Back to Marco Island

Looking at the sunset through a screen house in Factory Bay, Marco Island

 

                                                                     The Grillmaster

The day started out with a wonderful sun raise. After breakfest, Craig fished on Picnic Key and the ladies explored the area in the Whaler. Once they finished, we were all off once again exploring the waterways of the Ten Thousand Islands. Picked up anchor in the early afternoon and headed  back to Factory Bay at Marco Island. Dinner was great and we're ready to roll tomorrow.
Good night to all.

Donna's blogging

Donna, Craig and Linda left Rose Marine , Marco Island this morning around 10:00 to absolutely perfect weather. We stopped and waited for the tide to rise a bit in Goodland. We watched the dolphins and just enjoyed the water. While cruising in the gulf, we grilled a delicious lunch. Found a quiet place (secret spot) to drop anchor and then we took kayaks out to explore. Linda and Mercy took the Whaler out and met some friends on a beach. The dolphins were everywhere you looked! Enjoyed the sunset while watching the dolphins play. Had grilled chicken and grilled potatoes for a waterfront dinner. I imagine we will all sleep like babies tonight!

Everglades is spectacular!

There are a lot of people who anchor in the mouth of Little Shark River as a stop-over on the way to the Keys. However, Little Shark River is just the beginning of where you can get with a trawler.

I've eplored about 200 miles with the Whaler up in the Everglades, much of which is accessible by the trawler. We spent a couple of days anchored a little ways up Little Shark River, then we went up Little Shark River and Shark River through Tarpon Bay, and down the Harney River a little ways.

The birds are incredible, and we saw a few other animals as well... namely alligators, raccoons, and some large mammal we never determined what was.

Today, I dropped Fred and Nancy and their Action Craft by the mouth of the Broad River, and they ran the inside, through the Wilderness Waterway, to Everglades City, while I brought the trawler, towing the Whaler, up the outside.

Tonight we're anchored in Russell Pass, the sunset was gorgeous, and the water is slick calm. I met a couple of trawlers who are anchored above us in the Pass, and we can see a sailboat that came in behind us. What a beautiful evening!

Exploring the Everglades

We left Russell Pass, near Everglades City, and proceeded in a southerly direction, flitting in and out the mouths of Chatum River and Lostman's River with the small boats, looking for an entrance we could bring the trawler through. Couldn't find enough water. We went down to Little Shark River and anchored for a few days, exploring the area with the Whaler, and with Fred's Action Craft.

I discovered that almost everywhere I went in the Whaler, I had enough draft for the trawler... so today we took the Mercy from Little Shark River, through some creeks, up the Shark River, and into Tarpon Bay and the Harney River. Lions and tigers and bears O MY!

The area is full of birds, and we saw several alligators. We saw something swimming across the water that left tracks on the bank that looked like a wild hog... which I can't imagine a hog crossing a current in a deep channel.

Anyhow, we're anchored this evening in the Harney River, and hope to continue exploring to the north tomorrow with the Whaler, while Fred catches us some fish with the Action Craft.

We met two groups of VIP's (volunteers in park) that I met a few years back, and have talked to two law enforcement boats the last few days. Aside from that, we've seen several canoes and kayaks, and an occassional recreational fishing boat. I can't imagine how a kayaker must feel, after paddling 60 miles of wilderness waterway, and running across a trawler! I think we've surprised a few.

Its really been blowing, but we've been in protected rivers, and the wind has calmed off this evening. The air is cool and crisp, and somehow, there aren't any no see-ums tonight.

Still in Russell Pass

Night before last was absolutely gorgeous. The wind was almost still, and the moon bright enough to cast a twilight glow on everything, creating a perfect reflection of the bank on the water.

During the night I woike to the noise of crackling in the water. Being a SCUBA diver, I've realized before that underwater is not a quiet place, due to the crackling of shrimp, the munching of parrotfish, and the various noises so many animals make. I'd never heard the crackling so loud. I went on deck with a flashlight, and though I couldn't see anything, when I shined the light in the water, I could hear the sound increase. I wish I'd had a butterfly net (shrimper term for a net that hangs over the side of the boat in the current, and catches passing shrimp.)

