Had a calm night until daybreak when all the fishing boats left St. James City, their wakes bouncing us around. The wind was also up a bit, with a front moving down from the north later today. We motored the ten miles to Ft. Myers Beach and picked up a mooring for the night. Since a front is approaching, the winds are increasing in velocity from the south and then suppose to veer to the west and north, but not until later in the day. Besides, rain squalls are also predicted. We decided it would be best to lay over a day, then catch the northerly winds predicted for the next 3 days to move south to Marathon. Mike and Cindy called and said they would drive down and meet us. We had forgotten to get our dinghy glue from Skip and Charlie decided he did want the jig saw he left at home. They offered to bring them down and we'd have a late lunch. While they were here, they took us to the Post Office so we could mail a package and to West Marine to buy a light fixture for the salon and a few extra bulbs for other lights needing attention. We had snacks at the Beached Whale and watched the front approach. Mike and Cindy dropped us off at the dinghy just as the drizzle started. We made it back to the boat without getting too wet. Charlie spent the afternoon putting in the new light and new bulbs in the old fixtures. We put a new O-ring in the forward head to stop a leak. Burritos for dinner. Charlie won the Scrabble game. Marco Island bound tomorrow.

The shrimp boat fleet all seemed to be in port, because the eastern docks were double parked with shrimp boats. The tide was so low this morning when we arrived that the shoals in the middle of the harbor were dry and filled with wading birds. Ft. Myers Beach is an interesting stop. The inland bay filled with working boats at dock, cruising and liveaboard boats on moorings, houses lining the shore on the island side and warehouses on the mainland side. Then if you go ashore on the island, which is only a half mile wide, you find oodles of tourist shops, restaurants, high rise hotels, quaint little cottages, and then the long, beautiful beach. We always enjoy our stops here. Plus, it is a well protected harbor.