As we approached the docks of the Fort Myers Yacht Basin, we saw Pierre waiting to help us with our lines. Renee had flown home to Canada for a visit and wasn’t returning until the evening so we made plans to get together for docktails upon his return from picking her up from the airport. This gave me time to toss in some laundry and organize the interior of the boat which has become a mini disaster over the last few travel days when we were constantly on the move.
A few hours later, we grabbed some drinks and we headed over to Shoreline Traveller and were introduced to Jeff and Susan aboard Gran Vida. We all chatted and laughed about the unexpected trials and tribulations of boat life and Renee and I caught up as she showed me pictures of her beautiful family back home in Canada. We confirmed plans to meet in the morning to head to Fort Myers Beach for Christmas Brunch. Christmas on the beach was going to be a first for both of us.
I had managed to hide a few small “presents” to put in the Captain’s stocking and, as no surprise to me, he was elated to have more cans of his favorite snacks -sardines and dried seaweed. We weren’t supposed to be exchanging gifts, but he actually pulled one over on me and whipped out the seahorse tote bag I had been eyeing back in Canada. I think he was very pleased with himself as he knew by my smile he had gotten me the perfect gift…well aside from wishing he had installed auto pilot…but I certainly was not complaining.
Brunch was a delicious buffet at Lani Kai restaurant right off the beach overlooking the ocean. People had flocked to the area from all over and were definitely in the Christmas spirit even though the climate was far from the winter wonderland we were accustomed to.
The rest of the week was spent exploring the town of Fort Myers. We strolled with Renee and Pierre to the Edison Ford Estates and were pleasantly surprised by the massive grounds, architecture and preservation of the historical element of that age. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, being good friends, purchased winter homes next to one another and it was here that they hatched many of their groundbreaking ideas and inventions. The botanical garden where Edison grew various plants for experiments, as well as those planted just for beauty, was a testament to his vast intellect.
Realizing that one of the great resources we relied on for our weather forecasts, Marv Market, lived in the area, Duane sent him an email to see if he was interested in meeting for a drink as our way to say Thank You. We were happy that he accepted the invitation and we planned to meet him and his wife, Carol, later in the week at the restaurant Pinchers located at the Edison Ford Marina. And, to our good fortune, Debbie and Steve were docked at that very marina on Gypsies Palace. We had met Debbie and Steve on the sixth day of our trip (we are now on day 135) and we looked forward to catching up with them that evening. Gypsies Palace was even more spectacular than I remembered and we enjoyed drinks on the upper deck discussing how far we had come since the novices we were when we met back in Kingston, NY. They are a lovely couple who we relish the chance to speak with and gain any wisdom from that we can.
The afternoon that we were all headed to Pinchers to meet Marv in the evening, I had made plans to catch up with my old college friend, Karin, her husband, Tommy, and their two beautiful daughters at Ford’s Garage. Duane and I had already eaten at Ford’s and they hands down had the best burgers I’ve tasted since NYC – sorry “cheeseburger in paradise.” I hadn’t seen Karin since we met in the city months and months ago when this trip we were on was just an idea. Now that the dream had come to fruition and we had landed in Florida thousands of miles from where we started, it was so great to see them and laugh over the times we’ve had along the way.
Duane said meeting Marv was like meeting a legend and he was so happy to put a face to the name we had come to rely on day after day. He and his wife, Carol, were such a pleasant couple and diehard Packers fans. We were happy that the other boaters we were in contact with took the time to also meet him and we all had an enjoyable evening.
With the week almost coming to a close, we decided to go to the courtyard and listen to the band and have tacos from the take out window. That was one of the best decisions we had made thus far, as the tacos and loaded nachos were out of this world. I know Duane was making a mental note to schedule a return trip when we came back through town in little over a week to head through the Okeechobee Waterway leading us onto the East Coast.
Our last night in Fort Myers we met up with Renee and Pierre and had sunset drinks on the rooftop of Firestone, stopped by Izzy’s for oysters and strolled the courtyard. This was one last chance we would have to enjoy docktails together before we were off on our separate ways once again as we were off to Naples for New Years and they soon would be heading to Marathon.
And just like that, as quick as we arrived and Pierre helped us tie up, we were bidding them farewell as they tossed us our lines.
That afternoon we arrived at the Naples City docks after enduring 2-3 foot rollers out on the Gulf for the better part of the trip as well as typical Florida boat traffic which is basically chaos. Salty Paws was at a mooring, but leaving shortly to head South so we said a quick Hello and wished them safe travels. It was New Years Eve and we were meeting our friends Staci and Terrance to ring in 2020 at Terrance’s family condo on the ocean. To say the property was breathtaking would be an understatement. The “maid’s quarters,” which we had the pleasure to be staying in, was bigger than my old Manhattan apartment and had a bed more comfortable than any hotel. Terrance’s parents’ penthouse was grand and so tastefully decorated it could have been featured in a magazine. It was delightful to meet his family and soon we all headed off to dinner at Lamoraga Restaurant to continue the evening festivities. Duane and I were soon being served a four course meal that was definitely in a class way above the engine meals we were used to. When the meal came to a close, Richard, Terrance’s dad, insisted on covering the cost. It was way too generous and we were so thankful to be just included that we couldn’t thank them enough. Richard and Michele asked us all to come back to the penthouse and watch the ball drop and ring in the new year to round out the picture perfect day.
The next few days were spent relaxing on the beach, floating in the pool, having Mexican train tournaments in the illustrious cabana (which was actually three cabanas combined and, again, larger than my old apartment), eating like kings and basically being treated like royalty. We originally only planned to stay the one night, but being as generous and welcoming as they were, Richard and Michele opened their home to us for the next few days. We went to check on Bella Donna the third day and move her to a mooring while grabbing more clothes as well as our laundry which Michele so thoughtful suggested I bring back.
New Year’s Day we were again treated to an outstanding “recovery” brunch at Club Pelican Bay. They served everything from omelettes and pancakes to sushi, shrimp and steak to mention a few things. They also had a Bloody Mary “recovery” station being carted around to each table. We were in our glory! The donut tower with flavored dipping sauce topped off the extravagant meal.
That night Michele had made plans for all of us to go out again, this time to La Pescheria where again the meal was top notch and we were treated like family. Terrance’s son, Dawson, and the four of us stopped off for some drinks at Tommy Bahama after the meal and made our way back to the cabana for a late night cocktail.
If we were not being taken out, we were being treated to the best food poolside. Terrance was in charge of the barbecue and served up swordfish, snapper, filet mignon, ribs and crab cakes that could rival any restaurant and you couldn’t beat the view. It was definitely going to be hard to go back to our simple routine after the last 5 days. We were so thankful and blessed for the hospitality bestowed upon us.
