Jane and Steve, first met on the Trent Severn Waterway in Canada, were in the Tampa area visiting their relatives and met us for lunch then joined us for the trip from Gulfport Marina in St. Petersburg down to the Crow's Nest Marina in Venice.
After leaving Venice and saying goodbye to our friends Jane and Steve we continuied down the Intercoastal Waterway on our way to Sanibel.
Moored at the Sanibel Marina we were off on our bikes to rent a scooter. Bonnie made a huge mistake . . . got on a scooter behind Charlie for a tour of Sanibel and Captiva. A morning and afternoon of beautiful sights and intense fear (according to Charlie, Bonnie was unconcerned).
A very nice lunch and then walks through some of the shops.
Bob and Mary Jane, tennis friends from Virginia Beach that live in Captiva during the winter, joined us on board SONATA for a pleasant afternoon visit.
Winds were out of the NNW reportedly 15-20, however, suspect it was closer to 20-25. Seas and wind would be on the stern and starboard quarter . . . so off we went down the west coast from Sanibel to Marco Island. This view is from the 11th floor condo occupied by our Fort Loudon, Tennessee, looper friends we first met at Cape May and again in Knoxville.
Mike and Pat Sullivan were terrific! They met us at the dock shortly after our arrival at Marco Island and took us to lunch, then off to tour Marco Island, the condos, the homes. A stop for a little shopping and then dinner at the condo they are enjoying for two months while their boat, IRISH EYES, rests on the Tennessee River at the Ft. Loudon Yacht Club.
The morning of the 28th, the weather again 15-20 out of the NNE . . . and we are off to Shark River and the Everglades.
Another day on the water and a day of surfing, wind and seas off the stern, and we arrived at Shark River to join some other boats that had ducked in to get off the Gulf.
Sunset on Shark River, at anchor, N25-19.627 W081-08.563, and then the night sounds began. During the star filled night and in the deep darkness of the Everglades, SONATA sounded like she was sitting in a hot oily skillet that received a continuious sprinkling of water. A crackling, popping, sound all under SONATA. The sound comes from small shrimp, not the kind you see in a shrimp salad, but little fellows eating the growths on the bottom of the boat. Other sounds were the calls of the manatee which were similar to an owl's slow hoot . . . also, coming from under the boat. Step outside on deck and the night was silent except for the noises in the mangroves. A look to the sky revealed falling stars as they streaked across the sky. God's world is so beautiful!
Sunrise and the promise of another beautiful day as we depart Shark River for Key West. Winds have now shifted to the East, but still 10-15 with gusts to 20-25.
the seas rolling behind us pushed us toward Key West sometimes at a speed of 9-10 knots as we surfed down-hill. Saw a turtle that had to be 6x8 but by the time you reach for and turn the camera on . . . they are gone.
Found two cruise ships were docked at Key West when we came out of the Northwest Channel into the main shipping channel to Key West on our way to out marina dock in the Key West Bight.
Then off on the bikes to tour Key West with Bob and Jan Christensen, LUCKY STAR. The ladies enjoy going from shop to shop then we stop at......................
Jimmy Buffett's Original Maragritaville Cafe for lunch.
Bonnie and Jan, a little more shopping . . . then we were off to see Hemmingway and the rest of Key West.
A picture of the man inside his house where he lived with wife #3 before moving to Cuba. It was at this Key West location that Hemmingway wrote most of his books.
This Key West Light House sits in front of Hemmingway's house and is reportedly the light he used to find his way home from downtown Key West.
A pure tourist shot, standing at the southern most point in the continental United States. Back on the bikes and a completed tour of the island with a stop for some groceries and still another coffee pot . . . the last one jumped off the counter when making the passage from Shark River to Key West. Our next adventure will be off to see the Dry Tortugas by seaplane; see: www.seaplanesofkeywest.com. More later...........
