We departed Marathon at first light on Saturday, December 17 -- perfect weather conditions and Ivory Lady was a Perfect Lady! Lots of crab pots for the couple of hours and then it was hours of glorious weather and calm seas. We had intended to stop at Marco Island, but we decided to take advantage of the weather and continue -- went 141 miles that day and made St. Charles YC in Ft. Myers just before dark.
The following day, it was off to Bradenton Yacht Club, where we had an unplanned connect with cousins, John & Trudy Horigan. The next morning, great friend Bill Wanless arrived (as planned) with son, Ben and daughter, Hannah Rose -- and lunch -- for the trip to St. Pete with some fishing along the way.
We are blessed to have so many great friends that we were able visit during the next week. We docked Ivory Lady behind good friends, Bob & Shar Fillingham's home, who unfortunately were away for the holidays. They also opened their home and their car for our use -- which we used all over the place for several days. We did our shopping "in civilization", had dinner with Art & Tricia at the home of Willy & Caryn, had lunch with Susan & Samn, dinner with and then a "send-off" for Bob & Barb Sammis, lunch & boat ride with Mari & Kris and culminating with a fabulous Christmas Eve at the home of Kelli & Don Hoy with their parents, Willy & Caryn Bain.
Bright and early Christmas morning had Ivory Lady heading back south. First stop - Bird Key Yacht Club in Sarasota for Christmas afternoon & evening with John & Trudy. Willy and Caryn aboard Touch N Go cruised with us -- actually, we leave before them, they pass us and arrive at our destination ahead of us! From Sarasota, we headed to Boca Grande for three nights, up Charlotte Harbor to the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda for one night and then to Ft.Myers in time for New Years.
A highlight of our travels was a tour of the Edison & Ford Winter Homes in Ft. Myers -- what a delightful and informative several hours. We stayed at Royal Palm YC, which is right next door to the Winter Homes -- it was extremely convenient and beauatifully lit at night for the holidays. New Years' Eve culminated our travels with our dear friends, as Sunday morning we continued south and Touch N Go headed back north. Sunday night was Marco Island and an opportunity to reconnect with Lyn & Dwight Penn, who live in Naples. Lyn & I began a lifelong friendship 32 years ago in Columbus OH.
Our final day on the water had us departing early Monday morning, knowing that a healthy storm with high winds and potentially wicked seas would be in Marathon by nightfall. We had a glorious day with calm waters, arriving in Marathon early afternoon and secured Ivory Lady for the storm to come.
We had a fabulous trip, Ivory Lady was a Lady thtoughout the journey and we are thankful to be home and ready to begin an exciting 2012!
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