LOOP Report 02/7/2005

Naples, Florida
Monday, Feb. 7, 2005

Arrived in this special destination, just a little over the top when walking down 5th Ave.
How did we get here?

Let’s once again back up to leaving Tierra Verde.

Marnie and David joined us byflying in from Vancouver, B.C. via 25 degrees below Ottawa. Shiloh, their English bird dog went into doggy heaven upon arriving in the 70’s +.

We’ve got to go shelling on Shell Island and have done every beach since. We beat our way across some good waves in the Tampa Bay for a couple of hours to get to the other side. Much better doing that in daylight.

Anchored near Longboat Key Pass and watched a couple of large boats go aground on a sand shoal in the channel near low tide. We went out on the high tide and were ok but later found some soft sandy ground not supposed to be there. Seems we were so excited about watching the dolphins jumping along side that we went off the very narrow channel.

Found a public 18 hour dock after being on anchor one night in the Venice area. We went to the Venice Beach hunting for sharks teeth on their beach ( picked up six between us after 3 hours ).

Next it was anchoring in Boca Grande and more beach and this is a place to hang out, we all agree that this is the place to just enjoy. Rented a Golf Cart for the day and cruised at a lightening speed of 10 MPH. Again a spectacular beach and shells and estates for the very rich and famous. Got a great bargain on Tarpon fish fighting shoes for the slippery decks. I suppose we should now try to catch a fish.

We went on to Port Sanibel Island Marina. No doubt the largest and classiest hanger for dry stowing boats. We stayed for a night and then on to anchor at Sanibel Island next to the Causeway.

This was good for taking dog for a walk ashore and pat and I dinghyed around canals to see how people manage to stay after the hurricaines. They got hit badly on the coast and many damaged trees. This place is still paradise and none of us would leave either for a little 230 MPH winds. Well, maybe for month maybe we’d leave. That night on anchor the winds picked up at 3:00 am. About 6:00 am. we pulled up anchor before the wind and waves did it for us. Took off for Fort Myers Beach and got a slip there so we could rent a car and see the surrounding Sanibel Island beaches without worring about the anchor holding.

Did some shopping also before our trip to Naples. An old aquaintance and friend of Sandy Peat, John Kingston came to say hello at the dock with a bottle of rum. He has been living here since 1985 and loves it here. He was driving a 53 Chevy Business Coupe attached to a 85 Blazer truck chassis. This was some beast to drive around town. Next day car rental goes back and we shop around the neat shops and beaches of Fort Myers Beach. Hey! The weather shaped up to now go off shore into the gulf and a 4 hour trip down the south shore to Naples, seas around 2 foot and a NE offshore wind of 10-15 MPH.

Florida is one long beach all the way. Being close to shore, around 3 miles we had to pick our away around crab pots again. The water colour is finally getting clearer and blue-green. Approaching Gordon Pass into Naples harbour the beach houses knock your socks off and I mean big with landscaping like manicured jungle. We picked a marina that also is very well put together. Can you believe, a Club Room with a 60” plasma screen to watch the Super Bowl,

Couple of blocks away is the famous Naples 5th Ave. As the guide books say it’s got a lot of Gew-Gaw stores. David and Susan dropped by in their truck and we had a great lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack. This evening a swim in the pool and a light dinner of nachos. Tomorrow it’s on to Marko Island and another anchorage.

Loopers and special loopies…Ted, Pat, Marnie, David and Shiloh