Our Trek South to City of Marathon on Vaca Key

Beautiful night in Venice FL
The full moon along with the clouds
reflected on the water........

One of the marinas we passed along the way

Passing Cabbage Key
Wishin' we could have one of
their cheeseburgers!

Beautiful sky - trying to get to anchor
before sunset!

Sanibel Lighthouse

Coming into Everglades City

Historic Rod & Gun Club

Rod & Gun Club Restaurant and Motel

Checking in - this place was amazing

Lots of decor

Just a few of the mounts that were on the walls

Taking a dinghy ride along the river

Just a few of the airboats that travel these rivers

The Captain's Lighthouse - another airboat facility

sights along the river

Bet the gators are watching us...

There was a sign here that said
"Caution - Airboat Entrance"
We were a little cautious....

Another sight along the river
Beautiful fan palm

NautiNell sitting proud at the
Rod & Gun Club

Entrance by land

Slowly working our way back out
to the Gulf  - not much water even
in the channel

The river twists and turns along the way

Sunset at Little Shark River
on anchorage

It just kept getting better

Even after the sun went down
it still continued to light the waters

Taken in direction away from the sunset
Still lighting up the waters

We’ve been traveling on NautiNell down the west coast of Florida for 6 days and 5 nights heading down to the City of Marathon on Vaca Key where we’ll be spending the winter – the next four months or so.

Here’s a short synopsis on our trip south:

Sunday – November 17 

We left Bradenton about 9:15 a.m. after spending the summer months here at Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton.  This marina is up the Manatee River and a good place to hide out during hurricane season.  Although we had a very uneventful season weather-wise this year – you never know.   It was a pretty nice ride down the GIWW (Gulf Intercoastal Waterway).  In about six hours we were tied up to the City Dock in Venice just around the bend from Snake Island.  Our friends, Jeff and Linda, who live there met us in their dinghy and ferried us over to the Island where they hang out  - especially on Sunday.  Good timing on our part!  We visited with everyone and took advantage of a huge bounty of food. It turned out to be a great day for travel and an even better one to be out on anchor.  The full moon was absolutely breathtaking along with its reflection and the reflection of the clouds in the water.  I wish we could have taken a picture but it wouldn’t have done it justice.  I must say it was one of the most beautiful sights we have seen since we’ve been on the water.

Monday – November 18 

We were up early this morning.  We saw the local police bring in what we assume was an injured sea turtle.  This guy was huge!  We took it easy this morning and didn’t leave until about 9:30.  It seems no matter how early we get up - we still can’t seem to get around and get moving!  As it turns out we should have gotten an earlier start.  With the “short daylight” now – we found ourselves in Ft Myers trying to secure a mooring ball in the dark.  That was not really a fun thing to do – but we got it done.  At least we had another beautiful day for traveling.  The dolphins were out in full force.  It seemed they were just as happy to see us and we were to see them!  Once we were secure to the mooring ball we enjoyed the moon again bouncing off the water along with hamburgers on the grill.  Nice night too.

Tuesday – November 19

We finally left out early this time!  It was only 7:15 a.m.!  Though this day is a short day.  Wouldn’t you know it?  We had to go out to the Gulf at Ft Myers.  The GIWW ends there.  It was another beautiful day with on 1-2 ft. waves.  Again there were lots of dolphin following us along.  We made it to Marco Island on anchor just in time to have us some lunch on the sundeck.  A nice time to relax.

Wednesday – November 20

I can’t believe the weather we are having.  We definitely planned this trip right – knock on wood…. Anyway we left about 8:00 a.m. heading to Everglades City.  We had always bypassed this and went on to Shark River but we decided to check it out this time.  Especially a good idea since it gets dark so early and the trip to Shark would have been a long day.  After traversing through the very shallow and narrow Indian Pass, we got to the Rod & Gun Club about 1:00 p.m. and tied up to their wall.  This a very interesting and historical place.  The Rod & Gun Club is a hotel and restaurant.  The area was established back in the 1780s when the Indians would bring their produce to sell which was then shipped to Key West and to Ft Myers.  Baron Collier from New York who was successful in advertising came to the area and ended up owning over one million acres.  Later his heirs donated over 32,000 acres to the state of Florida for a National Park.  The Rod & Gun Club has quite a past.  It is so named due to the excellent fishing in the area along with hunting that included panthers and bear.  Several US Presidents, many movie stars and many prominent business men patronized the hotel and restaurant back in its heyday.  The floors were made of cypress and were so shiny you could see your reflection.  The inside of the building was very elegant and you could almost hear the conversations that had taken place in the past.  The town is a sleepy little town where most everyone is related.  Back in the day there were streetcars that would take people place to place.  What a different way of life is there now.   Most make their living fishing or giving airboat rides.

We took a dinghy ride around in the rivers.  The over growth would actually make a canopy over the river.  It was really fantastic.  I know there were gators back in the foliage watching with their beady little eyes!  We went back into where the airboats take you but finally decided to turn around when we realized just how shallow it was getting.  We definitely didn’t want to have to get out of the dinghy and push!  That evening we took the dinghy up the river to a little local place to eat.  There were two different ones - and we definitely picked the wrong one.  Not good food and they closed at 6:00 p.m. leaving us sitting there finishing our meal.  I mean they locked the doors and left!  When we were going back to the boat (in the dark by the way) we pass the other restaurant that was alive with customers and even live music!  Oh well, we usually pick the right one – guess we were due this time.

