Since leaving Biloxi two weeks ago we've traveled nine days. The first five were east and the last four have been south. Today we start heading east again.
On Dec 29th, we arrived in Ft. Myers Beach Florida. After traveling for five straight days with most days being 10 hours we choose to take a day off yesterday. Today will begin crossing through the southern part of Florida from the Gulf side to the Ocean side through Lake Okeechobee. NYE will be spent at W.P. Franklin Lock which has a small island campground and eight boat slips on the island just after we pass through the lock. Our dear friends from Naples will come visit us there for a few hours this afternoon and early evening.
The trip from Sarasota to Ft. Myers Beach on the 29th was an uneventful but long day with 10 hours of travel - exactly 80 miles. The entire trip required close attention by our Captain as the ICWW markers had to be followed closely. The day felt like we were on a boat super highway. We couldn't believe how many boats were out on a Tuesday. We kept plugging away at 8 - 9 mph while most of the rest were probably cruising past us at 3 or 4 times that speed. The sun was out and the temperature was about 80 so being the week between Christmas and New Year's EVERYBODY seemed to have the week off work and was out using their boats.
Some of the day was in tighter sections on the ICWW where we could look at homes up close and other sections were quite open water, but you still had to stay in the markers for the channel as many times depths are 1-3 feet right outside the markers. As has been typical the last few days, tons and tons of dolphins.
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| Home between Sarasota and Venice Florida |
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| Home Between Sarasota and Venice - Wow! |
At MM 34.2 (mile marker) on the ICWW is the Boca Grande Swing Bridge with a clearance of 9'. We need about 12' so we had to wait for it to swing to open at its scheduled time. After traveling so far from MI, we thought we'd seen all types of possible bridges, draw, swing, lift, etc. Well this one was a swing bridge like we've not seen before. It was a double! The first lower bridge was built as a swing and then a second new higher bridge was also built as a swing. When the horn sounded for the opening, they BOTH started to swing. It was truly the most amazing engineering structure we've seen in awhile. Both roads carry cars to the Island so both roads stop traffic so the double bridges can swing on the hour and on the half-hour.
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| Boca Grande Double Swing Bridge |
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| Boca Grande Double Swing Bridge #2 |
We arrived in Ft. Myers Beach at Moss Marine right before dark. It is at the base of the southern bridge that goes to the Island on the Island side. We certainly made use of our daylight on the 29th. After five days of travel, once we got the boat secured, we didn't even leave the boat to go walk the strip on the beach for dinner. A good ole' pot of red beans and rice with sausage was the perfect end to a perfect day of boating. For our northern friends, we equate red beans and rice to chili and it became one of our favorites while we lived in Biloxi.
Yesterday morning Bert had to chase a salt-water leak in the head which is a story for another day. Yesterday afternoon and evening we visited with dear friends from MI who winter here on the island. What did we do on our day off? We went boating of course! They have a pontoon and gave us a great tour of the island and the canals, etc. Areas we would not have seen otherwise. The day wrapped up with BBQ ribs on their deck as the sun set.
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| Our friends pontoon boat. |
In case today's events don't get posted until the new year, we want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year's Eve.
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