We leave Sanibel Island with the destination of Key West...eventually. First port of call is Naples.
 |
| Away we go! Naples bound. |
Again we are blown away by the homes as we navigate into Old Naples Seaport.
Crazy 8's fellow dock mates are not too shabby either. We also have front row seats for the private jets that seem to constantly fly over us to the nearby Naples Airport. It is the beginning of "season" and the arrival of the snow birds has begun.
 |
| We are the runt of the dock. |
 |
| Jet after jet |
We were blessed this stay to have two wonderful visits by friends! First our friends from Cincinnati and then our Crazy 8 boat friends, Dan and Nancy, from the Dulcinea.
 |
| A visit from home town friends! Nothing better! |
 |
| Dulcinea and Crazy 8 docked together again at the same marina. |
After the mandatory shopping at Fifth Ave South and 3rd Street South and some great Naples dining, we leave and head further south to Marco Island.
 |
| Last meal at the City Dock in Naples. Onto Marco. |
We leave Naples and head back to the Esplanade Marina on Marco Island. The weather was not too kind to us. For the most part, January has been cool, windy with some rain. But, more importantly, the Gulf of Mexico was rough so we needed to wait out the weather in Marco before moving south. We love the Esplanade Marina, so it was no hardship, although we had a few nights with waves slapping and the boat rocking which did not offer us much sleep.
 |
| Sunset from our boat slip. Marco Island, Esplanade Marina. |
The wonderful thing about Esplanade Marina is that we can walk to just about anything. There is a West Marine, Ace Hardware, Publix and a Winn Dixie along with countless restaurants and boutique shops. There also is a great farmers' market on Wednesdays. So, we took advantage of this downtime and Tom changed the oil and transmission fluid along with all the filters on the engines. We also had the dogs groomed, did tons of laundry (which was free!) and stocked up on groceries and other necessities.
 |
| Farmers Market on Marco Island |
The people we met on Marco Island were just wonderful. A big thanks to Brent and Susan for taking us to the movies (which is not within walking distance), to the wonderful marina employees who gave us great service and helped with the oil disposal, and to the many fellow boaters we met along the way. A special shout out to Rick and Tracy and their reduced crew of only 5. Thanks for the hospitality! Safe travels to you all and hope our paths meet again.
Yesterday, with seas 2 ft and under, we leave Marco and head to Key West. Key West is approximately 93 miles from Marco Island. It is a straight shot, but you are cruising far into the Gulf and as the waters get rougher, land, cell phone coverage and fellow boaters disappear, but surprising those pesky crab pots do not. It is imperative to be attentive and avoid damage as a breakdown this far out into sea would not be welcomed.
 |
Our cruising path
|
The seas are calm for most of the trip, About an hour or so outside of the marker into the Key West channel, the water churns up and the seas are about 3 to 4 feet, which makes our smaller boat roll and rock,
 |
| Started out smooth and nice. |
 |
| Okay...I have had enough. I think I see land! |
While the tail end of our journey was not the most comfortable cruising conditions, we arrive into the Key West Channel with no harm done. We pass by the cruise ship terminals.
 |
| Carnival Cruise at port in Key West |
We also pass by Mallory Square, the Resort at the Galleon Marina, and finally into the marina itself.
 |
| Mallory Square, famous for its nightly sunset celebrations |
 |
| Galleon Resort |
 |
| Galleon Marina |
The wind is blowing and the slips are tight, so docking the Crazy 8 was a little more challenging than other locations. The marina assisted with the lines, so all was good. Crazy 8 is all tied up at her newest home. Key West is vastly different than Marco Island. While 8 pm things wind down in Marco, the party is winding up here. It should be an interesting few days!
 |
| Tight fit, but we are all set! |
