Nomad Keys Cruise, Day 2!

Wednesday, January 29, 2015 Day 2!

 It's 0800 hours. Time for breakfast, thanks to the magnanimous hospitality of the Hughes. We enjoyed another gathering of the crew and the delicious breakfast Hope and Dick prepared for us. At 0900, boats started slipping their lines. It took a few minutes for all the boats to get underway. By 0930, we were all steaming through the Cape Coral canals on our way to the Caloosahatchee River. Along the way, neighbors waved and exhaulted in seeing our six Nimble boat flotilla. After dozens of thumbs up, we made it to the Caloosahatchee River, turned to starboard and headed off toward Fort Meyers Beach. The waterway was relatively calm except for some boat wakes that rocked us. The Gulf had a very light chop. We motored past the mooring field in the backwaters behind Estero Island. A shortcut through the shallows proved impossible so we went back to the channel and made our way to Dog Beach, our anchorage for the night. Sunshine bounced along a sandbar in the middle of the area a few hundred feet from the Pelican Island Resort dock. 

Sunshine chose to anchor a few hundred feet from the ferry dock behind the island. The other boats anchored near Dog Beach with a good view out the inlet.

An 0730 departure is planned for tomorrow and Anna Marie made reservations for four boats (Sunshine, Slo Poke, Arthur Dent and Able Explorer) at Rose Marina on Marco Island. Eagle will try to make 10 miles further and Nimble 20 will stay at anchor on Dog Beach for the day and return home on Friday.

Day 1 of the Nomad Cruise!

Tuesday, January 28, 2015 Day 1 Nomad Cruise!

After a weather related lay day (high wind), we departed the Fort Meyers Yacht Basin after fueling up. As we departed the fuel dock, we found Arthur Dent on the river, ready to go. We headed west in a moderate chop towards Cape Coral, with the windshield taking spray regularly.

After about two hours, we turned to starboard and followed the entrance channel toward Bimini Basin, a well protected anchorage that we enjoyed with About Time a couple of years ago. Just before the basin we turned to port and motored to the end of Tudor Canal. Dick and Hope we're waiting for us and guided us into our slips. The slips are owned by folks in the adjacent condos and they graciously allowed us to use the slips for the evening.

In short order, five Nomads joined the resident Vagabond and we enjoyed meeting Eagle's Captain Bill Bordeaux, Able Explorer's Captain Steve Ehrler, Slo Poke's crew Bill and Kathy Towers, Nimble 20's crew and our hosts, Dick and Hope Hughes. Arthur Dent's crew Barney and Pat Ward and Anna Marie and I aboard M/V Sunshine rounded out the list of boats and crew for the Nomad Keys Cruise.

After settling in, Dick and Hope hosted a very nice get together that included food and beverages. We had a brief skippers meeting during which we all agreed that considering the forecast, we would be better served staying on the inside tomorrow. We chose Dog Beach at the southern end of Estero to be our destination. The following day's weather would be more conducive to traveling in the Gulf. Our third day's destination would be Rose Marina on Marco Island.

The Crew of the five Nomads and one Vagabond take a moment from the Skippers Meeting to pose for a picture.

Top photo: (on the floor from left to right) Anna Marie Martin (M/V Sunshine), Steve Ehrler (M/V Able Explorer), Kathy Towers (M/V Slo Poke), (seated, from left to right) Bill Martin (M/V Sunshine), Hope and Dick Hughes (our hosts and crew of the Vagabond, Nimble 20), Barney and Pat Ward (M/V Arthur Dent), Bill Towers (M/V Slo Poke). Not in the picture Bill Bordeaux (M/V Eagle) was the photographer.

Bottom photo: everyone is in the same position except that Bill Bordeaux has replaced Bill Martin who is now behind the camera.

At 0800 tomorrow, Dick and Hope are hosting a breakfast. Departure is scheduled for 0900.

Alice's Restaurant!

Sunday, January 25, 2015 Alice's Restaurant Massacree!

Between yesterday and today, we have everything ready for departure. Provisions have been purchased and stowed. The truck was cleaned and readied for storage. The boat is ship shape. We have completed all of our tasks and still manage to walk over four miles a day.

Our final pre-cruise activity is a road trip to Fort Lauderdale. More specifically, the Parker Playhouse where we have tickets to see Arlo Gutherie's 50th Anniversary Alice's Restaurant concert. The tour, which started in Daytona two nights ago, will last about a year and a half. We hope he gets to NJ this summer so we can see it again.

We've gone to several concerts this year. They are usually highly entertaining, but for most, when the encore is finished, I get in the car and start to think about something else.

There are some special artists that move me to a higher level. Noel Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow, and Pete Seeger are examples of artists who strike some emotional chord in me. I am moved and inspired by their work. Such was the case this evening with Arlo Gutherie. I was mesmerized, not just by Arlo but by his band as well. Terry A La Berry, his drummer, is amazing! His lead guitarist was strong, as was the bass guitarist, and his son, on keyboards, was exceptional. The band was tight!

Arlo has a knack for storytelling and he didn't disappoint. I hung on his every word. He has grown over the years and one can see and hear his growth in the stories. 

Arlo introducing "Alice's Restaurant Masacree" to begin the second set.

The crowd went wild upon hearing the first stains of the intro to Alice. The story is ironic and intriguing even on its 50th anniversary. I stand in awe of people who have the talent to write great lyrics not to mention music too. And I'm not alone. Arlo tells the story of a song his father wrote after reading Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Woody received a letter from Steinbeck that said, "you son of a bitch! How did you capture, in thirteen verses, something it took me a whole novel to write?"

