January 20 – 29, 2017

Miles Traveled: 2888

We left River Forest Marina on Monday (January 23^rd) grateful that our repairs were done and ready to be on our way after two days of 25-35 mph winds with gusts above 50.  It was an uneventful trip the final 40 miles across Florida to Fort Myers managing two locks and several lift and swing bridges through rural turned high-end Florida. We tied up at the FM Yacht Basin wall, not a pretty but a successful docking under 25 mph crosswinds. This city-owned marina meets our needs well:  good, clean, new showers; large outdoor laundry with a view; dependable internet reception; a ship’s store that has everything and more; a one block walk to the historic district with great shopping and restaurants; close-by post office and library; friendly people and lots of dogs to entertain Sammy.

A swing bridge.  Note the lady in yellow in the right picture – the bridge tender who walks out from shore to open the bridge for each passing boat!

A railroad lift bridge that stays open unless a train is coming.  Just imagine the train engineer coming along (from either direction) realizing someone forgot to put down the bridge!

Namaste safely docked beside the wall in Fort Myers.  We have since moved to a slip.  Note the Looper Flag flying.

Provisioning here isn’t easy with the local Publix a mile or so walk away.  We planned on riding the Trolley back with our many bags.  However, in the lucky and small world category, we ran into our yacht broker who drove us to within 100 steps of the boat.  Thank you, Michael!  Need to provision again today, think we will use Uber.

There have been several highlights to our days here. The social report includes saying good-by once again to our boat buddies Vickie and Ron who are wintering near Orlando and then bumping into a happy-hour group of ten or so Loopers. Many were gold Loopers meaning they having already completed at least one loop.  Some we knew from last winter and several are currently in progress so conversations were fun, interesting and helpful.  Another day we spent with Jim’s cousins Judy and Beth and their husbands Gary and Dean.  We had lunch at Ford’s Garage, ice cream at the local ice cream/popcorn shop and the afternoon by the water catching up with the Kelly/McFall families – the best of family soup!  Then yesterday we accepted an invitation to join Ev and Clark on their beautiful new boat, Sunset Delight – a 52’ Krogan Express.  We went on a day excursion, anchoring for lunch and enjoying Fort Myers from the water.  She is by far the most beautiful boat I have ever traveled aboard and I have been on a lot of boats!

A day with cousins!  Same time next year?

Reflection in Restrooms of Ford’s Garage.  Gotta love the creativity!

Captains Clark and Jim enjoying the day on Sunset Delight!

Another day we hopped aboard the free Trolley and headed to the Edison Ford Estates – really a museum remembering Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.  To say it was interesting is an understatement but for me the depiction of their father/son, turned peer relationship was the best! The two family’s neighboring winter estates and their camping trips into the Everglades alongside the prolific achievements of both men made for an attention focused afternoon.  There was also a Banyan Tree on the property whose canopy covers more than ¾ of an acre.  I fondly remember sitting under that tree with my mom while visiting in the early 1970’s when they first came to Florida.  Today I sat under the same tree having a pretend glass of wine and enjoying a phone conversation with my friend Sally. Captain Jim was watching a movie about Henry Ford and reminiscing his 40 year auto industry career.

Statues of Edison (under the Banyan tree) and Ford along with Edison’s winter estate and a 97’Royal Palm along the Caloosahatchee River – about a mile downriver from where we are.

A word about birds. The brown and most common pelicans catch their food by diving below the water surface which is hazardous to their vision followed by cause of death when they can no longer see their prey. The more rare and somewhat smarter white pelicans simply scoop up the fish with their bills and massive gullets.  We have seen a couple of white pelicans and my hope is to see one while feeding. Also, Sammy and I unintentionally scared up a large flock of white Ibis the other day but I am not sure who was more scared.

A word about books.  Captain Jim is enjoying a book he found on a marina “free” table, Your Boat’s Electrical System,  published in 1973 and a perfect manual for our 1976, Namaste.

We will be here through Monday, January 30^th, catching up on boat chores like laundry, filling water tanks and varnishing the sole (floor) of the cabin.  Today we had lunch outside at the Lodges with beautiful but surreal north country lodge décor which made me a little homesick.  Great food was followed by a walk down main street closed for the local car show.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow which will be our first since leaving Michigan.   Wishing you peace in these turbulent times!

Jim having lunch at the lodges and yes that is a ’65 Corvette over his right shoulder.

Boat Names of the Day:          

Watercolor, beautifully painted

Evergreen, totally white plastic with not a lick of wood or color

Happy Birthday to:  Curt and Roger

January 8, 2017 – January 19, 2017

Miles traveled:  2847

After a few days at the Homestead and Boyne (gotta keep on skiing) we all returned home settling into our various routines for the new year!  Although Jim had done a significant amount of organization and packing before the holidays, I had done nothing.  My priority was visiting friends and last minute shopping.  Jim’s was watching the bags and boxes overtake the breezeway and wondering how it would all fit into the Tiguan.  At 8 a.m. on Sunday, January 8^th I mopped the kitchen floor on my way out the door and we sped up the driveway heading south.

