Dec 27 Punta Gorda to Ft. Myers

Dec 27


Our extended stay in Punta Gorda was a nice break and an enjoyable place to spend the Christmas holiday.  Along with just enjoying the town as a reason for staying extra days, the tides and their timing were another factor. We’ve had very shallow water in the marina due to super low tides with the new moon.  On top of that the low tides were occurring during the day.  By waiting a few extra days it gave us deep enough water during the morning to get out of the marina.   The outgoing tide also provided a positive current as we headed down Charlotte Harbor on the way to our next destination – Ft. Myers.

Punta Gorda has free bikes to use and a great network of  trails

Very early start at first light to catch the tide and give us the full 8 hours cruising time we need.  A bit overcast and occasional light showers as we started but it gave way to a partly sunny, warm and humid day. By the time we rounded the bottom of Charlotte Harbor and passed by Cayo Costa we started seeing the early weekend flotilla.   Much more traffic than we’re used to having.   The smaller boats – pontoons, center consoles and runabouts aren’t an issue other than keeping up with them.   They just buzz around us.  The boating manners of the bigger boats is troubling.   Apparently, they feel no need to conduct a slow pass.  Their big wakes can make for uncomfortable rocking in narrow busy channels with limited room for maneuvering to take the wakes at better angels.  

Local armada heading our way!

Tour boat out on a  dolphin watch  

We continued our way down past Captiva and Sanibel islands checking out locations to anchor out later in the week for New Years.  Then turned to port and headed up the Caloosahatchee River passing Cape Coral and ultimately finding Legacy Harbor Marina in downtown Ft. Myers.  

Approaching Ft. Myers

 Coming up the Caloosahatchee was interesting.  Seemed like everyone who owned a boat had loaded it up with family and friends and was out traveling down the main channel.  Some interesting people watching from our high perch on the flybridge.  Several slow speed manatee zones that apparently are patrolled and enforced regularly as everyone was very respectful of the zones.  Still didn’t see any manatees but did run into pods of dolphins several times during the trip.  Always fun to see them surfacing.

Downtown Ft Myers  "City of Palms"

We’re currently  at Legacy Harbor for the weekend and trying to work on getting a slip for the month here.  We've got one lined up at the municipal marina but this one is a bit nicer and has several loopers already in residence.

Journey for Dec 27