Fort Myers Beach, FL

We left South Seas Resort on Wednesday morning to head just 5 miles south along Captiva Island to another marina for a few days.  Coming out of the marina we saw the 80 foot Marlow that was in the marina with us.  They had left about 3 hours before us but got out of the channel when leaving and ran aground.  This is them waiting for Sea Tow to give them a pull out of the shallow water about 500 yards from the marina.  Yikes, that is why you have to stay in the channel.

We were at Tween Waters Resort on Captiva Island for Wednesday, December 19th through Saturday the 22nd.  The weather was nice the day we got in.  It went downhill Thursday and Friday with rain and it was VERY, VERY windy.  We were at a good spot with a lot of protection from the island and condos near the marina and we still had sustained wind at 20-30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.  We still were able to ride our bikes a bit and play tennis one day.

On the rainiest day I decided to make home made soft pretzels, raised dough and all.

Captain Keith loves soft pretzels

The beach on Friday during some of the biggest winds

The waves were some of the biggest I have seen on the beach.  The off shore forecast was for 10-14 foot seas in the Gulf of Mexico.

Santa climbing a palm tree at the resort.  He had a tough time in the wind.

During the night I got up to check on the fenders and make sure the wind had not rocked the fenders out of place.  I saw numerous flashing lights from emergency boats and a boat out in the sound that was on fire. It was aground out in the sound.  A fire-boat was spraying water onto the burning boat, but with the heavy wind it just seemed to intensify the fire.  There was also what looked like a part of a dock that was smoldering along the shore north of the marina.  Eventually the fire boat left when the burning boat was about burned to the water line.  When we left the marina the next morning this was what was left of the boat.

Our cruise to Fort Myers Beach was easy.  The wind was calm by Saturday when we left.  We waited until around 2:00 PM to leave when the tide was up.  The full moon and low tide in the morning prevented us from going any earlier.

Sanibel Lighthouse on the way to Fort Myers Beach.

Christmas wreaths around it are very festive.

View from the bow of Southern Style up the river at Fort Myers Beach

Full moon coming up Saturday night.

Walking the beach on Fort Myers Beach Sunday morning.  High speed ferry to Key West coming out the inlet in the back round

This would be a Florida snowman for most but also could be a Florida inuksuk to our very northern friends.

Sunset Sunday Fort Myers Beach

We are in the final push to Marathon.  One more stop in Naples, FL for the week between Christmas and New Year.  We will leave for Marathon on New Years Day (weather permitting).