Blackfin Resort and Marina, Marathon, Florida, is an island paradise and a welcome slice of old Florida. Jim and I have been wintering at this marina since 2013. Because of its old Florida character and its relaxed atmosphere, we keep coming back. In our minds, when we leave Traverse City, Michigan, for Florida, after the holidays each year, we head to a warm, friendly place where our friends are also returning. We look forward to soaking up the sun and ending each day with beautiful daily sunsets over Florida Bay. Blackfin is not a high-end, fancy place, and that’s what we love most about it. The energy and friendliness of everyone, staff, and boaters are palpable. Many of the same boaters come back every winter, making it a home away from home for most of us.

From the perspective of being trailerable boaters, we find Blackfin satisfies all our winter, boating needs. We switched to a trailerable boat 13 years ago. One of our objectives was to lengthen our boating season and get more use out of our boats (we’ve had three trailerable boats since 2011), by towing them south, to escape Michigan’s harsh winters. At best, we might get only 4-5 months of boating in the Great Lakes.

For the first few years, as trailerable boaters,
we explored both coasts of Florida, especially the Gulf Coast.
It is a little less built up and we feel it has more natural areas to enjoy. So, after driving south, for 3-4 days, we typically would launch the boat in Tarpon Springs and spend a few weeks cruising down the Intracoastal Waterway. We would anchor or stay at little marinas along the way. It was fun to explore the little towns we could walk to, stroll the beaches, and talk with other boaters along the way. From Tarpon Springs, we would cruise down to Fort Myers, to our other favorite marina in Florida, Legacy Harbor Marina. We might stay there a few weeks, or a month before we continued on to the Florida Keys. Our route would take us around the Everglades in Florida Bay, or by crossing the state on the Caloosahatchee River. Either way, we would cruise south to the Keys. After a while, we switched that route around by launching in Marathon and cruising north, the same route but south to north, to Fort Myers. Our thinking is that it is a little warmer in the Keys, in January. So why not start there?

At the beginning of our Florida cruising, we stayed on Stock Island (one island up from Key West) at Key West Marina. We had docked there before, while doing the Great Loop, in our bigger boats. When dockage anywhere near Key West became almost prohibitive, we looked for other options and landed at Blackfin Resort & Marina. Key West is only an hour’s drive from Marathon. Since we towed the boat with our truck, we had transportation to drive down to Key West when desired. Occasionally, we’d cruise the boat down to Key West for a few days of fun.

The last few years we have spent most of our time between Fort Myers and Marathon, with shorter side trips, away from the marina, during those stays, and one to two weeks in between marinas to anchor our way to the next.

Since we tow our boat around the country, and it is only a 25-footer, we don’t have room to host visitors overnight. Another thing we like about Blackfin Resort and Marina is that it has a motel as well. We like to take advantage of the proximity of the motel to the marina when friends come to visit. They can rent a room, but hang out with us on the dock, join us for a day trip, on the boat, around the islands, or a drive to Key West, or the point where everyone gathers at night, to watch the sunset.

We like to be outside!
Blackfin encourages people to not only make their boat and dock their home but the surrounding area as well. All the boats have a picnic table at the end of the dock. Boaters encourage each other to top their nautical, beachy-themed outdoor decor. Competition is fierce! Socialization is key to a great marina stay. If Chris, the manager, does not make a special main dish for an occasional potluck, plenty of food, shared musical talents, fun, and conversations occur around our picnic tables. Plenty of walkable access to nearby grocery stores, a drug store, Home Depot, and many outstanding restaurants.

Blackfin’s boat ramp offers guests easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Boat slips can accommodate vessels up to 40 feet. Slips are available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Electric (30 amp), water, wireless internet, and pump-out service included. Fishing, swimming, throwing cast nets, etc., are all allowed and encouraged on the lighthouse side of the beach area. Call for current rates and availability.

BLACKFIN RESORT AND MARINA
(305)-743-2393

As we left, in March, spring flowers were popping up all over the island resort.

Lots of dedicated places to grill and have a meal in the shade.

This fella (above) jumped into the pool while were there. In January, the iguanas are still used to roaming around the resort, but as it gets busy, they are hard to find.

Lighthouse Point (above and below). A relaxing spot to have happy hour, a meal, or to watch the sunset over Florida Bay.

There’s Kismet (above, on the right).

Blackfin is a small marina channel cut out of the coral the island is made of, when that was allowed many years ago.

The is the owner of the beautiful blue boat, Fishtales (above and below). We asked how many fish he caught that day. We ended up with several bags of freshly caught Spanish Mackerel and a lesson on how to easily clean and cut up fish. We don’t fish — so, it is a very interesting process for us.

Our family Scott and Denna came to visit us at Blackfin. They rented a room at the motel and we got to watch many sunsets together.

