Fun with friends in Cape Coral!

 Monday, Jan 12:

Wes got up and did some computer work.  I started working right away.  Then around 1000, Wes took the dinghy over to Merle and Tima's as we did a Walmart delivery.  Wayne joined him and they explored on the scooters a little as well while Karen and I worked.  They went to Tarpon Point Marina and Wes made our reservations for when we will pick up and drop off my parents.  Then we all got in Wayne and Karen's dinghy and went to Merle and Tima's for a wonderful dinner.  It was well after dark when we got back, but we relaxed a bit watching TV then we went to bed.

 

Tuesday, Jan 13:

We both got up and did our respective bible studies, then I worked all day.  Wes and Wayne took Wayne and Karen's bikes to Merle and Tima's.  Then after Karen and I were done working, we all went over and got on our bikes/scooters and explored.  Karen and I went and had pedicures done while the boys enjoyed went to West Marine then went to The Dive for a beverage or two.  We met up with them and also enjoyed a couple beverages.  We were joined by Ramble On and Lemonade as well as friends of Wayne and Karen's, so we had two tables full.  We went back to Merle and Tima's for a short visit.  Then we got in Wayne and Karen's dinghy and had a few more beverages on Lemonade.  We definitely got stuck on the fun wheel!  We got back to the boat late, but sat up with the generator running to charge the batteries before we went to bed.

 

Wednesday, Jan 14:

Neither of us was moving very fast in the morning after being up well past our bedtime, but I got up and started working.  Wes stayed in bed sitting up watching TV for a bit longer.  Our friends on Knot on Call arrived.  They needed a battery charger, so Wes went and picked up Rod and took him to get our scooters and they went to the hardware store.  When they got back, we hosted anchortales.  It was a great visit!  It was a quieter evening and we all went back to our boats around 1900.  We stayed up and watched TV for a bit, then went to bed.

 Thursday, Jan 15:

I got up and started working.  Wes did some computer work, then all the "boys" from all the boats went into Merle and Tima's to meet up with Pete so they could go to the discount marine stores and grab some lunch.  Wes came back with some goodies.  He picked up the harness system he'll need to attach to the mask so he can use it to put the dinghy on the aft deck, he picked up stairs that attach to make it easier to climb onto the bow (and where it'll attach by our side gate to make it easier to get on and off the boat, along with some other smaller items.  It was a WINDY day so we didn't all get together for anchortales, but we invited Our Journey over for dinner and drinks and they are leaving tomorrow.  We had a nice dinner and visit then said "goodbye for now."  Then we relaxed watching some TV then off to bed.

Friday, Jan 16:

It got cold overnight (in the 40's), so when Wes got up in the morning to turn the generator on (around 0500) , he also turned the heat on the the cabin.  We laid there being lazy for a bit before we both got up and moving.  I went up to the flybridge to work and Wes turned the heat on in the salon and also made us breakfast sandwiches.  Our Journey took off around 1200 (low tide was at 0900 and they needed to wait for the water levels to rise so they could get out).  Wes did oil changes on the generators.  We enjoyed anchortales aboard Knot on Call.  We went back to the boat, relaxed a bit, then off to bed.

 Saturday, Jan 17:

We got up and got things organized, then got in the dinghy and went to the farmer's market with Knot on Call and Lemonade.  We all got some goodies and the farmer's market, then a quick stop at The Dive then back to our boats.  We did our own things for the mid-afternoon, then all went over to Lemonade for anchortales.  Ron on Inspiration and Vinny and Sylvie on Water View joined us as well.  We enjoyed some drinks and lots of snacks.  Then we called it a night and went back to our boat.  

 Sunday, Jan 18:

We made plans to hang out at The Dive as they had a special for bottomless bloody marys or mimosas and all you can eat sushi.  So we all dinghied over to the little dock at the park and walked to The Dive.  Donna and Dave drove over as well and joined us.  It was so good catching up with her.  The drinks were flowing and we all had more than we usually do, but a good time was had at The Dive!  We walked back, got in our dinghies and then continued the fun on Knot on Call where we did some karaoke.  It was a very fun day and night!!  We went back to our boat and then crashed!! 

 

Calgon, take me back to sunshine and short pants!!!