At some point I noticed that Sammy appeared to be on a hunger strike.  I have been happy about the fact that at six years old she has only eaten kibble augmented by the occasional dog treat. When she stopped eating, the good nurse that I am decided she probably had a bowel obstruction or some equally fatal malady if untreated.  As panic was beginning to set in, a boat angel suggested that I mix a little peanut butter with the kibble.  She scarfed down the entire bowl and has been happily eating her kibble mixed with gourmet wet dog food ever since. My best guess is that while boarded during our anniversary celebration, someone mixed something tasty with the kibble and the gig was up!  She is back to her happy, happy self!

Sammy all packed in

We had an uneventful drive to Nashville where we visited friends Jim and Kathy Mongene who are busy building a beautiful home in gorgeous countryside.  Day two we drove to Lake City, FL marveling that although the highways were dry, there was a ground covering of snow right through Atlanta.  Day three we arrived early at Indiantown to a waiting Namaste.  We felt reasonably rested, excited and ready to take on the challenge of getting her launched.  The marina is huge but has relatively few slips so we could not actually put her into the water for three long days of cleaning and carrying all those bags and boxes up a 12’ ladder.  This would have been immensely easier from a dock!  Jim had done the general engine maintenance and after some coaxing, Namaste started up.  As planned we departed Indiantown at 9 am on Sunday, January 15^th, exactly one week after leaving home.

Is it all up here yet?

A momentary delay in launch as a Manatee is coaxed from the boat well.  The Namaste hull in the upper right corner.

Raising the Loop flag for Leg #2 of our journey.

The float plan included a 35 mile trip down the Okeechobee Waterway through Lake O to Clewiston, FL.  The weather was perfect and we were particularly vigilant about staying in the narrow channel as the water is “skinny” here in central Florida.  We were expecting a perfect journey but while crossing Lake O, the oil pressure dropped to zero for no apparent reason.  Not good!  Captain Jim added a little oil at a time and we limped into CLewiston determining that after changing the oil filter, the top had only been hand tightened – an easy but messy fix!

The following morning we departed Clewiston heading down the Caloosahatchee River happily on our way to Fort Myers.  About five miles out, the engine began to surge and eventually quit.  Dead-in-the-water is definitely worse than oil pressure at zero. It was a quiet, narrow river so we drifted to the bank while awaiting Tow Boat US (a $750 tow thankfully covered by insurance) and a slow ride back to Clewiston where it was determined by our delightful towboat captain, commercial fisherman, and mechanic that there was air in the fuel lines.  He bled the lines and again we were ready to go the next morning keeping the speed down and trying to get to the River Forest Yacht Center, a working marina with multimillion dollar boats and expert mechanics.  As Sammy and I write this in an air-conditioned lounge, Captain Jim is overseeing the repairs which include replacing a fuel filter and two fuel injector lines.  Relatively easy repairs except that it has now taken almost 24 hours to order the parts with another day for delivery and another day of installation.  Hopefully this concludes our shakedown cruise.

Captains Jack and Jim hooking up for the tow.

Meanwhile, we had reservations at the Fort Myers Yacht Basin beginning today for the weekend Looper-Palooza, a rendezvous/conference/mostly party for those who are thinking about, doing, or celebrating the completion of their Loop. Old friends will be there including Vickie and Ron as well as connecting with 2017 Loopers.  Since we will be unable to get there by boat, we hitched a ride into Fort Myers, rented a car, visited the local Walmart and laundromat  and will now “do” the weekend driving the 50 miles each way from here to Fort Myers, a great Plan B.  Parts will be delivered and installed tomorrow while we are away.

I do want to make a few observations about rural South Central Florida, just above the Everglades.  First, let me say that everyone has been as polite and helpful as can be, even when we aren’t exactly understanding one another.  Indiantown, Clewiston and now LaBelle are truly multicultural towns with coexisting Hispanic and African American neighborhoods combined with the local white farmers/cowboys and a golfing retirement community.  Housing seems segregated but with shared businesses, services, recreation facilities and schools.  The supermarkets carry many brands I don’t recognize and lacked several that would be common at home.  Customers in both a small market and in the laundromat were an even mix of black, Hispanic and white.

A second observation concerns the Waterway related industries.  Our third-generation commercial fisherman, Captain Jack, who towed us back to Clewiston, explained his frustrations with the American shopper willing to purchase Chinese, farm raised Tilapia (and other fish I didn’t recognize) knocking the bottom out of any traditional pricing structure.  He went on to describe how these fish farms are run which leaves me knowing I will not eat any farm raised fish from China or anywhere else if I can help it.

