March 9, 2013, Snook Bight Marina, Fort Myers Beach, FL

Saturday; we have had a few cooler days and yesterday it started to warm up again.  It is supposed to be in the high 70's to low 80's for the next 5 or 6 days.  We have been trying to walk on the beach every day for about 3 to 4 miles each day.  I love listening to the waves hit the shore line.  Now with the warmers weather we are seeing more and more people out also.

Today was the first day of "Shrimp Festival" in Fort Myers Beach.  They had a big parade and all kinds of stands set up just off from "Time Square".  We took the dinghy down and tied off at the dinghy dock just under the bridge and walked the few blocks to the square.  After about 4 hours the CO had enough of the crowd so we left and went back to the boat.

CO's comments:  I would have to give Snook Bight Marina at least 5 Stars.  New floating docks and inside storage for boats as large as 40'.  When they take your boat out of the water for storage it is washed and engines are rinsed with fresh water.  The only thing to be careful of is the tides are fairly strong.  The best time to dock at the marina would be during slack tide.  They also have boat rentals and I get my kicks at watching the non-boater try to drive a boat.  One of the dock hands said "belive it or not, some people even ask where the breaks are".

View from our stern; a beautiful, peaceful anchorage just across the channel.

Lots of shrimp boats along the channel.

This is the first marina that had a dock that we could use our "super duper" ladder that came with the boat.  Sure is nice being able to walk down normally and have a railing.

A morning walk on the beach.  Old Men Rule!

 Kim Jo IV at our slip at Snook Bight Marina, Fort Myers Beach, FL

March 1, 2013, Snook Bight Marina, Fort Myers Beach, FL

It has been almost a month since our last posting.  We spent the month at City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin Marina.  We love the marina and the downtown area where there is always something going on.  We left downtown on February 25 and went up the Caloosahatchee River to our friends, Nick and Aline, and spend a few days at their dock.  We left late Thursday morning and came down to the beach where we will spend a month.  It started out to be a gloomy day but ended up with sunshine and a beautiful day but we did have some wind to contend with.

CO's comments:  Motoring in the canal system in Florida is kinda neat.  You would not think large vessels could maneuver in these canals but we do.

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From our slip at City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin, beautiful view of the city at night, 2-7-2013

Another beautiful sunset in downtown Fort Myers, 2-9-2013

View from our slip in daylight, 2-16-2013

3 Large yachts docked at the City Marina ranging in size from 76' to about 110'.  They sponsored a fund raising dinner for charity at $1,000 a plate; we were not invited.  We ate on our boat and had
bratwurst!

Going up the canal to Nick and Aline's which is just off the Caloosahatchee River, Mile 125





 

Front tie up, almost in the neighbors yard.  I think we were the largest vessel on the canal.

At Nick and Aline's, good friends and good company.

February 28, 2013

If anyone is interested in watching these eagles that have their nest in North Fort Myers just go to the sight below.

Ozzie and Harriet had 2 eaglets this year.  Honor born January 1 and Hope born January 3.  They are both getting pretty big.  I have been watching them at least 3 times a day and really enjoy it.

http://dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html

History of chicks at this nest….2011/12-1 chick, 2010/11- 1 chick, 2009/10-1 chick, 2008/09-2 chicks

The eagles have had their names ever since they moved onto the property in 2006/07. Ozzie and Harriet

The nest resides 60 feet above the ground, in a Slash Pine tree. The camera faces South East.

Nesting season begins here in South FL Oct. 1. The eagles stay until late April or May.

These bald eagles have been coming to this nest for the past 6 years. They reside in this nest between the months of October and April. Before building this nest in 2006/07, the pair had a nest on the opposite side of Bayshore Road. This location is now known as Eagle Landing. These mature, mating pair continue to make Southwest Florida their winter home.

January 26 and 27, 2013; Fort Myers, FL

Saturday and Sunday:  It was a beautiful weekend and a very enjoyable time with Nick and Aline.  We left this afternoon and just went back up the Water Way about 10 miles to the City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin Marina.   We will be here for a month before moving on.

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CO's comments:  It sure would be neat to have a house on a canal like Nick and Aline's.  You could have your boat right outside with easy access to the Gulf.

Manatee's at Manatee Park in North Fort Myers, there were about 100 in the area with several young ones.

Nick and Keith at Manatee Park

Nick and Aline

It was too shallow to tie up next the the wall so we tied up to the pontoon boat and Nick put a board walk out for us to walk across; he said he had his camera ready just in case I fell in!