A typical evening at Blackfin Marina and Resort. Drinks, music, lots of food, and fun!

This year Kismet was joined by seven other trailerable trawlers. The photos (above and below) show three of them, our Ranger Tug, a C-Dory, and a Rosborough.

One of the many potlucks we enjoyed at the resort. The manager, Chris, and his wife, Ruthie, can sure cook up a storm.

Potlucks we attended included beef brisket, roasted pig, BBQ chicken and fish boil.

Chris is at it again, a fish boil this time.

Our friends, from Traverse City, Lisa, and Fred are staying on their sailboat at a nearby marina. They were headed to the Bahamas after we saw them.

Meals are often a group effort at Blackfin, shared onshore near our boats.

Manatees frequent the marina. We had many delightful encounters with these gentle giants.

We also had two Nimble Nomads with us at the marina. They each pulled their boats out by the ramp at the marina.

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This was not the first time we have cruised the St. Johns River. We were living on our Fathom 40, finishing up our second Great Loop boat trip, when Kismet left Key West, Florida, heading north to the Solomon Islands. It was June 2009. Our goal was to spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay area. That was a fun thing to do. Spending the entire summer in Maryland gave us more of an in-depth experience of another part of the country we knew little about. We made lots of side trips during our stay in the Solomon Islands, either by car or boat. We cruised up the Potomac to Washington, DC, we visited St. Michaels, Annapolis, Tangier Island, Smith Island, and many of the great anchorages close to the Solomons. When the time came to head south again, in October, we had our sights on cruising the St. Johns River. Having heard such great things from other boaters about this lazy southern river; we had to go.

Cruising With Friends —
We hooked up with our friends Louis and Diane Wade near their home, in Morehead City, North Carolina, and cruised with them down the ICW to Jacksonville, Florida. However, just days before arriving there, we received news of Jim’s father’s passing, so we flew to Ohio for the funeral. When we returned to the marina, it was Thanksgiving Day. Louis and Diane, and a few other boating friends surprised us with a very memorable dinner on one of their boats when our hearts were still so tender from our loss. It’s moments like these that define the highlights of our boating adventures.

A few days after we arrived back in Jacksonville, Kismet headed out with Bella Luna to explore the St. Johns River. We traveled from Jacksonville to Sanford, Florida. We tried to hit all the highlights small, sleepy river towns, a few natural, freshwater springs, and a few free docks. Jim and I were a little concerned about the time of year we planned to take this trip. It was the end of November, but we had good luck with the weather and during our three-day stay in Silver Glen Springs, we had to remind ourselves it was December, especially when we went swimming every day in the 72-degree crystal clear water. To two Michiganders, this seemed a miracle for this time of year. However, in December, we didn’t see many alligators moving around, although the river is home to many.

Fast forward to early spring 2022, after our two-month winter stay in Fort Myers, we pulled the boat out of the water and towed it to Deland, Florida. This time we would start our trip from the more southern end of the St. Johns River. Then we planned to explore the narrower section of the river, from Deland to Silver Glen Springs and back to Deland. We heard that section included a beautiful wildlife sanctuary we were eager to spend time in. It was a trip well-planned, as always, by Jim. We saw many alligators while cruising the off-shoots of the river. One must have been nesting and as we moved closer for a better look, she lunged off her perch and headed toward us. While anchoring overnight in the wildlife sanctuary, we saw a lot of wildlife. Alligators, manatee families, eagles, and many birds. The most beautiful thing was the wide assortment of bird songs we woke up to every morning in the wild. Occasionally, a small fishing boat would pass us. But, other than that, during our time in the sanctuary, we felt like part of the wilderness of the St Johns River.

After almost three weeks, we were ready to go home. We’d been away since last Thanksgiving this year—driving to Seattle to get our new Ranger Tug and then driving to Florida. So, we spent a little more time on the river than expected, watching for the weather to ease up a little. There were several blizzards still blowing through where we needed to drive. Not fun while towing a big boat.

Deland Marina, St. Johns River, Florida (above-below)

Two-night stay in Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (above and below). The best!

Hontoon Island State Park (above).

Silver Glen Springs (above and below), is a favorite of ours. We found it much busier this visit, but still enjoyable.

Fellow Trailer Trawler (Facebook Group) members (above and below), found us at Silver Glen Springs. There was a C-Dory rendezvous happening, at Hontoon Landing, while we were on the river.

One of the many alligators (above) we saw while on the river.

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I imagine our blog subscribers are wondering where all the summer posts are. Well, we are still waiting to take delivery of our new Ranger Tugs R25, so we have been taking a little hiatus from the blog during this time. It was a long, hot summer for Jim and me without a boat, but we found a few things to do to distract from our misery.

