FT. MYERS / Monday thru Wednesday, January 25-27 (Day 4-6)

On Monday we went fishing with Barb and Joe in Joe's Sport fish. The water was really dirty from being churned up by all the winds, so fishing was pretty tough. But Barb and Joe each caught a Red Grouper, which was enough to feed six of us that night, cooked in white wine, butter, garlic and balsamic flavored capers.

Our captain caught this great photo of a dolphin playing in our wake.

Tuesday was Mike's 60th Birthday. It was not the most exciting day, but this boat trip is his Birthday Bucket List, so everyday is special! We washed the boat because it was caked with salt from the last few days.

Then we went to "Docktails" and a boat tour on the Shell Belle from Missouri. We met Jim and Mandy Conley at the Looper Rendezvous in October. We were happy to hear from them because we did not think we would get to see them on the Loop. We also met the local Harbor Host and two other Looper couples.

                                                
That night, the Huber's took us to Pincher's for a Birthday Dinner. The three of them had the "off the menu" Captain Alex Burger; the captain we used the day before. It was a 1/4 pound patty 
topped with three fried shrimp cover with melted cheese.  They all agreed it was delish! Mike got a piece of Key Lime Pie with a candle as a special Birthday dessert.

It rained all day Tuesday and Wednesday! Which led to the discovery of a couple of leaks.  Mike had to go to Tiffany's for some caulk. Now we wait for the rain to slack off before he can use it. The Conley's came by to see our boat Tuesday, then we went to Joe's cousin Phil's condo in Bonita Springs then to a lovely Italian dinner. Mike was in heaven when Phil showed us his custom stretch Jeep. It's a 2004 and only has 3500 miles. He rarely drives it, just likes to polish and crank it. He is going to take it to his first car show next month.

SARASOTA to FT. MYERS / Sunday, January 24 (Day 3)

Admiral's Log:   7:35 am, Sunday 1/24/16

                         Temp:  40

                         Winds:  3mph

                         Speed:  8 knots

After two windy days in Sarasota, we were finally on our way to Ft. Myers. It was a long day, took us 8.5 hours. But we needed to make up for the time we lost spending two nights at Marina Jack's. We started out in the pilot house because it was pretty chilly. But by noon we had moved to the flybridge to catch the views. It was still a little cool, but that's why we brought different clothes to layer with.

Entering Swing Bridge in Osprey 

Crewing practice

Exiting the bridge

As we approached the Caloosahatchee River leading to Lake Okeechoobee, we saw my sister's condo off in the distance.We also passed the Number 1
buoy on the Intra Coastal heading north towards Tarpon Springs.

We arrived at Legacy Marine in downtown Ft. Myers around 4pm. After we docked Barb and Joe Huber, friends of ours from Kentucky for over 30 years, took us to their condo. We had a much needed shower and dinner at Flipper's in Estero.

THE OFFICIAL CAST OFF/ Friday to Saturday, January 22-23 (Day 1-2)

Admirals Log:     7:50 am, Fri. 1/22/16
                           Temp:  59
                           Winds:  8mph
                           Speed:  33 knots

It's here! We have started the journey of a lifetime! Our wonderful neighbors Dick and Tricia waved us goodbye and took a couple of photos of the official cast off.

The Corey Causeway Bridge behind our house.

Well...the day finally arrives and it does not go as I had envisioned. But that's part of the journey, you take it as it comes. We knew the winds were going to pick up but we had hoped if we left early enough we would beat them. No such luck. But we had decided today was the the regardless. Our boat is pretty heavy and can take pretty rough seas. If it got too rough we could either turn around or go to a local marina until we felt more comfortable to leave again.

The wind was so strong we lost our AGLCA Burgee they first day!
so we had to make due with our Auburn flag until we had a new burgee shipped to a marina.

Our plan was to cruise to the Crow's Nest Marina in Venice. But the closer we got to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, our radar showed the seas were not going to get any better. So we made the decision to stop in Sarasota at Marina Jack's.  We had stayed there a couple of years ago and really liked it. Luckily they had room for us.

The captain of the sailboat next to us was from Tierra Verde and told us he had just come from Venice. The dock master there told him they were expecting 15 foot seas and their docks would most likely be under water and he should find another marina. Looks like we made the right decision!