I Hear Your Voice Again, by Woody Gutherie, was particularly moving and poignant. The encore, Peace, was clear and hopeful, I Don't Want A Pickle was funny, and the audience rollicked to Alice's Restaurant and City of New Orleans.

I'll be learning from this concert for a long time.

The Edison - Ford Estates!

Friday, January 23, 2015 The Edison Ford Estates!

Today we toured the Edison Ford Estates and Museum and had a delightful time. We chose the $20.00 audio tour and walked out he grounds at our own pace. The estates are lush with tropical plants, including many varieties of fruit trees. 

Edison's Moonlight Garden

We were there for the better part of four and one-half hours before walking back to the yacht basin. In the evening, we went into town to return the Deadwood series of DVD's to the library and then spent an hour or so listening the "the Band with the Big White Van." They are a Celtic band with a rock and roll bagpiper. His virtuosity on the instrument was amazing!

Fort Meyers!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015     Fort Meyers!

This city has changed! When we visited in 2009, it was a ghost town of sorts. We found two restaurants and dozens of lawyers' offices and not much else. There were very few people on the streets and not much car traffic. The downtown apparently had a urban redevelopment project providing attractive store fronts. Most had for rent signs in their windows. The streets had brick accents and were lined with Palm Trees.

Fort Meyers - The City of Palms

Today, the city remains attractive with its Palm lined streets (Fort Meyers is known as the City of Palms), over one dozen restaurants, boutiques, a state of the art library and a free trolley that runs throughout the River District. The restaurants are busy and there are a lot of pedestrians ducking in and out of the shops. The city had made quite a remarkable in the last few years.

The Florida Repertory Company produces shows in its downtown theater. We hope to catch a show before we depart. A visit to the Edison- Ford Estate is in the works as well.

This afternoon, we purchased fresh off the boat shrimp from the fishing boat located on the next dock. The captain had quite a nice inventory of fresh fish from which to choose.

 

We managed to get more of the road grime off the boat. We have 1/2 of the starboard side left to go. It got too hot to finish this afternoon!

Flock Reunion!

Friday, January 16, 2015     Flock Reunion!

We left M/V Sunshine and the Ft. Meyers Yacht Basin yesterday for a brief trip to visit our friends in Bradenton. Pat and Ray offered to put us up for a few nights so we could participate in a reunion of cruisers we traveled to ICW with in 2008/2009. 

In the morning, Ray invited me to join him and some of his neighbors in a game of pickle ball. It was great fun. After an hour or so, we returned home to find the Flock. We went to the Beach House for a nice reunion lunch while overlooking to Gulf. Although on the cool side (the temp was around 65), the sun and a propane heater provided warmth. The food was delicious and we enjoyed sharing stories of recent adventures.

The Flock! 

After a visit to the Cortez Museum and a tour through the quaint fishing village, we returned to Pat/Ray's home where the crew of Tally Ho and Kalista bid farewell, until the next time.

In the evening, we attended a documentary on the life of Jane Goodall. It was most inspiring. 

Tomorrow, we will return to M/V Sunshine where we will finish preparations for the Keys Cruise. We have an appointment to get new tires for the trailer and we will visit S/V SUNSHINE to assess her condition and plan her next adventure.

Street Party!

Friday, January 9, 2015      Street Party!

So, how is living aboard different than living at home? I doubt I can articulate all of the differences, by I can try to mention the highlights.

One big difference Is that our daily routine involves at least one long walk. Many times we'll take two or three long walks. Today, for example, we took two walks, one of six miles and another just short of two miles. When we're home, we only take a long walk once a week. It might be too hot, it might be too cold, or the desire to get chores done trumps walking. When the grandchildren are with us, we don't walk. None of them like it, so we don't go.

On the boat, we watch one DVD movie or concert per night. At home we watch a few sporting events and light night TV. On the boat we listen to the radio frequently. We almost never do that at home unless we are in the car.

On the boat, Anna Marie usually prepares our meals in a pressure cooker. More often than not, she enjoys one pot cooking. Tonight's dinner was pork chops and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and fresh German dark rye bread. This meal is one of our favorites and we have it a couple of times a month when we are on the boat. We almost never have it when we're home!

When conditions are right, I will grill our dinner. I do veggies, chicken, fish and pork. I can't grill if it's too windy or rainy. The wind is the biggest factor in determine whether I can grill or not.

We cleaned the interior of the boat today and stowed all of the gear and provisions. It seems to me that we clean more when we're on the boat as compared to when we're at home. The space on the boat is considerably smaller and the routine chores usually get finished quicker. I straightened up some of the defunct wires in the electrical panel. A previous owner removed a lot of electrical gear and gadgets. The wires were disconnected but not removed. Many just dangle loosely. I secured most of them as best I could today. 

Fort Meyers had a "Cowboy" themed street party to night. They closed about four blocks to traffic and ha three stages and several watering holes set up. The restaurants were busy most of the night. Several bands performed, country line dancing lessons were offered, young ladies performing arial acrobatics on silk scarves, and I'm sure there were other acts that we didn't see. Having events like this at a cruising destination make that location special. It was a fun evening.

When we're home, we always put these kind of events on the calendar but when the time comes, we usually don't go. We're just too comfortable doing what we're doing or perhaps just too lazy.