After some tasty shrimp nachos at The Dock in Naples with Matt and Shirley, we headed back to the boat for the evening. Cards and puzzles were on the agenda.
The next morning, winds were still noticeable but on the way down. Late morning we left the yacht club, headed out the Gordon River, and saw a much more peaceful scene than the day before.
Our 38 mile route in near-flat water with very few crab pots took us north along the Gulf of Mexico beach past North Naples, Bonita Springs, and Fort Myers Beach, then east into the Caloosahatchee River to Legacy Harbor Marina in the River District of Fort Myers.
As we idled upriver toward Fort Myers on Friday afternoon, it looked like every other boat in the area was heading downriver toward the beach! I had keep my eyes wide open to navigate through the boat parade.
R&R had been at Legacy Harbour for about 8 months during our COVID hiatus from the Great Loop, so we knew the marina staff. When I called to get our slip assignment, it felt good to have the Harbormaster answer my call with “Hi Rick!” With good help from shipmates Matt and Shirley and the Legacy Harbour crew, R&R slid into slip B5.
The next day Matt and I visited the nearby Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The former Henry Ford house was hosting a Ford car show. We enjoyed closeup views of Model Ts, hot rods, Thunderbirds and Mustangs.
When the rain started, we walked through the excellent museum that displays many of Edison’s inventions. I was again amused and inspired by quotes Edison. Here are a few:
And one of my favorites:
There are no rules here – we are trying to accomplish something.
Rhonda and Shirley are now driving, and Matt is flying, back to the Frozen North. I am staying with R&R to complete some repairs and get ready for the next leg. Our son John plans to fly down for a three day cruise along the Okeechobee Waterway and then north toward Cape Canaveral. I look forward to it!
Been to the museum several times – loved it. Would have enjoyed the car show, a lot.
We’re taking my ’23 T-Bucket and the ’53 Ford Courier to Mecum in May; time to move on.
Enjoy those FL days!
Ken
Hello, Ken! Good luck selling the T-Bucket and the Courier at Mecum. You will no doubt miss them, but the new owners will get more years of joy out of them.