The view from Joe's tender as we head into the sunset looking for a funky watering hole. Do you have a spot light Joe? No spotlight, just a small flashlight. Oh well.

Well, we found it. The Ragged Ass Saloon. It doesn't get any funkier than this one. Full of locals on Pine Island and some great redneck music.

Boys night out. We met these guys in another bar and they told us about the Ragged Ass. One guy was bumming because he had to go back North the next day.

The guy in the middle reminds me of my dad. He has the same problem with his back that my dad had. Also, like my dad, all the ladies had to come over and give him a big kiss. A real chick magnet.

It was home to us a long time ago

They say you can never go home. Who is they? Well, maybe for a nostalgic visit. Fort Myers is a special place to me because this is where I was lucky enough to have met the love of my life, Stephanie. I remember the first time I saw her sitting on that couch (I can still see her sitting there) and I knew I was in trouble. It's funny how you immediately get that feeling you have just met someone who you know has been out there all this time and your paths just needed to cross. I knew she was going to be someone special in my life, I just didn't know how special. She is my best friend, lover, partner, and the Admiral of our ship, and I am the luckiest guy in this whole world.
OK, now comes the true test of our relationship. Good News, we quit smoking three weeks ago today. I didn't want to tell you all until we gave it some time. We are both on the patch and still struggling, but I think we are going to make it. We haven't killed each other yet (maybe a little testy at times) and we go to step 2 in a couple of weeks.
This last few days have been a blast (and a blast from the past) seeing all the old places, painting the town red, get-togethers on September Song, Sea Pearl, and Stormy, and oops, I forgot my camera some of the time, and other times we were having so much fun I would forget to take pictures. I need Tammy around to remind me to take pictures. Sure miss those guys, but hopefully we will see them in a few weeks when we head South. We are in the area now where pictures are going to be great. Pine Island, Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa, etc. so hang in there and I promise I will try real hard.
Today we left Fort Myers and traveled about 17 miles to Pine Island in the rain to Joe's cousins' dock. Stormy went a little further to 'Tween Waters on Captiva Island where they will pick up friends and then meet us in Pelican Bay anchorage Thursday. As I sit here blogging it is coming down in buckets. The weather is supposed to turn nice starting tomorrow. We will spend a couple of days here and then on to Pelican Bay anchorage where September Song and Sea Pearl will meet up with Stormy and their guests. Pelican Bay anchorage is just off Cayo
Costa and a short hop to Cabbage Key in Half Note. I will take you there for one of those made-famous-by-Jimmy Buffet, "Cheeseburgers in Paradise." I promise I will take the Camera!

September Song (smoke free) out
Bob



The Fort Myers Yacht Basin, our home for a few days. Home is wherever September Song is parked

This crazy looking little (about 70 pounds) lady is single handing an old, and I mean old, almost ready to sink Sea Ray. She headed out Saturday morning to cross the lake and then on to the East Coast. I wish her luck! She has got guts. (or just nuts)

Joe, Stephanie, Me, Di, Steve, and Joe's friend Bruce from New York, who helped Joe cross the lake and get through the locks, at happy hour at the Morgan House, a favorite spot of ours.

Dave, Penny, Stephanie, Me, and Joe behind the camera getting ready to dive into one of the biggest and best pizzas I have ever had.

Dave and Penny caught up with us on Stormy

Calloway, their black lab and Cassie and Godiva's boy friend, looking off the stern of Stormy for Cassie and Godiva.

