I thought......

I am now HERE.

I got a visit from the Harbor Master this morning. He gave me heads up that the authorities will hassle me for being where I was. He said to go where I'm at now and I'll be ok.
To bad I am a couple miles from town access now.
I had planned on moving back here today to try for some protection from some wind thats on its way, so I have a couple days to fret before I try to finish some unfinished business.
Trying now to hook some crab trap bait before shit hits the fan.
It just goes to show , that just when ya think your doing ok ........

Finally! a nice relaxing day!

My day started paddling toward the Matanza Inn public dingy dock , when a nice couple pulled up and offered me a tow to the dock! 

I get ashore and get to the Post Office and walla!

My first ever Po box! 

address as follows.

Robin Wiest

P.O. Box 5024

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932

Since my other tasks were a ways away , I explored the area a bit .

I got some pix of some art and statues.

That's a relief conch shell up there.

I don't know if Ya'll can see the golden halo surrounding this or hear the angelic choir in the background , but I sure did! Magnetic quality of DQ is explainable and irresistible.

This golden statue had these kids' attention completely, probably because it is really a guy on a real bike that would burst into motion suddenly and the only noise he made was using a diaphram in his mouth for "speaking" and the bike horn! I got a good laugh of some of the other kids' reaction .

There was a LOT of people out today.

These flowering bushes are everywhere down here!

I also got to make a few connections by handing out a few business cards! hope they work ok.

I even got to take Kitty to the sand bar next to where I'm anchored! She ran and ran and ran a lil slower and slower lol I think she is a little out of shape! 

And that's the news folks! 

Matanza pass

I am now HERE.
Well the day wasn't a total loss.
I managed to get water and gas. I also got to empty my MSD(marine sanitation device).
Snook Bight Marina was really easy to access since the dock was inline with the current.
I also found out that there is a public dingy dock at the bridge here in Matanza Pass that is free to use but no overnight is allowed. The dingy dock thing has me really excited!
Tomorrow I get to go to the beach!!!! I have to admit , sitting here smelling all the food being cook along the water will have me hitting the DQ at the beach. I KNOW I won't be able to stop myself. I has been a few months since I've ate anything other than dried food and fish/crab....
Here is a shot of my front yard.

Matanza Pass seen from a shoal next to the mooring field.

Cleaning day.

I couldn't stand it . Had to wipe down the inside with some Lysol wipes in retaliation to the reemerging mold. While I was at it I got the chance to go through some things. Yeah I now have 2 really full garbage bags ready to go to a welcoming dumpster at my next stop.
I also had to re install my sun shield. Things are starting to warm up and stay there. Maybe it will rain so I can fill my jugs here instead of at a marina. I have discovered that city water is not very friendly to plants.

The poor ol cat boat in the background looks as if it's been there a while rubbing the trees. what a waste.

Blue crab land

I guess I'm back in blue crab territory again! 

Intra-coastal-highway

Click HERE for my location.
I stepped back into the ICW today. For what it's worth I would rather sail in a storm on open gulf  than run that stretch again.
Intra Coastal Waterway should be named Inter Coastal Highway !
I think the boats per minute passing one way or another was at about 3.
Now I realize this don't sound like much but this stretch of ICW is shallow and narrow .
The chop from boats on this frequency is a little  hard to deal with while under sail. Down right exhausting actually.
I tried to save a $60000 sailboat from running aground when entering Big Carlos pass but he had his radio on the wrong station. He finally decided to follow me after rubbing off some of his bottom paint. Belatedly BoatUS came along after hearing my calls on the radio, and approached the other sailboat to tell him where he needed to be and offer advice about the ICW depth on the inside.
The sailor broke a cardinal rule. he followed his chart instead of the channel markers.
Oh well .
No pix , sorry. same ol stuff as last November passing through.

A sign

Same camera direction as yesterday but with the tide out.
I had planned on anchoring next to that sand bar but changed my mind at the last minute....glad I did.
The specks you see are little birds standing.

Back at the dog beach!

Click HERE for my location.
The day started out great with the predicted wind from the east.....that didn't last long though , the wind laid and turned into a north northwest wind withing a couple hours.

Its kinda weird traveling along a route that I have been before. Since I left Bath , I was traveling a new unexplored world and did so until leaving Marathon to come north.
I see all the stuff I saw before with surprising accuracy.
Ironic that I can remember terrain details and current patterns but will forget what the heck I was talking about halfway through a conversation!
I now realize one of the perks to the Everglades that , while noticeable, wasn't flat out obvious, is that it's quiet there.
My present anchor spot  is next to a treeline that has a highway right on the other side. There is an airport close also...plus the boat traffic is incredible.
With out the immediate threat of storm conditions , I anchored in a different spot than last time here. I wont be here long enough to enjoy it though due to low water and supplies. A pump out wouldn't be a bad idea either.
I just snapped a couple pix for the sake of it.

