| WINTER/SPRING 2010 January-February Page 2 |
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JANUARY 31
Bob and Donna left for home Friday. We decided to take a ride Saturday
to the east coast to check out a few marinas for our time on the east. We
decided that it is much quieter and peaceful here at Burnt Store with bike
paths, palm trees, and places to walk Lily and lots of people around. So our
plans have changed: We will now pay for another month and leave around
March 14, cross Okeechobee, and take about 6 days to reach Daytona
Beach. We made reservations at Halifax Marina for 2 1/2 weeks starting
March 21. This is where Bob will fly down and drive our car back home for
us. Donna and he are coming back down in their motor home while we will
still be there. The plan sounds like a good one.
Bob and Donna left for home Friday. We decided to take a ride Saturday
to the east coast to check out a few marinas for our time on the east. We
decided that it is much quieter and peaceful here at Burnt Store with bike
paths, palm trees, and places to walk Lily and lots of people around. So our
plans have changed: We will now pay for another month and leave around
March 14, cross Okeechobee, and take about 6 days to reach Daytona
Beach. We made reservations at Halifax Marina for 2 1/2 weeks starting
March 21. This is where Bob will fly down and drive our car back home for
us. Donna and he are coming back down in their motor home while we will
still be there. The plan sounds like a good one.
On our way home, we took the northern route south of Orlando, then Route 4 to 17 into Punta Gorda. We
made a stop in Titusville at Dixie Crossroads Restaurant which is famous for their rock shrimp and corn
fritters. Rock shrimp as a hard shell and taste just like lobster, only sweeter. Our route going east was
straight across the state through the city of Okeechobee to Ft. Pierce which added 40 more miles to the
trip. It was worth it though for one time because the we got to see the scenery along this desolate area.
There were mostly orange groves and cattle ranches, and looked like a true savanna.
By the time we got out of church today at 10:45, the clouds moved in more than earlier and the wind
picked up. The temperature is around 60 and chilly for Florida. It's a good day to do laundry, catch up on
emails, read, and watch some TV. No one is really out walking or riding bikes today either, so they must
have the same idea!
made a stop in Titusville at Dixie Crossroads Restaurant which is famous for their rock shrimp and corn
fritters. Rock shrimp as a hard shell and taste just like lobster, only sweeter. Our route going east was
straight across the state through the city of Okeechobee to Ft. Pierce which added 40 more miles to the
trip. It was worth it though for one time because the we got to see the scenery along this desolate area.
There were mostly orange groves and cattle ranches, and looked like a true savanna.
By the time we got out of church today at 10:45, the clouds moved in more than earlier and the wind
picked up. The temperature is around 60 and chilly for Florida. It's a good day to do laundry, catch up on
emails, read, and watch some TV. No one is really out walking or riding bikes today either, so they must
have the same idea!
FEBRUARY 4
Today we drove to Ft. Myers to Legacy Marina to visit with our friends,
Linda and Ed from CT aboard "Shore Thing". It was so good to see them. We
met them last year while doing the loop. We ate lunch at the Crab Shack
next to the marina. They have the best coconut shrimp I've ever had, and it
was even better in the salad with pecans and gorgonzola cheese! We all took
a ride to Sun Harvest Citrus to sample the free orange juice and buy some
quarts of fresh squeezeed OJ, and bags of oranges and tangerines. We had a
nice visit and chance to catch up on our travels.
Today we drove to Ft. Myers to Legacy Marina to visit with our friends,
Linda and Ed from CT aboard "Shore Thing". It was so good to see them. We
met them last year while doing the loop. We ate lunch at the Crab Shack
next to the marina. They have the best coconut shrimp I've ever had, and it
was even better in the salad with pecans and gorgonzola cheese! We all took
a ride to Sun Harvest Citrus to sample the free orange juice and buy some
quarts of fresh squeezeed OJ, and bags of oranges and tangerines. We had a
nice visit and chance to catch up on our travels.
