Bridges and a Parade
05 March 2011 | Fort Myers, FL
Anne
The Sanibel Marina delivered complimentary blueberry muffins in the morning, still warm from the oven. What a treat!
After enjoying our muffins and a newspaper with comics, we set out to determine if Colin and Leslie measured our mast correctly. We have always considered our mast to have a 56 foot bridge clearance, although with careful timing of tide state, we have cleared more than one 55 foot bridge. However, getting to Fort Myers and through the Okeechobee waterway requires passing under many 55 foot bridges (and one 49 footer, but more on that another day). So Colin decided to take an actual measurement. Using a halyard and tape measure, a boat hook and a level, he and Leslie determined that the actual height of our mast is only 52 feet. So, three bridges later, we are now certain that we can clear 55 foot bridges with room to spare.
As we were heading up the Caloosahatchee River we encountered a veritable parade of boats heading out to the gulf. Almost all were power boats, most were fishers from small Boston Whalers to larger sport fishing boats, some were those incredibly loud cigarette racing boats. We got a few big wakes and lots of friendly waves (from the people).
The photo is not Fort Myers, but a sand fort Evelyn and Leslie built on Sanibel Island beach. They found that the sand near the water, with its chips of shells, was similar to the coquina used to build the Castillo in St. Augustine, so they patterned it after that, complete with stairs and a cobbled courtyard.
Now we are at the Fort Myers Yacht Basin, where we will stay for at least ten days while Colin takes another business trip.