Wednesday, 3/20/19, Boca Grande Marina, Boca Grande, Florida

Took a short walk-about through the lovely Boca neighborhood where the main mode of transportation is bikes and golf carts. Saw lots of beautiful large homes and darling small cottages. We stopped by “the” bakery but the line was way to long to wait (must be a great place). As we were walking back to the boat one of the neighbors we met on the dock yesterday came out of his home to wish us well and gave us lots of fun local knowledge. While checking out of the marina I asked the young gal who was helping us if she lived on the island and she said “no one who works on the island lives on the island” it’s way too expensive – I looked at a small studio apartment and it was $4,000 a month”. She said she bought a home 45 minutes away and paid for it all by herself.  She was so proud, she was beaming. As a retired Realtor I am so proud of her too.

Left the Island about 11:00 am for The Legacy Harbour Marina in Ft. Myers which was to be less than four hours away. It was still misting rain but cleared up soon to be a pretty nice day. A couple of hours out of Boca the water color changed from the beautiful turquoise-green to a not so pretty blue-brown. We did have a couple of dolphins join us again – I think they like our boat. They were so close and jumping so high I was screaming with excitement.

We arrived at The Legacy around 3:30 pm Wednesday and were guided to our slip stern in and facing the Okeechobee Waterway. This is a large marina with floating docks and 131 slips and is in very nice condition. The marina endured hurricane Irma and only a couple of boats were damaged according to one of the long-term slip holders. When we went up to check in – the walk from our boat to the exit gate was 485 steps – one way. I didn’t count the steps to actually get to the restrooms/showers. We definitely are getting our morning and evening exercise on dog walks.

The discussion regarding the cost for our stay went something like this: How long do you want to stay? We would like to stay for nine days but if there is a break in the rate we could stay for two weeks. She says ok– the rate is $13.00 per foot per week or $520.00 plus electric and taxes. If you stay nine days the rate is the weekly rate plus a daily transient rate of $2.75 per foot per day or $440.00 or a total for nine days ($520.00+$440.00) or $960.00 plus electric and taxes. But she says the best rate is the monthly rate which is $19.00 per foot or $760.00 plus electric and taxes. So I say, that sounds good – just as I hand her my credit card she says – But if you STAY on the boat more than ten days there is a “live-aboard” fee of $130.00…….. HMMM…  does that make any sense to you? If we “stay” on the boat?

Anyway, we did a short walk-about and found there is a Publix just a couple of blocks away as well as a nail salon and hair dresser so we can get some maintenance items done both on the boat and on humans. We also found the town of Ft. Myers which is very charming and historic with lots of art sculptures everywhere.

Thursday 3/21/19 through Sunday 3/24/19, The Legacy Marina, Ft. Myers, Florida

Our first order of business was to Uber to West Marine – six miles each way – to get our updated Navionics charts. Then we had lunch at a little hamburger place (Steve B’s) across the street from the marina where we met Bob who organized a bike ride, a few years ago, from Pacific Beach in San Diego California to Jacksonville Florida. He is getting ready to do it again this year and says he will turn 70 years old while on the ride. It took 41 days to complete. Wow, that’s amazing.

Needed a hair cut and color. For women changing hair dressers can be pretty traumatic. And extremely traumatic when you don’t have a referral. So, here is what I do – I Google “hair salons near me”, read the reviews and sometimes do a walk by then call for an appointment. Of course, when you get an appointment it’s with the hairdresser who doesn’t have a client (again pretty scary). So, I figured I’d have to be polite, pay the bill then wear a hat for the next four weeks. But I have been extremely lucky every time so far!

On Friday I called Rumours, a salon/spa on a boat on the water. How cool is that? They said Pat could take me at 2:15. So I walked to the salon and asked for Pat. Pat turns out to be a woman and a grandmother. Anyway, I was a little afraid this would be the time where I would have to bring the hat out for four weeks. I sat down and Pat went to work. Over the course of the cut I learned her granddaughter isn’t an infant – she was Miss Florida in the Miss USA Pageant. What a wonderful and amazing job she did. I was delighted! She definitely knows her business. Wahoo – another success story!

On Sunday morning I did the same thing for a pedicure which was also successful. Afterwards we walked to the downtown area and the streets were blocked off for a car show. There had to be a couple hundred vintage cars. Most in beautiful and pristine condition. Brought back lots of old memories. Had lunch in town then back to the boat.

Looks like we’ll be hanging out here at The Legacy through next weekend. Former SDYC members Ron and Mary Ellen Liethiser stopped by the boat this afternoon to say hi and they have Ron and Erika McCleave (SDYC members) visiting later this week so we plan to get together for dinner. Will keep you posted.