We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

It’s been a month since we checked in at Moss Marina in Fort Myers Beach. Suffice it to say, this was not one of our favorite spots. It’s a very cute town but they were too many tourists, rude boaters, loud “adventure” cruises running past our stern, and a disappointing lack of shells on the beach. Once we escaped, other boaters told us that Ft Myers Beach is only good for a couple days…uh, yeah, we agree.

Ft Myers Beach

Main drag in Ft Myers Beach

Christmas palm tree

Beach wedding

Another beach wedding

Better make sure you mind this navigational marker!

Lots of cute backyard inlets around the homes

Shells burrowed in a tree stump

Rainbow off our stern

Sailboat docked next to us

Tim & Kim on Taste Of Heav’n

Honestly, the holidays were tough. Without family, friends or snow, we both felt out of sorts and I was downright depressed. I understand why “snowbirds” don’t head south until after Christmas. In spite of setting up a small Christmas tree and a red bow on Joy Girl’s bow, we couldn’t catch the holiday spirit down here.

But we did have some highlights. Our guests included Mike, a long ago co-worker of Craig’s who lives here now. Gary (Craig’s brother) had a layover here so we spent a morning with him. Jude Rodrigues and his wife joined us for dinner on the boat- I knew Jude when we lived in Saudi Arabia and went to boarding school in Rome, Italy back in the 70’s! Our Colorado friends Greg & Leann spent the night on Joy Girl after Greg finished a business meeting in Tampa. Unfortunately, I missed them as I had flown back to home to see family and friends before their stay. Our friend Andrea from Colorado, who now winters in Cape Coral, also visited.

And we spent a couple evenings with our wonderful new boater friends, Rick and Rhonda, and enjoyed a great production of “Barefoot in the Park” in downtown Fort Myers with them. They lived in West Lafayette for years, where I went to Purdue back in the 80’s – AND, Rhonda went to high school with my best friend from college (and Matron of Honor) Deb in tiny Rushville, Indiana!

Krazy Kozak boys

Craig & Mike

Last saw Jude in the 70’s! High school and grade school yearbooks

Greg & Leann

Greg & Leann at the beach

Rick & Rhonda, at the show

My Colorado peeps!

Dinner with our dear friends at home 🙂

Gotta include at least one drone video….here’s Ft Myers Beach…

We are now on Captiva, a tiny barrier island just north of Sanibel, where it’s rumored (perhaps incorrectly) that pirates kept their female “captives” for ransom. Hopefully Captain Wrinkleface has better intentions for me…LOL. This is a time of relaxation, sun, fun and superior shelling at Tween Waters resort with friends and family coming to visit. Since I’m suffering from travel-weariness after going strong for almost 8 months this year, I hope to rejuvenate my energies during our two week stay.

In early February we plan to head across Florida through the Okeechobee Waterway, then north up the east coast to Hilton Head.

By March, we hope to “cross our wake” (e.g. finish our Great Loop) in Shelter Cove Marina on Hilton Head Island where we started our adventure back in 2018. The plan is fluid (as always in boating!) but right now that’s the goal. Hope all is well with everyone!