Jane and Steve, first met on the Trent Severn Waterway in Canada, were in the Tampa area visiting their relatives and met us for lunch then joined us for the trip from Gulfport Marina in St. Petersburg down to the Crow's Nest Marina in Venice.
After leaving Venice and saying goodbye to our friends Jane and Steve we continuied down the Intercoastal Waterway on our way to Sanibel.
Moored at the Sanibel Marina we were off on our bikes to rent a scooter. Bonnie made a huge mistake . . . got on a scooter behind Charlie for a tour of Sanibel and Captiva. A morning and afternoon of beautiful sights and intense fear (according to Charlie, Bonnie was unconcerned).
A very nice lunch and then walks through some of the shops.
Bob and Mary Jane, tennis friends from Virginia Beach that live in Captiva during the winter, joined us on board SONATA for a pleasant afternoon visit.
Winds were out of the NNW reportedly 15-20, however, suspect it was closer to 20-25. Seas and wind would be on the stern and starboard quarter . . . so off we went down the west coast from Sanibel to Marco Island. This view is from the 11th floor condo occupied by our Fort Loudon, Tennessee, looper friends we first met at Cape May and again in Knoxville.
Mike and Pat Sullivan were terrific! They met us at the dock shortly after our arrival at Marco Island and took us to lunch, then off to tour Marco Island, the condos, the homes. A stop for a little shopping and then dinner at the condo they are enjoying for two months while their boat, IRISH EYES, rests on the Tennessee River at the Ft. Loudon Yacht Club.
The morning of the 28th, the weather again 15-20 out of the NNE . . . and we are off to Shark River and the Everglades.
Another day on the water and a day of surfing, wind and seas off the stern, and we arrived at Shark River to join some other boats that had ducked in to get off the Gulf.
Sunset on Shark River, at anchor, N25-19.627 W081-08.563, and then the night sounds began. During the star filled night and in the deep darkness of the Everglades, SONATA sounded like she was sitting in a hot oily skillet that received a continuious sprinkling of water. A crackling, popping, sound all under SONATA. The sound comes from small shrimp, not the kind you see in a shrimp salad, but little fellows eating the growths on the bottom of the boat. Other sounds were the calls of the manatee which were similar to an owl's slow hoot . . . also, coming from under the boat. Step outside on deck and the night was silent except for the noises in the mangroves. A look to the sky revealed falling stars as they streaked across the sky. God's world is so beautiful!
Sunrise and the promise of another beautiful day as we depart Shark River for Key West. Winds have now shifted to the East, but still 10-15 with gusts to 20-25.
the seas rolling behind us pushed us toward Key West sometimes at a speed of 9-10 knots as we surfed down-hill. Saw a turtle that had to be 6x8 but by the time you reach for and turn the camera on . . . they are gone.
Found two cruise ships were docked at Key West when we came out of the Northwest Channel into the main shipping channel to Key West on our way to out marina dock in the Key West Bight.
Then off on the bikes to tour Key West with Bob and Jan Christensen, LUCKY STAR. The ladies enjoy going from shop to shop then we stop at......................
Jimmy Buffett's Original Maragritaville Cafe for lunch.
Bonnie and Jan, a little more shopping . . . then we were off to see Hemmingway and the rest of Key West.
A picture of the man inside his house where he lived with wife #3 before moving to Cuba. It was at this Key West location that Hemmingway wrote most of his books.
This Key West Light House sits in front of Hemmingway's house and is reportedly the light he used to find his way home from downtown Key West.
A pure tourist shot, standing at the southern most point in the continental United States. Back on the bikes and a completed tour of the island with a stop for some groceries and still another coffee pot . . . the last one jumped off the counter when making the passage from Shark River to Key West. Our next adventure will be off to see the Dry Tortugas by seaplane; see: www.seaplanesofkeywest.com. More later...........
Hi Bonnie & Charlie, spent some time looking at your fantastic journey this evening! What a once in lifetime opportunity! This blog will be so precious when you conclude your trip..and I hope that Ryan and I will be there to welcome you home! Susie Brunsvold
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