Thunderstorm off of Boca Grande

August 15, 2020

      We were anchored off of Boca Grande in the GICW when some summer thundershowers rolled through.  We are very comfortable with our ground tackle.

 Tunnel of Love 

Cayo Costa State Park

Florida

      If you anchor in Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa State Park in Florida there is a great side trip you can enjoy.   The "Tunnel of Love" is at the south end of Cayo Costa.  It is a path through the mangroves that leads to an open bay of water just steps from the ocean side of the island.   It is not easy to get to so the beach is very isolated.   It is important that you go at high or near high tide because it is shallow.  We needed to tilt up our dinghy motor through most of the waterway.  It is also too narrow to row.  If you can't use your dinghy motor you would need to use your oars to paddle like a canoe.  Even getting to the entrance takes some careful navigation.  There were places where we needed to be very careful in the dinghy and go around some shallow areas.

 Punta Gorda Boat Club cruise to Tween Waters 

Captiva Island, Florida   February 7-9, 2020

     The Punta Gorda Boat Club cruised to Tween Waters resort on Captiva Island for a relaxing weekend,  https://tween-waters.com/

     Tween Waters is a great resort with two pools, two hot tubs, restaurants, and bars on site.  It is within easy walking distance to downtown Captive and several shops and restaurants.  They have a private beach across the road to watch sunsets.  

     The crew dined on Saturday night at the Green Flash.  https://www.greenflashcaptiva.com/

     The boat with the two gentlemen on their bow watching us dock is the OLOH   

https://myoloh.com/?  fbclid=IwAR1HkTKFX85kxwo6BIcezWoiGWQ6RevfVlAT2aHfMivVh2zU8OuIsgG6aHQ

     They have their own interesting website and blog.  I was impressed with their calm demeanor while I was docking our cheap boat so close to their very expensive boat. 

     

 Cayo Costa State Park

July 27-78, 2019

     One of our go to places for anchor is Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa State Park.  During the high season there can be 50-60+ boats on anchor in the bay.  However, in the summer there are times when we are alone or almost alone, just 2 or 3 other boats in the anchorage.  Air conditioning is almost a must this time of year.  It is a peaceful anchorage and feels more remote than it really is.

4-11-2019 Ft. Myers Beach

2-22-19 Matlacha Florida

2-8-19 Tween Waters, Captive Island Florida

09-14-2018 Fort Myers Beach

7-4-2018 Punta Gorda fireworks celebration

Captiva Anchorage

We took another ride out to Captiva for the weekend.  It is a very peaceful, uncrowded anchorage.

We anchor just south of the Green Flash restaurant.

Roughly near where the southern most boat is.

I am 6'2".  Plenty of depth to anchor a Mainship 34.  Maybe this is why we usually don't have too many neighbors.

We took the dinghy ashore and had dinner at the Key Lime Bistro  https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurant/keylime-bistro/   It was just OK.  Food was good but the service was not great.  There is almost no AC inside, ,just a few fans to move hot air around. 

5-10-2018 Cabbage Key

     We took a day cruise to Cabbage Key  https://cabbagekey.com/  for lunch on Thursday, May 10th.   It is about a 2.5 hour cruise from our slip at Burnt Store Marina.  The ride was a little warm with a tail wind and not much breeze to keep us cool.  The skies were a bit overcast but no rain was in the forecast.

       We anchored off of the GICW across from the channel to Cabbage Key.  We anchored in about 10ft. of water with plenty of room.  We dropped the dinghy and headed in to Cabbage Key for lunch.

     We beached the dinghy next to the docks, which appear to be for larger boats, and walked through the weeds to the beach.

     It was a weekday in the off season so the crowds were not too bad.  Ferries come in from Port Charlotte and Captiva dropping off people for the restaurant.  It was a nice day so we decided to sit outside on the patio overlooking the water.

     Lunch was very good, I had blackened grouper over rice and beans and Elaine had the Stone Crab lunch.  There were only five days left in the stone crab season.  The drinks were small and the beer list was very thin.  Service was excellent, very attentive and friendly.

     After lunch we walked around a little and saw the tortoises moving about the property.

     The ride back home was a little more comfortable.  The boat rocks less going into the wind so the ride was smooth.  As we were approaching our entrance channel we realized this was our first cruise where we had not seen dolphins.  As we were saying this we looked up the channel and saw two dolphins swimming towards us.  They turned around and followed us into the marina and hung out by the fuel dock for a while.  Better late than never.