 Monday, Jan 5:

Our last full day in Illinois.  Wes drove in with me as I needed to go into the office and he spent the day with a friend of his the lives close to my office.  After work, I hosted a happy hour for a client, then Wes came and picked me up and we went back to my parents house.  My sister and sister-in-law came over as well and joined us for dinner.  We played some cards, then I went up and started packing.  Then we relaxed a bit before bed.

Tuesday, Jan 6:

We got up and started getting all our stuff together.  My sister arrived around 0730.  We visited a bit then headed to the airport.  We got through security and waited for our plane.  All went fine.  Jim Healey was there to pick us up.  He took us back to the boat where we dropped our stuff, turned on fridge and AC on, then he took us to the store to provision.  We grabbed our fresh stuff, then back to the boat, where we put everything away.  Then Dave and Julia swung by and picked us up and took us to The Boat House for dinner.  It was a great visit!  Then back to the boat to relax a bit before bed.

 

Wednesday, Jan 7:

I got up and started working.  Wes did some MTOA stuff and computer work.  Then he took his scooter and dropped off some mail and went to the hardware store. Then he came back and installed our "ceiling fans" in each of the state rooms.  When I was done with work, we both got on our scooters and did another hardware store run and stopped for ice cream.  Then back tot he boat for dinner, some relaxing watching TV, then off to bed.

 

Thursday, Jan 8:

I setup to work on the flybridge.  Wes did some computer work.  After all my work calls, we got on our scooters and stopped at CVS to pick up a prescription and Ace to exchange a CO2 cartridge.  Wes sprayed down the boat and filled the water after we got back.  Then we enjoyed dinner on the aft deck until dark and the bugs came out.  Then we went inside and watched a little TV then off to bed.

 

Friday, Jan 9:

Time to move again!  We got up and loaded the scooters on the boat.  Then I started working while Wes got did some work and got the boat ready for travel.  We dropped the lines around 1200 and headed towards Bimini Basin near Cape Coral where we plan to anchor for a week or so.  We dropped the hook around 1515 and got all settled in.  Then after I was done working, we dropped the dinghy and went to Merle and Tima's dock (previous owners of Toscana) to have a nice visit.  We met their daughter Gloria and some of their neighbors as well.  Then we went back to the boat, where we had a late dinner, relaxed a bit then off to bed.

Saturday, Jan 10:

We got up and relaxed a bit.  Then we made a big breakfast (breakfast burritos) and dropped the dinghy with our scooters to head to Merle and Tima's.  We visited with them a bit, then got on our scooters and went to Pete and Cheryl's place down the road.  We walked to the farmer's market and got some fresh veggies.  The we went to The Dive and had a couple a beverages to cool down as it was hot out.  We walked back to Pete and Cheryl's then road our scooters back to Merle and Tima's.  Then we loaded up on Merle's pontoon boat with Gloria, their neighbor Sarah and her daughter Avery.  We did a nice little cruise on the river, then back to their place.  Our Journey showed up at Bimini Basin as well, so they dinghied over as well and joined us.  We had a nice visit and they got to meet Merle and Tima.  Then back to Toscana, where Wayne and Karen brought over stir fry which Wes cooked up on the blackstone and we enjoyed dinner on the aft deck with Our Journey.  They left as the Bear/Packer game started.  We stayed up and watched the entire game, which went well past our bedtime.

 Sunday, Jan 12:

We were a bit lazy in the morning since we went to bed late.  It was already a hot one, so we decided it would be a good beach day.  Wes went to talk to Merle and let him know our plans, while I gathered our stuff.  We loaded up the dinghy's and headed to Cape Coral Beach.  Our Journey did the same.  We were there for 2 hours then someone came over and said we couldn't park our dinghies there, so we loaded everything up and went back to our boats and left our beach stuff, grabbed the gas can and headed back out.  We went over to Tarpon Point Marina, filled our gas tanks, then explored some more near RumRunners.  We found another nice basin we could use as an anchorage then made a stop at RumRunners for a beverage and a little snack.  Then back to our boats.  Our Journey came over for some anchortales.  It was dark and we were getting tired, so they went back to their boat, we went inside and watched a little TV, then off to bed!