20 May:  Karen K, Patty's Philly, and Manatee started 
out for the Bahamas on the 20th of May.  Our first
night was an anchorage at Pecks Lake just South
of the St. Lucy Inlet.  Winds were from the NE at about 10 to 15 knots. 
I was unable to get the Delta Fast Set to hold and after three tries
threw out the CQR which set immediately.  I decided to throw out two
anchors and also threw out the Danford.

The Danford felt funny.  It would seem to hold and then give way.  I
finally gave up and pulled it in.  It was very hard to pull in because
it had snagged a 7/16 anchor chain that was lost on the bottom.  I was
snagged in the middle of the chain.  I wanted to find the anchor on the
end, but it was so muddy and heavy I decided that it was not worth the
mess on the boat.  Sandy wondered what was on the other end of the
chain, perhaps a sunken boat?

The ocean beach there is very nice.  We dropped the dingy in and took
Buddy for his walks on the beach.  Patty and Sandy went shelling.

21 May: It was on to the North end of Lake Worth where we anchored
again.  This time the Delta anchor set immediately.  Holding was
excellent.  We anchored about 1/2 mile  from the North end of the Lake, 
but should have  anchored closer to the very North tip because there was
a small beach there under the A1A bridge where we took Buddy ashore.
A Publix was about two blocks west.  An uneventful night but the wind
was increasing.

The Gulf Stream was forecast to be 9 ft so we decided to go South to Key
Biscayne and wait for better weather.
 
22 May:  South of Lake Worth just North of the Lantana Bridge we saw a
real serious tragedy.  We were passing a North bound sailboat that
was not making way in the east side of the channel.  He waved at us
to slow down.  I waved back and did slow.  I asked him if he had a
problem and he replied that he had hit a piling and help was on the
way.  Then I could just barely see see the piling at the waterline
on the starboard side of the bow.  We went on since he said help
was on the way.  We should have stood by.  While monitoring the Coast
Guard communications we later found out that it was a marker
"I" beam (marker 37 ?)that a barge must have hit and knocked over,
even with the waterline.  The Coast Guard said that
5 feet of the "I" beam had penetrated the sailboat and they were taking
on water.  The Sheriff's boat arrived rapidly.  We couldn't help but
be glad no one was napping in the forward bunk when this happened


Going south through Boca Raton and Fort lauderdale was a
parade of Real Estate Excesses.


This night we stopped at the Sands Resort and Marina just North
of the Atlantic Blvd. Bridge in Ft. Lauderdale.  The main attraction
here was watching the people.  Quite interesting.

23-25 May:  The Gulf stream continued to be rough so we went to Noname
at Key Biscayne, hoping the waves would go down in a few days.

Noname is a hurricane hole in Bill Baggs State Park at the South End of
Key Biscayne.  You can tie up at the wall during the day, but you must
anchor for the night.  There is a nice hamburger grill at the head of
the
harbor.

We anchored and dropped the dingy in.  Phil Rogers ferried our bikes to
shore in his dingy so we were able to ride the one mile of bike trails
in the park and go to the store about 2 miles away for bread and fresh 
vegetables.

We arrived on the Thursday of Memorial Day weekend, but on Friday and
Saturday the winds were 20 to 25 knots so not many people braved the
waves to
join us.

We liked Noname very much and plan to return.

By now the Gulf Stream was reported to be 14 ft, and the winds were not
expected to drop for a couple of days.  We decided to give up on the
Bahamas and
go on down to Marathon Key.  We decided to plan a trip up the West coast
of Fl
if the weather got better.

26 May:  We cross over Biscayne Bay from noname to Dinner Key marina
(Coconut Grove) for a change in scenery.  Dinner Key marina is a very
large (over 500 slips)
marina near the Cocoa Walk shopping area of Coconut Grove.  We ate that
night at
"The Cheesecake Factory".  One guess what they have for desert at "The 
Cheesecake Factory".

27 May:  We cruised south through Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, Little Card
sound, Barnes Sound, through Jew Fish Creek and the many small sounds to
Plantation Yacht Harbor.  At plantation we did laundry and walked
Buddy.  
The city of Islamarada purchased the resort at Plantation and razed all
the
facilities (except the Yacht Harbor).  They have turned it into a city
park with
a large pool, sports fields, a skateboard park, and a dog run.  The
old restaurant has been converted into the city hall.  They have
put in pump outs at each slip and cleaned up the baths somewhat,
but otherwise the marina is still the same.

28-29 May:  We spent Tuesday and Weds at Faro Blanco bayside in
Marathon.  This facility has been allowed to go downhill and we probably
won't go
there again.  Its only advantage is that it is closer to to the West
coast than the
Ocean side marinas.  As usual we ate every breakfast at the "Stuffed
Pig", several blocks
North.
When we arrived at Faro Blanco the place was full.  Lost of boats
waiting for better weather.  On Tuesday the 29th the weather was a
little better 
and almost everyone but our three boats left.
That evening it was about half full, with good weather forecast for the
next day.

