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

Fog, fog and more fog

We arrived at the Little Shark River Tuesday afternoon, set the hook, and sat on the aft deck with a cool one and enjoyed the peace, solitude, and scenery. The Everglades are very wild, pristine and out in the middle of nowhere. Our cell phone not only didn't have bars, it didn't even have the little antenna. That night we were treated to a star spectacular and then later on we had a full moon rise. (life is good) Wednesday we put Half Note in the water and went exploring. Thank goodness we have a GPS on the tender because we would have never found our way back to September Song without it. You have probably heard stories about people who have gone into the Everglades and were never heard from again. (believe it!)Something this vast and beautiful would have to be seen to really appreciate how remote and huge it is. I don't know how many thousands of square miles it is, but it stretches from Miami to the west coast and down to the beginning of the Keys. Wednesday afternoon we were joined by Rickshaw and Tide Hiker. That evening we all got together for cocktails and a wonderful chili dinner Vicki prepared on Tide Hiker. Thanks Vicki! Thursday we all went out exploring and the good old GPS helped us find our way back. That evening we invited everyone to September Song for cocktails and grilled out. (have I told you life is good?) Friday Morning we were going to leave for Marco Island at 07:00, but the fog was thick and we decided to wait for it to lift. It lifted a little by 08:30 so we headed out with radar, plotter and fog horn going off every two minutes. I don't know if you have ever heard a fog horn in the fog, but it is a really cool sound. About 30 minutes into our departure the fog really set in and it was that way for the whole eight plus hours to Marco Island. Traveling in thick fog is like traveling at night. The only thing you have to look at is the radar, plotter, the flag on the bow and gray white.
Today, Stephanie's friend from High School is coming over and they are going to lunch to catch up and I am going to wash the boat. Anyone want to help?

September Song (getting out the bucket and soap) out
Bob

By the way, Happy Valentines Day


Views as we made our way out the river

Looks cool in the fog

Fisherman we passed in the fog

The only view we had the whole day (fog)

The view as we left the anchorage in the fog

Too thick for the birds to fly

Then it really got thick

View of our anchorage from the bow

The shore line

Out exploring

Click on the picture to see a close-up

Exploring with Tide Hiker and Rickshaw

Watching us go by

Rickshaw joining us in the anchorage

Tide Hiker coming into the anchorage

Farewell to Marathon

We said farewell to Marathon where we had a wonderful time since December 26th and headed out into the Gulf of Mexico to our next stop on the Little Shark River in Everglades National Park. It was a beautiful day on the Gulf and it was great to be out in the open waters again. I guess it is the wanderlust in us that draws us to move on to new adventures.

September Song (see you on the Little Shark) out
Bob


Leaving Marathon headed into the Gulf of Mexico

Nap time after an early start

Dolphin playing in our bow wake

Birds traveling with us

They were headed south as we traveled north. Hi!

What a great group

Today My nieces Rhonda and Sara with Ben, Nick and Abby, their children, came to our marina for a visit. It was so great to see them again. After a tour of September Song and a sunset on the front deck (sorry about the clouds) we had a pizza party on the fly bridge and caught up. I have to say, not because they are family, they are such great kids. Ron and Rena must be very proud of them. I wish we didn't have to leave tomorrow, we would have loved to take them out to the reef for a day.

September Song (special kids) out


The gang is here

Captain Ben

Captain Nick (Stephanie wants to adopt him)

Pizza party on the fly bridge

Full moon party etc.

Sunday evening we all got together on Rickshaw, Rick and Lynnie's boat, for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, book and movie exchange, bon voyage (some of us are leaving Tuesday) and full moon party. (no one got mooned)If that's not enough to warrant a party, I don't know what is. (any excuse works for us) After the aft deck party the group moved the party to the Dock Side Bar where we joined about 100 of our fellow cruisers for music, dancing, and bar food. You would not believe how young old farts can be in the Keys. Some of the cruisers and locals brought their instruments and voices and added to the fun including a 91 year young trumpet player. Needless to say, we had a good time with great friends. It has been wonderful sharing our time here in Marathon with all of them, but it's time to be on the move. When you start to get growth on the bottom of your boat you know it's time. It's like the old saying, "don't let the grass grow under your feet".
As it was said in a movie by the now California Governor "I'll be back" Today my nieces from Illinois, who are here for a week, are going to come over for a visit. It will be great to see them. I will take pictures Ron and Rena.

September Song (pointy end to the North) out


Cocktails on the aft deck of Rickshaw

Always plenty of great hors d'oeuvres

We had a book and movie exchange at the party

On the dance floor

Gypsies in the Palace rock!

Don't know who he is but he was having a good time

At 91 years old he can still play that horn