# 23 The Great Loop; Fort Myers to Bahamas

After several enjoyable months at Fort Myers Yacht Basin I finally decided to continue my journey.  There are so many things to see and do and so little time. So reluctantly I left Fort Myers with the next destination of Naples Florida on the agenda.

April 6, Fort Myers to Naples. Cruising time 7 hrs

I moved to Naples City Dock and got a mooring for the night. They required me to get a pump out even  though I didn't need one as I was empty from Ft Myers.  They also required a seal on the out flow valve so as to prevent any discharge overboard (something I never do).  The mooring cost $10, very reasonable.

Pelicans all over the place.

My friend Marty lives in Naples and he took me around the waterfront in his Boston Whaler. I was able to see some of the mansions that are not visible from the streets as there are lots of foliage and gates preventing such.

A small boat was no problem for that fixed bridge right in mid town.

April 7, Naples to Everglade City. Cruising time 6.5 hrs

I was told by fellow travelers that I should go to Everglade City now because it may not be there in the near future.  I sense that the decrease in population and the rising waters will eventually turn this place into a deserted swamp. So the place to go in Everglade city is the Everglades Rod and Gun Club.  Famous for the many famous people who have been there including President Truman and Hemingway.  The draw is the fishing and there is a crab fleet just up river.  I tied up to the wall at the club and settled in for a trip back in time. 

The Rod and Gun Club

If you can make out the sign on the pump is states a total of 13 cents per gallon.  11 cents for gas and 2 cents tax. How long ago do you suppose the pump dispensed it's last gallon?

Rod and Gun Club interior is decorated like a hunting and fishing lodge from the early days would be expected.  Hemmingway and other notables frequented this establishment and gave it its allure. 

Back or road entrance to the Rod and Gun Club.

The bank of Everglade City moved out long ago and the bank building was used for many years as various things but now serves as a Bed and Breakfast.

April 8, Everglade City to Marathon. Cruising time 10.5 hrs

Anchored out in the harbor, quite liberal anchoring policy.  There were many "Homestead" anchored boats in the harbor.  I just dropped the hook and went to bed in anticipation of moving early the next morning.

April 9, Marathon to Key West (NAS Boca Chica Marina). Cruising time 5.8 hrs

Firebird settled in on A dock as viewed from the dock master office.

The marina has it's own beach and since it is limited access to only base access, it is scarcely utilized.  Nice for me.

Boca Chica is a Navy training base and you will often see these jets landing east of the Marina.  The entrance to the marina passes the southern end of the runway. The long time live aboard say the Navy is turning jet fuel into noise as these jets take off and land.  Navy does top gun training here and I am told that the Blue Angles come here to train.

Apr 13, NAS Boca Chica, Key West to Marathon. Cruising Time : 6.8 Hrs

Anchored out in the harbor, plan to leave at dawn. This run took a little longer than going down as I had a north wind all the way

Apr 14, Marathon to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park(Key Largo). Cruising Time : 7.9 Hrs
 Again I had a north wind all the way. This park is situated back in the mangroves and is a little tricky getting in but once there it is well protected. There are moorings and a few slips available.  I was able to get a slip side tie alongside.  From here there are diving tours, glass bottom boat tours and snorkeling adventures.  There is also a state camp ground and the amenities that go along.

Apr 15, John Pennekamp State Park to No Name Harbor (Key Biscayne). Cruising Time : 6.1 Hrs

First LightHouse marking Biscayne Bay entrance and close to No Name Harbor

Apr 16, No Name Harbor to MacArthur Causeway Anchorage (Miami). Cruising Time : 4 Hrs

I needed to refuel so I cruised up to Miami  Yacht Club for fuel and go to the grocery store for provisions.  After that was done, I decided to go explore Miami coast and get an anchorage.  That is why I ended here.  That evening I was able to view the great cruise ships departing and returning to the port of Miami.

 This is the commercial port that I went by.

 Large cranes unloading containers, probably from China.

 Where I anchored for the night is behind 2 man made islands which are now home to mega rich. On the other side of my anchorage is another man made island where President Nixon use to spend his vacation days.

