Taking 'er Home. Southern West Coast

So off we go.  We're taking Gran Vida home. From now until mid April we'll be cruising.  It's kind of exciting!

The plan is that we'll take her down to the keys, then turn her around and point her North, booting it up the ICW.  We've travelled this stretch, at least up to North Carolina, a few times so we're not planning on much sight-seeing.  We'll just boot it along and see how far we get.  Of course, there will be weather days, and laundry/shopping days, and days when we just say screw it, let's stay put.  But for the most part we be cruising!  We'll stop mid April so Jeff can go home to launch boats at Harbour West Marina in Penetanguishene.  Then we have a little side-trip vacation planned to Scotland, just for fun.  Mid July will find us back at the boat to finish the loop and at least get Gran Vida back on Canadian soil, er, water.

So, first stop: Fort Myers Beach. Fort Myers Beach is one of my favourite places. It just has such a funky, summer feel, and white, talcum powder-like sand.  I was so looking forward to walking the beach, the main street and poking around the shops.  We got the second last mooring ball way at the back of the field.  Number 65.  We hooked up easily, launched the dinghy and headed in to the office to check in and let me have my day in the shops.  We made plans to meet cruising buddies later for a drink.  We stopped for a nice lunch and as I got up afterwards, ugh, something was wrong. My bum knee had totally locked up.  I could not even put weight on it.  Just like that.  Out of the blue.

Totally bummed out, we cancelled our day at the beach and Jeff hobbled me back to the dinghy.  I kind of did a combination downward-dog and bizarre log roll manoeuvre to get into the dinghy and back to the boat we went to RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevate) and Advil  for the stupid bum knee.  Harumph.

With the wonders of modern medicine and a good knee brace, after a nap I was good to go, albeit, not that fast.  We met up with friends at Bonita Bills for jam night and a good time was had by all.  We dinghied back to the boat, giggling in the dark.

The next morning, with grace from the weather gods, off we went.  Headed South.

Shrimp boats in Fort Myers Beach

Good morning from the back of the mooring field at Fort Myers Beach

Two second later, he (or she) got one!

Jam night at Bonita Bills