Football fan March trip

[FootballFan]

Ok, January trip did not do many photos, but after seeing the pic's from Alex, he covered the trip well.

My focus on this trip is pics and videos. Have the go pro charged up. Already being a pic-holic. Or a pic-alcholic.

Got here on Wed, getting ready. And there was the birthday celebration thing tonight.

Had made some inquiries over the past couple of weeks about transit north. As I have been watching weather, had decided we would be able to transit north on the outside tomorrow.

Will leave marina in the morning, go outside at baker haul over inlet, then turn north. Destination Stuart FL tomorrow night. Will hang there with some friends until we cross the lake on Sunday.

Plan is to go over to the west coast of Fl, stay there a few days. Then either go to the keys and do the Fl loop, or retrace over the lake. Weather decision next week.

Anyway - that's the plan.

Mark

 

[bahamabreisus]

Enjoy, cant wait to see the pics

 

[Gofirstclass]

Football Fan, what's your starting city? It'd be fun to watch your trip on Google Earth.

 

[cod]

Mark,

We were just at Boca Grande Marina on Tuesday and Weds. If your coming across, I would put that high on your list. The marina just did a complete renovation recently. It is prestine. They will rent you a golf cart so you can get around the island. Beautiful area......Boca Grande is a quaint little town with and old Florida charm......great beaches too......

 

[FootballFan]

Football Fan, what's your starting city? It'd be fun to watch your trip on Google Earth.

We started at our home marina, north side of Miami.

Outside at baker haul over inlet, then north to Stuart fl this past Friday. This is our second night at Sunset marina. Great place to stop.

We leave in the morning to go across the lake to fort Meyers. Plan is to be in fort Meyers when we stop for the day.

Working on getting pictures uploaded.

 

[FootballFan]

Mark,

We were just at Boca Grande Marina on Tuesday and Weds. If your coming across, I would put that high on your list. The marina just did a complete renovation recently. It is prestine. They will rent you a golf cart so you can get around the island. Beautiful area......Boca Grande is a quaint little town with and old Florida charm......great beaches too......

Looked at their website, definitely looks like something we would be interested in.

Have Monday and Tuesday nights booked at south seas. We have been there before and definitely wanted to go back.

Boca may have to wait for next trip over.

 

[h_gerry]

We leave in the morning to go across the lake to fort Meyers. Plan is to be in fort Meyers when we stop for the day.

Not sure where you planned to stay in Fort Myers. If I can make a suggestion, I have stayed at Tarpon Point Marina inCape Coral. Facilities are nice and it has a good restaurant. It is at the end of the Caloosahatchee River before entering San Carlos Bay and the Miserable Mile.

 

[FootballFan]

Exhausted - but a great day of boating. Left Stuart this morning, in fort Meyers tonight. Out of the marina at 7:15, pulled in the marina at 5:10.

First part of the trip went really fast. Went on past Roland Martins around 11 or so.

It was the last 40 miles that was the killer. Sunday afternoon, boats every where, about the time I thought I could back up on plane, then more traffic.

I was very conscious of wake in the narrow channel - so was slow.

Then the Manatee zones. Oh such large lovable creatures.

Why is we have slow until the 31 st of March, then can go fast April 1? Do the manatees go north for the summer?

Bridges. Today we went through bascule, swing, draw, and cantilever. This day was bridge training 101.

Great trip so far. Will create another reference thread with our transit times broken out by locks.

Mark

 

[FootballFan]

Exhausted - but a great day of boating. Left Stuart this morning, in fort Meyers tonight. Out of the marina at 7:15, pulled in the marina at 5:10.

First part of the trip went really fast. Went on past Roland Martins around 11 or so.

It was the last 40 miles that was the killer. Sunday afternoon, boats every where, about the time I thought I could back up on plane, then more traffic.

I was very conscious of wake in the narrow channel - so was slow.

Then the Manatee zones. Oh such large lovable creatures.

Why is we have slow until the 31 st of March, then can go fast April 1? Do the manatees go north for the summer?

Bridges. Today we went through bascule, swing, draw, and cantilever. This day was bridge training 101.

Great trip so far. Will create another reference thread with our transit times broken out by locks.

Mark

 

[Alex F]

Sounds like a great trip, Mark. Got to love South FL weekend traffic. :lol: i know exactly what it's like. Besides tons of traffic, it also a lot of fun watching boats of all sizes zipping on plane 10' away form you while you seating and waiting for a bridge opening. But hey, don't let the little things spoil your day. Just set your expectations properly and enjoy cruising in the boating capital of the world.

Have fun and keep us posted.