Cayo Costa near Boca Grande

Cayo Costa—we decided to clean out the refrigerator and prepare the boat to be put away for the summer by anchoring out at one of the most secluded, beautiful beaches in southwest Florida.  Our vacation from vacation.  We had the most company at our anchorage there since Canada—about 30 boats mostly sailboats—and it is not even a weekend.  Then we found a little inlet where the manatees hang out.  Oh my—you see these overhead shots on the net of pods of manatees and in Cayo Costa we found one.  Of course we did not have our camera with us but we had the experience- up close and personal with the cows of the sea.  Then we motored the 35 miles back to Ft. Myers Beach/Salty Sam’s where on April 12^th we put Sunny Days on the hard at Olsen’s Boatyard where she will get a bottom job.  We go to Nashville until May 9^th-see you in a month!

Beautiful Beach with white sand, lots of shells and terns



Crowded anchorage



Real Florida!?

New friends--Melissa and George Irving from Fort Worth aboard a
beautiful Carver named Paradise Falls they just retired and are ready to cruise

Salty Sam's Marina was a good stay.

 

Grandkids and their Momma come to visit

Katie and the kids drove down from Nashville for the week without any drama stopping near Atlanta to see Cousin Brooke.  The Pink Shell Resort at Ft. Myers Beach turned out to be the perfect choice for spring break for a 5 year old and 3 year old.  They had a pool, beach, movies, tattoos and lots of children.  Leeton and Holden have grown up while we weren’t watching.  Leeton proved to be quite the social butterfly and Holden thinks anything Leeton approves of is fine with him.  We had an ice cream disaster and a couple of meltdowns but all in all it was a most excellent week with Katie and the kids. Their drive home, however, seemed like Florida was evacuating –long and harsh.   Additionally, the Lady Vols made it to the Elite 8 and saved Holly Warlick’s job— and Villanova beat Scott's team --UNC for the NCAA final--sports are on hiatus until football starts in August.  We also caught up with Looper friends--Pam and Jim Shipp aboard Silver Boots.  We had not seen them since Whitaker Point Marina in Oriental, NC two years ago--it was great to see them.

Great Beach-Great Kids

Dancing on the Pirate Ship--Pieces of Eight

Easter Egg Hunt

Salty Sam's

Out to lunch at the Matanzas Inn

Tatoos!

Leeton made a friend--Tess on the boat next door