roweboatadventures: THE SHAKE OUT RUN / September 17, 2015

I decided I needed to do another post to keep you all interested. This blogging thing takes time and I need a little more practice.

So I'm backing up a little here. We actually did the shake down run before The Training Post. We went to Key West June 16-23 with my old friend from high school and college, Bonnee Brooks Jones and her husband Casey, who happens to be a captain, a big reason why we wanted to do this shake down run. We figured we would rather be safe than sorry on this first trip, so having another captain on board would be a good idea!
I had not had my training lesson yet, so Mike and Casey did all the driving and docking. I did learn a little about tying lines at the docks though.

We took the Inner Coastal to our first stop, Little Gasparilla Island Marina. The seas were perfect, winds kept us cool up on the flybridge and we even had dolphins swimming along side the boat. We arrived around 5 pm. Not one of the better marina's we've been too, no cleats and no help. But we managed, had a quick dinner, watched a little TV and called it a day. A long day in the sun and gently rocking, made for a sound first night sleep. This was the first time we had slept on the boat and found the bed pretty darn comfortable, even tho it is a queen and we are used to a king.

After a couple cups of coffee we untied and headed to Rose Marina on Marco Island. The people at the marina were very helpful, had great docks and ship store. Bathrooms were small but clean. Dinner at a local bar was fair, but the walk there and back was nice and relaxing. On our way to Marco, we passed by sister's condo. I texted her to look out her window to see if she could see us. It was so funny, she saw us, or our boat I should say, and I took a picture of her condo.

On the 18th, Mike decided we would be in for a long day because there was not really any place else to stop before Key West. So he wanted to see how much time we could make up by increasing our speed. Normally we travel around 8-10 knots (about 9.5-11.5 miles an hour). But he pumped it up to around 14-15 knots. We made great time, 6 hours, but burned 3 times as much fuel! Lesson learned...But good to know in an emergency we have that option. Off in the distance we saw the Key West Express a ferry that runs from Ft. Myers to Key West in 4 hours! Now that's burning some fuel. But for $100 a person it's a pretty quick and easy way to get there.

We arrived at Galleon Marina around 3pm. Nice floating docks but kind of narrow. After tying up we headed for the pool for a nice relaxing cool swim. NOT! If you like bath water. So disappointing after a long hot 90 degree day on the water. Shower facilities were OK but I've seen better laundry facilities that's for sure.

We cooked on board two nights and went to the Raw Bar at A & B Marina the last night. It was very good and we had a seat in the corner where both windows were open so had a nice view of the marina, people watch and saw a couple of rolling tarpon.

The next day we went on the famous "Conch Tour Train". Kind of hokey but was a way to cool off with the breeze blowing, it was pretty darn hot while we were there. Our last day on Key West we basically hung out. The guys did some maintenance and Bonnee and I did a little laundry. After dinner we had to go to Mallory Square. Which is always entertaining, you can't go to Key West and not go and watch the sunset. We saw the obligatory mimes, fire thrower, dogs dressed in costumes and just overall weird people. But it would not be Key West if not for those sights.

We left early the next morning heading back to Rose Marina on Marco Island, finished off the leftovers and hit the hay for the long run to Captiva Island the next day. We stayed at South Seas Plantation Marina. Nice dockage and great shower facilities. They even provided towels and hair dryers. My sister Suzy and her husband Larry live in Ft. Myers, so they came to see the boat, then the 6 of us had dinner at Doc Ford's at South Seas Plantation.

The last day home was uneventful. We got back to the Yacht Club, thanked Bonnee and Casey for their help and got our land legs back. All and all, pretty smooth sailing and I for one was glad to have Captain Casey on board, you never know....