30 May:  The waves for Florida Bay were forecast to be less than 2 feet
with the same forecast for the next few days.  The weather was better
than forecast with waves just ripples initially, and no more than 1 foot
as the day went on.  Clear skies, very few clouds, except in the
distance over the land.

 We left for Flamingo at 10:50, planning to arrive at half tide since
the channel was expected to be only 3 1/2 feet. Our timing was good and
we arrived with 1 1/2 ft or so of tide and had a little over 5 ft in the
channel.  Manatee had requested the "T" dock and we had over 7 feet at
arrival and more than 5 1/2 feet at low tide.

Flamingo was beautiful.  The view out over Oyster Bay was outstanding. 
The little  store there was well stocked.  It was the only place I've
ever seen that sold 95% DEET insect repellent.  I bought a mosquito net
for my head.  We retreated into the boats with A/Cs on at about 6:30 PM
and did not come out again until 7 AM except to walk Buddy (with my
mosquito net, jeans, jacket, and gloves).  Again we had to time the Tide
to leave Flamingo, with over 5 ft or so.  Well worth  the trip.

31 May - 1 June.  From Flamingo it was on to Everglades City. On the way
we went in close to East Cape Sable.  Patty's Philly got her bow within
a few feet of the beach, with 5 or 6t feet under the keel.  Manatee
stayed about 100 feet off shore and had 10 to 12 feet.  We wished we had
dropped the dingy at Flamingo so it would have been easy to go ashore. 
The weather was still excellent with less than 1 foot waves and clear
skies.

Our stay at the Rod and Gun Club was very pleasant. Again we had to hide
from the mosquitos from evening through 7:30 AM or so.  Even so we
managed 
to enjoy dinner at the Rod & Gun Club.

2 June:  The low tide was 1 1/2 ft high today so we took the inside
route to the Coon Key pass past Goodland and through the Big Marco 
River.  In the past I have dragged for 200 ft or so near Marker 26 at
the Marco River Bride.  This time we had 6 feet or so at that marker. 
Good tide really helps.

We arrived at Coconut Island Anchorage around 11:00 AM on Sunday
morning.  Coconut Island is right at the Capri Pass and Big Marco Pass
entrance to the Marco River.  It is a 2 or 3 acre island created by the
shells that are washed up from the Gulf.  As a result the island is
white and many shells can be found on the Gulf side.  As an indication
of its popularity with the Marco Island locals, by mid afternoon Sandy
had counted over 75 boats either anchored or beached.  It was a very
family oriented crowd with many picnics and a few large group parties. 
By dusk there were only our three boats and two others still there.

3-5 June:  A short run up the inside to Naples through rookeries,
mangrove islands, and a narrow land strip between the channel and the
Gulf.

In Naples we are now back in the resort area.  Karen K and Patty's
Philly stayed at the city dock and we stayed at the Yacht Club.
The ladies went shopping at all the fancy shops and we all frequented
the Ice Cream shops.  Phil was having problem with the head and
repaired it with parts purchased from the nearby West Marine.

6-7 June:  On the 6th we went outside for a five hour run up to
Sanibel Marina.  Stephanie is the Dockmaster there and remembered
us all from our VBPS October Trips.  A most pleasant place.  Again
Patty and Sandy looked for shells.  A short ride to the lighthouse
early in the morning was very pleasant and lunch at Grandma Dot was
as good as always.  By now it was really getting hot in the middle
of the day so we all hid in the A/C on the boats until late afternoon
and then came out for snacks on the boats.  One thing to remember
about Sanibel Marina is that they give you each a muffin and a newspaper
in the morning.

We also took a long bike ride up to Dairy Queen for a snack and biked
back on Gulfside Road to look at all the homes.  Sanibel has
excellent bike paths.   Buddy likes them.

8 June:  Another 4 1/2 hr cruise past Captiva , Cabbage Key, Ussepa Island,
and Boca Grande an we arrive at Uncle Henry's Resort and Marina on
Gasparella Island.  The Marina has good docks, a restaurant, pool 
and a small store.  A nice bike path goes the length of the island,
which
is good for the marina is 3 1/2 miles from the town.

9-10 June:  From Uncle Henry's we went about 3 1/2 hours to Fisherman's
Village Marina in Punta Gorda.  Fisherman's Village is a rustic
semi-outdoor touristy mall with an adjacent marina.  The mall is full
of Ladies clothes and restaurants, (the food was good).  The marina has
excellent facilities, but is quite shallow with four feet of water over
four feet of silt.  When I pushed my boathook down it hit the mud and
just keep going.  We tried three slips before we gave up and just
accepted
the fact that we would be in the silt at low tide.

