Wednesday, February 1 - On the (Water) Road Again!

Wednesday, February 1 - On the (Water) Road Again!

We made our departure check list last night, checked it twice today.  We are ready to cruise!  Naples City Dock has been a great stop, just wish we hadn't been here quite so long.  All the employees were friendly and helpful, there was lots going on to entertain us, and it was a great place to ride bikes!  BUT, adventures await, so we head out.

As we were heading out, I couldn't resist taking just a few house pictures. Bruce, the Harbor Host, had told us that people are buying perfectly good houses and tearing them down to build estates like this.  I have always loved white houses, but this one is not my favorite, Even the roof was stark white.  Would it be for heat reflection?

The "inside" route from Naples to Marco Island is no longer a part of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway because it has become so shallow.  Boaters at our marina had been through a few days before and said they had no problem.  As you can see, lots of boats use it.

Well, a short way in, we found a problem!  In the middle of the channel, the depth finder showed 1.5 feet beneath our hull.  We churned up mud for a while (while visions of damaged propellers danced in our heads) but made it through.  Danny handled it great, but he was a little tense.

The scenery was beautiful! - mostly mangrove islands.  And the water outside the channel was very shallow.

We broke our dolphin record today.  SIX were swimming beside us at one time!  Watching them never gets old.

       

Marco Island was impressive when we saw it from land, and it's just as impressive from the water.

Marco Island is the end of the inside route.   From here on we will be cruising IN the Gulf, (PIC WATER). Outside cruising can be rough, as we found out between Carabelle and Steinhatchee, but the water today was calm, almost glassy.  Perfect cruising weather!

There  were lots of crab traps as we headed South.  People had warned us, but we still weren't prepared for the large number, and for the random placement. We were zigging and zagging like crazy to miss them.  Danny said they reminded him of mine fields in WW II. They make driving very stressful.

Indian Key Pass was the logical place to stop for the night.  It is in the Thousand Islands area, and you can see from the map shot where it gets that name.

This sight greeted us as we turned into the pass.  The birds were standing on a sand bar and didn't move at all as we drove by!  Danny said it must be mating season.

It's impossible to tell from the picture, but we could see Marco Island as we pulled in.  We had driven in a big arc to avoid shallow water.  Wonder how many miles away it is as the crow flies?

The anchor motor wouldn't work, so it took us a little to get the extra anchor out and operational.  I'm sure the three other boats in the inlet wondered about our nautical skills as we went forward and backward repeatedly.
Of course we fished, this looked like an ideal spot.  Danny caught a sea trout, and again he said it was too little to keep.  We watched another gorgeous sunset and enjoyed the quiet evening..

The significant event of the evening was Danny finding the problem with the generator.  The switch had been turned off while the engines were being repaired.  "I fixed it" should be the title of this picture.