Fort Myers Beach, Pink Shell Marina

After a relaxing cruise down the Caloosahatchee River for about 20 miles, we arrived at Pink Shell Marina on Fort Myers Beach.  On the Caloosahatchee River, it's slow speed from the 41 business bridge to the power plant and that's because of the mass transit of the manatees.  After the first real cold front the Caloosahatchee gets a mass transit of the manatees up the river to warm up by the power plant.  Manatees need warmer water to survive because they have little body fat (I know, serious....they look like they are all fat) and their metabolic rate is slow compared to other marine mammals.  These gentle giants can’t live in water below 68 degrees for a long time.  We got skunked though and never saw a manatee all the while we were at Legacy, so all I have is a Manatee Zone sign!

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Other sites on our way to Fort Myers Beach.....
​We spied this Boat House as we passed Punta Rassa Cove.  It was out in the middle of the mangroves in this cove.  We weren't sure if it was someones residence or a tourist excursion destination. ;)

We passed the Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club (above) and went under the Sanibel Island Causeway (below).  The dolphins were playing all around this area.

We loved our view of the Sanibel Light House as we floated by.  

The wind picked up as we entered Mantanzas Pass and hustled by a windsurfer coming right toward us!

Approaching the beach side of Fort Myers Beach and Pink Shell Resort

We pulled into our slip at Pink Shell right next to Tom's dentist, John Flor!  John and Jackie Flor from Minnesota did the Loop many years ago and now cruise the Florida coast in the winter time.  As we made our way down the dock of this tiny marina we felt right at home after seeing several boats from Minnesota here....Stillwater, New Ulm, White Bear Lake, John & Jackie's boat Eu floria and one from St. Louis named Griffin!

I never got the chance to ask if they knew you, Cathy Schneider!

When we were at Legacy, it seemed we were always in the middle of a boat project.  The last few days since we've been here, we've done the regular boat maintenance, but taken the time to enjoy the resort pool, beach and spa!  We've both steamed and taken LONG showers (even shaved my legs!) at the spa which is a real luxury to a boater!

We've walked the beach every day, but today.  It's been raining all day and Tom cleaned the sumps (nasty job!) while I've been blogging.  The pic above is of the Fort Myers Beach Pier.  The area is very busy and traffic is at a stand still on the main drag this time of year as tourists from Fort Myers and Cape Coral desend on the beach.  It's been unseasonably cool and wet this last week, but we've still enjoyed our time at Pink Shell. 

The view of Sanibel Island from Fort Myers Beach.

There are several boats moored across the channel from us. We love the message on the bottom of the paddle board....YOLO

Friday we ubered across the bridge and had lunch at Dixie's and then walked to the Trico Fish Company.  They sell fresh seafood.  We loaded up on Pink Shell Shrimp and tuna.  

Tom with his beer cooler, I mean his fish cooler in front of Trico Fish Co.

Trico Fish Company replica shrimp boat

All the shrimp boats heading out to the gulf from Fort Myers Beach go right past our slip at Pink Shell.

​Friday night we whipped up a fun dinner with our fresh shrimp and pasta and veggies from the Farmers Market.  Tom hates postings of food, but I thought this was an exception considering we did it all on board in an electic skillet. ;)

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We had originally planned to head out today for Marco Island but Mother Nature had other plans.  The rain and wind would have made the trip today miserable, so we are staying put here at Pink Shell until Tuesday when we have a better weather window and we are going to bypass Marco Island and go directly to Marathon.  We plan to travel with the Flors to Marathon.  They have a 420 Cruisers Express and travel about the same speed we do. It's approximately 133 miles to Marathon and most will be done in open water on the Gulf again, so it will be nice to have a buddy boat to travel with.
Jackie and John have been very welcoming and hosted docktails last evening for us and another boating couple, Jim and Syl Simpson, who completed the loop in 2017.  We had a marvelous time!  Flors also invited us to church this morning in Fort Myers.  The service and music was great!
Tomorrow we are getting a visit from our friend, Ron Leu.  We worked with Ron at Jimmy's and he was incharge of sales in Minnesota.  He is now retired and lives in Naples.  We are very much looking forward to catching up with him!  
More Later~