up the Caloosahatchee River...

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Another season comes to an end.... weather (cold, wet & stormy) has been the villain of this season. Still, we covered lots of interesting anchorages from Tarpon Springs to Marathon, made some great new friends, reconnected with friends made last season - and now are settled near the centre of Florida on the Caloosahatchee River just west of Lake Okeechobee. Time to strip Gust O"Wind and prepare her for the coming summer.

We plan to return to Gust O'Wind after Christmas and resume the adventure.

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Photos

Marathon dinghy dock
one of two dinghy docks at Marathon - with over 400 boats on moorings and anchored it can be quite a challenge to get a space to dock your dink - they are flexible so we found charging into a gap worked well

Mike & Judy
one of the best parts of cruising is meeting up with friends unexpectedly - we had not seen Mike & Judy from Fredericton, NB on Sea Sharp since Brunswick, Georgia

Sea Sharp
after almost 7 weeks we pulled out of Marathon with Sea Sharp and Divine

Lukie
it was a real treat to meet up with Kim, James and Lukas while in Fort Myers - they were on March Break, spending a week with Lin & Rick

Naples
proud grandparents with Kim and Lukas

Legacy Marina
this marina in Fort Myers was probably the best facility we have come across so far - a very comfortable 'cruisers' lounge with tv, internet and kitchen as well as the usual amenities - at $420 a month it is not surprising some find it easy to stay on longer than expected

Fort Myers
looking over the yacht basin from the cruisers clubhouse

cleaning
boat maintenance is almost a daily chore in salt water

daredevils
at the marina in Fort Myers we were treated to a high wire act - up 35 stories - to promote a new Ringling circus act

first lock
Franklin lock on the Caloosahatchee River takes us from salt water into fresh

gator
this 10' gator cruised through the anchorage near La Belle

early morning mist
Caloosahatchee River anchorage

La Belle anchorage
thirty five miles up the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers

Ortona Lock
raising us up 8' in good fresh water to clean out the engine

cattle country
we really enjoyed the trip up the river - lots to see and good weather as well

Glades
this is the summer home for Gust O'Wind

travel lift
hauled out and on our way to the storage yard

high & dry
in the storage yard until we return to Florida in December

Comments

[Garry and Yola Grant]

Hi Marlene and Ian Have been watching your progress. Do you cover the boat when you leave it for the summer or do you leave it as the picture indicated?. I was under the impression that the boats needed to be covered and humidity and "critters" were a bit of a problem. Hopefully we can get together this summer at some juncture. Best Regards. Garry and Yola

[Eugene Madden]

I give up!
I just wrote a lengthy e-mail and then lost it, so, I'll fill you in when I see you. Eugene.

[Anne]

Hi Marlene and Ian, hard to believe it's dry dock time again. I just love your blog and it was a delight to see that dear little Lukie, so cute. xo's Anne

[Bill and Audrey]

good visit
Hey Ian and Marlene...enjoyed your visit...hope the chili doesn't have adverse effects....hope you have a safe trip home....see you sometime during the year......Bill and Audrey

[Penelope Jayne]

Enjoying your blogs
Always nice to hear from you. Hopefully the summer weather in Wiarton will be better than the south you had this year. Looking forward to weeing you guyts at the marina. Might take you guys out fpor a sail and show you a few tricks. Ya right

[Judi/John]

Another season
Another season and all is well. Good to know that in spite of the weather setbacks everything worked and you both look awfully well. Think of the stories you have about the summer that never was to compare with our stories of the winter that never was. On reflection I think that warm beats out cold!! What are your rates as a writer and photographer of 'blogs'? Have asafe retrurn and we will see you both in May. Judi/John