On Saturday, we met a couple we had seen pass by our house a few days before. Mike saw their Looper Burgee (flag) and called them on the radio and they exchanged names and boat names. So when they saw our boat at Marina Jack's, we welcomed them aboard and shared weather stories. They are from Canada and started the Loop in August. That's the cool part of this adventure. Meeting people from all over the world with the same goal. Looks like we may even see them again in February when we will both be in the Bahama's.

Cindy Peterson Mecurio, old high school friend.

I also had a nice surprise today. A high school classmate who lives in Sarasota saw on Facebook that I was here, so she came to the boat and we had a great time catching up and reminiscing. She even took me to the grocery. Another cool thing about this trip, you never know you may meet.

THE FINAL DAYS / January 22, 2016

I have to back up a little here.  The last days to cast off were so hectic!  Oh. my. gosh. Had to get rid of a car.  Get our mail forwarded to Mike's office, so his CFO could take care of any emergencies.  Luckily I pay most bills on line, so that was covered. Provisioning drove me crazy!  Food to take, clothes to take.  We have limited space so you had to plan, load, take off, re-load.  Then I finally said what the heck...we are not going to be in the middle of the ocean!  I can buy what I need when we are docked at marinas, or ship home if I don't need.  So once I made that decision, it was quite a bit less stressful. But I still had a hard time sleeping those last few days. The anticipation was killing me, we just needed to GO!

A friend of ours had a friend that comes down here every winter from Michigan and needed a place to stay for a few months. So we met Leah, she was perfect and she loved cats.  We were worried what to do with our sweet Missy. 

Leah sent this of Missy on our bed.

Before we left, a friend of ours Bill Fisher, who is also planning on doing the Loop when he retires, stopped by with a bottle of champagne and a gift card to West Marine; which we have nick-named Tiffany's.  If you are a boater then you know what I mean.  Unfortunately, Tiffany's, oops, West Marine is sometimes  the only place you can find what you need.  I have to fess up tho, I stole that name from my friend Bonnee and her husband Casey.  But it's perfect. 

Bill took this photo of us the day before we left.
He said we were his heros. 

                                     

                                     

VISITORS / January 8, 2016

Living on the Inter Coastal Waterway we get to see "Loopers" pass by our house almost daily this time of year.  It's pretty cool to know that we too will be Loopers very soon.  

One of the Looper couples we met at the Rendezvous in October were Mel and Ann Cosgrove from Birmingham.  They are the couple who let us watch the Auburn game on their boat.  We told them they were more than welcome to make a stop over at our house on their way to the Keys.  

Since we sold our  Cabo Sport fishing boat, we had space for another boat.  So on November 22, Ann and Mel docked and plugged in at our dock.  It was so neat meeting this delightful couple at the Rendezvous and then being able to host them at our house.  

We took them to one of our favorite Seafood restaurants and introduced them to Stone Crab.  Mel was hooked. I hear they even had them for Christmas Dinner.  We have already made plans meet up with them on Morning Star II when we go to the Keys next month.

Ann and Mel at the Island Grill

ON THE HARD / January 8, 2016

"On the hard"  is a boating term for the boat being pulled out of the water to have the bottom or the hull worked on.  It's a lot more technical than that, but for us boat novices, you get the idea.

Mike wanted to get the hull re-painted and at the same time they apply this stuff called prop speed.  This does not sound like what you think it would be.  It is this dull gray looking flat paint that keeps algae and parasites from growing on the metals, so I'm told.  So once they pulled the boat out of the water, they discovered quite a bit of blistering.  Now this does describe exactly what it looked like.  And blisters are NOT a good thing.  Before any painting can be done the blisters have to be sanded down and there should be no moisture around those blisters. The more they sanded the more they found. It takes a loooong time to dry.  The boat ended up being out of the water for just under two months. 

Mike was having withdrawals, not being able to tinker on it for that long.  I'm sure the service manager got tired of him calling and stopping by.  Finally after spending quite a bit more than was expected, because of the blistering, we took her back to our Yacht Club on December 8th. In case you don't know BOAT used to mean Break Out Another Thousand, but with inflation...it's Break Out Another Ten Thousand.  Remember....it's a boat.