Day was great, Left LaBelle at 8:00 and got to Moore Haven at 2:30. Went thru Ortona Lock. This lock was different than any I had been thru. You pull in and they then open the front lock doors about 2 foot and let the water pour in. What a ride in my boat. The lift was only 4 foot so not a big deal. But when I saw the gates start opening and a 4 foot wall of water behind it I wasn’t sure what was going on. Hope to leave this place in the morning.
Left Fort Myers Tuesday morning. About 12:00 a steady rain started not cold just straight down. put up the top and since it was in the high 60 was not bad. Was able to go about 32 miles and pulled into the city docks at La Belle. This was different, very small and its FREE with electrical. Restroom is 2 blocks away and no showers. Downtown is 3 blocks. Leaving tomorrow morning. Hope to be at Roland Martin’s Marina on Lake Okeechobee within three days. I asked a local boater. What has Florida done with the alligators? Have not seen one. He smiled and said on the south rim route on Okeechobee you will see more than you want. I will rig up my boat hook to hold a peanut butter sandwich. See how high these Florida gators can jump. They jump pretty high at Gatorland.
Tonight I was invited for cocktails on a converted live aboard shrimp boat. The owners are Ray and Delila West. I had a great time and Ray and Delila were the perfect host. More info on boat later. But it weights 38 tons. Leaving in the morning unless its raining
I am at Fort Meyers, Fl. At Legacy Harbor Marina. This is a real nice marina. They have invited me to a pot luck tonight. Sam Taylor who I met back on Kentucky Lake and his dog River are here also. Will be here 5 days, doing a little work on the boat. Weather nice.
I am at Boca Grande, Fl. At Widden’s Marina. This is a 1925 marina and nothing has changed. They even have two pet pigs here. Its a rough place with million dollar plus homes all around it. Plan on heading on in the morning.
I am at Royal Palm Marina in Englewood, Fl. They do not have courtesy cars. But they have bikes. Rode one today into town. Gee my butt was sore. This is a small marina that is open to the channel. Boat really bouncing around. Kind of reminds me of Fort Walton Marina where the boat across from me sank Christmas Eve. A front moving in will be here two nights, leaving Tuesday morning I hope.
I don’t know if you can see me in this picture. down at the bottom, got hold of something. Don’t worry about the sailor boy, I can handle him. (If you can’t see very well, click on picture to make it bigger)
This is a nice marina. Called Marina Jack’s. in Sarasota Fl. It is by far the biggest marina I have stayed in. Bet they have 200 slips. Today went well, nice weather and no problems going down Sarasota Bay. Temp. Around 70 tonight around 60. Hope to be just south of Venice, Fl. by tomorrow night. Then a front is moving in Thursday and Friday. We will see what happens.
Crossing Tampa Bay today no problems. Found a marina called Seafood Shack’s. Nice restaurant and all night tie up for $1.25 a foot. Ruby the gentleman on the right and his son in law came down to see me. Ruby has a 39 foot trawler. I meet him at Pebble Isle Marina on Kentucky Lake. Was nice of him to come down to see me.
Tampa Bay kicked my butt today. Only went about 19 miles and bailed out to Shell Marina. Ran aground 3 times trying to get into this marina. What a deal. Will get back into the intercoastal tomorrow. Not 100% where this marina is, but had the guy go over how to get back into Tampa Bay without running aground. Then I walked down and sit on the cement wall and watched local boats come and go to the marina. Looks like most of them go North then West then south, bend over and look between there legs, flip a coin, cuss twice and then give it more gas. I can handle everything except more gas, Going as fast as i can go. Guess I will just cuss 3 times to make up for that.