An excellent bike path goes from the marina to town, the Publix,
and West Marine.  In the same strip mall as the Publix is a nice Ice
Cream Shop that gives out huge cones for $1.99.  The best ice cream
 deal we found on the trip so far.

11 June.  On to Burnt Store.  A short run of 1:45.  A very nice marina
in the middle of the Burnt Store development.  Excellent facilities and
after Fisherman's Village excellent, clean water.  Again nice bike path
to ride around the development and take Buddy for his walks.

12 June:  Over the last few days we have circumnavigated most of
Charlotte Harbor and on the 12th we closed the loop on the south side
from Burnt Store to Pelican Bay and Cayo Costa State Park.

The crusing guides instruct you to go to marker 72 on the intercoastal and
then turn to 240 deg heading through Pelican Pass, favoring the
West side, near Cayo Coasta 1/3 of the Pass.  We went through at
1.25 feet of tide, with a minimum of 5.8 feet of water.  Thus
indicating 4.3 ft at low water.

Our plan had been to anchor in  Pelican Bay in 6 to 9 feet of water.
Checking with the Cayo Costa State Park Rangers we found we could
stay overnight at the docks, ($15.00 no power).

This place was as pleasant a surprise as Coconut Island.  It is
a natural 2,500 acre State Park with the normal Fla. plants.  There
is no development except for the Rangers houses, campsites, and 12 very
rustic cabins.  Access is only possible by boat with several
ferry providing transportation.  The park trails are oyster shell
and rideable (more or less) by bikes.

Again Patty and Sandy rode their bikes the one mile from the 
bay side docks to go the Gulf side beaches and searched for shells.
Phil, Roger and  Buddy rode (Buddy ran) to the Beach and then
about 1 1/2 or 2 miles up to the Cayo Coasta side of the Boca
Grande inlet.  It was worth the ride.  A beautiful view on a
deserted beach.   Buddy sat in the water until some near by dolphins
surfaced and then he tried to swim  out to them and I had to call
him back.

Of course the bugs are the downside.  You need to bring your
bug repellent.

I mentioned the cabins earlier.  They would be great for a week
vacation in late April, early May or Oct.  No power (i.e. no A/C),
community
baths.  But in a beautiful setting on the beach.

13 June:  Tween Waters.  A pleasant resort with a short walk to the
beach, or just the pool.  Nice restaurant also.  We watched
the otters play and steal bait from the fishing boats.  One
hopped up on our swim platform and then jumpped off.  Buddy
came unglued that some creature from the water attacked our boat.

14 15 June:  Not enough slips available at Tween Waters so Patty's
Philly went to South Seas Plantation and Manatee went to the
Captiva Island Yacht Club.  Karen K was able to stay at Tween Waters.

On the 13th Patty's son and wife arrived to spend the weenend on
Patty's Philly.  They joined us for drinks on the Manatee and
supper at the Yacht Club.

16 June.  Karen K headed for Ft. Myers and arrainging a crew
change while Patty's Philly and Manatee went to the USCOE
campground at Franklin Lock.  Of course the only bad rain was
while we were in the Franklin Lock, holding onto the ropes.

Karen K has swapped crew in Ft Meyers, but will not catch up for the
remainder of the trip.

17 June.  Patty's Philly and Manatee are off to Clewiston.
But first we have to run the gauntlet of water hyacinths in the
river just west of Moore Haven.  The More Haven Lock was unusual.
They had the far (East) gate shut but onened it as we entered the lock,
before we grabbed a rope, and then shut the rear (West)gate behind us.

>From Moore Haven to Clewistion we have to now run the gauntlet
of alligators.  We saw over 10.  Most were small, but one
was about 5 or 6 ft.

After 6 1/2 hours we stopped at Clewiston they asked "Do you have
reservations."  "Of course not" we replied, "there is always
room for a couple more boats at Clewiston".  "Guess again"
they responded.  So Patty's Philly got 50 gal of diesel and
Buddy had a rest stop, then off running to Indiantown.  Patty
called and made sure that we were welcome at Indiantown before
we left Clewiston.

5 hours latter in Indiantown they were almost full.  By dark
they were full.  Our last night's supper was Patty's goulash
and Sandy's pizza (from the Italian restaurant).

18 June.  We left Indiantown about 6:30.  We did see a monster
dredge working at the St. Luch Inlet but most of the
day was uneventful.  The one exception was a Mayday for a vessel
that was sinking just SE of the St. Lucy Inlet.  The report was
that all were rescued OK.

Finally we arrived at Vero Beach about 3:00 PM.  Then it was
boat cleanup time.

Roger and Sandy Caldwell