Going to Montreal

In a surprise, last minute arrangement I was able to book a trip on Holland America from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal. The best part is, they are allowing me to put my car on the ship. This all happened after I met the captain of the Volendam at a chicken wings bar in Immokalee FL.  He told me he takes over the ship on Monday and that they allow the captain to bring a small car if he wishes.  Since he does not need a car with him he said I could bring mine.

This means we only have to drive from Fort Myers to Fort Lauderdale and then Montreal to London and it will allow us a wonderful cruise of seven days stopping in New York, Connecticut, Halifax, and Quebec city. My last-minute price was only $450 each and we got a veranda.






Did I get you???  Ha ha; April Fools!

We made it to Douglas, Georgia around 4:30 pm, keeping away from I75 and went to Ruby Tuesdays for the salad bar.  (Sunny, windy 82 F) Douglas Georgia is a neat old town but nothing spectacular. We are here only to eat and sleep, so we'll leave as planned tomorrow morning. To bed at 9:30 and anticipating our sight-seeing diversion up through the mountains to Knoxville tomorrow. It looks like Spring is quite delayed this year. Although there is much greenery, we see no or very few blossoms. Stay tuned.

NOTE: It looks like my prudent efforts (on the admonition of my condo neighbours in Florida) to book ahead to avoid the rush was unneccessary
since our car and one other were the only ones in the place.

And I was worried we couldn't get a room.  

Lesson: Don't trust the hype!
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Loading Up.

It doesn't look like it will all fit.

But with my well rehearsed plan and Wendy's help we were able to get all the stuff into less than half the cargo space.
 

Enes and Erick helped lift the boat onto the roof and we were good to go.  I can't say enough good things about Fish Tale Marina.  The service was first class and even though I have a very small boat I was treated like I owned the place!
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Our Last Boatride to Hickory and Back. Sunny, 78F, Winds calm 4-8 kt. SSW

Click on the map to view a larger version

It was dead calm as we headed south around 11:00 AM.

At the far end of Lovers Key there is a special place called Dog Beach. As you might suspect this place is for dogs and their owners to run free. When the state took over the area for a park, (dogs are not allowed in state parks) the county requested and retained ownership of one place where dogs are allowed to roam without government interference. 

My friend David is looking at purchasing a pontoon boat and Wendy and I think he should buy a double-decker with a slide.

Beaches near the inlets are always busy but beautiful. They are also a favorite of fishermen who hope to catch something on the incoming or outgoing tide.  Today it was an incoming tide with high tide at 4:00 PM. The color of the water was spectacular.  My camera just can't do it justice.

We explored along the ocean side of the Hickory Island then entered the inlet where we navigated towards Bonito Springs.

 An ever watchful pelican.
 

A mother osprey tends to her chicks while papa watches on. 

Big Hickory is always a popular spot. We've seen it many times from the road.

Slow speed limits due to manatees will begin April 1 and last until November 14.  Right now the water is still too cold but when it gets to over 70 F they will return to populate the back bays and canals. Although good for the manatees, this speed limit will seriously limit the distance a boater can travel in a day. 
 

It would seem that the closer one gets to Naples the more expensive looking are the houses and properties. 

Weather, the way it should have been all month.  A pelican lands on the beach. This is the view past the pool, from our patio.  
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The "Around The Island" Odyssey

"Here's your yacht Captain Tim!"

Enes (pronounced "N-S") in his mighty forklift placed our little dinghy into the water. Today was one of the few that we have had in which the wind was blowing directly from the east. This made Estero Bay choppy and a little uncomfortably wet but this would be the perfect opportunity to take a run down the ocean side of the island in the lee. 

Oceanside, sandy beach, vacation rental.

Click to enlarge the "artsy" pics.

There was lots to see as we took our longest voyage.

We saw this white pelican last time we were by here last week. He must like it here because he tolerates the cormorants vying for his perch.

For the first time we thought we would actually see someone land a fish but it turned out to be a small ray. NO ONE we have seen or talked with has caught ANYTHING so I decided fishing was not for me on this trip.

