Delilah's Meanderings

The last blog left off with us alone on Delilah anchored at Bimini Basin, Cape Coral. The next day we walked to Anne's for a big breakfast. While we were out we stopped at West Marine to buy the captain some new sandals and Winn Dixie for some provisions (boat speak for food). Since we were so efficient we decided to pull up anchor and motor south back to Fort Myers Beach. We hit some pretty heavy fog on the way in Matanzas Pass, but successfully picked up our old mooring ball #55.

We stayed two days at FMB and spent some quality time with our good friends Jerel and Tammy (fellow Hoosier cruisers aboard Osprey). Kim and Tammy met Randy Wayne White at a book signing at his restaurant Doc Fords. We took the dinghies up to the Bowditch point and spent half a day on the beach. We raced back to the boat (as fast as our 2.5 HP outboard can go) to barely beat a fast moving thunderstorm. It was quite a storm, a lot of wind, rain, and even some hail. Delilah handled it well, not a leak.

Wednesday morning we decided to head north up the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway, AKA "The Ditch") to Tween Waters Marina on Captiva Island. We motor sailed more than half way and got there in four hours. The Admiral was at the helm through the miserable mile while I was on a work conference call. I am one lucky sailor to have a partner like Kim! We docked on a T-dock in front of a trawler. It just so happens we know the couple on the Trawler from the boat yard. Captiva Island is the narrow barrier island north of Sanibel.

Kim loves, loves, loves staying at Tween Waters Marina on Captiva. Which is perfect because today is her birthday! She says it is like being on vacation because the Tween Waters Inn and Marina is a resort with all the amenities, including a hot tub.

Nothing says happy birthday to woman like eating out all three meals. Which we did in style. We also rode the bikes to the northern end of the island to check out South Seas Plantation ... very nice. We rented beach chairs and an umbrella and relaxed on the beach. The weather was perfect, not too hot or humid, and a nice breeze. We even got in the water and snorkeled a little. The water is beautiful off Captiva.

The plan (in pencil) is to stay one more day at Tween Waters to do 4 loads of laundry, go the grocery store, fill the water tanks, and change the fuel filter. Then on Saturday morning continue north up the ICW to Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa.

Fair winds,
Captain Mark