Florida Bound !!

Florida Bound!839 Land Miles...Aurora, NC to Punta Gorda, FL...2.5 days

44.7 nautical miles...Punta Gorda, FL to Cape Coral, FL...5:40 hours

The crew of Lab Partners left home, traveled 839 miles in 3 days and arrived safely Jan 16th, in Punta Gorda, FL to resume our Great Loop. If all goes as planned we will "cross our wake" at Lady's Island SC; thus completing our Great Loop in late March or early April.

We did have the engine serviced before we left…here she is in the shop! We actually had the trailer serviced, too … right after we blew a tire in the water on a boat ramp. SO, 4 new tires and the bearings checked before we haul to FL!!

Trailering the boat, a Rosborough RF-246, behind our F150 isn't for the faint of heart.

So, Rip drove!!!

We stopped the first night in Hardeeville, SC.

The second night was Lakeland, FL.

Arrived in Punta Gorda, FL early enough to splash the boat, get her in a slip, get most stuff inside reorganized so we could sleep that night and stored the trailer. Three long days for Rip with lots of work, but safe, sound and back on the water.

We wanted to go back to the same marina, Laishley,

where we were staying last Dec/Jan, but they were booked. We opted for Burnt Store Marina. Very nice facility with great staff, heated pool, laundry and shower facilities nearby. But not near stuff like Laishley. However, with our truck it was easy to provision and go visiting! At the end of the stay here we will store the truck and continue cruising the Great Loop.

First few days were still organizing this smaller boat and

figuring out

where everything can go so we don't have piles of stuff in the way. Also, learning how much fits in the smaller refrigerator.

Tuesday night was quite fun. Loopers Gil & Yvon, Canadians who stopped at our dock in NC as they were finishing their Loop, have a winter place in Fort Myers.

They came up to our marina and we all cooked out by the pool. Well, Yvon cooked the burgers!! What a blast to see them again. Lots of conversation and some tips for the area!! Marina has quite the set up for boaters with a covered area by the pool with grill, separate flat gas griddle, ice maker, refrigerator, tables, chairs, couch. Very comfy.

We extended our stay at Burnt Store Marina a few days due to weather. This allowed us time to go visit with friends,

Kit & Lynda Traverso; we haven't seen them in 20 years. Rip worked with Kit 30 years ago. We met them for an extended lunch at Rum Runners in Cape Coral. We each brought our dog as they have a pet friendly covered patio. It was a blast catching up with them.. just like old times.  Though it sort of rocked our world to see a pic of their (now) 37 year old son. I swear we all aren't that old.

The last few days were busy re- provisioning the boat to start cruising and heading south.

Saturday, Jan 26, we left Burnt Store Marina and headed off to Cape Coral to visit more Loopers we met on the Loop off Lake Michigan.

They have a pier behind their home and have a great set up for visiting boaters. Probably too nice, it will be hard to leave tomorrow morning. Barb and Dave Reinken, MV Hallelujah, cooked dinner for us Saturday.

Barb, also, made an amazing Cherry Pie. We cooked ribs for dinner for them Sunday night. Well, Barb did most everything but it was her kitchen we needed to use to do ribs. We can't cook ribs on this boat.

Cally and I walked with Barb this afternoon around the neighborhood. They have Burrowing Owls, here. When they are nesting you cannot cut the grass around their ground holes and wooden perches are set so they can hang out. Evidentially they hang out in the early am, not when I was taking a photo.

The weather didn't allow us to leave today, Monday, Jan 28th. We are staying an extra night and will leave in the morning and head to Marco Island.

Another Loop boat is coming in this afternoon. Looking forward to meeting the folks aboard Lark.

Catching Up with Lab Partners; Boat Guests, Boat Projects & a Hurricane

Dec 11, 2018

It’s been a busy time; the months have flown past. So much, it is almost time to take Lab Partners (2.0) to Florida and finally finish our loop!!

But first – we have had a lot of boaters visit us by water and one by land! Boat Projects & the Hurricane in my next post.

We are not close to a major highway; almost no one comes by car. Being just off the AICW (Atlantic Intra Coastal Waterway) we do get our fair share of boaters to stop by and spend the night (or two) at our pier. We truly love having boat guests – they hang out with us, have a docktail and appetizer and then go back to their boat for the night. No fuss no muss!! Everyone has their own space and privacy. Bonus, no bed linens to wash for afterwards!!

New friends on their FIRST day of The American Great Loop

Old friends and multiple boats were a common thing!

Sometime it was dinner at the house.

Repeat visitors, this time in a trawler not the sailboat from 2 years prior

Canadians, we first met in Michigan, now towards the end of their Loop. We will go visit them in Canada!!A fellow Monk owner, who just so happened to need a part that Rip was able to fabricate for him while he was here!

Buddy boats traveling together

One boater came by car and stayed at the house while their boat was being worked on. Though we had been following each other (blogs/FB) for our entire loop (both starting from NC) we did not catch up until NY (for a split second) and then finally again in Punta Gorda FL.

We visited Loopers in Oriental NC when their schedule didn’t fit with stopping at our pier. We aren’t always convenient for scheduling but we’re free.

Cally LOVES boat guests, even more than us!!More Canadians!!!

We had the opportunity to meet new owners of a boat we used to own. It was wonderful to see her in such great hands and see how fabulous she looks again. We hope to see them (and her) again when we are in Georgia in March/April.

Some folks we didn’t know until they arrived at the pier. Through the network of AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Association) we are Harbor Hosts and have a private way to list ourselves and the availability of the pier.

Sometimes we had THREE boats at a time. Buddy boats Firestorm (the Paramedics), Gypsie's Palace (Pee Daddy & crew) and One Eye Dog (the rescue boat from the Benjamin Islands) all arrived at the same time. We are forever in debt to them all. 2 of the boats (OED & GP) are actually new boats to the owners we had not seen, yet. They are HUGE!!

Dockmaster Rip getting everyone settled as OED positions for rafting to GP

And, then there were three!! Glad it wasn’t windy!! Four boats at the pier was a hoot!!

Our dining space at the house was not large enough for us all to sit down to dinner – but the new Gypsie’s Palace was big enough!!

Some anchored out … when you write one of the “Go To” books on anchoring, well I guess you love anchoring!!

Buddy boats we first met on the Hudson. We will see them in Florida in February.

This boat was new to the owner; they were on a delivery trip to take her home right after their purchase.

Some folks were heading locally (ish) to check out their new home being built.

Did I mention how much Cally LOVES guests??

Firestorm had time for a 2nd visit!!

Tadhana was able to stop by again when heading south for the winter.

That gave Rip time to fabricate another part!!

Gypsie’s Palace

One Eye Dog

Both GP & OED had time to stop by again when southbound, too

One of the highlights was music night … 4 boats, 8 people, 4 guitars, 2 professional singers and 3 dogs. We had a blast!!!

Docktails at the house (is that housetails??) before the music began.

And, then there were golfing buddies from our Annapolis/Mitchellville lives who just retired and returned to boating!!

WOW, so great to catch up again!!

We have had so much fun seeing new & old friends - it’s almost as good as being on The Loop … but not quite. Guess it is time to go back to the Loop!!