All the "action" on the island centers around Times Square and the fishing pier.

Miles of gold chain, gallons of sun tan oil, and bikinis galore make up the beach throng.
  

 

The Lani Kai Hotel is the only place on the beach licensed to sell beer right on the sand due to a grandfathered old law. Huge speakers blast music towards the ocean and many small boats anchor off shore to enjoy the pleasures of the sun and water.

 
There is just no place like a boat to take in the sights and pleasures of a beach!.  CLICK HERE to see a Live Webcam of the Lani Kai Beach
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Beach Day, Sunny. High 73F. Winds NNE at 5

Today was definitely a beach day.

 A good day to hang around the beach and watch birds. The intense sun feels like 80F+.

Notice a very graceful looking bird and his fine white feathers. Behold the egret.

The beach with the 3 buildings of Leonardo Arms in the background. Notice, no clouds. UV Index - VERY HIGH. We are located in the center unit by the pool.

For every season, tern, tern, tern.

For dinner, we went to our marina and the Fish House Restaurant for Happy Hour. I had the wings and $1.25 beer. Wendy had a not-so-nice grilled hamburger.

By the time we left, after six, there was a substantial waiting line.
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Planning Our Return To Reality

We had originally planned that we might visit with our good friends Gary and Ann on Hutchinson Island on the other side of Florida and/or stop in and see my cousin Marg near Greenville SC, but Wendy is not feeling great and wants to press on directly home so that's what we'll do:

The Plan:
Down at the barbecues last night gabbing with the other Anglo Saxons there was speculation as to the availability of motel rooms and congestion on the highways returning home on April 1.  March 31 is Easter Sunday and April 1 is the traditional "return date" for countless thousands of Snowbirds  as their rental contracts expire.  Some feared this could be the "Perfect Storm" of congestion and were even planning on leaving earlier.  With this in mind I took the time to book two motel rooms, one in Douglas, Georgia April 1 and the other one in Knoxville, Tennessee on April 2 .

About 8 hours each day is comfortable for me. Mostly AWAY from I75.

We figured that rather than rushing to do the return trip in two days, that we would stretch the trip out to three days thereby allowing a little sightseeing on the back roads instead of sitting in traffic on I 75.  Taking the back roads would also allow us to miss the bad construction zones around Tampa and also Atlanta Georgia and its hellish traffic.  From Tennessee  to Michigan we will return to the I 75 "white knuckle race track" and cross the border at Port Huron Wednesday afternoon.
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A Zero Day. Cool 68F, Sunny, Winds Calm to Breezy.

Today is laundry day as I search for something to do (besides laundry) that is suitable for cooler weather. Check back to see what I found...

Just lazed around. Drove up to Times Square and back, Bought an ice cream cone at Simply Scrumptious. Drank "Caribbean Confusion", read, listened to music.

Big Royal Palm beside our balcony. Artsy Pic, Click on it to enlarge.

We have a little lizard friend who lives inside the handrail on our balcony. He changes colour to match the background. Click on the pic to see another cute little face that only a mother could love.

"Sunset On The Pier."

I took this picture a few minutes ago on the old fishing pier on the beach in front of our condo. Good night my friends. I wish you were here!
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Bon Voyage! Cool Mid 60's, Mostly Sunny, Windy North 15 to 25 kts,

Today we drove David and Reenie over to the Santini Mall where we had breakfast at Skye's Restaurant.  After we ate we strolled through the marketplace booths and tents set up on the parking lot as usual each Tuesday.

"Did you try the Pulled Pork?"

"Fish Naked, Show off your Rod." Must have some hidden meaning.

 Then we drove them back to the Airport to get a rental car so they could get to Fort Lauderdale for their 10 day cruise on the Emerald Princess embarking tomorrow. We were so glad that they could get down to visit with us before their cruise.  We said our goodbyes and after stopping at the bank for two rolls of quarters for the laundramat at the condo, returned home. I cooked a nice steak on the barbecue and now, after dinner, Wendy and I feel like getting an early night.
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