Sarasota
23 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
in23 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
in18 Saturday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
inAfter three nights at the dock in Fort Myers we were ready to test out our new anchor which we acquired primarily for the ground conditions found in the Bahamas. It is a Manson Boss anchor which looks quite massive on our bow. The entrance to the Cayo Costa anchorage was rather shallow but manageable as we arrived at high tide around 1400. It was idyllic: calm waters, dolphins cavorting around the boat and a spectacular sunset followed by a full moon high up in the sky! We would have loved to tour the shores of the park but unfortunately the dinghy engine would not start. It will need a good tune up in Sarasota.
The anchor held very well. It was somewhat tested when another cold front came through around 0530. We had planned to leave at the crack of dawn but this proved impossible, being at low tide- by the way, there are only two tides daily on the West Coast as opposed to four- We momentarily ran aground and luckily managed to return inside the basin without assistance. The wind and the thrusters did the work. A closer examination confirmed that we would have to wait until the afternoon to attempt another exit. We did so successfully but, as result, we did not get to Sarasota today. We are spending the night at the Palm Island marina near Cape Haze.
Although it was sunny today, we are experiencing strong winds and unseasonably cold temperatures. The Georgian Bay duvet is back on the bed!
16 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
inWe have spent the last two days at the municipal marina of Fort Myers. It has been so cold that we have had to turn the heat on. It seems that all of Florida is experiencing this cold front.
Today, we had the pleasure of lunching with Roy and Margaret Eaton. As many of you know, Roy is the father and the voice of the Little Current Cruisers’ Network. It was wonderful to get reacquainted with them and to hear about their southern cruising adventures of a decade ago. In the afternoon, we went to observe manatees retreating to the warm waters of a power plant near Fort Myers. The manatees seek temporary refuge in these waters as they do not like the cold weather more than we do!
One of the highlights of our stay was our visit of the Edison & Ford winter estates on the waterfront of Fort Myers. Thomas Edison purchased his property in 1885 and built two matching post and beam houses. The gardens are exquisite, with trees and plants native to the area, including a banyan tree which is now about an acre in diameter. The Ford mansion next door was purchased by Henry Ford in 1916 to allow him to spend time with his friend Edison. The two properties are now owned and managed by the city. As guide books say well worth the visit!
13 Monday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
inWe have completed day 2 of our cruising on the Okeechobee Waterway. We are very fortunate in that, this year, there is plenty of water in the system.Last night we overnighted at Indiantown Marina known for its long term dry storage lot. It also has a few transient slips. We were the last boat in and we tied to the fuel dock. Although it is not a fancy marina it has a nice outdoor patio and seems to be providing kitchen facilities for the people working on their boat.
We left early this morning to cross Lake Okeechobee. It is the second largest fresh water lake in the USA after Lake Michigan and a critical source of water for the southern end of Florida. The landscape is rather nondescript with a lot of brush trees and stumps. On the other hand, there is quite a bit of birdlife, primarily, pelicans, egrets and least bitterns. As it was overcast, we did not see any alligators on the way. On our arrival in Moore Haven, the boat was covered with black flakes windblown from the fields where sugarcane fields are burned after the cane is harvested. More work for the Admiral while J.E. walked into town to buy a much needed fuse.
We expect to reach Fort Myers tomorrow and commence our exploring of the West Coast.
10 Friday Jan 2014
Posted Uncategorized
inThe weather is the news here too in Stuart Florida!
We returned to Adagio I last Sunday and the weather, except for half a day, has been abysmal. First, a cold front brought the temperature to the freezing point during the night of Monday to Tuesday. It has rained heavily every day this week. Today, the forecast promised occasional thunderstorms. Instead, we are getting torrential rains that have flooded major roads. This afternoon, it took us more than two hours to drive eighteen miles between Fort Pierce and Stuart. Across the water the visibility is nil. We drove in the center lane as the rest of the road was dangerously flooded. It is obvious that many coastal towns are really vulnerable to extreme weather as they are built for the most part on low-lying or reclaimed land from the ocean.
On a brighter note, we found the boat in excellent condition which is always a relief after a long absence. We have spent the better part of the week getting the boat ready for cruising including provisioning it for the season. Provisioning is an easy task the second time around knowing what will be available in the Bahamas. What an experience for a Canadian to shop at Costco for very good wines at a reasonable price!
We also had time to visit with good friends and partake in the activities of the Krogen boating community which is very active in Stuart. Today, we went to the Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce. It was interesting, among other exhibits, to see first hand the lifeboat from which Captain Phillips was rescued after having been taken hostage by pirates from Somalia in 2009. J.E. and I had seen the movie over the Xmas holidays.
The plan is to leave Stuart on Saturday, weather permitting. We will head to the West Coast of Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway. We plan to spend the month of January in this general area including the Florida Keys before jumping off to the Bahamas for the better part of the winter.