Ft. Myers has done a great job with their downtown area over the past few years that we've been wintering here. Almost every weekend there is something going on in the downtown area. Bike night. Old car night. Art walk, and music walk just to name a few of the activities.
Last week we strolled downtown with visiting friends Frank & Peg to check out the old cars. Frank recognized most of them. Something about parking in his youth? Me, not so many unless I read the vanity license.
This one I recognize. My first car was an identical 1967 Mustang that looked just like this one except for the wheels. Wish I still had it!
While Frank & Peg were here we took a ride out to Captiva Island to visit Frank's nephew Sean Kelly who runs a small charter fishing operation on the island. Our intent was to meet him and go for lunch somewhere on Captiva. Sean had other plans. Before we could object (yeah, right!) we were in his boat and heading towards Cabbage Key for lunch. We cruised over the shallow water of Pine Island Sound and around North Captiva Island before arriving at Cabbage Key.
Sean and Pam. Not a good hair day!
Homes on the lower end of N. Captiva. Powered supplied only by sun, wind, & generator with all access by either boat or small plane.
Cabbage Key Restaurant.
Dollar bills hanging inside Cabbage Key. Reportedly $67,000.00 worth which they donate to various charity's once a year.
Picked up a hitchhiker while we were going slow.
We had a great unexpected day on the water. Sean kept us off all of the shallow spots on Pine Island Sound where the average depth is only 4.5 feet! If you need a guide for the area Sean's your man.
While Frank & Peg were in town we visited the Shell Factory in N. Ft. Myers. Interesting is the best I can say. I've seen a million of these tourist traps and this ranks right up there with the best of them. I will say that lunch at their restaurant was good but I think we were there over an hour before I saw a shell.
Stuffed animals in a shell factory?
Even Elvis was looking for shells!
Pam found a pirate that she tried to run off with but he wouldn't budge!
We finally found the shells!
Before our guests left town we got cleaned up to head downtown and have dinner with some of Frank's relatives.
As usual my eyes are closed when posing for a picture.
One of the nice things at Legacy is the annual appreciation party put on by the marina. This year it was a western theme with an assortment of barbecued meats, baked beans, and salads. Needless to say a good time was had by all.
Harbor master Eric and part of his harem!
The highlight of the night is the drawing for free stuff. Eric is being assisted by his two daughters and office manager Sheila. I was the big winner of 25' of dock line!
All too soon it was the weekend again. Saturday morning started early since I had to take Pam to the airport to catch a flight back home for an Oscar fix.
My Princess waiting patiently for her flight.
Once Pam was through security I headed back to Legacy to go with Donnie inland to Turkey Creek to pick up his brother's boat and bring it back to Ft. Myers Beach. The boat fired right off and we departed around 9:30 a.m. but not before my back decided to go out when I bent over to pick up a dock line.
The wind was picking up but locking through wasn't a problem. It was an uneventful ride across the Caloosahatchie as we passed through 2 locks and only needed one bridge to open for us. We passed by Legacy after lunch and we noticed the wind picking up in intensity. The boat was running good and we continued on towards the gulf and Ft. Myers Beach. As we passed under the Sanibel bridge we were feeling good about the time we were making and started calculating exactly what time we would arrive at the dock. At the same time the wind on the open water was kicking up 2 to 3 footers with occasional 4's. Still no problem since we only had a few miles to go before we would duck in behind Ft. Myers Beach.
Oops! Half way between the bridge and Matanzas Pass the engines quit. Now we quickly became a cork bobbing around in the open water. We both figured it must be a fuel issue and went down to investigate. Of course by now we had turned broadside to the waves which tossed our 37' boat from side to side. To gain some stability Donnie went forward and let out the anchor (not as easy as it sounds in these conditions) which quickly set and pointed our bow into the waves. Somehow he then crawled into the engine room and managed to change the racor filters. Meanwhile I'm getting in touch with TowBoat US to arrange a tow if needed. Fortunately one of the engines fired and we were able to pull in the anchor and limp towards Matanzas Pass. I called TowBoat again and advised them that we were underway. We made it into the marked channel and were feeling good about our chances to make it all the way when the engine sputtered and died again. Crap! This narrow channel is busy and no place to be floating powerless. To complicate things the local Pirate Ship was heading our way. Donnie went back to the engine room while I hailed the Pirate and advised them of our situation all while we were drifting towards the edge of the channel and very shallow water. After bouncing off the "Resume Normal Speed" sign we quickly dropped the anchor to keep from grounding. At least it was calmer in this spot and we were now out of the channel.
Donnie worked on the problem with no success and I reacquainted myself with the TowBoat dispatcher. We waited and watched as boats came and went through the pass.
Donnie waiting patiently.
The Big M Casino boat passed by while we waited.
Help is here!
Underway again.
The TowBoat captain did a great job of getting us to our destination and in spite of the wind was able to get us into the dock without bouncing us off the dock. The unlimited towing feature on my Boat US membership came in handy as there was no charge for this tow. Without it the cost would have been in the hundreds of dollars.
Pam made it home safe and sound too making it a great day!
