Day 206 Januray 12, 2023

 Day 206 Thursday, January 12, 2023

Marco Island Anchorage to ...... Stock Island, Key West!

Good news, our anchor held well and we had a good night's sleep.

Last minute decision made to head to Stock Island.  We had planned for Little Shark River but the morning weather check promised good weather for the day and unsettled weather for the following 4 days.  We wouldn't be able to travel until Monday at the earliest. That would mean we could get stuck in Little Shark (with the bugs) for several days.  Add to that, no cell service to check the weather, it felt like the best decision was to cross the Gulf to Stock Island.  Anchor up at 6:20, we prepared (mentally) for a very long 110 mile travel day.

The Gulf was beautiful, the day sunny and pleasant.  WE SAW A SEA TURTLE and dolphins!!  Again, too slow with the camera.

 We were passed by the Key West Express tour boat.

The biggest sighting for the day was all of the crab pots everywhere.  We probably had a combined 1.5 hours without any!  They are so hard to see with the waves and sun glistening on the water.  It made our 12 hour day a bit stressful.  At one point we had to do a hard reverse to miss 7 crab pots wrapped together.  They looked like a pelican until we were right on top of them.

Because of the distance we needed to travel and need to arrive before dark (ETA 7:30) we traveled for a while at 12 knots, instead of our usual 8.  Unfortunately, as we approached Key West an oil pressure alarm starting going off.  Always something.  Jerry checked the engines and all was fine.  Maybe it was just a sensor??

  Naval station on Key West

We pulled into the channel at Key West in time to catch a beautiful sunset.

 

 

We still needed to make it to our marina on Stock Island, about 30 minutes further.  

We traveled in the dark to our marina and slip.  Very anxious, watching for other boats and markers leading to the different channels along the way.  

We are SO grateful for Susan and Danny!  They stood at the entrance to the marina with their flashlights guiding us through the narrow unlit markers at the entrance to our marina.  Danny was on his cell phone giving Jerry directions as he watched us come in.  Once in the marina they guided us to our slip and helped us dock. We had traveled 12 hours and 40 minutes.  Susan was jumping up and down, excited for our arrival and full of celebratory hugs for us.  She was just as happy as we were to have arrived.

After a quick shower we joined Susan and Danny on their boat to wind down over cards.  So happy to have landed and to be met by our friends.

View from the marina beach of the unlit markers that Danny and Susan directed us through!

Day 204 & 205 January 10 - 11, 2023

Day 204 Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Marina Jacks Sarasota to Tween Waters Marina Captiva Florida

It was hard to say goodbye to Sarasota.  We had a great visit with our good friend Elli but it was time to move on.  We were looking forward to a good day of weather for travel but knew it would be a LONG day.  Our travel plans included continuing along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.  Unfortunately, the 14 foot lift bridge at Albee Road was broken and we couldn't fit under it.  This meant we would be BACKTRACKING for 1.5 hours  to Longboat Key Pass into the Gulf, then heading back towards Sarasota 1.5 hours and on to Captiva on the Gulf instead of using the waterway route.  Essentially we would be 3 hours behind.

We left the dock at 6:10am, heading to the self service fuel dock. The port engine didn't want to start.  Jerry discovered that the battery charger hadn't been on while we were docked.  After much fussing and a couple Hail Mary's we were actually at the fuel dock.  Then, the fuel pumps didn't want to cooperate....not a good start for our long day.  We were finally fueled and on our way at 7:30.   We finally got to Longboat Key Pass at 9:10.

The Gulf and weather cooperated with sunny skies and waves less than a foot with gentle swells.  We were also graced with dolphins and a sea turtle.  My camera is never close enough or quick enough.

 Hard to see but check out the dolphin! 

At Captiva Pass we left the Gulf and followed the channel to Tween Waters Marina.  We were at high tide and still only had 2 feet of water below us.  Very anxious moments until we were tied to the dock at 5pm, with 9hrs of travel behind us.  The marina has only recently reopened due to Hurricane Ian damage.  Tween Waters Marina is actually part of a resort. We walked from there to the beach across the road.  Captiva Island is known for it's sea shells and beautiful sunset views.  I collected a few shells (just to say that I did).  We also found quite a few dead fish, victims of the red tide. The wind had picked up and it was chilly so we didn't stick around for the sunset.  Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches back on the boat warmed us up.

Day 205 Wednesday January 11, 2023 

Tween Waters Marina, Captiva Island to Marco Island

We needed to time our departure from Tween Waters to take advantage of high tide.  The most advantageous time would have been around 3:30am; we weren't going to try to leave in the dark!  Instead we left at 07:20 when the tide was starting to fall.  Still a little anxious we made our way out to the ICW and then on to the Gulf.  

We passed under the Sanibel Island Causeway and by our first lighthouse in a long time - the Point Ybel Lighthouse. 

 

 Can you see the boarded windows due to hurricane damage?

At Marco Island we dropped anchor in Factory Bay. 

Entering the channel at Marco Island we met a motorized paddle board.

Snook Inn, famous spot on Marco, recovering from Hurricane Ian.

 It was still early afternoon (2pm) so we could have dinghied to shore to explore but we opted to stay on board.  Instead, I spent the time enrolling  in a Medicare Advantage plan.  What does that say about priorities???  LOL

We spent a peaceful night at anchor with plans to head to an anchorage at Little Shark River.  We've been warned about the bugs -- "No See Ums", that can be brutal.

 Sunset in Factory Bay

Day 203 January 9, 2023

 Day 203 Monday, January 9, 2023

Big day planned today!  Elli picked us up and we headed to The Ringling Museum.  So much fun!!  The museum has several gardens and art exhibitions but the highlight for us was the Circus Museum.  The Circus Museum includes circus posters and art, circus wagons, Ringling's private railcar the Wisconsin, and a scale model of a 3 ring circus.  The property also includes the Ringling mansion Ca d'Zan and Bayfront Gardens. 

The most impressive part was the circus model built by Howard Tibbals.  The model is a 3/4 inch to 1 foot scale replica of a a circus and all the associated tents, trains, wagons, animals, performers and workers needed to erect, maintain, and create the circus experience as it traveled cross country.  

Tibbals started when he built a model circus train car as a teenager.  Ringling Bros. denied his request to use the Ringling name on his model so he named it the Howard Bros. Circus. The model covers 3,000 square feet, took over 60 years to complete and has over 42,000 pieces he made by hand!

The exhibit is very detailed and starts with the trains loaded with everything needed for the big event.  Animals, tents, tools, seating, cooking supplies; everything needed in a small city. The ticket booth even has a cash register with tickets and money inside.  No one can see them but Tibbals knew it was there.

 

Unloading the railroad cars 

The model even included aspects of the community that the circus was visiting.

The Circus parade.

 

The dining tent

 

The Side Show

"Please face this way"'  Guess what they're doing.....

Animals in their cages.

The BIG TOP!! The trapeze really work!

 The folding chairs actually fold.

And then there was the actual circus memorabilia..

  

 

  Do you know this clown??

Ringling Mansion C'a d'Zan and gardens

 

 

Ringling personal railroad car

Great day at the museum and we didn't even get to enjoy the art museums and sculptures.  Exhibits date back to the 1300's and include to modern times.  I highly recommend visiting the museum. You can easily spend days there. Thanks Elli for a fun visit in Sarasota!

Tomorrow we head to Captiva Island, Tween Waters Marina.