MIDORI ADVENTURES

On Wednesday, March 22nd, we arrived in Fort Myers Beach. With the right weather conditions, we are only a day away from the boat yard. However, the wind for the next couple of days will be too strong, out of the wrong direction and there is a thunderstorm predicted for tomorrow.

On Thursday morning we dinghied over to Salty Sam’s Fuel Dock to top up our two five gallon jugs. Then we wrestled with the mooring ball and tightened up our lines. The mooring pendants are new and way too long and when the tide shifts, the ball goes underneath between our two hulls. On a mono hull the ball would run along the outside of the hull. Either way, the ball scrapes along and causes damage. With our chores out of the way, we set off for the dinghy dock. We register for the mooring ball at the Matanzas Inn office and then we start our walk-about. As usual it is spring break in Fort Myers Beach! We enjoy a Greek salad at the PLAKA restaurant in Times Square and do some people watching. Then we do a long beach walk. Upon our return, we take advantage of the showers at the Matanzas Inn and then walk over to the Beached Whale to indulge in our favourite mussels! The thunderstorm decides to pass through just as we are departing the restaurant. Thankfully, It doesn’t last very long and we are able to return by dinghy to MIDORI without getting soaked. On our way, we say hello to Mike and Philomena on GODSPEED.

On Friday, we wait on the boat for a pump-out which we booked at the office yesterday. We get some more chores done and check the weather…….looks like a good window for Saturday. Mike and Tammy on TAUREAU are headed back from Marco Island and want to get together for Happy Hour. So, Salty Sam’s it is from 5:00 - 7:00!

On Saturday, March 25th, we get away at 7:14 a.m. The tide is against us crossing San Carlos Bay until we pass under the Punta Rassa Bridge and enter the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and then we get a push. There is a fair bit of boat traffic. Of course there is, it’s Saturday! The remainder of the trip is quite uneventful, cruising behind the islands of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, Cayo Costa and across Charlotte Harbour and into the Myaaka River.

We reach the fairway leading from the bay to the lock at around 3:00 p.m., but there is a boat in front of us and it appears to be his first time. We try to radio him, but he doesn’t respond. Finally, we are able to gesture to him to turn his radio on and we help guide him through the process. There seems to be issues with the gates stalling and having to be restarted. When he finally gets through, two boats get into the lock from the canal side. Again, they have issues with the gates. Finally, it is our turn and we too have issues using the remote control . We get through at around 4:00 p.m. We’ve spent an hour dickering around at the lock. We’ve never seen so much boat traffic coming and going on the canal.
Wait, oh yes, it’s Saturday!

We arrive at the face dock of CHBS at 5:30 p.m. - just in time for Happy Hour!

We have travelled 57.2 nautical miles today in 10 hrs. and 23 minutes, with a maximum speed of 6.8 and an average speed of 5.5 knots. (have not adjusted these figures to account for the delay at the lock)

Tomorrow we will wash the salt off of MIDORI and take down and put away the jibsail and the mainsail. We won’t get hauled out until Monday and then the work begins of putting MIDORI away for the season!

End of Season Nine,

First Mate Lynn and,
Captain Brian