3-24-2018 Captiva Island

     We cruised out to Captiva Island for the weekend.  The weather was sunny, warm, and dry.  The seas were fairly calm and the wind was light.

     We anchored between Buck Key and Captiva just past the Green Flash restaurant.  We had about six feet of water just off the channel.  The way in was tight but we saw plenty of water.  While coming in the channel we saw a dolphin jump straight up out of the water.  It was the first time we had seen a dolphin do this. 

     The anchorage was not very crowded, about three or four other boats and there was plenty of room. 

     We went ashore for an early dinner at the Green Flash.  https://www.greenflashcaptiva.com/  They let you tie up your dinghy if you are going to the restaurant.  The food was very good and the service was great.  We had a table overlooking the water and our boat.

     After dinner we walked over to the beach side.  The beach is beautiful and would be a great place to watch the sunset.  We then walked up the road a little to The Island Store for an ice cream.  http://www.captivaislandstore.com/   

     The anchorage was perfectly calm overnight and we slept wonderfully.  The next morning the wind had shifted and we encountered a lot of smoke from some wildfires near Naples.

     The ride back to Burnt Store Marina was calm and relaxing.

2-10-2018 Cayo Costa state park, Florida

Wickford and the Quahog Festival

August 27, 2017

Start time and hours                                 1010                         3289.67
End time and hours                                  1645                         3293.43

     Elaine and I cruised down to Wickford for the afternoon.  It is less than a two hour cruise each way.  We had not been there in a few years.  Wickford is a small bay front village in North Kingstown RI.  There are a few shops and restaurants in town and lots of 17th and 18th century architecture.

     Very light winds and mostly flat seas on our trip.

   

On the way to Wickford.

   
     We tied up at the Wickford Marina  http://www.wickfordmarina.com/  They have a $20 for four hours if there is dock space, and a great dock hand for help getting in.   It is a 15 minute walk into town.

Wickford Marina

Our slip at Wickford Marina

Tied up safely

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Our cockpit view

On our walk into town we discovered that it was the New England Quahog festival and Sea Creature Parade.  

     We had lunch at Shayna's Place on the parade route.  http://www.shaynasplaceri.com/    The food was excellent and we had a window seat for the parade.

     After lunch we walked down to the town beach for the festival and its activities, food trucks, beer garden, and races.

Stand up paddle board races

     After this exhausting Quahog day we walked back through town to the marina and cruised back home in calm seas.

Inside Wickford harbor looking out

Wickford harbor from the town dock

The Beach Rose Cafe

Heading out of the harbor

Smith's cove Shelter Island NY by way of Mystic CT.

August 9, 2017     Greenwich bay to Mystic CT.

Start time and hours                                   0700               3265.80

End time and hours                                    1440               3273.17

August 10, 2017   Mystic Ct. to Shelter Island NY

Start time and hours                                   0912                3273.17

End time and hours                                    1330                3277.54

August 12,2017     Shelter Island NY to Greenwich bay

Start time and hours                                    0622               3278.75

End time and hours                                     1705               3289.67

     On August 9, 2017 we had a great weather window and decided to take a little cruise to Shelter Island NY.  We have some friends who invited us to visit them in Smith's cove next to the south ferry.

     We would be towing our new dinghy for the first time.  I was surprised at how it slowed us down, probably between .5-1 knott.   It is almost 70 nautical miles from our marina to Smith's cove so on the way over we decided to stop in Mystic Ct. overnight.

     The weather, seas, and wind were very calm for the ride to Mystic.  We got into our slip at Brewer Mystic   https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-yacht-yard-at-mystic-mystic-ct/  with help from the experienced dock hand with no problems.  After lounging around the pool for the afternoon and then dinner on the boat we went into town for some ice cream.  http://www.mysticdrawbridgeicecream.com/   It is about a 30 minute walk into town from the marina.

     The next morning we headed down the channel and out to Shelter Island.  Again, the weather, seas, and winds were calm.  That is until we hit the rips at the west end of Fisher island.  Lots of converging tides and currents made for a rolly ride for about 30 minutes.  The rips make for great fishing but tough cruising.  

     Once past the rips we were safely into Gardiner's bay and more calm water.  We continued on toward Shelter Island and Smith's cove.  

     Smith's cove is a great anchorage near the south ferry.  Sag Harbor is to the south. The land to the east is conservation area with walking trails and lots of birds.  There is a small private beach in the northwest corner and some private docks in a cove that we could land out dinghy on.  