Thursday – November 21

We were up early again and it was another beautiful day.  We took a walk around the town and had breakfast at the local Island Grill.  This time we picked the right place.  It was pretty good. We would have stayed longer and checked out the town more but we needed to leave before low tide.  After a little bit of a hassle getting away from the wall – tide going out and a very strong current – we inched out way out through narrow passage again and out to the Gulf once more.    Finally enough water – we could exhale!  We made it to Little Shark River where we planned to anchor.  The spot we had anchored before was rather busy – three other boats were already there.  So we went up the river just a bit – a little more current but no problems.  We sat out on the sundeck and watched a beautiful sunset.  There were some “no see-ums” but they weren’t really a problem.  Finally we gave up to them and went down in the cabin.  We ended up watching a movie - thanks to our inverter – we could run out television and DVD player!  Pretty cool!

Friday – November 22

On to Marathon – this day proved not to be so great.  We have traveled in worse but it still pretty much stunk.  There were small storms cells moving over us from time to time.  It didn’t rain a lot but the wind blew and caused the waves to grow.  They would hit us on the following port side and try to whip us around.  The worst of it was that we also had to watch for all the hundreds of crab pots that were out there.  In fact, we must have been paying more attention to the crab pots than the chart plotter because we ran aground.  At least Mike realized we were in really shallow water in time and threw it in neutral.  We really only floated up on the sand but it was an abrupt stop!  We were able to back off of it and get around to the markers where we should be.  It seemed forever from when we saw the Seven Mile Bridge to when we were actually going under it.  Around 3:00 p.m. - we were pretty happy to be in our slip and tied up.  There were several people there to greet us and to help us land NautiNell.  It was great to see everyone that we had met here during our last stay last year.  There are a few that are still on their way but most of them are here now.  It will be a fun winter.  We said our hellos and pretty much crashed the rest of the night.  It rained here during the night but it just made for a good night’s sleep.  It’s different when you’re tied up safe in a harbor or if you’re on anchor out in the boonies somewhere!

Till Next Time

Admiral “C”

Our Last Week in Bradenton

Isn't he cute with his little sunglasses!

Dogs having a brew while on the internet at the local pub

The rest of the dogs sculpture
Having a brew

Caffeine addict - my fav

Minions!

A look down the street with all the artists hard at work

Very cool

This one really jumps out at you

They just kept getting cooler!

Very cool place among the trees

Is this not cool!

How about this one!!

One of the last sunsets before we left

Sky is on fire!

This is what greeted us on our first day back
to NautiNell

What Missouri looks like in November

Pretty colors on the Smith Ranch

 The winding path to the Smith Horse Ranch

Our trip to Joplin was great but way too short.  We didn’t get to visit with everyone as much as we would have liked.  Hopefully we’ll stay longer next time!  Time goes by so quickly!

Once we arrived back to the boat we began getting her ready for the trip south.  We had planned to leave in just a couple of days but it turned out to be over a week.  There is always something to do when you live on an old boat – actually any boat I suppose. Staying in one place for a length of time makes for a busy time in packing and loading all our “stuff”  - our scooters, our dingy, a dockbox full of “important items” etc.  Anyway, we worked about every day until we left.

I say about because we did take a day or two off from “work”.  One of those days we made a full day of play.  It started with a great little brunch at the Pier 22 for all the slipholders here at the marina.  Then a quick trip to the Farmers Market.  After that we joined up with Rick and Susan – another couple here at the marina that also has a Jefferson.  We headed to the Chalk Art Festival in Sarasota.  That was simply amazing!  When we were there most of the artists were still working on their masterpieces.  However, it was still interesting to see how the process comes together.  They block off a street in the “Burns Area” of town.  You can walk along up and down the street and watch the artists perform their magic on the asphalt.  This area of Sarasota is a really neat.  I guess this guy “Burns” built a lot of these little bungalow type homes back in the ‘20s.  Most of them are businesses now or art galleries.  He and John Ringling really were instrumental in developing this area of Florida.  The streets are really cool and there always seems to be a lot going on here.

After we had seen all we wanted to see we headed to Siesta Key where the Sand Sculpture Competition was being held.  First though before we went to the beach we stopped in for some nachos and a cold beer.  Siesta Key is a very cool place.  We had not been here before.  To anyone that is looking for a nice little summer getaway – check it out.  The downtown area is really neat along with the “huge” beach!  Did I say huge?  It is amazingly huge and the sand is so soft.  Anyway – check it out…..  J

The sand sculptures were fantastic.  I can’t imagine being able to do that.  There were several sculptures  - it would be hard to pick a favorite.  And to think  - just like the chalk art – the masterpieces don’t last! That would be hard to take – for me anyway.

Oh, and one more thing we did – there was this ice cream place called “Sub Zero” there on Siesta Key.  Quite a different concept when it comes to ice cream.  Not the ice cream itself but the way it’s made.  They flash freeze it by hand in less than a minute using liquid nitrogen.  You create your own recipe by choosing the flavors and a liquid mix and then watch the fog billow out as they freeze it.  They told us they were on Shark Tank but I don’t know who, if anyone bought into it.  If not, they should have.  Really cool!  And very tasty!

After some last minute shopping and Mike finishing his “to do” list - we are finally ready to leave the marina.  We’ve met a lot of folks here and made a lot of good friends.  Most of them are leaving soon heading south or to the Bahamas.  I’m sure our paths will cross again sometime.

The next time I post I’ll probably be in Marathon (in the Keys).  Stay tuned!

Till next time!

Admiral “C”