Week 3 (days 54-60) we actually did some cruising.

Day 54, Tuesday

Groceries run. It was a beautiful morning. It's about a 20 minute dinghy ride to Laishley Park.

From the park it's a 40 min walk, 1.7 mile, down to the grocery store. Then 40 min back. We have a hand-truck, so it’s not like we’re carrying things.

By 15:30 it was wind NW 9g15. This means choppy conditions in the anchorage.

So far, we've made 4 dinghy trips for a total of 52 min. Almost no measurable fuel use from the 20# container.

Day 55, Wednesday

We took about a half hour to dinghy our trash to shore. That was it.

Day 56, Thursday

Moved Red Ranger to take on fuel at Fisherman’s village. High tide is at about 17:00. We went it at 14:30 to enjoy the rising tide. We were back at anchor by 16:00.

Sadly, their water was not potable. (There was a boil water notice this morning.)

We checked the starboard water tank. We’ve been here 10 days (about) and used 50 gallons of our 100 gallons there. We haven't touched the port tank.

Anchored at 26°56′15″ N 82°4′0″ W

(Missed our previous spot by about 66 yards.)

Tomorrow, we hope to be bound for Cayo Costa to anchor there.

Day 57, Friday

Move to Cayo Costa. Started 09:30. Anchored 14:00 at 26°41′42″ N 82°14′16″ W.

It was chilly, and the wind was on the damn nose most of the way. Once we got out of the Peace River, we raised the main and yankee for the first time in years. Then the wind died to nothing. Died. I took a picture for evidence.

We motored until the wind picked back up in the 8-10g15 realm. Right at the limit of sporty sailing for us. But. It was on the nose until our final turn. Then it could have been a great sail for about 30 minutes. Hardly worth fussing with sails.

The park is mostly closed. The gulf-side beach is open. We think we’ll anchor for a few nights. There’s a secure anchorage in Pelican Bay, but, the approach has tricky-looking shoals. We anchored out where it’s easy; we can dinghy in to the beach.

Day 58, Saturday, February 1.

Dinghy to Cayo Costa was the idea. It’s foggy and chilly. It makes the dinghy trip an unpleasant prospect. Instead, we did little. CA researched the elusive Mangrove Cuckoo -- seen south of here. Once.

I sort-of patched the “rub strake” along the bottom of the starboard pontoon. The adhesive was ancient. This was near where I tried to patch the slow leak. It still leaks a lot of air. It’s good for an hour or two. We can’t go anywhere without the air pump.

By the time the weather warmed up, we had our main meal and called it a day.

Day 59, Sunday.

Hike around on Cayo Costs.
The park is officially closed. Folks anchor by the beach.

CA has been researching the elusive Mangrove Cuckoo. We are anchored near a small patch of undeveloped mangrove. While the bird hasn’t been reported here, there aren’t many birders making observations here either. There's a lot of "Suvivor Bias" in bird reporting.

The cuckoo was reported near the popular restaurant on Cabbage Key (3 miles S.) It was also reported down on Sanibel at the "Ding" Darling preserve. These are places where birders flock. So. It makes sense it could be here, but not reported.

CA played a recording of the call. The bird answered. It landed on a branch. It hung around for a while before flitting off into the undergrowth.

I heard it, but didn’t see it.

Dinghy-wise, we spent about 14 minutes, and saw no measurable reduction in our 20lb propane fuel tank. I'm loving the 5HP propane outboard.

Day 60, Monday, February 3.

Did more-or-less nothing. Tomorrow, we're going to move Red Ranger down to San Carlos Bay. Wind will be light, but from the north.