Mike and Patty's Great Loop Adventure 2018-2019

City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin in Fort Myers, Florida to River House Marina in Moore Haven, FL

We have been Looping for Nine Months:

Location for the Nights: Marinas: 267 Anchorages: 6 Free Dock: 1
Miles Traveled (thru April 3, 2019): 2,539
Miles Walked Total: 819.62

Games of Cribbage Total: 167 (Mike wins: 85 (14 skunks) Patty: 82 (12 skunks)

Books Read: Mike: 25 Patty: 21

Don Pedro Island State Park/Beach Trips-December 7, 2018 to March 30, 2019: 28 trips

Day #275: Mike and I were up at 5:00 A.M. (I set the alarm from the wrong time it was suppose to be 5:30 A.M.) to watch the weather. After watching the weather the two of us laid down until 5:45 A.M. We prepared the boat for departure. The weather was overcast, warm and breezy. Engines were started at 6:45 A.M. At 7:00 A.M. Kent from "Rising Tide" came over to assist us to get off the dock just as the last line was attached to the dock. At 7:10 A.M. Mike made contact with Mike from "Dash Away" who was a bit behind the "Parrot Bay" as he was leaving Edison Ford Marina. The trip today was on the Caloosahatchee River. We started out with high rise condos followed by industrial sites to homes with boat slips on canals. At 9:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was secure in the Franklin Lock. In this lock the lockmaster dropped bow line to me and stern line to Mike. The other difference was that engines needed to be shut off. The lockmaster also informed us that there was a manatee in the lock with us so to check it out and to be cautious when exiting the lock. Mike and I had heard that often manatee lock through with boats. "Parrot Bay" was raised 3 feet. At 9:20 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was clear of the Franklin lock (#26 lock for the trip). After the lock on the Caloosahatchee River there were beautiful homes that had cows next to them and sometimes the cows were in their yards. At 11:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" and "Dash Away" arrived at the Fort Denaud swing bridge. The bridge operator has to walk out to the controls at the center of the swing span. The winds picked up blowing in the mid-teens but gusting in the mid-20's. At 12:50 P.M. Mike hailed the Ortona Lock and "Parrot Bay" was secure in the lock at 1:00 P.M. The lockmaster again dropped lines to hold but this time in the lock the water came in very fast through the open lock door causing turbulence. At 1:20 P.M. "Parrot Bay" was clear of the Ortona Lock after being raised up 8 feet (#27 lock for the trip). At 1:30 P.M. it began to drizzle. At 2:00 P.M. the winds started to decrease. At 3:00 P.M. "Parrot Bay" arrived at River House Marina in Moore Haven, FL. The marina is a face dock wall on the river with power, water, showers and restrooms. Mike and I helped Mike from "Dash Away" to dock his boat just ahead of the "Parrot Bay". Today we traveled 54.8 miles (total of 2594 miles for the total trip). The harbormaster Bob told us that the first Thursday of the month the street in front of the marina is closed off there is music and food vendors. Mike, Mike and I decided to go out to the dinner instead of eating dinner out of a food truck. At 4:00 P.M. the three headed to Adam's Angler's Reef Package Liquor and Lounge. All three had hamburgers and french fries. The three of us talked about the loop and Mike from "Dash Away" shared his knowledge of the loop. After dinner the three of us headed back to the boats walking through the food vendor area to check out what was available. After a few boat jobs on the "Parrot Bay" it was time for some navigation and blogging.