Jim continued working on his house projects until just recently, while I have been working on a new boating book. To keep us sane, at the end of many beautiful northern Michigan days we headed for the beach. We packed beach blankets and towels, chairs, snacks, or dinner, and a beverage to sit by the water on either East Bay or West Bay of Traverse City. We figured it was the closest thing to sitting in the cockpit of Kismet we were going to get until we take delivery of our new boat.

However, we had a pleasant surprise early this summer, and it involved a boat.
Our son Skyler and his wife, Meghan, bought a Cutwater Boat. They had just become boat owners for the first time, two years ago, a 26-foot Regal. After spending last summer on it, they felt they could better define their boating needs, and the Regal was just not doing the trick.

As luck would have it, a boating friend of ours had a 28-foot Cutwater Boat they had just put up for sale. We knew the boat well and thought it would be a good fit for them. So Skyler, Meghan, and Jim hopped into our truck and drove to Grand Rivers, Kentucky to check out the boat, which they ended up buying and towing home to Michigan.

So, since we could not be out on the water this last summer, we lived vicariously through Skyler and Meghan. Having one of our sons share our passion for boating is satisfying beyond words. Just knowing they are out there getting their sea legs and talking about all the trips they want to take, on Master Plan, helped us get through boating season.

Ever Heard of a “Baby Moon?”
The happy “twosome” is soon to become a “threesome” any day now. They are looking forward to incorporating a baby into the mix (another future boater in the making). With the more accommodating Cutwater Boat, they can now feel more comfortable anchoring out, which they did several times this summer.

They also took a “Baby Moon.” Kind of like a honeymoon, but a get-a-way that precedes a new baby’s arrival. Their trip started from their slip in Traverse City to Petoskey (60 miles). Heading out early in the morning, all reports from the crew were glowing as they had mostly sunny skies and calm waters for the cruise north. It was a week-long trip that also included a stop in Charlevoix and Boyne City.

It’s been fun to watch as these two define what boating means to them and their growing family. Even though we see them approaching most of the steps we took to become seasoned boaters, we feel confident they will forge their own way out onto the water. It will be exciting to watch as they grow into a cruising lifestyle all their own.

Friends, Mary and Riley, enjoy some time rafted off Master Plan.

The post Our Ranger Tug Family is Growing to Include a Cutwater Boat appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Ranger Tugs’ live webinar series, As the Prop Turns, is featuring special guest hosts, Jim and Lisa Favors. In this episode, Jim and Lisa will detail their top 5 cruising destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

Stay tuned for the second in a two-part series (later this year) in which the Favors will talk about how and why they trailer their boat all over the country.

The post In Case You Missed It – As The Prop Turns appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Boating Provided Great Memories for Our Family –

When our three sons were barely teenagers, Jim and I bought our first boat together. The configurations and possibilities seemed endless when we started our search for a used boat for our family. I had one requirement, it had to have a v-berth for overnighters. It didn’t take long to settle on a used, red (of course), 21-ft. Four Winns Sundowner.

We did a lot with that boat on Grand Traverse Bay; the boys loved to ski and swim behind the boat. We even did a few overnighters with them at local festivals. Jim and I would sleep in the small V-berth while the three boys slept outside under the stars in sleeping bags. Rugged accommodations, but it worked. We always thought they enjoyed getting away from our hot house in the summer to cool off on the water.

Seems Like Yesterday…

I remember one night at the marina in Elk Rapids, during the Harbor Days Festival. Jim tied our boat up on the outer dock during the fireworks display. Our boat was so close to the display, the ashes from the fireworks drifted from high above and down to cover our boat. We had to swat the embers off with a towel to save the finish on the boat. It was a happy time for our family; burning warm memories in our mind’s eye, just like those embers. I remember it like it was yesterday.

After we got our Sundowner (Jim and I – above – on our boat in the late nineties), we bought the boys a small Lake & Sea run-about from an auction. We required them to take a boating safety class before summer started. No class, no boat time, it was that simple. They all complied. So, we bought them each their own gas can in hopes they would learn to manage their own resources, skirting disputes on, who used all the gas. We drew up a list of rules of what to do and what not to do when using the boat on their own. Unfortunately, the boat they ended up naming, “Little Turd,” spent more time at the mechanics than it did on the water.

Jim and I Always Wondered if Our Passion for Boating Would Rub Off On One of Our Sons

Since that time, as you know from our blog, Jim and I became hard-core boaters. As one boat led to another, our first short adventure led to a long one followed by another and another. On and on like that for almost thirty years now. We always wondered if our passion for boating would rub off on any of our sons. This year we got the answer to that question as the stars aligned for our son, Skyler, and his new wife, Meghan. The seed we planted many years ago took root. Last year, after Skyler and Meghan got engaged, they started talking about buying a boat together and the momentum built over the winter. They decided they wanted to spend their “MiniMoon” on a boat somewhere in Northern Michigan.

