lower the noise quite a few decibels. I have been working on my knitting projects and getting rid of my winter pallor.
We have had a few days of deep fog, but nothing like the fog we encountered off Panama City.
Saturday we enjoyed dinner at Sweet Melissa's Cafe on Sanibel Island. We visited there last March and again had a wonderful meal with our friends Riva and Dale.

Today Tom lowered the dingy and we took a 5 mile ride up the Estero Bay and around the Mangrove Islands. Then hiked into town for a Gyro sandwiches.
Plans... the few we have
I am waiting for my new glasses to get here then a weather window to head for the Keys. There is a Navy run marina where we can stay while visiting our favorite spots in Key West... Tom is looking forward to Key Lime

This is a replica of one ship that Magellan use to circumnavigate
the globe 

We passed an Osprey nest, Dad was watching us

Mom was minding the nest and a little nervous at our curiosity 

Tangle of Mangrove roots

one obviously derelict boat

Sandbar rest spot

The mangrove island across from us has hundreds of brown
Pelicans roosting in the trees

Red Heron... 

small blue Heron

something is in that pouch???

Cool Had at Moss Marina 

at sunrise and sunset we have a bird problem
here.... washing the deck is a chore

water is just warm enough to wade in
even picked up a few shells

e

or dingy ride
if you look close you can see a green line

The Estero Bay Estuary is bordered on the west by a chain of barrier islands, which include: Estero Island, Long Key, Lovers Key, Black Island, Big Hickory Island, and Little Hickory Island, from north to south respectively. Within the estuary are hundreds of islands, many with no upland area. Mangrove trees are by far the most dominant vegetation in the bay, although extensive seagrass beds are found within the shallow bays and sounds. The climate in the region is subtropical with the majority of rainfall from June to September. The estuary is not supplied with freshwater by any major river, but rather by a number of small rivers and creeks.

The Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, comprising the northern half of Estero Bay, was dedicated in December 1966, as the state's first Aquatic Preserve. During the 1983 session of the Florida legislature, the southern half of Estero Bay down to the Lee County line was added. Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve is approximately 11,000 acres of submerged lands

Fort Meyers Beach, shorts, and laundry

Sunrise on Wednesday morning foretold the cold front that was racing towards us. The skies blazing fire with reddish orange, dark clouds banking on the horizon and the wind created a stronger chop to the waves. We had timed our crossing almost perfectly. We had a spot at Moss Marina, we stayed there in March of 2012, however we did not check the current charts and arrived at full high tide. Finally tied to the fuel dock the marina agreed to let us wait until slack tide to move to the t-dock, our berth for two weeks. There was already a 50' catamaran occupying one half the T and we really did not want to meet our new neighbors by butting into them. 

I loaded the laundry up and decided to spend the wait getting the cloths cleaned up, mostly our winter gear which we hope not to need now. I was just switching loads when I looked out to see Cool Hand moving off the dock and out into the bay...... It was an odd feeling to see my home floating away. Good news dock hands from the marina were helping Tom re-position Cool Hand so I did not have to deal with the drama of getting into our new temporary home.  We decided to walk into Fort Meyers Beach and get supper at the Greek restaurant and enjoy the seasonable climate. It was nice to see green plants and flowers again. 

The storm finally arrived with all the wind and rain that was promised. Tom had to redo our dock lines and fenders, but on Friday everything will be normal again high 71 degrees and Sun.

Sun rise 12 miles out of Fort Meyers

you can see the waves picking up as
we enter Matanza Pass

Tom in short sleeves 

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They did not have the killing frosts here
that we had experienced further north

White bird of paradise in bloom

one problem is the Boat tailed Crackles. They drop
seeds and other nasty stuff on deck. With the storm
coming there were hundreds trying to find
safe places to perch. 

watching Cool Hand leave me on land
ODD

Now for 300 miles to Fort Meyers Beach

Day Two, Monday water is flat, no wind... the trip was a go. We went to get fuel, Tom figured we could make the trip with 10 gallons to spare. We had till Wednesday afternoon and the cold front would drop down bringing rain and wind with 3+ foot seas.  We are not overnight sailors. Up to this point the longest run was about 30 hours and talk about cranky.....

We were tried of chasing cold weather and getting stuck at different places so we bit the bullet and decided we could do this. Hot oatmeal cereal in the morning and miracles of miracles by 1 pm both Tom and I had peeled out of our fleeces and enjoyed the sun. Tom took first watch and I took the midnight to 4 am watch and we made it through our first 24 hours. We saw lights, on the horizon but only one or two. I did have fish and porpoise visitors through out the night. There is something unique about that swooshing, whisper puff splash that alerts you to their presence. The moon was so bright I could see them just under the surface. 

Where we anchored out Shell Island 

we shared the channel with two cargo ships
one was Progresso, wonder if they carried soup?

Tom knots

We went back to investigate thinking it was a turtle... have
no ideal

video on Face book - I love the visits

sunset  and no one else is around

Pensacola Fl still cold, first hop to Panama City

Hello again from warm (OK, it is overcast) Fort Meyers Beach. We made it. Tom and I have been complaining and suffering through some cold weather. Yes our electric blankets help at night but during the day as we travel from one location to another, cold north winds chill you down to the bones. We had a original plan was to move from Pensacola Fl to Destin, anchor out and then go to Panama City. Looking at the weather patterns we had a good four day window, Saturday to Wednesday to make the jump to Fort Meyers.

We Decided to go the 80+ nautical miles to Panama City, get fuel and double check on the weather. We woke on Saturday to rain, and cold wind, hunkered down and stayed anchored in the calm waters off Pensacola Navel Air Station.  Sunday morning was calm, bright and almost warm we hauled up the anchor, and set out. No wind, so we motored arriving off our anchor site at 8:30 PM.  Dinner and a  very quite night. 

Life is good.

just part of a road, bridge... 

white sandy beaches, can't wait to walk in warm sand

Leaving Pensacola for the Gulf

sun set on the gulf  RED skies sailors delight

we had a three quarters moon in cloudless skies

sun rise we are ignoring the warning about sailors take warning

anchor up now to get fuel 

fishing is big in Panama Beach city

of course there are birds, Mergansers  

Osprey with fish

We are in Florida FINALLY !!

It only took us 40 days to travel over 400 miles to arrive in Florida. Temperatures are still not idea, ( I know I should not complain with Fruitport at only 7 degrees and it's still snowing) but the future is looking sunny.

We decided to let it warm up and did not leave Gulf Shores until the thermometer was in the 40's. We had a short hop to Pensacola, all on the inside traveling the GICW  ditch. It was odd having a freeway on one side watching cars speed past us, I imagine they were  also wondering what we were doing.  The wind was still brisk so I took frequent cabin breaks, but did pass up hot tea and sandwiches to Tom. I kept busy finishing up another knitted animal, this one a polar bear and by 3 PM we were at our anchor site off the Pensacola Navel air station, just west of the bay inlet to the Gulf. Tomorrow will be a long 80+ mile run to Panama City and another evaluation of the weather. 

Tom relaxing at LuLu's

This Manatee visits the area 

crisp wind, but blue skies, we are off 

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Busy freeway on one side 

marsh and woods on the other

Finally Florida 

The Navel base is on the other side of those trees

another beautiful sunset

Polly Polar Bear