***** I have had a request for something easier to read, hopefully the print is larger.  Another trick is to highlight the text to change the contrast.*****

  March 27, 2013

Hello folks, this is the 40^th anniversary of the sale of our Chris Craft at McCotter  Marine in Washington, NC.  The sales slip reads March 24.  She is doing us proper on this trip.  Since I last signed in we have been hung up on a mudflat with Tow Boat US in site.  We were headed into the head of Pine Island (Jug Creek) for fuel after our night at Caya Costa on the hook.  No damage other than ego…..  Yesterday we were able to motor through 25 mph wind and 4 foot plus waves, spray going over the cabin top with just a bit of water in the cabin after the trip.  Leaks have been a problem at times.  Thanks Danny for   strengthening  the boat.

 When we left Caladesi Island the water was flat and we took the opportunity to anchor off Three Rooker Bar, dink in and do some shelling.  The noise of the birds was deafening; shelling for certain varieties was good.  I think Dave is getting into this searching too.  On then to Tarpon Springs for two nights at the City Dock.  Good Greek food and a very long bike ride out to Fred Howard Park.  That was where I was told you could find sea beans.  Few people have heard of them but I have been instructed on how to fashion them into jewelry.  Unfortunately we were not able to connect with Lloyd and Holly (Dave’s cousin).

We spent the night at Caya Costa, a beautiful anchorage  (another State Park) We had anchored there before when we lost power in the house battery.  When the wind and tide changed that night Cross-Over was straining on the anchor rode and the line was rolling from side to side.  THUMP- THUMP and more THUMP. Not very good for sleeping.

Next morning on the Fort Myers and the Municipal Yacht Basin.  Laundry and I just discovered that I left a load of clothes in the dryer.   (Jeans, navy shirts and sweaters)  Entertainment for that weekend was the Nina and the Pinta at the harbor.  We biked to the Edison/Ford Summer home.  A wonderful place where we spent most of the day.  The inventions of Edison are on display.  History of the collaboration with he and Ford and Firestone trying to find a source in the states for rubber.  The grounds are an arboretum in themselves.  Everything labeled and now I can’t remember what my pictures are but I love the vegetation.  It was the 4^th Saturday of the month and the Car Cruise In was back.  I told Dave not to bother me about waiting while I shopped.  He talked to a guy named Doug about his Mustang fox body, can you believe from Moss Street in Reading.  His daughter was a week younger than Alyse.  Oh yes, we rocked in the marina also with the winds from the South West.

Sunday Morning we left Fort Myers and did a 95 mile stretch into and almost the whole way around the South Rim of Lake Okeechobee.  We tried an anchorage about 4 PM and after dragging three times we moved on.  As we progressed we came out of the protected area and the wind from the North West was blowing about 25 to 35 mph.      At a town named Pahokee we found a marina with some protection but not much.  At least we were secure!  A bad thunder storm came through so we were glad to at least be tied.  We heard the winds were above 55 mph.  The dock is in disrepair (an abandon Loggerhead Facility) so no electric, no problem.  By 5:30 AM we had had all we could take of the rolling, only a stiff drink and yogurt and fruit for dinner and peanut bread for breakfast;  we needed to get off the boat.  We walked into town, maybe a dinner but no, the town reminded us of Aurora.  Later we met the fellow Wayne who owns is restoring the resort. (Camp ground, banquet rooms, pool, restaurant, bar and marina  with lots of biking and fishing opportunities.)  GOOD LUCK!

By 11 AM we decided that we could not be any worse in the 25 mph wind with 4 plus waves than we were in the marina.  Off we went, with life jackets on, the videos are telling.  One hour later we were in the Port Mayaca Lock on the East side of the Lake and were pleased that it was open for a quick pass through.  The last lock at Port St Lucie took us 14 feet down from the lake.  Terry came out to take our photo as we went by.     When we got into Stuart we were not pleased with the marina we had made a reservation because of the NW wind and no protection.  We are now refreshed after nice showers (while moving from one foot to the other as our bodies rocked) and quiet night in Sunset Bay Marina.  Yesterday we met a couple who is living aboard a Caliber 40’and we hope they contact our other Caliber owner friends.  We will brave the wind to walk or bike to town, still blowing 18 NW.  Interesting free museum in town; they have some of the same shelves as the Trexler Store.

An e-mail from Mel Portnoy came this AM telling us they are just ahead of us in Melbourne, FL.  We should catch up with them at some point.

Terry and Lisa Locatis met us at the marina and we did justice to a good bit of wine and dined at a relaxing Italian restaurant, Casa Bella’s.  Afterward it was after 10 PM, too late for shopping at Publix so they drove us to a Walmart and then back to the marina.

We are headed home…..a stop to see my roommate, Jean and her husband John, in Cocoa Beach tomorrow.  Then visit the Ballards and Nilles in Daytona and the Dorseys in St Augustine, and then mostly motor home.  Warm it up up there!  It was 48 degrees in Stuart this AM.