We Be Cruising!

Leaving Fort Myers

January 6, 2020

We finally couldn't put it off any longer.  It was time to leave Fort Myers and get cruising.  Our plan:  head up the West coast of Florida to revisit some of our favourites spots and check out a few new ones. We skimmed past this area last time through.  We planned on cruising down the Caloosahatchee River with Renee and Pierre (M/V Shorline Traveller).  At the mouth of the river they were going to turn left and head South, and we were going to hang a right and head North.

Friends got up early to see off us (or shoved us off, we're not sure).  We fueled up, pumped out and filled our water tanks.  With all the tanks in shape, we cast off our lines and headed out!

Friends braved the early morning chill to see us off.

Then...We Be Cruising...

The first stop was Cape Coral,  just a couple of hours down river.  We stopped for lunch with Jeff's cousin Kirk and his wife Kryssy.

Kirk and Kryssy were visiting her nieces home in Cape Coral.
We were able to get a visit in at the house and swim in their pool
and also meet for lunch at the Tiki Bar another day.
So nice to squeeze in a little family time while we're South.

Cayo Costa

After our busy time in Fort Myers, the first stop was Cayo Costa, a quiet ancorage outside a state park.  We were hankering some quiet, decompression time.  Our first night was spent quietly swinging on the hook while barbecuing on the porch (otherwise known as the cockpit).

After a good nights sleep we were ready to explore.  Jeff got the dinghy ready and we went in to visit.  We have been here many times before and it is one of our favourites.  We walked the mile or so across the island to the West coast beach, then a mile or so down the beach, then back to the dinghy.  My poor injured knees were screaming, but it was so pleasant I couldn't resist.

Hobbling across Cayo Costa

Jets streams seem out of place criss-crossing the sky over unpopulated Cayo Costa

We wandered the beach, looking for weird stuff.  Not sure what this is.

Just a beautiful, natural beach.

A shell tree!  We always wondered where all the shells come from

The shell phone.  I'll let Jeff explain that!
Jeff:  "Well I had a flip phone for years and many people made fun of me for being so far behind on current phones. I met a guy on the beach that sold me the latest shell phone. So new the towers are not up yet but he assured me they are coming soon. Ground floor $60 US to have the first shell phone!! Priceless!!"

Great!  Now people will stop making fun of him! (insert eye-roll)