Took off Monday morning via rental car to Key Largo to go see our dear friends, Tricia and Tony, who hosted us at the Ocean Reef Club. Super interesting drive through the Everglades with tons of signs for airboat rides.

Upon our arrival, went to the pool for their famous Reef Cup (with a floater, of course!). Super yummy rum cocktail. Back to the house where Tricia made us an incredible dinner. Mike and I brought the party power ball which ended a very successful evening with some epic dancing. The views from this place do not suck.

The next day, Tony took us out on the boat to the lighthouse reef ~6 miles offshore. A perfect day on the water with flat seas and calm winds. We donned masks and snorkels and went for an incredible dive. It was like swimming in an aquarium. Saw so many beautiful fish, and some HUGE barracuda! Super shallow water, so you were totally in it. Gorgeous white and purple fan and brain coral. Tony found some gorgeous conch shells (he put them back, or course.)

Had an incredible visit with our dear friends. They live in So Cal, which made it even more special to rendezvous with them while we were in South Florida. Their son Donovan was also there which was a treat. Love them.

Took off in our rental car from Ocean Reef Friday morning en route to Fort Lauderdale. Our son Chris and his wife Katie were flying there from California this date in preparation for a Caribbean Christmas cruise. Mike and I hit a Bass Pro Shop to get some new masks, snorkels and fins for our upcoming Bahamas trip. Got into our hotel ~ 3:00. Very windy day with a forecast for some severe thunderstorms and wind later. View of the Atlantic from the balcony was stunning.

Mike and I walked to the W where Chris and Katie were staying to check it out before they got there (and, to get some walking in…o.k….and to have a beer at the cool outside bar.) Place had an unbelievable selection of tequila! Have not seen anything like this since leaving California.

We walked back to our hotel for a bit. When we knew the kids were close, we went outside to walk back to their hotel which was only about a 1/4 mile away from our hotel. It was lightly raining outside. I told Mike we probably ought to get a car because of the forecast. He said it was fine. Lo and behold, after a couple blocks, it started POURING rain on us. Thankfully, we had the kids’ Christmas present in a bag. We ducked under an overpass for about 15 minutes contemplating if we should head back, or call a car. The rain started to dissipate, so we ventured on. I was totally drenched. When the kids got to the hotel, we went to their room where I used their blow dryer on my clothes and hair. (Chris had an epic suite with a super bitchin balcony.) We went to a Cuban restaurant for dinner…when in Rome…then back to the hotel for a cocktail. Was SO great seeing them!

They took off the following day for their cruise. Mike and I took the long way back East so we could stop in Fort Myers to hit West Marine for some filters. Another interesting drive through Florida sugar cane fields, which are very different from Hawaii sugar cane fields. Since we had the rental car, we hit the Publix and did a huge provision to include a bit of beer.

Also got a ton of food as we will be venturing to some relatively remote places for a bit. Packed up the boat, and did some last minute laundry.

When we awoke this morning in Naples, we were totally healed over to port. Ultimately realized that there was an astronomical tide which was ridiculously low and we were sitting on our bottom. (Not cool!)

We had previously looked at the tides and figured we would leave around mid-day which we did. Really enjoyed this resort and marina. The staff were incredible, and the amenities very nice. Their lobby was so pretty for Christmas.

Took off from Naples Bay Resort around 11:30 en route to Naples City Dock to fuel up. A bit of a fiasco finding the fuel dock (Mike is totally to blame for this) and I ended up running aground. F*@#$%&$. Mike dropped the dinghy and tried to tow us, unsuccessfully. Then, tried to push us, also unsuccessfully. Ultimately asked me to drop the anchor, slowly, into the dinghy with about 35 feet of chain. He took the anchor 20 feet away and threw it over the dinghy. (We were stupid not to think of this initially.) He got back on the boat, and…I’ll let him finish…

***Inserted by Mike:  I’m to blame??? Ha! Mary is at the helm, and I’m running around, playing deck-rat with placing fenders and docklines…and did I mention that Mary was at the helm? And about the “We were stupid not to think of this initially…” uh, no…It was thought of initially; however, it was relegated to the “if all fails” category…and since Mary stuck us so grandly, I had to deploy the anchor & “kedge” us off in the end. So glad it worked…towboats are so damned embarrassing! Sheeesh! We later learned from the fuel dock employees that the area we were in was very shallow & the bottom consisted of oyster shells, etc. Explains the “ching, ching, ching” we heard the prop sing when we <briefly> put her in gear while stuck…<big grimace here> Back to Mary now:

So, after we fueled up, we set course for Marco Island. Lots more skinny water, but beautiful mangroves.

Although the winds were still up, the protected waters were calm within the GICW, with the exception of the wakes from the Florida (asshole) boaters.

As we crossed Marco Pass (where the water is open to the Gulf of Mexico above Marco Island), the waves were gnarly. There had been gales the prior two days, and still a small craft advisory today. We were fine, but the seas were a trip! We had to venture out a bit into the Gulf prior to making a super sharp U-turn in toward Marco Island Bay to avoid the shallow waters. Check out the below route we had to navigate:

The locals say Marco Island is like Naples, but more down home. I thought the homes here were just as stunning.

Dropped the hook in Smokehouse Bay in the midst of beautiful homes and condos. Had our anchor watch beer, then took off in the dinghy to a nearby dinghy dock. Tied up and took a walk through town. Beautiful area with so much near the dinghy dock! Hit the local brewery which was fantastic. Got back to the boat for sunset, and were treated to a lit up yacht going past our favorite house.

I couldn’t get a good shot of our favorite house because the sun was behind it, but this is what the sea wall in front of it looked like:

Forever Friday at anchor at Marco Island:

Our Christmas decorations (thank you Griffins):

The moon tonight:

Although we went aground on FF for the first time today, it was a great day. Loved Marco Island. Weather willing, will head toward Everglades City tomorrow. Cheers! M&M