February 25, 2011

Lat 26 45 60; Long 082 03 47; Fuel 183 gallons; Eng 639.12

Left Burnt Store this morning about 9:30 a traveled out into Charlotte Harbor. The winds picked up and it was a little bit rocky going across to the Intracoastal waterway. Of course our Navionics chip did not cover the harbor so I was utilizing my piloting skills that I learned from the Power Squadron. Arrived right on the marker buoy just like I arrived at the Burnt Store Marina Channel. All those hours taking the courses were worth while.

We traveled down the waterway and there were a lot of boaters out, many of them showed little respect for other boaters as they flew by at high speed causing tremendous wakes which rocked all slower boats. I wonder if anyone down here ever takes a power squadron course?

As we were coming into San Carlos Bay, our new friends who we met last night from Escape radioed us to ask if we were still going to go to our original anchorage at St. James City. They suggested we look at the anchorage at stature mile 5 so we followed them in and anchored in about 6 feet of water. Great place, sheltered from the south wind and not too deep, but deep enough that the tide flow will not leave you on the bottom.

We had a Skype phone call from our oldest daughter Laura, announcing her new appointment at the University of Waterloo. Great News. Our son, Alex joined in the phone call from Fort McMurray in Alberta. As our youngest daughter, Lesley was at Laura's home, we had a great conversation with all three of our children.

All in all it was a great day. Tomorrow we move on to Naples where we have a reservation at the City Marina.