FEBRUARY 6
Today we drove to Venice to meet up with Sally and Oliver from Wisconsin, "One Oliver Two", who we
met 3 years ago while they had stopped at our marina while doing the great loop. Sally kept in touch with
me our whole loop trip, so it was great to finally have a chance to spend time with them. We ate lunch
at the Crow's Nest which is the place we had stopped to dock last year on our way south while on the
loop. The food is superb and we may go back again before we leave Punta Gorda. It was one of the
windiest days today with gusts over 30 MPH and the boat blowing several feet off the dock. The Crow's
Nest is right by the inlet to the Gulf, and the boats tied to the long dock where we stayed last year,
were rocking pretty badly. Three boats came in and left after 15 minutes, but one boat stayed. I can't
imagine staying on it. It's hard enough when boat wakes rock you there, but with the surge of pretty
high waves pushing in, the boats was bobbing like a cork. We took a walk along the beach before leaving
Venice, and it was like a hurricane. The poor birds were facing into the wind, and their feathers seemed
glued to their back, pinned down from the wind. The Gulf was not quiet and calm like it was a few weeks
ago when we went to Sanibel. The forecast on the Gulf today was a small craft advisory, waves 10 feet!
I had a chance to get a few pictures of a pelican that perched itself on the piling 3 feet from our boat.
He was a cute little guy and was peering in the window.
Today we drove to Venice to meet up with Sally and Oliver from Wisconsin, "One Oliver Two", who we
met 3 years ago while they had stopped at our marina while doing the great loop. Sally kept in touch with
me our whole loop trip, so it was great to finally have a chance to spend time with them. We ate lunch
at the Crow's Nest which is the place we had stopped to dock last year on our way south while on the
loop. The food is superb and we may go back again before we leave Punta Gorda. It was one of the
windiest days today with gusts over 30 MPH and the boat blowing several feet off the dock. The Crow's
Nest is right by the inlet to the Gulf, and the boats tied to the long dock where we stayed last year,
were rocking pretty badly. Three boats came in and left after 15 minutes, but one boat stayed. I can't
imagine staying on it. It's hard enough when boat wakes rock you there, but with the surge of pretty
high waves pushing in, the boats was bobbing like a cork. We took a walk along the beach before leaving
Venice, and it was like a hurricane. The poor birds were facing into the wind, and their feathers seemed
glued to their back, pinned down from the wind. The Gulf was not quiet and calm like it was a few weeks
ago when we went to Sanibel. The forecast on the Gulf today was a small craft advisory, waves 10 feet!
I had a chance to get a few pictures of a pelican that perched itself on the piling 3 feet from our boat.
He was a cute little guy and was peering in the window.
The Crow's Nest dock Looking out to the channel and Gulf Intracoastal Oliver, Jim, Barb, Sally
The beach at Venice Birds in the wind Pelican next to our boat
FEBRUARY 14 VALENTINE'S DAY
Friday our friends, Linda and Charlie from Michigan who we met on the loop aboard "Freedom's Turn"
called. They crossed the Gulf of Mexico with us. They are on a 6 week car trip to visit looper friends
who are aboard their boats in Florida. They stopped in to see us and we went to Porto Bellos for lunch.
Paulette and John, board "Seamantha", Nordic Tug 42, who we met at the NT Rendezvous this past
summer pulled in Thursday and just left today. It was so good to spend time with them. They were
docked right next to us! They have a little poodle named Millie, so Lily now had something else to look at
through the pilot house doors! They left today, heading north to visit family in Tarpon Springs, and we
will probably catch up with them sometime after we leave here.
The weather has been horribly cold, rainy for 2 days, with winds over 30 MPH. We are wearing winter
jackets. It won't be warming up until next weekend, temps in the 50s, not what Florida should be like!
Friday our friends, Linda and Charlie from Michigan who we met on the loop aboard "Freedom's Turn"
called. They crossed the Gulf of Mexico with us. They are on a 6 week car trip to visit looper friends
who are aboard their boats in Florida. They stopped in to see us and we went to Porto Bellos for lunch.
Paulette and John, board "Seamantha", Nordic Tug 42, who we met at the NT Rendezvous this past
summer pulled in Thursday and just left today. It was so good to spend time with them. They were
docked right next to us! They have a little poodle named Millie, so Lily now had something else to look at
through the pilot house doors! They left today, heading north to visit family in Tarpon Springs, and we
will probably catch up with them sometime after we leave here.
