Our mini loop  consisted of leaving  Fort Myers Beach on January 16th and returning on February 8th, having gone across Lake Okeechobee to Miami, Key West, Marathon and up the Western shore of Florida .

Feb 7-10

We ended up going for a walk in Naples to see the Tin shed shopping district and then the shops on 5^th Avenue.  We met Mic for drinks at the Chickee Bar (Tiki-hut) near his marina.  We later went to the Dockside restaurant for supper and to watch part of the Super Bowl game and ½ time show.

On Monday after we filled up with gas in Naples the Starboard engine would not start. Andy figured it was a battery issue, and he tried to boost it- but no luck- he then switched the battery with the spare we had for the generator.  Still wouldn’t start.  In the end we decided to go on to Fort Myers Beach, using the Port engine only, as a storm  was  predicted later in the day with   WEST WINDS AROUND 30 KNOTS. SEAS 12 TO 16 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS VERY ROUGH. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.  It turned out to be a rocky night- thankfully we were tied up to a dock at Salty Sam’s.  

 Here’s the centre marker in Naples harbour.

While enroute to Fort Myers, Andy contacted a mechanic who agreed to come to the boat on Tuesday morning to look at the battery issue as well as help us resolve a diesel leak that had recently started.   A new starter battery and a couple olive rings in the fuel injectors seemed to correct our problems.  In the afternoon we rented a car and did some reprovisioning.

On Wednesday it was Canada Day at the Bootlegger Bar near our Marina.

We drove to the Tanger Outlet mall to check out the stores on our way to Sanibel Island- only Andy made a purchase.  We met Dawn at Gramma Dot’s Restaurant for Lunch- we had heard that food was great here- so wanted to try it– Andy and Elaine’s Mom’s name was Dot- so another reason we had to go there.

This was my blue cheese burger- which was great- I didn’t eat the orchid but was told that they are edible.

We then drove over to the Sanibel Park and lighthouse

and walked along the beach and picked up shells.

We then returned to the Marina and went to the Canada Day celebrations at the bar.

There were quite a few people there- mainly from Ontario—I think  we were the only Manitoban- but we did see a couple other people wearing Jets jerseys.

We called Jack tonight, as it is his 7th birthday- he loved the pirate socks that we had sent him as a present.

Our plan for tomorrow is to once again start the trek across Florida on the Lake Okeechobee Waterway, as Elaine flies  out of Miami on Tuesday.