Our fisher dog, Cassie

We went to Picnic Island again today and I thought you might like to see what Cassie does while we are at the beach. She chases fish the whole time we are there. I don't know what she would do if she actually caught one. Is she having fun or what?

September Song (the fisher dog) out

Bob

A day for the girls

Today was a day for the girls. They haven't been to a beach or gotten much exercise the past couple of weeks so they asked if we could take Half Note to the beach. (please, please, dad) Picnic Island is a tiny island about a half mile from our anchorage. Notice the pure white sand of Southwest Florida beaches. Cassie chased fish, as usual, and all Godiva wanted to do is chase the ball. We all had great fun and now the girls are worn out and have passed out for the night.
Rickshaw (Rick and Lynnie) came over this afternoon and Stephanie prepared the shrimp we bought yesterday in garlic and butter over pasta. (YUUUM) After lupper (late lunch early supper) we had a fantastic apple pie that Lynnie bought in Naples. We played a game that we bought after playing it with Life's2short called Catch Phrase. We are practicing, Todd and Brenda.
Tomorrow Rickshaw is leaving for Sarasota and we will spend another day in the Wildlife Refuge. Saturday we are going to Burnt Store Marina, where we kept old September Song two winters, and meet up with old friends.

September Song (stuffed with shrimp) out
Bob


Picnic Island beach

As usual, Cassie chasing fish

What do you think she wants? "dad llab eht worht"
That's dog talk for throw the ball dad
They talk backwords

visitors to the beach

Moving on

Today we left Naples at 08:00 and headed for Sanibel Island to anchor out in Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge for a couple of days. As we left Naples, we passed the Naples Pier where I used to go for the sunsets when I lived in Naples. The next area we passed was Pelican Bay where Wayne and Gini have their condo and the Gang stayed. As we passed I called Marcia and asked if they could see us. Sure enough, they could, and through the binoculars I could see Marcia and Marlene, in her house coat, waving at us. The picture didn't turn out so well because we were about a mile out from shore and the condos are set back, but it was still way cool. Next stop, fill up time. It is always a bite to fill September Song with fuel, but not as bad as it was last summer which was over twice the cost we paid today. While we were at the dock where all the shrimp boats are I bought fresh shrimp off one of the boats that had come in from fishing. Huge white Gulf shrimp for $2.50 a pound. Shrimpers are notorious drinkers, and this guy was way into the sauce. I guess it was OK because it was lunch time. After filling the boat and emptying my wallet, we headed for the Wildlife Refuge where we are anchored out. Maybe, because we are in the Wildlife Refuge, Stephanie and I will get wild and crazy and get into the nature thing. (NOT) Your are only as old as you feel.

A Quote from our good friends on Life's 2 Short.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

September Song (wild and crazy) out
Bob


Naples Pier

The building where Wayne and Gini's condo is

Pirate ship. ARRRR!

  Sanibel Lighthouse as we came in from the Gulf

Time to fill the tanks (OUCH)

Filled up where the shrimpers fill up. Good price, just under $2.00 a gal.

Cool sailboat off our stern after we anchored

Rick's try at a video

Rick tried his hand at a video on his camera while we were on the Shark River. We are learning! I need to try sound.

Trying something new

I'm trying something new for the blog. This is a video I took on the camera while we were anchored on the Little Shark River in the Everglades National Park. Let's hope it works.

I just checked it out and IT WORKED!

I will try to improve on the videos and post more of them in the future.

September Sing (more fun with the camera) out

Bob

Hail, hail the gangs all here

Everyone arrived at 10:00 and after a tour of September Song, showing everyone where the life jackets are and pottie training (toilets work differently on a boat) we headed out to a beautiful day on the water in Southwest Florida. We cruised through the Port Royal area in Naples, (McMansions) then anchored in a quiet cove surrounded by multi million dollar homes and enjoyed lunch on the fly bridge. After lunch we cruised back to the marina and had cocktails, told stories, talked about the people who weren't there and played catchup on what everyone has been doing for the last ???? years. In the evening we went to the Dock Restaurant and had dinner.
We enjoyed seeing family and sharing a little of our life on September Song. The time went by to quickly and I wish we could have had more, but the time we had was great.

September Song (thanks for coming) out
Bob


Cousin Jack enjoying the views

I think brother-in-law Bill likes this Florida weather

Is that a good looking group or what?

My sister Marcia enjoying the aft deck

Decisions, decisions, it all looks so good

And it was

The group saying goodbye

Naples Florida

Saturday, Stephanie had a nice visit with her best friend from high school, Ann, after not seeing each other for 40 years. After they got caught up, that took a while, we picked up Bill, Ann's husband, and the four of us went to dinner at one of my old haunts when I lived in Florida, The Snook Inn. Today we had to wait until 10:30 for the fog to lift and then traveled the Gulf from Marco Island to Naples. The gulf can be like a mill pond at times, and today was one of those day. We were going to anchor out tonight because the City Docks couldn't take us until Monday but I called when we arrived at the inlet and as luck would have it, they said we could come in today because a boat left a day early. Tomorrow the gang, Marcia, Bill, Jack, Marlene, Wayne and Gini are going to be here at 10:00. We are going to take them for a day cruise and show them Southwest Florida from the water. Should be great fun. I will e-mail pictures to you Rena.

September Song (see you with the gang tomorrow) out

Bob


Naples, the jewel of Southwest Fl.

The Gulf of Mexico was like a mill pond today

The white sand beaches go on forever along the coast