Then early one morning at the bass fishing dock, we learned about the industry charged with eradicating non-indigenous growth from the waterways.  These are young guys riding high on fast and loud air boats (testosterone abounding) presumably dumping herbicides into the required areas.  We also understand they hunt alligator eggs.  Hopefully there is some science behind all of this.

Heading out for the day on a fast, fun boat!

Two favorite sunrise pictures this week

It has been a long day and we are tired so will close until next time.  We hope that you are well and enjoying life.

Quote of the Day:  Imagine what seven billion humans could accomplish if we all loved and respected each other.  Imagine.  –AD Williams

Good Boat Name of the Day:  Sunset Delight (the beautiful 52’ Krogan Express recently purchased by our friends Ev and Clark

Happy Birthday to:  Liam, Nate, Curt, Gwen

Get well to:  Bryan’s Dad

April 29, 2016 to January 8, 2015

Eight months didn’t seem to allow enough time to write this blog entry, plus having readily available and high speed internet and a comfortable desk would have made it too easy.  So upon our return and as I sit on the aft deck of the Namaste reflecting and summarizing our time in Michigan what I know for sure is that we are grateful for supportive family, incredible friends and opportunities for meaningful fun!  If you are reading this blog it is likely you helped us enjoy our home-stay!

Although there is far too much to share, below are some of the highlights in words and pictures, in no particular order of importance:

• Birthdays for 6 of our 8 grandchildren happened within 39 days. That is one birthday every 6.5 days. What are the odds?  We sadly missed Liam’s 11^th and Nates 5^th in January but are confident that their families will make their days special.
  

  Cousin joint birthday party at Revel and Roll!  Oscar (11 days old) was home with Mom!

• An original turtle birthday cake was created to welcome our newest grandson, a perfect Oscar Michael McFall who arrived on November 24, 2016 (Thanksgiving Day) at 5:50 p.m. weighing in at an even 10 lbs. I accepted Veta and Mike’s generous invitation to attend the home birth with immense gratitude tinged with tiny doses of trepidation which I managed by voraciously reading as much as I could about midwifery and home births.  It is their beautiful story to tell but in summary it was a life-changing, awe-inspiring, experience I will cherish forever.  Mom and baby are doing great!Oscar Michael McFall brand new!
  

  Oscar at 6 weeks and 15 pounds

• An extended loop detour to the Pacific Northwest.  We visited our Looping boat buddies Vicki and Ron on Orcas in the San Juan Islands. The opportunity to visit their beautiful home on East Sound, getting personal tours of Orcas plus a five day boat cruise on their Mei Wenti through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands went beyond all expectations. Their easy hospitality, the gorgeous weather and the breathtaking scenery were more than we could ever have imagined.  We are now within days of meeting up with them in Fort Myers, FL.
  

  View from Vickie and Ron’s gorgeous home.  East Sound of Orcas Island

• After 9 days as house guests we departed for Salt Lake City and another special visit with my brother’s family, Missy, Chris, Carson Amy and their three beautiful daughters. Meals and memories were shared along with an amazing Fall mountain driving adventure!  We then rented a big SUV for the drive back to Michigan into which we (barely) loaded the Victorian dollhouse my brother, Bill, made for our granddaughter, destined to be a family heirloom.
  

  A Poppenger reunion

  

  Bill’s Doll House

• Only slightly out of the way, we decided to visit Jim’s niece and her family in Fort Collins, CO, a not-to-be missed small city that reminds me of Ann Arbor 30 years ago.  Jen, Eric and their family enjoy a good life and we loved hearing about her new business venture, thesweetpetiteco.com
• We attended countless sporting events: volleyball, hockey, soccer and basketball and football but missed seeing Ashleigh’s first high school ski race by two days! We shared delicious meals with friends and caught up with the events of everyone’s interesting lives.  We spent weekends at Boyne City and Camp Lookout as well as Mackinaw Island and attended unique and beautiful weddings in Traverse City and Chicago.   We watched plays and went to concerts.  In our down-time we swam in our beautiful Dunham Lake; I walked miles with Judy and beautiful wooden creations emerged from Jim’s shop.
  

  Biking Mackinaw Island on Jim’s birthday weekend

  

   Memorable Friends and Family weekend at Camp Lookout!

• Speaking of Jim, he lived for two weeks in Indiantown, FL working on the Namaste. While he enjoyed the time with friends and living in the marina, she required a great deal of attention (called hard work) from the harsh summer elements.  We regret not having followed local advice to add pans of dry formaldehyde to our departure routine in an effort to combat the mold – next time!

• Perhaps most importantly Jim and I celebrated our 50^th anniversary on December 30, 2016. Our children, their partners and our grandchildren treated us to a special weekend at the Homestead near Traverse City.  Perfect in every way!   Thank you to the very best family!
  

  . . . and 50 Years later!

Many thanks go to Ilene Heffelbower for everything over 35 years plus following and printing out each blog entry.

We are happily back on the Loop, will try to blog more often and would love to hear from you too.