Fort Myers, FL to Clearwater, FL

Total Miles Traveled 1883.2

Unfortunately we have had to postpone our adventure to the Chesapeake Bay area until next year.  The decision to hold up at Fort Myers for a couple of weeks shed more light on the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that it was probably going to get worse before getting any better. 

We enjoyed our stay at our friends dock, about 11 miles from downtown Fort Myers.  We had power and water at the dock and about a mile from a grocery, CVS, and a Dollar General.  I rode the bike in once to pick up a couple of things but our friends David and Barbara took us to the grocery and a farmers market before we left, okay now we have to reset the fourteen day quarantine clock. During our stay we waxed on the boat, changed the oil and filter on the generator, and watched the gators swim about the boat looking for a handout.....or a hand.

Moni turned this wine bottle into a decorative water bottle.

We were also amazed at the fishing skills of the local marine life.  I can’t believe they can catch a fish this size, but also swallow it whole!  It will catch the fish, keep shaking it, dipping it in and out of the water, then with one quick jerk, gets the fish straight in line with its neck, then gulp….okay maybe a couple of gulps to get it all the way down.

We departed Fort Myers on Friday April 3^rd and cruised 48 miles to Punta Blanca Island.  We normally travel on weekdays to avoid the weekend congestion of boaters but during social distancing and many businesses being closed, we didn’t see much difference. 

Our friends Mike and Jan on m/v Trust Me left Key West and caught up with us at our anchorage.  They had a battery charger fail and I have a spare, so they were going to use our spare until their new one could be shipped to Mobile.  We were going to raft up together but as they were pulling alongside of us a Florida marine patrol boat followed them in and informed us that the social distancing rules in Florida required boats to be anchored at least 50 feet apart?????  The rules also say no more than 10 people on board, so we can’t raft up and stay on our boats but a pontoon can have 10 people on board?  Oh well, it’s a new experience for everyone.  The officer said we could exchange the needed part, but would have to anchor apart.

We had some unexpected entertainment while anchored here; we had five Manatees swimming around our boats all afternoon.  We have only seen two here during previous anchorages so this was a real treat.

Back Stroke?

 They liked my anchor chain and bridle for some reason.

Moni caught a couple of Puffer Fish?  When she caught them they were the size of a catfish but when we took them off the hook, wow!

We weighed anchor April 6^th and cruised 53 miles to Sarasota.  We had to pass through eight bridges but only two of them had to open for us.  We anchored close to the Ringling Bridge and Mike and Jan continued on to visit family near Gulfport, FL.

On April 7^th we cruised 57 miles to an anchorage at Clearwater Beach, FL. This is a well-protected anchorage and with possible scattered thunderstorms predicted for the next week or so, this will be a good place to wait for a Gulf crossing opportunity.  We were treated to a “Pink Moon” the second evening we were anchored.

Tadaaa!

Mike and Jan arrived from their visit at Gulfport yesterday, looks like we’re complying with the 50 foot rule.  Now, if we go to the Clearwater Beach Marina, we can be in a slip next to each other without being 50 feet apart. J

It looks like we may be here a couple of weeks, waiting on calm waters in the Gulf before we can move north.  Our preference is to cross in three days instead of a 22 hour overnight crossing.