Turf to Surf

 We left Marco Island by 7am Marco Island at a distance. It was a perfect travel day…beautiful and calm.  I was having a pinch me moment.  It was a 7 hour day. We got anchored by mid afternoon in a very nice quiet spot with several other boats heading to the keys…..it’s a great midway point. It was an early night……..the mosquitoes swarmed as soon as dusk fell….oh, and no wifi out here.  We were off the hook and motoring with the sunrise.  Money shot.  Another great dolphin day, counted 5 under our hull and these 3 on our port side.  Beautiful travel day.  Anchored by noon just off the west side of the island with many boats all around us. It’s a little rolly from all the boat traffic. We are here for the night. We may look for a quieter spot tomorrow.

  We left at first light…… We navigated out of the narrow channel and weaved through still sleeping boaters to make our way back to the ICW.  We chose to travel on the outside for most of our journey today, bypassing most the hurricane damaged area….a little concerned about debris hidden underwater.  It was a dolphin day….so fun.  We exchanged boat pictures with Pura Vida as they passed us….they travel much faster than we do. They were also headed to Marco Island. Picture of the causeway to Sanibel island.  We arrived at the marina at 3, but waited an hour to approach the fuel dock for a pump out💩.  We are here for only one night.  Met up with Ray and Jane from Pura Vida, Kathy and Dallas on After Hours,  and Tia and Glen on Child of the Sun for dinner at a local Tiki Bar.  ~~~~~~ Tomorrow we will anchor in the Everglades most likely out of cel range to arrive at Marathon Key on February 2nd. 

 Left early morning for a 7 hour run to Pelican Bay anchorage  We anchored at this very same spot 4 years ago during our trawler training out of Cape Coral.  We had a very nice travel day….2 bridges had to be opened for our passage….dolphins a plenty. Boats came and left from this very large, quiet anchorage but we decided to wait out some high winds and stayed 4 nights. 

  Rick and Sue decided to stay onboard for the trip to Sarasota.  We were able to anchor just off Otter key, just south of St Armand Circle, stayed here 3 nights.  Just a quick dinghy ride to the sea wall where we tied to a palm tree, scaled the wall (depending on tide, this was not a graceful dismount for me, but we made it work) 🤪 and we were steps from the beach and all the shops and restaurants.  Jackie and Marc were able to drive down from Bradenton and join us for a lovely lunch and a stroll for a little shopping 🛍  Back deck time with the Whissell’s. ~~~~~~ Sue and Rick left us Tuesday morning the 24th, a dinghy ride back to shore where they left their vehicle. 

  Our visit home to celebrate Christmas and are grandson Atlas’s first birthday 🎉.  Rick and Sue picked us up at the airport and generously drove us around for a few days to stock up the boat for our next leg of travels. Our friends Marc and Jackie who winter in Bradenton were able to join us for a visit and dinner out. ~~~~~~ Back from the north with a flu/cold 🤧