Fort Myers Beach to Naples, Florida

We leave Fort Myers Beach on Monday morning.  The marine forecast for the end of this week does not look good so we plan a short two night stay in Naples.  Soon after we enter the Gulf, we hear something on the marine radio that we have never heard before....a mayday call.  It is very chilling.  The radio becomes eerily silent, business as usual stops after the call. The radio is silent with only the voice of the Coast Guard and those mariners who are able to help.   Looking out to our northwest, we see the reason.

Obviously a boat in distress

Approximately 3 miles off of Sanibel Island, a 68 foot pleasure craft motor yacht  is completely engulfed in flames. We are about 6 miles away;  too far to offer any immediate assistance. Fortunately for those on board, another boat in the area rescued the passengers from the water. We believe they only suffered smoke inhalation but their yacht is a total loss.  It  makes you realize how vulnerable you can be in a very unforgiving body of water.

It was an eventful morning on an otherwise absolutely beautiful Gulf trip to Naples.  According to the Florida Cruising Directory, "Naples is a beautiful city, long a winter retreat of the rich and one of the classier destinations."  As we leave the Gulf of Mexico and enter Gordon Pass, the description pretty much stays true.

nice

nicer

We arrive to Naples Boat Club where we will stay for two nights.  The marina is not too shabby either.

100 footers

This our slip??

Whoops, no, we are in slip 34.  Easy mistake!

Naples is great.  Naples Boat Club has the warmest pool of all and  free laundry. Life is good! We are able to walk to Fifth Avenue (of course they have one) and also 3rd Street.  Both areas have lots of shopping and many restaurants. We even ride the water taxi to Stoney's, known for their steaks.  It is Fat Tuesday after all!

Let's get some steaks!

The steaks were great but the town's advertised mardi gras celebration not so much.  We now set our bearings north, finding Crazy 8 a home for the summer and our own way back to Cincinnati.

Legacy Harbour, Fort Myers to Pink Shell Resort and Marina, Ft. Myers Beach Florida

After enjoying a nice weekend in Fort Myers, we leave on Monday (a week ago already), and head directly to the fuel dock.  We semi- fill up with approximately 280 gallons of diesel...ouch!  We have not filled our tanks since Carrabelle which was before our gulf crossing in the fall.

Thirsty tanks leave a wallet parched.

We say goodbye to Legacy Harbour and Fort Myers.

Legacy Harbour Marina

We head back down the Caloosahatchee River, into Pine Island Sound and head to the Gulf of Mexico. We pass through Mantanzas Pass into Fort Myers Beach area. It is crazy busy with boats.

Ft. Myers Beach

We arrive at Pink Shell Resort and Marina.  We stayed here last year at the resort with our son Jack, so we know what to expect.  We have high hopes that  this year we do not come down with flu and visit the ER. All goes well. No hospital visits this year. 

Long way from home!

We have fun exploring in our dinghy.

Shrimpers

Every harbor needs a....

Pirate Ship!

Nice hideaway for your smaller craft.

To avoid the traffic, which is actually horrible at this time of year, you can dock your dinghy and patronize the restaurants and stores at downtown Ft. Myers Beach

.

Dinghy Dock, parking tight here too.

We spend a couple days enjoying the beach and pools at the very nice Pink Shell Resort.  On Thursday, our friend Dan, the captain of Dulcinea, our boat buddy in the fall,  picks us up to spend a couple days with him at his home in Bonita Springs.  He takes us on a tour of Naples and host a dinner for us on Thursday night.

A warm welcome from Dad Dan.

We enjoy a couple days in Bonita Springs and celebrate Tom's birthday.

Enjoying a toast of Dom Perignon with some  great friends. Bonded forever with our river adventure.
  Happy Birthday Tom!

Dan takes us for a nice cruise on the Dulcinea.  We stop for lunch at Pinchers in Tarpon Springs.  It is nice to relax on someone else's boat!

What lines??? 

Captain Tom??

A huge thank you to both Dan and Nancy for their hospitality.  We could not have met a nicer couple on our river adventure. We thank God for putting you both in our lives.  We will see you again in October!

Tom and Dan

So we end our trip in Fort Myers and head south to Naples.  We heard there is ice and snow at home.  We look up and this is what we see......

Hmmmm....may need to reapply today, and I am not talking rock salt!

Stay safe and warm!