Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #212: From last evening Mike beat me at cribbage. Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee and grapefruit. At 8:15 A.M. Mike and I met up with Ed and Kyle the four went to Good Times Diner in Englewood for breakfast. After breakfast the four drove to downtown Englewood to the farmer's market. After lunch we headed up to the flying bridge where Mike played the guitar and I rested. Bev texted at 3:15 P.M. asking if Mike and I wanted to have cocktails at Leverocks at 4:00 P.M. At 4:00 P.M. Ed, Kyle, Bruce, Bev, Mike and myself had cocktails and appetizers prior to Bruce and Bev heading out in the morning. Mike and I headed back to the boat for the evening for blogging and reading.
"Bay Tripper" and "Parrot Bay":
Met: September 5, 2018 on the Joliet Wall.
Departure: February 1, 2019 from Aquamarina Palm Harbour.
The four friends have been together for 148 days and 1,819 miles. 

Lots of adventures and great times. 

Farmer's Market in Englewood today.

I bought some no-see-um spray from one of the vendors at the farmer's market. The lady had this picture with her display. 

One of our other purchases at the farmers market. YUM!

Bruce and Bev Hogy. We are going to miss our friends. 

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #211: Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, poppy seed lemon mini muffins, grapefruit and cookies. Mike and I took the mini van to Publix to get a few groceries. Mike took me to my hair and nail appointment before he took the mini van back to Enterprise. I took Lyft back to the boat at 2:15 P.M. At 4:00 P.M. Bev, Bruce, Ed, Kyle, David, Jan, Mike and I took the water taxi over to Rum Bay Restaurant to celebrate Bruce and Bev continuing on with their Great Loop Adventure. "Bay Tripper" will be leaving Aquamarina Palm Harbour on Friday. It will be the first time that "Bay Tripper" and "Parrot Bay" have not traveled together since the Joliet Wall just after Labor Day. At 6:15 P.M. the eight people returned to the marina on the water taxi to the marina. It was time for Mike and I to have a quiet time blogging and reading.

Amanda's bed last evening in the Minneapolis airport. 

Amanda finally home. Doesn't Tony look thrilled.

Myself, Mike, Ed, Kyle, Jan, David, Beverly and Bruce, At Beverly and Bruce's Going Away Party.

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #210: Mark and Leah left at 5:00 A.M. heading back to Virginia. Mike and I were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee cake, coffee, grapefruit and cookies. At 8:15 A.M. Mike picked up Amanda at the hotel. Amanda, Mike and I walked to the post office then headed back to the marina. At 12:15 P.M. it was time to head to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers to drop Amanda off for her flight. Mike and I headed to Cape Coral to visit Greg and Nancy of  "TxAu". Upon arrival Greg gave Mike and I a tour of their home which is beautiful. "TxAu" is docked behind their home on the seawall on a canal. Greg, Mike and Patty visited on "TxAu" and were joined by Nancy as she was helping out a friend. At 5:00 P.M. the four headed to Chicago Pizza Restaurant in Cape Coral. The pizza was awesome. It was a great time with friends. The two of us headed back to Aquamarina getting back to the boat at 9:00 P.M. Patty headed to bed when they arrived back at the boat. Amanda made it to Minneapolis but her flight to Kinross was cancelled so she ended up staying in the airport for the evening.

                                                                                   

    Mike and I had seen the burrowing owls on the news. While heading to the restaurant Nancy          stopped so that I could take this picture. The owls nests are marked by the wooden stakes.

                                                                                       

                                        Picture from Mom Burdo of their backyard. YUCK!

Nancy and Greg from "TxAu".

Mike and I enjoying an afternoon and evening with Nancy and Greg. Dinner at Chicago Pizza Restaurant in Cape Coral.

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #209: Up at 6:45 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit, maple walnut coffee cake and cookies. Mike and I picked up Amanda at the hotel. The three went for a 3.5 mile walk to Publix to get a few groceries.  Mark and Leah joined Amanda, Mike and myself on the "Parrot Bay" for lunch aboard. At 12:10 P.M. the five headed to Manasota Key for a boat ride/dolphin tour on Lemon Bay Tours. Captain Bruce is the same gentleman that Mike and I had in the past for the tour. Just as the boat was heading out onto the intercoastal waterway a pod of 5 dolphins were seen. Captain Bruce followed the dolphins for a few miles the dolphins would swim close then away from the boat.  For approximately 3 miles we watched the pod of dolphins. Finally, Captain Bruce turned the boat around heading toward the Tom Adam's bridge, Manasota Key and Stump Pass. It was a great day on the water other than the cool temperatures and north winds. The clouds finally broke off and the sun cam out. After the boat tour the five headed to the White Elephant for an early dinner. After dinner it was time to head to Barefoot Traders for a bit of shopping. Amanda, Mark and Mike headed to the hot tub at the marina while I worked on the blog.

Captain Bruce aboard "Bay Watch" of Lemon Bay Tours on Manasota Key.