     We spent two nights on anchor in Smith's cove.  It can be busy during the day as small boats come in to anchor and people go to the conservation land.  Other boats pull waterskiers and tubes throughout the day.  However, this all calmed down late afternoon and the evenings were quiet.  The water was warm and swimming off of the boat was great.

     We visited with our friends on the beach and at their home.  Shelter Island is very quiet and it seems that everyone knows everyone on the island.  

     The forecast for sunday was not great so we decided to make the trip back to Greenwich bay in one day on Saturday.  Between towing the dinghy and some unfavorable tides it took about 11 hours. The weather, seas, and winds were very good and it was a peaceful ride.

Leaving Greenwich bay on wednesday morning. 

Towing the new dinghy for the first time.  It does slow us down a little.

Calm waters in Narragansett bay near Quonset.

Narragansett bay approaching the Jamestown bridge.  The waters should always be this calm.

Dinner in Mystic Ct. at the Brewer's Yacht Yard.

Our view at the Brewer's in Mystic.

The next day, thursday,  we headed out into Fisher Island sound on our way to Shelter Island.  Still very calm waters, we haven't gotten to the rips yet.  Unfortunately it was a little too rolly to take pictures going through the rips and avoiding all the fishing boats.

Rip currents west of Fisher Island

Gardiner's bay going toward Shelter Island.

Lighthouse at Little Gull.  

A gold hulled boat.  I think it was a Pershing.

Smith's Cove Shelter Island NY

Anchored in Smith's cove Shelter Island.  This will be our first night on anchor.  It will also be the tryout for the new Rocna #44.

Smith's cove looking west toward the beach.

Smith's cove looking east.   Most of the time is was very calm.

Only two boats in the anchorage overnight.  This was the other one.

Saturday morning headed east out of Sag Harbour toward Gardiner's bay.

Tipsy Seagull, Borden Light Marina, Fall River MA

July 30, 2017

     We took a trip to the Tipsy Seagull over in Fall River with some friends on their boat.  They have a go fast boat and we made the two and a half hour trip in about 45 minutes.  The seagull is a nice bar and restaurant at the Borden Light Marina.  http://bordenlightmarina.com/     http://www.thetipsyseagull.com/      

     There are a couple of face docks that you can tie up to while at the Seagull.  They do fill up fast on weekends but we were lucky to find a space for our friend's 26ft. boat.   It is a fun atmosphere when the weather is good.  The food is good and the drinks very good.  A very nice way to spend an afternoon.

Newport Memorial Day 2017

May 27-29, 2017

Start time and hours                           8:44                 3248.55

End time and hours                             10:54               3250.81

Start time and hours                           9:15                 3250.81

End time and hours                             11:20               3252.94

     We opened the 2017 season with a cruise to Newport RI http://cityofnewport.com/ for the Memorial Day weekend.  We cruised with Barry and Suzanne Shapiro on Spray and Manny & Joanne on Movin Up.  The cruise to Newport was good weather and good seas.  We had a tail wind and following tide.  The ride back was in a light drizzle but the seas were calm and the wind and tide was at our backs.

The ride down to Newport RI

     In Newport, we stayed again at the Newport Marina http://newportmarina.com/ on Lee’s Wharf.  This is a great marina within easy walking distance of downtown.  It has a heated pool, very clean showers, laundry, grills, and picnic area.  Steve is the manager and runs a great pla 

My view from the cockpit

I am at the end, Spray is in front of me, and Movin Up is in front of Spray

Tied safely in Newport Marina

Beautiful sunset over Newport harbor and Newport Bridge

     On Saturday, we walked around downtown Newport and visited all of the usual shops.  It was the holiday weekend and the town was crowded.  The weather was sunny and in the 70s.   On Saturday night, we all ate at O’Brien’s Pub https://www.theobrienspub.com/ on Thames St.  Very good food and OK beer menu.  It was still warm and we sat on the patio where Lucy could sit with us.

     On Sunday, we walked over to King Park   http://www.cityofnewport.com/visitors/king-park

along the harbor.  It is a beautiful place with a great view of Newport and the harbor.  On the walk back we came across the Coronet restoration project http://iyrs.edu/our-boats/coronet/ .

I have been to Newport many times and never knew that this was here.  It is right next to the Newport Marina.  There is a catwalk in the shed that you can walk around and see the restoration as well as artifacts that were removed during the work.

View of Newport from King Park

The Coronet in action

     On Sunday, we grilled at the marina and enjoyed dinner on the boat.  There is a grocery store and wine store about ½ mile from the marina that has all we needed.