On Jan 3, we left Helen and Craig's dock and anchored out at Bimini Basin in Cape Coral. It was such a convenient location that we stayed for almost ten days. As did  Kirin, Ming, Shang and several other boats. A couple of Canadian boats were waiting for a good weather window to the keys en route to Cuba (yes, we are jealous). We discovered that we had several friends living around here, so we had the convenience of their cars when we needed it. We took the boat to Shell Point (near the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico) so the captain can take a dive to check the propeller. When we left our friends' dock, we felt some vibration when we gunned the throttle. Sure enough, a line was wrapped around the left prop.

Three weeks into the new year, we moved up to Ding Darling (a National Wildlife Refuge) on the southeast side of Sanibel Island. Our bird-watching excitement included spotting all the usual suspects - dolphins, brown and white pelicans, herons and various other shore birds. And something new - roseate spoonbills! Next day found us at the southern tip of Cayo Costa Island. Shelling is still supreme here despite Hurricane Charley's wrath last summer wiping out trees and eroding the beach.  

Next stop: Sarasota.  We were anchored in the open harbor where we rocked and rolled badly from the ICW wakes, but the charm, culture, and conveniences (excellent library and bus system, great restaurants and art galleries, to name several) of this lovely city more than compensate all that unpleasantness. Relatives came in from St Pete one day and we visited the Ringling Museum and toured St Armands Circle. A short jaunt across the bay took us to Otter Key, where we spent a night at anchor after picking up our friends Sienna and Rob and their 6 months old baby Pierce. We were lucky to catch the art festival here one weekend. It has got to be the finest one we've seen, and we've gone to some fabulous shows in Key West and Coconut Grove. The farmer's market on Saturdays was another highlight, as was the Whole Food Market, which we first discovered in Baltimore this past August. We would have loved to live in Sarasota, but the prices were just too pricey for poor boaters like us. 

It was time to leave (after 2 weeks here) when birds are eating their catch on your deck and bimini top! Ughhh. Did we mention that there are quite a few liveaboards here? It is reminiscent of Boot Key in Marathon before it was cleaned up. 

We took off for Longboat Key before venturing into the Manatee River to Bradenton, where we  rendezvous with several boaters - Honga, Moby Duck, Nirvana, Minden and Island Way - at Twin Dolphin Marina.