Amanda, Leah and Mark 

Father and daughter. 

Oops-Captain Bruce said that this is a new boat that is aground as of one week ago.
 

Banyan Tree

 

Stump Pass female osprey sitting on the nest. 

Kyle cleaning the bottom of the dinghy on Stump Pass while Ed supervises.
 

Yup-we are in Florida but you would never know with those jackets.
 

Me at the White Elephant enjoying my strawberry daquiri.

Amanda enjoying her strawberry daquiri.

Leah and Mark at the White Elephant.

Final hot tub fun before the Amanda, Mark and Leah head back to their homes.  Can you tell who has been in the sun and who has not???

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #208: Overnight very heavy rain and winds. Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and maple walnut coffee cake. Mark and Amanda joined Mike and I on the "Parrot Bay" where they played the card games Golf and 7's. At 12:30 P.M. the four went to the New Faull Inn for lunch. Amanda, Mike and I then went to Walmart and CVS. Later in the afternoon Amanda, Leah, Mark, Mike and I played cards on the "Parrot Bay" The five had Patty's famous shrimp, crab, cocktail sauce, cream cheese and crackers for a snack. After snacks Amanda, Mark, Mike and I played Golf. All day the weather was miserable it was windy, heavy rain and temperatures in the 50's. It was a great day for card playing on the "Parrot Bay".

Amanda, Mark Mike and I playing Golf. 

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #207: Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and cookies. At 9:00 A.M. Mike and I picked up Amanda, Leah and Mark at their hotel heading for breakfast at Good Times Diner. The five decided that it was cold and rain threatened so they would postpone their dolphin tour until Monday. It was then time for a grocery trip to Publix. Mike and I dropped Amanda, Leah and Mark off at their hotel to get ready for a manatee and shopping excursion. The two of us headed back to the marina to drop off the groceries. The group headed to Manatee Park in Fort Meyers. Manatee Park is a riverfront park providing paved trails, up close views of manatees, an amphitheater and kayak rentals. The manatee put on a great "natural" show. The five then headed to Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda. After browsing in the shops the five headed to Harpoon Harry's Lounge & Raw Bar for a early dinner. After leaving Fisherman's Village the five headed back to Englewood for a shopping excursions to Beall's. After Beall's it was time to head back to the marina. Amanda, Mark and Leah stayed at the marina until 6:45 P.M. before they headed back to their hotel. It was time for Mike and I to blog and read. Heavy rain and storms predicted to start tonight until Sunday evening with the possibility of 4 inches of rain.

Mike and I had seen Manatee Park on the news deciding to check it out.

Mike and Amanda enjoying Manatee Park. 

Leah and Mark enjoying Manatee Park. 

Two manatee together enjoying the 80 degree water temperature.
 

Amanda, Leah, Mark, myself and Mike selfie at Manatee Park.
 

                                                     Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda.

Crocodile wearing crocs.

Vladimir Gorodkin performing live music on the Tsimbaly at Fisherman's Village. He was performing Dancing Queen from Abba.

Great place to have lunch.

Saw this sign when we went to take a picture of the Fisherman's Village sign. We didn't see any alligators. 

Great when you get an upgrade as Mike, myself, Mark, Leah and Amanda had a comfortable ride to Fort Meyers and Punta Gorda. Thanks Enterprise. 

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #206: Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and cookies. Mike and I took multiple loads of gear from the condo to the boat prior to the boat being put back into the water. We had all but the refrigerated and freezer food loaded back on the boat before the marina staff were ready to move the boat to the well. At 8:30 A.M. Mark and Amanda arrived at the marina to help with launching the boat and getting it back to the slip. At 9:20 A.M. the marina staff used the hoist to get the boat from the back of the marina to the well. Mike and Mark got onto the boat as the marina staff lowered the boat into the water. Ed and Kyle stopped over to see if there was anything that they could help with before they headed off to breakfast but we said that we had everything under control. Mitch from the marina was at slip C-5 to help Amanda and I at the dock. After the boat was all set in the slip Amanda, Mark, Mike and I got the rest of the food out of the condo and made sure that the condo was empty leaving the keys as they locked the door. After all of the gear was put away and dinghy was secured to the boat. Amanda, Mark, Mike and I headed to the New Faull Inn for lunch. After lunch Amanda, Mike and I headed to Stump Pass State Park where we did a beach walk. Mike and I checked out the place on Manasota Key where they will be staying next winter. The three stopped at Barefoot Traders for a bit of shopping. For the evening Amanda, Mark, Mike and I had docktails on the "Parrot Bay. At 8:40 P.M. Amanda and Mark headed back to the hotel for the evening. For the two of us it was time for blogging and reading.

                                                                                        

                        Getting the hoist and "Parrot Bay" square so that both could bring the 

                                                       boat through the barn to the well.

Whew! made it through the barn heading to the well. 

"Parrot Bay" hanging over the well just about to be lowered into the water. 

In the water Captain Mike going to take "Parrot Bay" back to her slip at the marina.

Beautiful sunset tonight.