Day 4-7     Sat.-Tues., April 14-17      Just Naples

Some of you have been to Naples, so forgive me if I share a bit too much information about this lovely town which is only an hour from Punta Gorda by car.  A private jet just flew over us, which happens a minimum of two or three times an hour all day long.  I’m thinking some must commute to work and fly back home in the evening.  Homes along the Naples Bay as you come off the Gulf into the channel are truly amazing, and we’ve heard they tear down multimillion dollar homes along the water to put up larger ones.  Downtown shopping is unequaled anywhere in Florida.  5^th Avenue is famous for a host of one-of-a-kind restaurants, and both novelty and name brand shops.  Landscaping along the street is manicured with stately palm trees and beautiful flower baskets lining the sidewalks.   Then of course there are the cars, the ones you almost never see on the streets of ordinary towns, the Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Jaguars, and Mclerans.  And last, but not least, there are the amazing yachts with a Captain ready at a moment’s notice to take the owners to whatever far away destinations they desire.  It’s truly a unique city and one that is nonstop entertainment for transient boaters.

Instead of being able to leave and go to Little Shark we decided to hold up here until we got a good weather window.  And “good” means calm seas and light winds from the east.  So you ask, “What did you do for four days. Don’t you get bored?”  First, Dennis either runs or walks almost every morning and I do my yoga/stretching on the boat.  We both use exercise bands and I brought weights to do some Les Mills Body pump routines.  Our foldable bikes were used to go to West Marine, WalMart and any other longer errands.  Oak Market is a farm market 0.7 miles from the marina where we found amazing salsa, pastries, fresh produce and oh yes a “Cesari” wine.  Walking to town, the beach, the pier, restaurants, shopping, Naples City Dock where Dragaonfly and Higher Porpoise were staying put us way over on our steps each day. One day was spent cleaning the boat, and doing the much-needed laundry.  Any down time was filled with a variety of reading materials and electronics on board, plus an occasional nap here and there.

On Saturday evening we heard voices on the dock to look out and see a photographer using our boat and the sunset as the backdrop for wedding photos.  Maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to talk the bride and groom into sending us one.

On Sunday evening a fast-moving storm rolled through with strong winds and some lightening, so we loaded our navigational electronics into the oven.  “What?? The oven??” you ask.  Yes, you read it right, the oven.  It’s been said because of the metal walls this would protect precious equipment in case of lightening striking the boat.  Thankfully we didn’t have to test that theory out that evening.  Word of warning though; just make sure to take everything out before you use the oven! 

Monday, we saw remnants of the northern cold weather front with 70 degrees and high winds.  Tuesday was one of those days which seemed like it might have been ok to leave a safe port to be on the way, but after hearing incoming boater’s comments of rough seas and a churning inlet, confirming our decision to leave on Wednesday instead.

No two days on the boat are ever the same, even in the marina.  So four very different days to relax, explore, regroup, and sometimes do much-needed nothing.

Tomorrow, we’ll lose our internet, and the ability to post for two days as our cruise takes us across the Gulf  for 10 hours to Little Shark anchorage, then another 6 hours to Marathon and Boot Key Harbor on Thursday.  Predictions are for very little wind from the east, so calm seas, and it'll be mostly motoring or motor sailing for Dragonfly, Higher Porpoise and Aurora.  We will bid a due and safe travels to Sea Goose II, and Joan and Joe Thomas, whose plans have changed, and will be headed back north.  Thanks so much for joining us, and sharing your fun stories!