Great Loop Adventures Aboard Next Chapter: Back to Old World Florida

Marco Island

Tuesday night we decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out at one of the Italian restaurants on 5th Ave in Naples. We did our usual and sat at the bar in this very trendy restaurant. People watching was at a premium. It is safe to say that the locals of Naples do not cook in their million dollar kitchens. They go out not only to eat but to be seen. We had a great meal and enjoyed the evening.

The Wednesday morning we decided to do a delayed departure so Sue could do some provisioning. Fortunately she was able to share a Uber with another Looper doing the same. By Noon we were off headed the short 15 mile cruise to Marco Island. There was a backup in the laundry department so we had to hike the dirty duds on the dinghy and then on the bikes to the local laundromat. While the clothes were doing there thing in the machine we rode over to the beach and took a long walk. We came across a whole flock of Skimmers, a local threatened shore bird. Marco Island isn’t missing a variety of shorebirds, but it is said that is missing a “soul”. It does not have any type of city center or downtown. Just one high rise condo after another. It was not our favorite Florida town but the skimmers were very much at home on the shoreline and our duds got cleaned.

LuLu Key

The next morning we headed out of port to run down the coast to LuLu Key located 37 miles south just inside the Everglades National Park in an area called “The 10,000 Islands”. It was a beautiful day on the water. The cloudless skies were deep blue with light winds and warm temps. We set anchor in a choke of a narrow channel with two Sandy keys on either side. The term 10K islands is accurate. Getting lost in the maze of islands is easy as one mangrove island looks just like the rest. We spent the day exploring and shelling on a couple of the remote beaches. The dusk sky looked like it was set ablaze followed by an appearance of the Milky Way.

Everglades City

On Friday January 13th, so that’s why the batteries went dead! We pulled anchor and went to port at Everglades City to the once famous Rod and Gun Club. The forecast was not looking good as winds were supposed to pick up just shy of gale force. We choose to seek better shelter as the mangrove islands provide some limited protection.

Even though it was only 15 miles we left first thing as conditions were deteriorating. Everglades City is know for its world class fishing, airboats and eco tours of the Everglades. Duck and boar hunting were also popular years ago. The Rod and Gun Club is an old world Florida vestige of that time. Unfortunately it has fell on hard times. Lack of funds to restore the building and significant understaffing of the restaurant.

It has so much potential for the right investor with a big vision. We enjoyed a drink there and then went to another waterfront restaurant for dinner. When we transited the channel coming into Everglades City Friday morning we found two spots where the water depth was right at 4.5’. Our boat needs all of that to not hit bottom. I was concerned about the winds blowing the water out of the flats leaving us trapped.

So Saturday morning we left early to take advantage to the high tide to get past the two low spots before the wind had a chance to blow the water out. That meant we had to find cover so we were reasonably comfortable and safe at anchor. Going down the coast was not an option as seas were 6-8’. Fortunately we were able to tuck into a narrow area in Russels Pass to weather the winds. Our night on the hook was comfortable although a bit chilly. We survived quite well.