Day 2-April 12, 2018

Winds picked up to about 20 knots over night causing the anchor to dig in, and although they had died down by morning it took more time than usual to retrieve, we were still anchors aweigh by 8:00.  Just a few feet from the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) we were quickly on our way south to Ft. Myers Beach, passing the outer islands of North Captiva, Captiva and Sanibel, cruised through the narrow, busy and sometimes very shallow Miserable Mile without incident, then under the bridge connecting Sanibel to the mainland, out into the Gulf of Mexico for a few minutes before finally heading into Mantanzas Pass between the island of Ft. Myers Beach and the mainland.  Our plan was for everyone to spend the night in the mooring field there, but with Dragonfly needing to trade their dinghy motor they instead pulled into Salty Sam’s Marina a few hundred yards farther from where Higher Porpoise and Aurora moored.

On our way in we passed Pink Shell Marina and were surprised to discover our friends, Bill and Rosie Rissel’s boat there. After checking in at the mooring field office we walked along water on the Gulf side to find the Rissels enjoying the beautiful day on the beach.  Such a nice surprise to visit and hear about their eventful trip to the Keys.  Bill has a marina story to tell that cannot be topped!

Blessed, fortunate, lucky, call it what you like, but Brandon Mayer from Sweetwater Marina on the Caloosahatche River, thankfully came to the rescue in the evening.  After finishing work at his marina he drove across town, and walked nonchalantly down the dock with a new/used dinghy motor for Stillwells slung over his shoulder.  And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he hopped into the dinghy, pulled the other motor off and got the new one installed and running in about 30 minutes. Even Sue was able to start the new motor unassisted!  Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe this hard working young man, and highly recommend him and Sweetwater Marina.  Of course we all had to celebrate the successful end to our day with a meal together!

Nautical Miles Traveled:  23.6