Farewell Fort Myers Beach!


Parrot Key Bar & Grill (on the east side of Estero Bay in Fort Myers) is next to the Original Shrimp Dock Bar & Grill, down the bay from Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill, Dixie Fish Company and Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Café, and overlooks Salty Sam’s Marina.  Its buildings (Gift store, ship store, indoor and outdoor eating areas) are painted in Florida blues, yellows, pinks, and oranges and offer tourists Caribbean fare, t-shirts, photo-areas, nightly live music and Pirate Ship tours.  Because the loud touristy Parrot Key was closest to Velsignet’s moored location, and because one didn’t have to bold the creeping bumper-to-bumper traffic across the bridge to the “even more so” touristy Fort Myers Beach, it became our rendezvous point with visitors.

We’ve learned that nothing happens (especially when it's boat-related) without concerted efforts, flexible attitudes, and elements of risk—and this past week, friends made things happen.  We got together and they shared with us interesting conversation, hearty laughter, and open generosity.  Reflecting, we smile (and chuckle) at the awkward maneuvering required to dinghy four adults to and from Velsignet (we just about lost John Reese!), Brenda’s “toilet envy” (you’ll see what I mean in the photos), our “emergency” boat cruise for potable water (Jerry Fiat is for hire as an experienced deck hand!), how determination was not enough to beat the boys in “Smear” (Kevin Ross is a spoiler!), and how delightful and enlightening and inspiring was our downright rainy day shared with new friends (Tori Langheid Johnson’s enthusiasm for all things Norwegian is contagious!).


Farewell, Fort Myers Beach!  We leave the area today and begin our journey eastward on the Caloosahatchee River, past Fort Myers and Legacy Harbour (where we first saw and purchased our Mainship).  We expect to get good weather to cross Lake Okeechobee on Saturday and be on the East Coast Intercoastal Waterway a day after that.




We spent this past weekend with Ruth and John Reese, life-long friends from Crookston who now live in Naples, FL.

The Reeses and the Finkenbinders farmed next to each other. Our girls grew up together as if cousins. 
We knew each other's schedules, and enjoyed lake time as much as possible.

Our mail was forwarded to Ruth and John's home and in it, Brenda was surprised by this luxurious monogrammed towel from dear friend, Guy Falskow. 
Guy is ensuring Brenda will never find herself without a towel in the shower facilities again!

Brenda and Ruth....we just need Londa Christianson with us and our trio would be complete!

Okay.  In our guest bath, it was VERY NICE to get up in the early  morning and easily find what we were looking for....thanks to the novel night lighting!  Thus....toilet envy.  Brenda's already shopping to get this when we return to our Bemidji home (or is there one to be obtained for Velsignet?)

Mike, Brenda, Ruth and John.  

In the dinghy to visit the boat!

Meet Long Lake neighbors, Abby and Jerry Fiat.  Abby and Jerry are Venice, FL people in the winter months.

While having breakfast on the boat, the kitchen faucet went dry.  No water?  No worries for these guys!  With a quick check of boat systems and help from Jerry, Velsignet cruised to the nearest marina dock for a refill.

Isn't this a sweet picture?

Welcome aboard, Deb and Kevin Ross!  We tried, but weren't successful, to convince Deb to join us on the trip.  However, we know that if Kev was game, they'd be cruising right along with us!

Deb and Kevin at Dixie's.

Taking a selfie is evolving into a tradition when we meet friends.
It seems the best smiles show up when we do this.

The photo doesn't indicate the day, but the rain jacket do!  The rain, however, didn't dampen our fun with Mike and Tori Johnson.  Mike and Tori, from Grand Forks, ND are spending March in Fort Myers.  While Tori's and Brenda's parents are life-long friends, Tori and Brenda are at the beginning of getting to know one another. 
That our two Mikes were with us was a bonus!

Mike showing Mike the Aquamaps program that we cruise by on the Loop.

Mike, Brenda, Tori and Mike--sharing stories of travel, book recommendations, television favorites, our heritage and ancestry (especially the Norwegian side!), family memories, our Florida homes, and much more!

Brenda and Tori in the parking lot of the Parrot Key. (see the colorful buildings?)

Before taking off towards the Caloosahatchee River,
this morning Mike got the snorkle and goggles out to check out and clean Velsignet's hull.  

The water is about 75 degrees.  The depth here is less than 6 1/2 feet. 

As we went through the taking off checklist, the generator was in need of oil and an oil change.  So into the bilge he goes!


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