Extended Stay

TIKA likes it so much on Estero Island, we decided to extend our stay through mid March.  We plan to make some short overnight trips but keep Fish Tale Marina as home base.

When cruising, the bottom of the dinghy identifies TIKA and our home port, since the dinghy covers the lettering on the stern.  While we were in port, I touched up the lettering on the bottom with a paint magic marker.  Looks great.  When cruising, courteous boaters wishing to pass you will call you on the radio and inform you which side they intend to pass.  If your name is clearly visible on the boat, it makes it easy for people to hail you.   By the way, there is another type of boater that doesn't care what your boat name is or informing you which direction they intend to pass.  They usually pass very close and slow down just enough to leave a huge wake with no time to turn into the waves.  As a result everything on shelves gets thrown everywhere as you roll violently with the waves.  There is a name for those type of boaters:........................(you can fill in the blank)

Every year we have a vessel safety check by the Coast Guard Auxiliary to insure we have all the necessary equipment on boat required by Federal and State Law.  Our boat neighbor at Fish Tale Marina is the Flotilla Officer responsible for conducting these examinations.  He was kind enough to do our safety check for 2014.  As a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I can fly the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flag if my vessel has a current safety check.  The combination of the two should help inform local law enforcement that we are in compliance and help avoid being stopped or boarded underway.

Just horsing around in Ft. Myers Beach

The Budwiser Clydesdales visited Ft. Myers Beach today.   These are beautiful horses, but as I got close, I could hear the front two horses telling each other jokes about all the pale faced, while legged tourists from the north......how rude!!!! 

Marlene gazing out over Big Carlos Pass. This is the exit from Estero Bay to the Gulf.   We have navigated this twice for practice at near low tide.  Typical of Florida inlets, there are parts of the channel to the gulf that at low tide are around 3ft. This is actually the better of two alternatives to get to the gulf from our marina.  The other channel gets down to two feet depth at low tide.  Boating in Florida means being familiar with local knowledge and traveling at times that the tides are favorable to safe navigation. 

Our Estero Island Getaway

Admiral Marlene enjoying the view of Estero Bay while having a "second breakfast" at Flippers on Lovers Key.  

Our month on Estero Island is coming to a close this week.  We have had great weather, spending our days bike riding the island and taking dinghy rides around Estero Bay searching for dolphins. The beaches are beautiful white sand and like Sanibel Island, Estero Island has some of the best beaches for finding beautiful seashells.

Our marina is a sanctuary for a few Manatees.  They seem to rest in the marina during the morning and early afternoon, then about 3:00 pm they head out to feed.  This manatee was heading out to the bay directly behind TIKA.  It proceeded to go along the dock, then under TIKA as it made its way out of the marina. This manatee was well over 6ft long.  Admiral Marlene thinks they look like a potato with a tail.

 We have seen some beautiful sunsets.  This one featured a rainbow just to the right of the sun

Captain Kevin enjoying a brew while studying the menu at Nervous Nellies.  Great food with a great view!