The weather has been horribly cold, rainy for 2 days, with winds over 30 MPH. We are wearing winter
jackets. It won't be warming up until next weekend, temps in the 50s, not what Florida should be like!
Jim, Barb, Paulette, John Seamantha - Golden Lily Paulette shared her flowers Lunch with Linda and Charlie
with me
with me
FEBRUARY 18
Sunday just as Seamantha left, Quest, Nordic Tug 42, who we know from CT, came in and docked next
to us. One of their Golden Retrievers needed to see an eye doctor, so we loaned them our car to drive to
Sarasota. It was really nice to see them! The weather was cold and windy, so they stayed an extra day,
and left today for Cabbage Key, then up to Sarasota for another vet visit in 2 weeks before they go to
the Keys.
Lily went to the "spa" today and had a bath and trim. She came out all fluffy and looked twice her size.
When we went to pick her up, we could hear her tail hitting the crate when she heard our voices! She
was so proud of herself and a happy little girl all clean and smelling pretty. We then took a ride to get
some OJ which is a 30 mile one way trip, but it was a nice day for a ride. Lily was all pooped out when
she got back to the boat. She watched for the cat for about 15 minutes, then slept for over an hour.
She had a very busy day.
The wind has been howling every day and it's been cold enough to wear my heavy pants and jacket. It's
supposed to warm up by the weekend and go into the 70s. We can hardly wait!
Sunday just as Seamantha left, Quest, Nordic Tug 42, who we know from CT, came in and docked next
to us. One of their Golden Retrievers needed to see an eye doctor, so we loaned them our car to drive to
Sarasota. It was really nice to see them! The weather was cold and windy, so they stayed an extra day,
and left today for Cabbage Key, then up to Sarasota for another vet visit in 2 weeks before they go to
the Keys.
Lily went to the "spa" today and had a bath and trim. She came out all fluffy and looked twice her size.
When we went to pick her up, we could hear her tail hitting the crate when she heard our voices! She
was so proud of herself and a happy little girl all clean and smelling pretty. We then took a ride to get
some OJ which is a 30 mile one way trip, but it was a nice day for a ride. Lily was all pooped out when
she got back to the boat. She watched for the cat for about 15 minutes, then slept for over an hour.
She had a very busy day.
The wind has been howling every day and it's been cold enough to wear my heavy pants and jacket. It's
supposed to warm up by the weekend and go into the 70s. We can hardly wait!
FEBRUARY 21
Last night went with dock friends, Barbara and Al, to an Italian restaurant at Fishermen's Village in
downtown Punta Gorda to meet Jim and Peggy from Sanctuary who were on Q dock last year. Jim belongs
to AGLCA and MTOA and knows an incredible amount about boats. It was good to see them after a year.
As usual, I forgot my camera, so no pictures of our get together. Jim and I had the prime rib special
which included a bottle of merlot, salad, shrimp cocktail, prime rib with potatoes and vegetables, and
fruit custard dessert. We walked through the mall at the Village and had ice cream, then headed back
to the boat. Today finally feels like Florida...cool breeze, sun shining, and temperature around 75 - a
perfect day. Jim is off playing golf, and Lily and I are resting. I'm getting over my first cold in over a
year and a half. I believe I got a chill 2 weeks ago while out at night in the rain and wind and cold trying
to help Jim retie the boat. It would have been a good idea if I had worn a jacket!
Last night went with dock friends, Barbara and Al, to an Italian restaurant at Fishermen's Village in
downtown Punta Gorda to meet Jim and Peggy from Sanctuary who were on Q dock last year. Jim belongs
to AGLCA and MTOA and knows an incredible amount about boats. It was good to see them after a year.
As usual, I forgot my camera, so no pictures of our get together. Jim and I had the prime rib special
which included a bottle of merlot, salad, shrimp cocktail, prime rib with potatoes and vegetables, and
fruit custard dessert. We walked through the mall at the Village and had ice cream, then headed back
to the boat. Today finally feels like Florida...cool breeze, sun shining, and temperature around 75 - a
perfect day. Jim is off playing golf, and Lily and I are resting. I'm getting over my first cold in over a
year and a half. I believe I got a chill 2 weeks ago while out at night in the rain and wind and cold trying
to help Jim retie the boat. It would have been a good idea if I had worn a jacket!
