MIDORI ADVENTURES

Because March is a busy time with spring break spread out over several weeks, we decide to push on to Fort Myers Beach. We think that our chances of getting a mooring ball are better if we get there before the weekend begins. And we luck out - MIDORI and LIVING WELL get the last two mooring balls in the far end of the mooring field! However, we are quite a distance from the dinghy dock and there is quite a strong tidal current of up to 3 knots. The mooring field is located in the Mantanzas Pass.

When we get to the dinghy dock, the first couple we see are Cathy and Randy from the sailboat IN TRANSITION. We first met them in the Charlotte Harbor Boat Yard and again in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon. They give us some good information on the best places to eat. It is St. Patrick’s Day, so we take advantage of a buffet meal of corned beef and cabbage at our host marina, the Matanzas Inn. Afterwards, we do a “walkabout” and join in some of the revelry.

We have been here four days now and the weather has been fantastic! Sunny, 80+ degree days with nice breezes and cool nights. We keep bumping into cruisers from either Marathon or the Charlotte Harbor Boat Yard, including the entertaining Marty and Connie from BULLSHIP. (Married 50 years, and still sailing) We’ve done our laundry, taken the trolley to Publix and West Marine, enjoyed a perfect beach day amongst the young bikini clad, done some souvenir and T-shirt shopping and enoyed many meals out.

Tomorrow is “pump-out” day and then we will think about heading up to Cayo Costa State Park where we will anchor out for a few days before heading back across Charlotte Harbor to the boat yard. We don’t want to rush the end of the season ……

Captain Brian and First Mate Lynn