The weather was wild during the day Wednesday,. During the morning there was a light breeze that increased to about 35 knots with a passing front. It rained and blew, and I worried about my cousins, Fred and Nancy, who were meeting me with their flats boat... loaded with supplies for the next couple of weeks! Within a five minute period, the winds dropped fom 30 knots to 5, becoming nice for their arrival about 5 minutes later.

They arrived early enough in the day that we unloaded the boat, put stuff away, and made a small boat run back into Everglades City before exploring a loop of passes towards the north end of Russel Pass. Then we grilled steaks, asparagus, and squash, and had a great meal with a waterfront view.

Last night I listened intently for the crescendo of noises, but sometimes you just get a special glimpse at a natures marvels that might not come along for another long time.

The weather looks great today for exploring.

Off Everglades City

I'm anchored in Russel Pass tonight, enjoying an almost full moon, and gorgeous weather. I'm close enough to have cell coverage out of Everglades City.

I was anchored by about 2 o'clock, and after some general housekeeping chores, took the Whaler and Mercy-dog and I went exploring.

We went into Everglades City, where the last time I was in by water was almost 26 years ago! I remember running in to get ice cream to go with a birthday cake that Miss Violet Arnould had prepared for me! Boy, the sleepy little town has changed!

After doing the drive by of the town, I explored some of the circuitous routes through the Ten Thousand Islands. What a cool place this is! I can't believe I didn't bring the kayaks.

Fred and Nancy are meeting me here tomorrow, as we continue some more exploring, and I'm sure they'll do a lot of fishing.

I got a Kindle a few days back, and am enjoying the ease of reading again. I'm enjoying morning readings from The Message Bible.

Psalm 5: Listen God, Please pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning, I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.

What a great way to start the day, enjoying God's Word, and the beauty of His hands.

The photo however was this evening!

Off to the Everglades

The Mercy got underway last nighy just at dark. (Waiting for enough tide to get out! Rudy followed in the 19' Whaler, and Lila and Mercy and Gracie the dog rode with me. We anchored for a gorgeous evening just off picnic island, and Rudy cooked dinner! It was Lila's first meal on the boat.
Then I ran them in with the Whaler, and returned to the boat. It was a great sunset, a gorgeous full moon, and great fellowship with friends.

This morning I got up early, rigged a tow line for the Whaler, and got underway on the south side. The wind had whippedup, and at Bahia Honda I decided to run the north side to Marathon. At Marathon I ducked south, under the seven mile bridge to go fuel the Mercy and the Wahaler. I rinsed the salt off, and went north under the seven mile bridge, continuing to Little Shark River, in the Everglades. I came in about a half hour after sunset, and was glad to have the radar to ease up the river. Now there is a beautiful moon up, and it is pretty bright out. There isn't a breath of wind in here, and I am glad for the screens on the hatches. I love listening tot he birds, and yes, even the insects... except the mosquitoes. There isn't any cell service here, but I'll post this note when I get to cell service.

I like the wireless keyboard, and maybe I'll post at night now that I dont have to use my thumbs.

Remember you can track us real time on spot. If you don't have that link, you can email me directly.

Working around an untethered iphone.

Once again, I am trying to figure out how to sucessfully post a blog from my iphone, when I have such trouble typing with my thumbs. I have the problem somewhat solved.

First, I bought an apple wireless keyboard. Apple care told me it wouldn't work with my iphone, but after weeding through many reviews of the keyboard, I found where a couple of folks said they were using it with their phone.

Apple must have some agreement with the cell carriers to keep from enabling iphones to be more web-friendly. I have an old unlimited data plan with the phone, and didn't want to lose that plan by making my phone a hotspot. So half of the blog problem is fixed with the keyboard.

Secondly, I want to post photos from my canon camera, and not just my iphone. There are a couple of ways around that. I can load the photos from the SD card to my laptop, and then transfer them into itunes. Apple also sells an SD card reader that plugs into the power connection at the bottom of the phone ($30) that I haven't seen how it works.

I downloaded the free blogger app from itunes, and now maybe I'm all set. I am typing this blog into notes on the iphone, and when I am in cell/wi-fi coverage, can copy, select all, go to the blogger app, paste and post. It sure is a convulted way to work around the system, but, I think it will work.

Keyboard photo taken with iphone.