Cruising with Steadfast

 Great stay in Naples, dinner with friends, Andrew & Peter arrived, and Gwen headed back to PA to be with the cute troops.  Us boys enjoyed lunch at Skyline, an e-bike tour of Naples, and a great Italian dinner at Molto.  Early start for long run to Key West this morning.  Weather couldn’t have been better, very calm (a little breezy and the end… a sign of things to come tomorrow (the reason we headed to Key West a day earlier than originally planned).  Beautiful trip, so calm we spotted 2 - 3 sea turtles, and several porpoises.  Arrived a little before 6 at Galleon Marina.  Here it today’s  Track .  Here is a link to a 360 photo Andrew took…  360 photo

 Nice stay in Sanibel, bikes, beach, dinghy (see dinghy Track ), good dinner with Dave & Tina.  The marina changed hands in the past year… no more blueberry muffins delivered to the boat each morning… missed… but still a nice stop.  Leisurely trip to Naples, pump out upon arrival Naples… I think we’re in the same slip as last year… D03.  Looking forward to time here.  Here is today’s  Track .

 We had a great stay in Fort Myers Beach.  Dinner with Dan & Mindy and 4 friends from our Croatia Bike trip,  and good visits with Aunt Carol (hit 2 of her favorite restaurants, and even some retail therapy.  It has warmed up nicely and is finally feeling like Florida.  Dan & Mindy left on Saturday, we chilled (and walked the beach) on Sunday, and today Croatia bike trip friends John & Mary Ann joined us for the short cruise to Sanibel, lunch, and a nice bike ride around the island.  Looking forward to a few days in Sanibel!  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice evening with Dan & Mindy.  This morning, we (Jim, Dan, & Cooper) left just before 8:30 (delayed due to fog), while Gwen & Mindy went to visit Aunt Carol.  Heavy fog (basically no visibility) on an off (mostly on) till NOON… then a beautiful afternoon, arrived at 4:00.  Nice run, lots of porpoises, but no big jumpers.  Looking forward to a few days here, and visits with Aunt Carol.  Here is today’s  Track

 We had a great stay in St Pete, very nice visit with John & Bev (thanks for your hospitality).  St Pete left us wanting more… seems like it would be a good place to explore further (maybe next year).  Nice easy run to Fishermans Wharf where we’ll be meeting Dan & Mindy (great being able to connect with family on the water)!  Here is today’s  Track

We enjoyed the Super Bowl last evening, even if not our desired outcome… and not an especially exciting game.  Relaxing morning, nice walk, and then leisurely run to St Pete.  This is new territory for us, and we are thoroughly enjoying it.  Looking forward to spending time here with John & Bev (who have a condo nearby).  Here is today’s  Track

Quiet night at Fisherman’s Wharf (close to a bridge, so no wake zone and well protected).   We left about aboutn 8:43 for the run to Safe Harbor Regatta Point.  There were multiple bridges and those that we required to open went smoothly.  We arrived at 2:15 (had to call marina on phone as no response on radio).   1st stop was the fuel dock (1st fuel since 1/2), then on to our slip.  The marina is still recovering from storm 1.5 years ago.  Our slip, C30 was described as 9th on the right on C dock… only the 9th slip wasn’t open… some searching around revealed that our slip was C30, and it was open but it was no longer the 9th slip (more like 5th or 6th) because several are missing from the storm.  Lots of close quarters maneuvering… but all’s well.  Expect this marina to see significant investment from Safe Harbor in the coming years.  Great visit with friends Greg & Elaine with good dinner at local Italian restaurant.  Here is today...

 Beautiful day today… what a contrast from yesterday, so glad we stayed put.  Nice run to Fisherman’s Wharf & Marina in Venice today.  More airborne porpoises (see picture) and great scenery.  Looking forward to dinner out tonight, and then on tomorrow to Safe Harbor Regatta Point in Palmetto where we’ll meet up with more boating friends!  Here is today’s  Track

Quiet night in LaBelle… we checked out the city dock… while cheaper… I think we’ll stick with the Yacht Club (No finger piers at city dock).  We left a little BEFORE 7 for the long day to Safe Harbor Burnt Store and arrived just before 5:00, two locks and 1 swing bridge.  Great day, highlighted by spectacular porpoise antics (see video).  We’ve decided to stay two days as tomorrow looks sloppy.  Looking forward to dinner at marina restaurant and quiet day tomorrow.  Here is today’s  Track

Nice stay at Cleweston (we’ll do it again over Moore Haven) with dinner at marina’s Tiki Bar (not bad).  Leisurly start for short run to LaBelle.  Left a little before 9 (note track misses first 10 or so minutes of the run due to a Nebo glitch).  Smooth transition of Moore Haven Lock (3 ft down) and Ortona Lock (8 feet down).  “The Dock at LaBelle Yacht Club” (formerly known as Rivers Edge Motel Marina) is a small marina/dock just past the LaBelle Bridge.  Nice new docks and updated facilities.  Yacht Club name brings $$ in price, might consider LaBelle City Dock across the river… <<$ but no power.  In any case, all is well.  Eating on board as the onsite restaurant and Tiki Bar is closed (too cold we told… 68 this afternoon feels good to us).  Here is today’s  Track

 We had planned to nights at St Lucie Campground Marina, but forecast for high winds on Sunday resulted in staying a 3rd day.  Overall a quiet place, meals on board (no options) and nice walks.  Did see pink flamingo fly by at one point, but couldn’t get a picture.  Today we left about 9, and found Lake O to be very resasonable (glad we didn’t go yesterday).  The Port Mayaca lock (entering Lake O) was “drive thru” so no issues.  We’re staying at Roland and Mary Martin Marina in Clewiston… and new place for us.  Nice floating dock, but spot to turn boat around was barely longer than the boat, dock on one side, rocks on the other, but we we able to maneuver successfully.  Looking forward to the Tiki bar here.  Tomorrow we had planned go to Sweetwater Landing Marina which is in North Fort Myers, but got word that the WP Franklin lock (the 3 of we we need to do tomorrow) will be closed tomorrow… so schedule adjusted.  We’ll have a shorter ru...