A couple of weeks ago we headed north with Buddy - 67 nautical miles. Each year we take time to stop in beautiful Snail Shell harbor at Fayette State park. It is a natural harbor and a step back in time. The town of Fayette flourished for about 20 years in the 1880's, making iron from ore. On our return trip, about 3 miles from home, we ended up towing a friend that was stranded with a failed engine...
Downwind ride across the bay to MMYC for the Friday night social. IE: free beer :-D
We ended up hauling out Thursday about noon and hitting the road before 1 PM. We then drove until about 8 PM, getting north of Atlanta. On Friday we drove 16 hours north to get home. After almost three months, there is not much that is better than sleeping in one's own comfy (and real) bed...
Yesterday we took Buddy south toward Gasparilla Pass to cool off and use up my supply of frozen shrimp. Frankly, since I have been without my mentor, Tonic Tom on the cute little boat, my success at fishing has been nothing to write home about.
As usual, the shrimp on a jig with a "popper" bobber yielded nothing... Tom, I must need another lesson...
So, I figure why not try some Wisconsin bass bait. With the Admiral driving with only one engine at idle speed, we headed back "home" on the ICW. There was quite a bit of boat traffic passing us by as we trolled along with me lounging in the cockpit, tending to two poles with floating lures.
Anyway, to make a short story long, I snagged this fish. At first I thought it was a submarine, but after a while I realized it was a fish. It took me a while to get it in the boat as I was using light spinning rods with 6# test line. A couple of passing boats even stopped to watch.
I have absolutely no idea what it is...
The Rangers have arrived! One R27 is even from Texas! Our immediate neighbors on the R21 are from Wisconsin! In that we are staying in the transient area of the marina, we see allot of boats come and go...
Friday we took Buddy down the ICW and up Charlotte Harbor for a overnight visit with John and Sara. Saturday morning the four of us hopped aboard for an early start back to Palm Island Marina to beat an approaching cold front. By the time we turned the corner and headed up the well-protected ICW, the winds were starting to build.
For the afternoon Dar and Jim (even more of the Cheesehead Navy) and our marina neighbor Mike joined us and we all took the water taxi to the beach. The surf was building and a number of the group tried a bit of body surfing. We then headed back for a quick rinse in the pool and a trip to Stump Pass Marina for a bit of entertainment by the Yard Dogs, a local band featuring an accordion player from, you guessed it, Milwaukee...
From there it was a trip up the road for pizza at an Englewood favorite, the Faull Inn.
It was a full day... Sunday was a day of rest...
The last cold front to blast through put this small sailboat on the beach in Punta Gorda. The owner was aboard. Had to be quite a ride... After a number of attempts, this one was successful. The activity caused quite a crowd to develop and watch the "show"...
We've been hanging out at Palm Island, with day trips fishing, biking, or getting together with friends that live in the area. One day last week more members of the Cheesehead navy picked us up at the marina for a run to Venice via the ICW for lunch. This 32' Intrepid was a bit faster than Buddy...
When we got back to the Palm Island we were greeted by our friendly manatee...
