Day 1, April 7: Punta Gorda to Naples

Disembarqued Cesari dock at 7:15, navigated the rim canal and into Charlotte Harbor 30 minutes later.  Leaving on a long trip of any kind always brings contemplation, what did we not bring we will need, or what was left undone at home?  Those thoughts go in the Christmas frenzy category, if it really needs to get done, it did, the rest must not matter much, and as the song goes, “Let it go, let it go, just let it go!”

Hours and hours of planning and preparation goes into a long boat trip, fixing, replacing, buying, checking all systems, repairing, thinking, taking stuff off, putting more stuff on, having done everything financially and inhumanly possible to have the boat in perfect condition.  When it’s finally time to leave, and such a relief, makes you want to shout “halleluiah!”

Motoring across Charlotte Harbor seas were predicted to be 2 ft and was pretty accurate.  The Intercoastal waterway, ICW, to Ft. Myers was also pretty calm.  For the first time ever, we were able to skip the Miserable Mile on the way! It’s a dangerous mile of narrow, speeding boat traffic on the ICW to get under the Sanibel Bridge, and in season, truly a miserable mile. Now without the 60 foot mast of the sailboat, we could cut across and under the 26 foot Sanibel Causeway, into San Carlo Bay, shortening both trip, danger and frustration. 

Slipping under the causeway and into the Gulf of America, got into more of those 2 to 3 foot seas as predicted, but it was doable and comfortable.  It wasn’t long before the winds picked up, and yes, as you can imagine, so did the waves in the Gulf. Our Sailboat rule was we didn’t go out if the winds were above 15, well, they were at 17 on the bow. 

Captain Dennis did an excellent job, trying to out maneuver the waves which kept getting higher, cresting at 6 foot rollers as we pushed on towards Naples.  He sped up, slowed down, rode the crest, crashed down in the trough, saw lots of foamy white water over the bow, went closer to the shore, then back out again, but nothing seemed to help.  My job was to yell when went up those 6 feet crests and then crashed back down, and when captain asked why I said, “It’s either that or a heart attack!” I asked God to intervene, but he didn’t, so guess he trusted Dennis to get us through, and as always, he did. Arrived safe and mostly sound to Pelican Isles Yacht Club at 12:45 p.m.  Can't imagine why not, but interestingly we didn't see any other boats out on the water from Ft. Myers to Naples!!! 

Captain assured Lady, our German Sheperd and I we won't do that again!!!

Club wasn’t open so took advantage finishing off the evening with dinner at our favorite restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk. 

Blessed to be on this journey, but wiped out at 8:30! 

Sign off for tonight. God bless!