Naples, Florida

 

Cruising north to Naples from Everglades City only required us to stay a mile or two offshore.

 

 

 

 

Entering Gordon Pass from the Gulf of Mexico, it quickly became evident that Naples is where America's  "1 percent" live! 

 

 

 

 

Looks like a small resort, but it's just a winter gathering place for a well-heeled family. 

 

 

 

 

Maybe if I paint my "little" house pink it will grow to be a "big" house!

 

 

 

 

Those royal palms cost more than my Honda Fit!

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Pelican kept a watchful eye on the crew as they cleaned up Spiritus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our reward for another safe, successful cruising day!

 

 

 

 

 

Naples residents enjoy a free "big band" concert in the park!

Tommy Dorsey would have been proud to hear his music so well played and enjoyed!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Historic 3rd Street South in Naples was a joy to walk through.

 

Elegant shops & award-winning restaurants line the streets in beautiful downtown Naples.

 

 

 

 

Luxury cars are the norm in this "posh" town.

 

 

 

 

The Naples Pier has been a prime spot for sunset watchers and fishermen for more than 100 years.

 

 

 

 

 

A view of the sun-bathers from the pier . . . . . . .

 

. . . . . . as well as a view of the swimmers.

(It's a dolphin, not a shark!)

 

 

 

 

A little excitement for the onlookers at the pier.

What did YOU notice first?

a.  the motorized chair

b.  the fish on the pier 

                          c.  the wedgie in the fisherman's shorts

 



 

 

 

Another dazzling sunset from the water's edge!

 

 

Marathon to Everglades City

 

 On our last day in Marathon, a vintage Ford Tri-Motor aircraft could be seen flying above Spiritus.

For a "small" fee, you could ride over the islands, pretending you were living in the days of Charles Lindberg.

 

 

 

 

 The First Mate returns to Spiritus after her last swim in the Faro Blanco pool.

 

 

 

 

 Our friend who works at the marina, Tomi, ran out to take this picture of Spiritus as we departed.

She is a "native" of Marathon and told us many interesting things about growing up on the island.

 

 

 

 

 

 Cruising 42 miles across the open Gulf between Marathon and Little Shark River, it was fun to see lobster boats at work.

 

 

 

 

We shared the anchorage at Little Shark River with 6 other boats.

A special treat was watching the HUGE tarpon swimming around Spiritus.

 

 

 

 

 After a 6 hour cruise in the Gulf, we headed 5 miles inland on the Barron River to visit Everglades City.

  

 

 

 

The river twisted and turned through uninhabited, remote swampland until we finally reached the outskirts of the "city".

 

 

 

 

 

 The unique Rod & Gun Club was our "home" for the next two nights.

Once a rambling, private, wood-framed home in the 1870's, it is now a delightful hotel. 

In 1922 it was used as the headquarters for the building of the Tamiami Trail. 

 

 Lots of famous people have stayed here. For openers, Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Hoover, and Nixon.  Hollywood actors John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Sean Connery, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci also visited. 

 

 

 

 

 So, Spiritus is now on the list of celebrity visitors!

 

 

 

 



The Camilia Street Grill in this historic, old-Florida town provided a lovely setting for fresh seafood and live music.

 

 

 

 

 

 Our friends & family up north have no idea that sunshine . . . . . .

   

 

. . . . . . fruit . . . . . .

  

. . . . . . and flowers are already flourishing in this part of the country!

 

 

 

 

This is as close to a gator as we ever want to get!

 

 

 

 

Everyone loves to ride on an airboat . . . . even pelicans!

 

 

 

 

 

A walk through the old Rod & Gun Club . . . . . .

 

 

. . . . . . is a walk through a by-gone era.

 

 

How many interesting conversations took place between these walls . . . . .

 

. . . . . . and how many crappy pool players have bent over this table?

 

 

 

 

Chillin' by the river under the shade of a chickee hut.

 

 

 

 

 

The moon illuminates the river, helping Spiritus safely travel toward the Gulf as she rides the outgoing morning tide.

 

 

Leaving the Everglades and river behind, the sun begins to peek over the horizon . . . . . .

 

 . . . . . . and paints a spectacular canvas just as we enter the Gulf of Mexico! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Month of Keys Magic

 

Every morning when the newspaper is delivered to Spiritus, the Captain takes a seat behind her stern.
While overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, he gets "worldly" and thankful to be out of the rat-race!

 

 

 

 

 

The First Mate drinks her coffee as the Captain fills her in on the latest news!

 

 

 

 

 

And when she isn't at our own private beach behind Spiritus, she can be found hanging out at the pool!

 

 

 

 

 

So happy to have our sweet sis, Brenda, come visit us from Washington D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenda spoiled the "Spiritus Sweethearts" with beautiful roses on Valentine's Day!

 

And Eddy spoiled his "Sister Sweethearts" with some guitar playing and singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our longtime friends, Scott & Denise, came to visit from South Carolina during one of the coldest weeks in the Keys . . . .

  

 

. . . . .  but the craft beer and gourmet pretzels kept us warm while we partied in Key West!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 It was great fun having our Navarre neighbors. Chris & Laura, join us for more good times.

 

 

 

 

 

 We joined Chris & Laura for an informative tour at "The Turtle Hospital".
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who knew that turtles suffer from "Bubble Butt"?

The tour certainly helped us to appreciate these amazing creature even more.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No trip to Key West is complete without an evening at the famous Mallory Square . . . .

 

. . . . with its live street entertainment and breathtaking sunsets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a clear day to hike the pristine Bahia Honda State Park.

The tropical vegetation, flowering plants, exotic birds, and colorful butterflies made it a paradise.

 

 

 

 

 One day we rode our bikes to the north end of Vaca Key and crossed this bridge ....

 

 

 ....from which we could see the Gulf of Mexico to our north and the Atlantic Ocean to our south!

Our 15 mile bike ride also led us to an EAA Aircraft Museum.
Linda departs a DC-3 like one her father flew.  Grace Kelly actually rode in this one!



 

 

Another day we rode our bikes to Sombrero Beach and took a picnic followed by a NAP!

 

 

 

The miles of walking and bike-riding earned this First Mate a double dip ice cream cone.  YUM!!

 

 

 

 

The Looper crew on Harmony, Journey, Spiritus, and Carina reunite in Marathon.

These four boats cruised the Great Loop through Canada, the Great Lakes, and the Illinois River!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw a presentation on the Flagler railroad, learned about the 7-mile bridge, and then walked it the next day.

Yes, we earned a double scoop of ice-cream on that day too!!!

 

 

 

 

 

We see iguana on our daily walks.  This fellow is quite camouflaged in his setting.

 

 

 

 

 

And we see dozens of pelicans daily, getting their share of fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding entertainment in the Keys is quite easy.  Here "Porkchop" is ready to win the potbellied Pig Race!

 

 

 

 

 

Just another day in paradise!

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying a gorgeous sunset at the popular Sunset Grill.

 

 

 

 

 

And the sunsets right from Spiritus's flybridge aren't too bad either!

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling so blessed to have spent an entire month at Faro Blanco Resort.

Life is oh-so-good in paradise!