Stormy following us out of the Fort Myers Yacht Basin. A 57 foot thing of beauty

R and R

We spent a relaxing few days at the Franklin Lock docks with friends in and out and meeting new friends. (I know, boring) We had no land transportation other than our bikes and everything is a long way away from where we were. That was OK because we needed a rest from all the parties etc. Thursday we cruised to the Fort Myers Yacht Basin and rented a car Friday for the weekend. Friday was spent riding through the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area seeing what has changed since we lived here eleven years ago. Things have changed in some areas so much we were glad we knew the names of the street or we would have been lost. Other areas, especially the older sections still looked the same. Cape Coral was the most depressing with a lot of the homes looking sad and neglected. Sure am glad we don't own property here anymore. Sea Pearl and Aurora arrived Friday afternoon and today Steve, Di, Stephanie and I went out for provisions at Costco. I have never been in a Costco before. You could do some real damage there. Good thing our space is limited on September Song. We are waiting for Aurora and Sea Pearl to come over and then we are headed for the bed races in town. Should be fun. I know this all sounds boring, but we needed a rest. We will be headed North on the West Coast with lots to see and do, so hang in there.

September Song (headed for the ZZZZZZ's race) out

Bob
[Ed. note - the races were rained out and rescheduled for 2 weeks from now - guess we'll have to take a pass this year]

Enjoying sunset cocktails with friends

Admiral Stephanie handling the lines in the Franklin Lock

Locking through with another boat

Enjoying the afternoon with good friends and new friends

DeFever Cruisers take over the docks at Franklin lock

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. It did get quite windy that day

You don't have to be in the islands or in the Keys to blow your conch horns as the sun sets on another beautiful day

Bird Island

We have a little island off our port side that I wanted to show you. During the day it is just an empty little spit of an island. At dusk all types of water birds gather and squawk at each other all through the night. At dawn it's like they all know when breakfast is ready and leave at the same time. Nature is so cool. Wish they would keep their voices down at night.
Aurora and Tide Hiker are on their first leg of the Okeechobee crossing today and will catch up to us tomorrow afternoon.

September Song (keep it down over there) out
Bob

This is what it looks like during the day

This is what it looks like at dusk

A thing of beauty

We left for the West Coast Wednesday morning, but not before one last party with some of our DeFever cruising friends. It has been fun and we all hate to see the rendezvous come to an end. Oh, wait, we don't have to let it end. Aurora, Tide Hiker, and Sea Pearl are going to catch up with us in a few days and we are all going to cruise the West Coast of Florida. (I said cruise, not bar hop)
Our trip up the St. Lucie River, across Lake Okeechobee, and then down the Caloosahatchee water way was absolutely fabulous. Most people don't realize that Lake Okeechobee is the second largest fresh water lake in the US. (it's a BIG lake) It also allows you to cut across the state by boat starting at Stuart on the East Coast and ending at Ft. Myers on the West Coast. We saw an amazing display of wild life and what Florida was like many years ago on our trip across. It was a beautiful 130 miles to where we will hold up here at the Franklin Lock State Park for a few days while everyone catches up to us.
I hope you enjoy all the pictures as much as we enjoyed our trip across.

September Song (Nature is beautiful) out
Bob

Last party before we left on Wednesday at Tide Hiker's dock. Great party Norm and Vickie.

Everyone had a good time and no one fell in. (well, not that I know of)

Julia says "things are looking up!"

Norm, what's that in your ear? You didn't!

So whose ear is that? Are you sure it's on the correct side?

I don't know what they call these, but they aren't big enough to sit in, so you kneel in them

106 miles to W. P. Franklin lock our stopping point Thursday to wait for the others to catch up

Birds welcoming us to Lake Okeechobee

Looking out at the lake from the lock as we exit into the lake

Lake Okeechobee is the second largest fresh water lake in the US. It's always nice to have a calm day to cross

A boat that didn't make it across. The whole lake isn't more than 15 feet deep in any spot

We don't know what this is on the lake, but we think it's the drain plug. Don't pull it now!

We spent the night tied between two barge dolphins in the middle of nature. this is the one at the bow

This is our stern dolphin. I wish I had a picture of September Song between the two

Just before sunset this crazy guy in an air boat comes whizzing by between us and the shore so close I could read what it said on his hat. (It said crazy red neck!)

Freeze damage to the palm trees from that cold front you Northerners sent down

Horse farms

Cattle farms

White heron