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!