TIM PATTI RILEY BIG ADVENTURE: December 2017

12/20/2017

Just realized how long it has been since my last post. Now that we are not traveling on an almost
daily basis, there does not seem to be as much to say.

We stayed at Punta Gorda for almost 3 weeks. As I said in the previous post, lots of company & a very nice marina. We met a live aboard that arrived 3 years ago & never left!

Riley went swimming with Cali, a yellow lab who is also on the loop. Cali chases a toy into the water, which Riley has never done. Well he did this time! Turns out he is very competitive. We had to pull him out & let them retrieve separately.

We arrived in Fort Myers Beach on 12/15. The trip was uneventful. There was a little confusion when we arrived at the marina. No one seemed to know which dock we were assigned. One of the dock hands did find a dock for us & said they would figure it out on Monday. No sooner were we tied up, when friends came knocking on the boat. They were in town for a short vacation.
The dock master did come to the boat the next day & said we could stay where we were. As with anything, it has it's good & bad. It is out at the end, so not crowded & a nice view. Also out at the end is a pirate ship. They can take 2 cruises a day & that can get a little noisy & busy, but it doesn't last long. It is a no wake zone, but not everyone adheres!

We have been using the dinghy almost daily. Looking for the best way to get to the beach. We have tried different routes. Using free dinghy dock & then walking or taking the dinghy all the way to the beach. We also walk to the beach & back to the boat every morning. It all works. Riley loves the beach & swimming. He really sleeps well at night as he is missing his naps!

Today we stopped on the way back to the boat for breakfast at Bonita Bills. They have resident cats. Very tough cats. There was a stand off & a confrontation. The cat finally left, but not before getting his licks in! Riley remained on guard for entire time we were there.

We have been spending time on the beach with friends we met there several years ago. Soon our usual Christmas buddies Toni & Fred will be here to celebrate Christmas with us.

Merry Christmas to all.

GUESS WHAT THIS IS???

HISTORIC PUNTA GORDA

PATTI ON CLEARWATER BEACH. IT WAS COLD!

OUR CURRENT DOCK PARTNERS

CAN I GO HOME NOW?

CAN YOU SAY REINDEER?

WAITING FOR A SEAT AT ELKS TIKI BAR

The answer is.....barnacles on the bottom of an inflatable. Not ours thankfully.

December 3, 2017

Coming to you from Punta Gorda.

We left Clearwater on 11/21. Headed for Sarasota. We did on over night stop in Gulf Port. We were on the intercostal & it is very slow going. A combination of skinny water & no wake zones. The upside....very scenic. Our weather was good, about 74 & sunny. the only thing of note at that marina was the ability to rack store a 42' boat.

Next stop Sarasota. The plan was to stay on a mooring ball. We tied up to the ball without difficulty, at which point I noticed we were not on the assigned ball. Marina said, "No Problem." Tim started the generator & we started to get organized. At which point the generator stopped. I called the marina again. Yes, they had a dock & yes we went to the dock. Tim worked on the generator. It was the impeller & yes he had a spare. Three fins had broken off. To date, he has found 2, but is confident it will be ok. The good & bad: We stayed at Marina Jacks for 3 days.. Nice, but rather expensive. My childhood friend lives in Sarasota & we had Thanksgiving at her house. Four of her 6 children were there. She told no one we were coming, so when her daughter opened the door & saw us, she was speechless. I wish I had camera ready for the expression on her face. It was a great time.
We rented a car while there & made our first Costco run since leaving home. Tim was ecstatic. Another Tim wish list was also fulfilled, Total Wines & More.
One more thing, the bad weather seems to be following us. Sarasota was nice the whole week before we arrived & with us came the "front". Rain & cool.

We left Sarasota & headed south. Hopefully their weather improved with our departure. We stayed one night in Gasprilla.

On to Punta Gorda with a stop in Cape Haze for fuel. Tim was warned, it was a narrow channel with small boat traffic & he would probably have to back out. It did not deter him. The price was right. We fueled, got some info on were to stay when in NY & what boat soap & wax to use & Tim as usual did a fine job. In case you are wondering, why all the NY info, the dock hand was from Jersey City. While fueling, I was looking around for grass for Riley & what did my wondering eye behold, but a full grown pig wandering around the grassy area. I know nothing about pigs, so discretion being the better part of valor, we did not go shore. There is a picture, unfortunately not a good one. It is laying on the ground in front & between the white car & dark truck.

We docked at Laishley Park Municipal Marina at noon on 11/26 & are still here. I did not realize how many people we knew in this area. That day friends, Mark & Bonnie, drove up from Naples to visit, have dinner & share some laughs with us. The next day 3 more couples stopped. Thank You Kris & Gene, Marsh & Linda & Bill & Mosey. Kris & Gene are going back to the frozen north, but we will see Marsh & Linda again, we have been spending time with Bill & Mosey as they live in Port Charlotte. We went to the Elks club with Bill & Mosey for lunch. Of course, Tim saw someone he knew, Ron, from Beaver Park Yacht Club at home. We are still making plans with others we have yet to see. We will be here at least 2 weeks.
It is a nice marina & a nice town. There is a great park & harbor walk. Riley is glad to have both. When we get back from our morning run/walk, he is grateful. At least that is what I think he said. Went to a farmers market today & a car auction last evening. We learned of the auction while having breakfast at an out door cafe. There were car trailers with all make & model of cars pulling in. I have never seen anything like it. Tim got to see a 69 Super Bee. He had one when I met him, & he loved that car. A little aside. That's when I knew he loved me. He gave it to me to use after I demolished my car! (Not my first totaled car, by the way. Not sure I told him about the others.) I used it for a summer while he rode his motorcycle in all kinds of weather.
When we arrived we were docked at the end of a T dock. Great view of the park & the water way. Also a wide, pretty private dock with a good breeze. Unfortunately as the week end approached the traffic increased & we were rocked to the point it was difficult to stand on the boat. The Marina staff kindly offered us an inside dock which we took. View is gone, breeze diminished, but rocking is greatly diminished.

A note about the pictures: Sometimes I get them from another source or late & they do not make the post they go with. If I waited, these posts would take even longer. Also, they are not in any particular order. If I took time to figure that out, you guessed it, these posts would take even longer. My apologies.