 I transplanted my recently cropped plants, I am down to 1 green onion(I ate the rest)(started in Carrabelle, 1 sage plant(started in Bath, and 2 basil plants(also started in Carrabelle).

Here is the view! at least I can see the Gulf conditions before hoisting anchor!!

Northbound

Click HERE for my current location.
As I hoisted anchor today, I had an easterly wind as predicted , as soon as I reached the Gulf it turned into a northerly wind (only cause I was going that way i'm sure) , I was able to sail the day away but fell short of my target(the dog beach).
I reached Wiggins pass after sunset , amid some of the heaviest tidal current I think I have seen yet.
Skeeters about skinned me alive while setting anchor.
I did manage to get some pix today , but those folks on the beach has me beat I bet . I had the setting sun for my background and the folks on the beach(at least 50 that I saw) had their arms up in the "I'm taking a picture " pose. not to mentions the flicker of flashes that was happening at the same time.....
I would think that the amount of photo's that have been taken of me , that I would have seen some of them by now. oh well . maybe some day.

 I forgot I took the photo of the oyster with a face! Ever feel like your being watched?lol

 One of the smaller shacks at poor ol Naple's ....

 Average courtesy in Naples pass.

 AAAhhhh There it is! When I go hide from weather for so long I miss the Gulf....

A HUGE catamaran on a tour. Fully loaded to the max!


And theres the news folks! The forecast says SE wind tomorrow, I reeeaaallly hope they mean it this time!!

Low on LP?

If ya happen to find yourself low on cooking fuel and are down to dried beans , I have found that crushed beans cook a LOT faster! 

In Compliance

Collier county says I'm ok. 

Seems that I'm a popular fella....

Post front

It seems that the worst weather passed lost night with the leading edge of the cold front.
Now its just windy as heck. 24 hours of this and things settle down a lot.
Then it's waiting for the North wind to turn.......as near as I can tell it will be Monday when that happens.
I foresee more oysters in my near future! mmmmmmm

Uh oh !

The next 36 hours text forcast....

THUNDERSTORMS: THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS. THERE IS ALSO A VERY LOW
THREAT OF WEAK TORNADOES.

TORNADOES: WEAK ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTH
FLORIDA FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. THERE MAY BE
A SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCE ALONG THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS.

WATERSPOUTS: WATERSPOUTS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING ACROSS ALL SOUTH FLORIDA WATERS.

WIND: GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR MAY OCCUR IN STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. THERE
IS ALSO A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. IF THEY DO
WINDS MAY REACH UP TO AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR WITH THESE STORMS.

HAIL: SMALL HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT
DEVELOP THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

WAVES: WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO BUILD ACROSS THE REGIONAL
WATERS LATER TONIGHT, WITH SEAS TO NEAR 7 FEET POSSIBLE ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC WATERS LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY TO DROP INTO THE LOWER 40S LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING ACROSS GLADES, HENDRY AND AND PORTIONS
OF COLLIER COUNTIES.

Well! this ought to be enlightening....

Treats!

Well the day wasn't a total waste so far! 

I decided to get some grub before the wind picked up and the boats started Rollin! 

After steaming about a gallon of these I'm not so unhappy with my present location . 

Naples,FL

Well I am now at the north end of Keywaydin Island near Naples. 

I had a decent day sailing until I entered the channel from the Gulf. Let it be said that I would rather face a SCW on open water that endure the boat traffic in the Naples area again. 

Unfortunately I have to go out the way I came in . 

Maybe ill have the wind with me while exiting , make it faster like pulling off a band aid !

Ill be setting on bottom here when the tide leaves but that's better than on the rocks from inconsiderate boaters wake. 

So bring on the next cold front and get it over with! 

            I wanna go swimming!

Keywaydin Hero

I hear a shout , not of enjoyment or excitement , but concern. I step out of the cabin and look astern to see a man in the water with a hypalon dingy circling dangerously close.

After seeing the boat circle it's way away from the swimmer/ evacuee, I got the camera out and got Video of the rest of the situation! Click HERE  to see video.

By all rights the Hero should have rescued the man in the water for obvious safety reasons but sometimes we just react and things come out right! 

