Underway at last! The boat, weather, and body all ready to go. It didn't last long though. Just as I got on board to cast off, I kicked a lifeline and it broke. With hundreds of bits and pieces, I couldn't fix it and it was off to Boat US to make up a new lifeline.

Finally underway at 12:15 with clear skies, 65 degrees and very light winds. Motored done to the Sanibel Island area and found that my first planned stop wasn't going to work out. The Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve is not open on Friday. Beautiful, but chilly sunset over Captiva, we anchored off Chino Island across from Sanibel for the night after dark. .

Feb 9th off anchor at 8:15, under the Sanibel Bridge at 10:30 and into the Gulf of Mexico. Again light winds, so sails and motor until 2 pm when the winds picked up enough to rely on sails alone. Arrived at Gordon Pass at 4 pm and anchored at the upper end of Naples Bay, just down from Tin City.

The 10th will be a Naples day. Meeting a friend, Terry Griffiths, for lunch and fun around town. First casualty of the trip was my old Map 410 GPS, which decided to hang up when I shut it down and will not start or stop. My two newer GPSs are fine so I won't replace it unless I can find a newer used one.

The 11th was to be dedicated to taking Terry sailing in partial repayment of two great Italian meals in Naples. Beautiful place. Too much money! However, he couldn't make it so left Naples at 12:15 for Marco Island. Motored the whole way due to very light winds. The Gulf was smooth with clear skies and a high overcast.

Arrived at Marco Island Marina at 4 pm. I feel like Ugly Betty amongst the models. Thank goodness there is a pontoon boat docked next to me. Of course in a year he will pay in dock fees almost as much as I paid for my boat.

Tomorrow on to Goodland and maybe Everglades City. Tues and Weds may have higher winds from the SW and could make it too rough to get there. May be stuck there until Thursday.