 Cruise passenger ships heading out. There were 3 such ships heading out today and at about 4 AM the next morning another ship returned to port. What separates me from the cruise ships is MacArthur Causeway and traffic from Miami Beach to downtown.

Apr 17, MacArthur Causeway to Marine Stadium Anchorage (Miami). Cruising Time : 2 Hrs

I decided to move to another anchorage as the Causeway was too noisy and too exposed to north winds.  So I chose the Marina Stadium which turns out to be a very nice anchorage with plenty of room and very good hold.
The stadium of which the name of the anchorage. They have boat shows here.

 Miami at night

Apr 18, Marine Stadium Anchorage to Dinner Key Marina (Miami). Cruising Time : 2 Hrs

I decided that since the wind forecast for the next 5 days was not favorable I would move my car that was left in Ft Myers Yacht Basin to Jacksonville.  That way I would be productive and have a prepositioned car once I returned from the Bahamas. Assuming of course that the winds would finally be favorable.S I took my boat into the marina and left it there for a few days while I took the Greyhound to Ft Myers, drove to Orlando to visit with old friends and visit my Grandson who is in college there.  Next I drove to Jacksonville stored me car then took the Greyhound back to Miami.


Apr 23, Dinner Key Marina to Bimini (Bahamas). Cruising Time : 7.1 Hrs

I cruised into Alice Town, Bimini without a reservation or notion as to where I would stay. But reading the Active Captain, I settled upon Bimini Blue Water Marina  because it was within walking distance of the Customs and Immigration offices and sit was reasonably priced.

 This is the main street in Alicetown and Bimini, there is another which runs the length of the island and on the other side (west).   You can hit a baseball and land on the other side of the island as it is not that wide.

This is the street I had to walk to get to the Customs office and then further down to the Border and Immigration office.  In the customs office it was quite noisey where there were 3 sides to the small room with portals and plexiglass windows to deal thru.  The echoes and loud conversation being carried on in all sides of the room made it extremely difficult to hear the soft spoken customs officer on the other side. What was the main point of the visit was the 300 dollars in cash that they collected from me for my visit.   I'm dealing with an official thur a plexiglass partition and the communication for me was difficult as I couldn't hear all that was being said.At one point

Apr 25, Bimini to Great Harbor (Berry Islands). Cruising Time : 11.7 Hrs

I arrived close to sundown so decided to drop the anchor outside the harbor in calm water and get some sleep.  The first few times trying to get the anchor to hold were unsuccessful because of weeds, so I moved to the south side of the channel.  Bingo held at first try. It was restful night and in the morning I decided to see what Berry Island was all about so I cruised into Great Harbor Marina thinking that I would spend the day and leave in the morning after downloading new weather and wind charts. The arrival at Great Harbor Marina was enjoyable, hands were there to assist and tiring up a pinch.  The friendly staff of the marina and the accompanying greetings were appreciated.  After getting settled, I set about discovering an as yet undiscovered tourist haven.  The marina staff boosted of having the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas and I was about to find out.

 On my first try I stumbled on this small beach hidden from the roadway and totally secluded.  It was small but really delightful.

 Those footprints belong to yours truly as there is no one else in the world in this location.

 Leaving the little beach I pedaled my bike about a mile to the 4 mile beach.  This is the type of photos that you see in the travel brochures and entice you to come enjoy the beauty.

 This is the beach club selling for and drink or just a great place to sit and watch the ocean.

 The local beer of the Bahamas, not bad at all...sort of a coors/corona taste and body.

Rental units.  Surprisingly there were not a lot of visitors to the Berry Islands, locals say it is because it hasn't been discovered yet.

May 7, Great Harbor to Lucaya, Grand Bahama . Cruising Time : 9 Hrs

Not much to say about the cruise, lots of flying fish and many commercial ships in the distance but relatively uneventful. I did have to pick a day when the wind was low and favorable as with crossing the gulf stream, if the wind is contrary it will push up chop and depending on wind speed could be very uncomfortable to down right dangerous.