What's happening?

We were planning to leave Ft Meyers on Feb 12th but that didn't happen.  As you know we had a considerable amount of work done on the boat that wasn't finished until yesterday (the 12th).  Today our friends Dick and Cheryl joined us for a shake down cruise to determine that all systems were up to par before we continued with our adventure.  We cruised down the Caloosahatchee River about four miles and ducked into the Tarpon Point Marina and the Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill for lunch.  What a great day for boating in Florida.  The weather was sensational and we got to see a pair of Manatee along the way - interesting creatures to say the least!  We were able to give the boat a good workout and found that all systems were working well before returning to the Fort Myers Yacht Basin for happy hour.  We were joined on our boat by a very interesting couple from the north fork of Long Island who just arrived here in marina.  After Dick and Cheryl left we met yet another couple from Mississippi who were making their second trip around the loop.  The Great Loop association sure has a great deal of interesting people involved.

Tomorrow we will finish up with the little details that need attention before we depart Tuesday morning.  The problem we are having is which way to go from here.  We have been informed that Marathon and the FL Keys is overcrowded and that Lake Okeechobee is experiencing water level problems which calls for reduced schedules for the locks associated with the lake.  We are leaning towards heading for Okeechobee and turning south when we get to the east coast and go as far as Palm Beach before turning around and heading north.  We will miss the FL Keys experience but we will
have more time to spend along the east coast heading for CT.  We have had a good visit here in Ft Myers but it is time to move on.

Y'all stay vertical,

Capt John and First Mate Sue.