KATMAT

12/09/2023

We left Clearwater to an early morning sunrise and birds all over the dock

Lots of boats remain abandoned in the waterways on the way to Sarasota. We were going to stay in Punta Gorda but no slips were available. The first place was in Sarasota and on a mooring ball. This is much easier than trying to set an anchor and anchor alarm (to make sure the boat does not drift)

Mooring balls themselves are basically large buoys attached to a chain or rope. The chain or rope is secured to concrete or metal (or sometimes a mushroom anchor or screw system) that sits on the bottom of the ocean floor or lake. The ball is the part you attach your boat to, and it will have a ring on the top for you to loop a line through.

Lots of sailboat classes going on in Sarasota

Rental play toys for the kids

We took the dingy into Sarasota for an early dinner at an Italian Rest.

There was going to be a boat parade that evening so we wanted to make sure we were back on the boat to watch. There were at least 30 boats - it was hard to get good pics from the boat.

Sarasota sunset before the parade start.

12/10/2023

No early morning departure. We are headed to Cabbage Key but cannot dock until after 3 PM due the lunch crowd who come in from 11AM to 3PM. We asked for two nights due to a storm front coming in. Normally you would have to leave from 11AM to 3PM for the lunch crowd but due to weather only one boat came in for lunch.

An Osprey guarding her nest
Three recently built homes on a small peninsula with views of the water from the front and back of the homes. This would be great until a water surge comes thru.

There was a Santa on a wave runner pulling two kayakers (the wind was making it difficult to continue their trip up the waterway).

The plan was to take our time today before the storms set in. But a bridge opening delayed us over an hour. Due to construction the bridge only opens every 4 hours - no exceptions. We had to anchor for the 12 PM opening.

We continued on and made it to Cabbage Key just ahead of the storm. Cabbage Key is only accessible by boat. It is a very small island with 8 cottages for people to rent. In 1936 The Rinehart family obtained the island for $2000.00 and built their own "island dream" winter estate which is now known as the Inn, Dollar Bill Bar, and Restaurant.There is a water tower which they built and is still in use today, it has a capacity of 6,000 gallons and has weathered many storms. The water tower and Inn are constructed atop a prehistoric Calusa Indian shell mound. They are located on one of the highest points in Florida.

The water tower above. The restaurant below

We ate dinner in the restaurant where Jimmy Buffet was a frequent visitor. Another bar where dollar bills are collected approximately $75,000.00 !!

Went to bed under a stormy night. Glad we were at dock and not on anchor !!

12/11/2023

Walked around the small island to a beautiful day. There a six large turtles on the island but the weather wasn't favorable for them.

Shell all over the island and everyone places on trees for good luck !!

Making and guarding their nest babies should arrive by January

One sleeping, another on one leg and last drake watching

Another sunset to end our stay.

12/12/2023

Left early and we were headed to Naples to anchor on a mooring ball. There were no slips available at the marina. But, the weather was beautiful and the water was so calm we decided to continue onto Marco Island. We got a slip at Rose Marina while Dave and Nancy were able to stay at a friends dock. We went to dinner and met one of Nancy's old friends.

Sad to see another boat being towed !!

12/13/2023

Matt had planned on leaving to head to Marathon, weather would not permit it . Waves were predicted to be about 3 - 5 foot waves with strong winds. This was going to last for several days.

12/14/2023

Weather still overcast with strong winds and very choppy waters. Met up with Nancy and drove (their friends had a car they could use) and walked around Marco.

For hundreds of years on what is now Marco Island in Florida, Calusa Native Americans piled up the discarded shells of oysters, clams, and other shellfish that made up a significant part of their diet. In doing so, huge heaps of shells slowly arose, forming an ancient shell mound that once covered a staggering 80 acres. Then, some 150 years after the Calusa had disappeared, a white settler by the name of Ernest Otter moved onto the shell mound, where he lived from the 1940s until 1997. Otter, after whom the mound is now named, used the shells to build decorative walls and line the terraces on his property.

12/15/2023

We rented a car and went to Fort Myers. We were going to meet our friends from the Willie Dawes but they felt the winds were to strong to get the dingy into port. Instead we checked on our rental house and went to downtown Fort Myers to one of Matt's favorite places and had an early dinner.

They even stamp their buns !!

12/16/2023

The weather is still not good so Matt decided I should head home for the holidays and he would take the boat down to Marathon when the weather broke. We have a slip there from Dec. 19th until Jan 18th. We ate dinner at The Llama's House in the mall near the Ft Myers airport.

Boarded the plane under stormy weather and was told there would be no service due to turbulance (turned out there was very little).

Got home to the pile of mail and packages which had built up for the nearly 2 months while we were gone. Our son tried to sort it LOL

12/19/2023 to 12/31/2023

Mat was finally able to leave Marco and travel to Marathon. The waters were about 3 foot waves but settled down near the end and they arrived in Marathon around 3PM. Our friend John was there to meet him and deliver the many packages we had been sending to his home in Big Pine Key.