Cape Coral

We are now at my Aunt and Uncle's home in Cape Coral, FL. We sailed here on an overnight from Marathon. About a 24 hour passage, 125nm. During the night the breeze picked up and we had a good sail for the latter part of the passage.

We anchored off of Cape Coral and took the dinghy up the canal my aunt's home is on. Their neighbors were very happy to help out and let us come into the canal with the boat and tie up in front of all the houses and partially block the canal. We turned the boat around in a 50 foot spot and eventually tied up to a small sailboat and with lines to the walls.

We've been visiting with the family and touring the area by bike and car. We walk around the end of the canal from our boat to the back door of their home. Unfortunately we have been returning back to the boat after dinner or socializing when it is quite dark. On one of these return walks I didn't quite follow the dock walkway and found that gravity works quite well. I was swimming under water before I had any idea what was happening. Cold but not shocking. A couple of strokes and I was at the ladder and out of the water once Carol figured out how to lower the ladder. Damages: pride, ego. cell phone and slightly strained knee.

There is a possibility a few extra glasses of wine may have contributed to this adventure.

One of the cuter things seen here are the burrowing owls found in many neighborhoods. The nests must be marked to avoid disturbing them so it makes it easy to find them once you know what the markers look like. You can get quite close to them without upsetting them and they are very curious about people as long as you don't get much closer than 6 feet.

Carol goes off soon for a two-week swing through Texas, California and Minnesota. After that we start back down the west coast of Florida then up the east coast towards our homeport. Start is the key word. We'll slowly follow the warmth as it moves north. Some people in Conn are not sure that's ever going happen. Save some snow for us. Oh, never mind.