Ft. Myers Beach, Florida - Weeks 3 - 4

We have enjoyed spending time with great family and friends over the past two weeks! Carol, Charlie's #1 Sister, flew in from Fort Worth to spend 5 days with us aboard! It's so nice for her to chose to spend her vacation time with us and it was exciting to not only show her our boat but to also have her aboard as our VIP guest!  Carol so lovingly brought me chips and salsa from my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant in Fort Worth along with my favorite wines!! We enjoyed touring Thomas Edison's and Henry Ford's historic winter homes with her!! Also, Craig, Donna, and Dylan moored nearby and shared their time with us over their two week stay, which was fantastic! We hadn't seen them since earlier last spring along the east coast. They were one of our first "snowbirders" and Facebook Live Aboard group members who we traveled with for many nautical miles and shared many ports with. We also learned much from them, last spring, as they were well seasoned cruisers along the eastern seaboard and we were not. Garmin was instantly friends with their dog, Dylan, last spring and when they were reunited they remembered each other as if no time had passed! Fortunately, Craig, Donna, and Dylan were traveling with their friends, Allan and Geraldine aboard Stray Cat. We are grateful to now know them and enjoyed great times with them also. Sanibel Island was enjoyed with Carol, Geraldine, Carol, and myself. Beach-combing, shopping, and brunch was fun together! Between tornado warnings, we all had a fun beach day with Garmin and Dylan along with a Beach Bocce battle! Over the past two weeks, we have had to "seek shelter now" from two tornado warnings. Tornado's touched down and caused damage in Cape Coral and caused damage along, with loss of life, in Sarasota. We also battened the hatches from two additional strong storms causing gale winds and high water for over 18 hours each time. Fortunately, we are all good as are all others here at port. Additionally, we connected with a dozen other full time cruisers/liveaboards/ Loopers and enjoyed a dinner with all of us together! Our Looper friends, Marv and Connie, aboard Sadie Too, dinghy-ed over to see us as they are docked nearby! (I didn't have my camera handy).

Our travel map thus far.

We are, again,  featured on AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) Facebook page! Cool!

Garmin and Dylan being "Alpha Beach Bums".

Beach Bocce, Craig and Donna ruled the sands!

Garmin loves his dinghy rides This one is going under Matanzas Pass Bridge.

Our "Boat Load of Sushi"! Carol approved!

Garmin's "digging" the beach!

Snowbird, Full time Cruiser, and Looper Dinner on Fort Myers Beach! Big fun with great people!

Craig, Donna, and Dylan!!!! Woohooo! Great to see them!

Thank you so much, Donna, Craig, and Dylan, for Garmin's new Tote!! Priceless!

Happy Boat Dogs reunited and off-leash!

We love you, Dylan!

Sangria with Charlie and Carol!

Carol looks great on Fort Myers Beach Pier!

Ahhhh, Sanibel Island.

Donna and Geraldine on Sanibel Island.

Kay and Carol doing Sanibel.

McGregor Blvd. Thank you, Thomas Edison, for planting these Palms for the next 15 miles.

Historic Fig Trees at Thomas Edison's winter home.

Charlie and Carol at Thomas Edison's winter home, underneath the historic fig trees.

HUGE bougainvillea "shrubs". Mom, this pic is for you!

Thomas Edison's Lab.

Thomas Edison's Darkroom! How cool is this for this art major!?!

Shopping on Sanibel Island!!!!

Carol, Kay, Donna, and Geraldine enjoying Sanibel Island!

Dylan and Garmin at Happy Hour, Bootleggers Bar & Grill.

We "took shelter now" twice and glad we did. Tornado touched down close by at Cape Coral. Having the emergency "ditch bags" made abandoning the boat in a few moments notice profitable and easy breezy.

G-Man was never bothered with the high seas and tornado warnings!