While sometimes the best intentions produce the worst results , this was not one of those times.

progress

Still hanging out at the beach. Getting caught up on the Rookie Sailing South website. Nothing new goin on except for normal Florida weather !

work some play some

I am now HERE.
After finishing the hull scrape and washing the sides down. I was able to catch the tide and the wind just right to do a mid afternoon relocation .
It is amazing how much more responsive DAWGFISH is with a clean hull.
So along the way I snapped some pix of some nesting ospreys. These raptors really appreciate how we install all these nesting poles everywhere....

 The one above was not happy about me being so close . They can make some noise if needed!

I have been wondering where all the driftwood is.....

Nice day today!

Finally! sand beach!

 yes! run Kitty run!

                                                   oh ! hello there!

 busy beach!

The traffic in and out of Big Marco river was mesmerizing!
Well I almost got done with the hull scraping thing. Will finish it up tomorrow hopefully with a wash down from the rub rail down.
I will have to clean the top else where due to how it turns the water so white.

Google Maps engine

I have been recording my route using this cool map engine by Google.
The Route of Dawgfish.
click the link above to see an up to date map.

Boat food

These are Lil cheeses that are encased in wax and don't need refrigeration ! 

My dairy deficit is almost solved!!

Laughing Cow cheeses rock!

Winn Dixie

This is one of the coolest trips to the grocery store I have ever made!

First  a guy and his 2 kids stopped to say hi and ask if I was really from IL. His name was Dave and had traveled from the Quad cities enroute to Marathon in (yet another) federally documented vessel, a trawler in this case. 

We chatted for a bit and he was goin my was so I managed to get towed in my dingy to the Winn Dixie Dock! 

Yup ! This grocery store has a dock! 

Thanks to Glenn and Joann Dean that I even knew about this place! 

I probably would never have went back in there so far . It was worth the trip! 

OOOOOOHhh yeeeaaaahh

What a great day! I am now HERE.

 Is that? could it be? OMG! That's a BEACH!!!! While I didn't go over there this evening due to chores that took till the noseeums came out . I have every intention of swimming my happy ass around this place! As I am sitting here typing , the deafening  noise from all the crabs below sounds like a hundred ol school typewriters hammering away!  yeah .... will either dream of eating crab or being eaten by crab....

 above is a typical Marco Island allyway!

  (above)Standard living quarters here....some of these poor lil fellers don't even have grass....

 Really?

 Smokehouse Bay

The entrance of where I am at now! Super protected from about everything here!

Stung

I just got stung while fiddling around on deck. First time I been stung for a looooonnng time ! Youch !

Back at Marco Island!

Civilization at last! For better or worse matters not. I won't see the Everglades again if possible. That's why I'll be celebrating tonight!! 

Finally got enough signal

I am HERE. on 2-1-14

I think I have enough signal to post some pix from my recent Everglades excursion. So here ya go!

 I supposed Shark River has it's own sort of dead beauty....

 This was a nice boat, tried to hail it but no answer.

 This ol salt came to visit after he got settled in. His ship is federally documented only and he was headed to Marathon. I mentioned the issues Monroe county has with federal documentation. I wish him luck!

 jaws

jaws

jaws
---------------------------------
ok next are some pix of First Bay.

 Well .... one of us got excited here...

 Intruder!

 As you can see I had some time for reflection.....

 Anchored in the sky!

-------------------
Next is Second Bay.

 It was cold enough to make it pancake weather!

These happened to be reinforced blueberry pancakes! They were so good they didn't have time to cool off before they were gone!
Ok ok I did get full half way through the batter. I cooked em all up for later and boy o boy! I put PB and raspberry jam on em and WOW! cant wait to try em again!
------------
Next is traveling in the" 5-10 mph" wind that was forcasted....

 Sometimes you can't tell where the ocean meets the sky!

 I have only seen the Gulf this calm once before.

I got a sunburn this day and was wearing 2 layers of clothes by dark!
------------------

I got into some fog when at Kelly Key. had to wait about 2 hours so I could see past 30 ft!
------------------

 It's not as good as real life, but the yellowish trees here show the freeze that hit a week ago....

 On watch.

I absolutely HATE catching these things! eels...mean as hell. can bite through a glove I bet. Didn't test it. They grab your hook and really wind themselves up in your line so bad ya gotta get out the "rope wrench" (knife). Did I mention the slim? yeah that shit gets EVERYWHERE! yuck!

 I don't know about these folks......It seems to me that canoeing through a shark infested, snake filled, gator riddled, spider packed, skeeter clouded and noseeum clogged swamp AT NIGHT , will not be on my list of things to do ,,,,,, ever.
----------------

Stone Crabs!

 Best eating  I have found yet!

We are trying to train patience skills.....it's slow goin .......
---------------
And there ya have it!
Presently at Coriander Key within a few miles of a marina that I hope to make it to tomorrow.
Weather make not let this happen till Tuesday.