Jim and I couldn’t be more thrilled to watch as these two become boaters. Meg was quick to get on board with the Favors/Nelles family obsession, even though she had not boated as a child. The first thing they did was take a boating safety course together over the winter, even before they bought a boat. Skyler would send us photos all winter long of possible used boats that he thought would work for them.

We followed Skyler and Meg’s selection process with great interest

Lots to consider as we reminisced over some of our own choices through the years and how we learned by taking it one step at a time, changing boats as our needs changed. Then came the ancillary questions on where to store the boat – on a trailer or slip rental. If stored on the water do they become seasonal slip holders or rent slips as transient? All the boaters in the extended family and many friends helped answer questions on trailers, dockage, accessories, and storage when not in the water. As it turned out they decided on a trailerable boat (Yay!!!). They were looking at boats that are a little sportier than our tugs—a Regal, Sea Ray, or Tiara. Over several months their personal requirements became clearer to them, as they learned the basics of trailerable boating, dockage, storage, and the ins and outs of life on the water.

As spring and the wedding approached, boat research was in full gear. They settled on a used Regal 29, before the wedding. The dream of spending their MiniMoon, onboard in Charlevoix, Michigan, became a reality. The sparkle in their eyes was unmistakable to Jim and me, as they got deeper and deeper into the grip of boat ownership bliss. The boating bug bit them hard this summer, and they’re now planning future boats and destinations, just like the water called to Jim and me many years ago. I think many in our boating community will agree, that a boat is a vessel providing, not only opportunities for adventure but, idyllic fun-filled days on the water with family and friends.

It’s a great place to grow a family and make memories!

Knot Approved splashed (above) for the first time in late May, and it was chilly. The happy new owners Sky and Meg (below).

These two are joining us and the Volvo Penta crowd.

The first time Knot Approved (above background-right) came to raft off Kismet was a fun time for all.

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Boats Arriving Early for the 2019 Charlevoix Rendezvous

Boating is fun! Guess that’s why it’s a popular recreational activity around coastal waters and inland lakes. If you are not joining in on a rendezvous during your boating adventures, you are missing out on a fantastic social, and informative (mechanical/technical/operational), opportunity. An organized rendezvous is not only a social event. Many times there will be dealers, factory service reps, engine service reps, and/or navigation reps on hand to address boat-specific, or accessory, issues. Topics discussed during scheduled presentations are of interest to any boater. We arrived early for the 2019 Charlevoix Rendezvous this year. There were already four boats docked on “D” dock.

Owners of Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats Have Rendezvous in the
Great Lakes, East Coast, South East, and the Pacific Northwest.

Fluid Motion started factory-sponsored rendezvous for their Ranger Tugs in the Puget Sound area in 2009. Now they are organized by owners, in those areas previously mentioned, and supported by the factory. It helps that many of those owners now tow their boats cross-country to explore new cruising opportunities and expand their social and mechanical/technical skills. Being a boat owner of any brand allows joining in on the fun. If you can’t find an existing group for your type of boat consider creating one.

Check out some of our previous RENDEZVOUS

Just gathering at the dock (Charlevoix City Marina) with early participants the night before the start of a rendezvous, is cause for celebratory cheers and camaraderie at the marina.

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Hard to Believe, in All Our Boating Experiences, We Had Never Cruised On the Saint Lawrence River – 

That was about to change after we left the quaint Quebec town of Saint-Ann-de-Bellevue. On our last day cruising to Montreal, we would encounter two huge international shipping locks on the Saint Lawrence River, Cote Sainte Catherine, and Saint-Lambert. These are the first of two locks on the eastern end of the impressive Saint Lawrence Seaway. Over 50 nations, use the Seaway ports in the United States and Canada.

Although this last leg of our cruise to Montreal was short in miles, we had to be prepared to experience delays and work with a whole new set of procedures, while locking through these mammoth locks. On the Saint Lawrence Seaway, cargo ships, freighters, and cruise ships have priority over recreational boaters. We were lucky that shipping and recreational traffic were both light that day. We followed a smaller cruise ship most of the way through both locks. The captain of the cruise ship had a say in if we would lock through with his ship or not. A courtesy call we suppose.

SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY LOCK FACTS

Each Seaway lock holds 21 million gallons of water,
equivalent to roughly 30 Olympic- sized swimming pools.

The locks use the law of gravity to fill and empty.
To raise a ship, they open the upstream lock valves and the water flows in.
To lower a vessel, they open the downstream valves and the water flows out.

Each lock in the system is 766 feet long, 80 ft. wide, and 30 ft. deep over the sill.

A lock fills with approximately 24 million gallons of water in just 7 to 10 minutes.

Transiting a lock takes about 45 minutes.

We tied alongside this boater through both locks. The captain helped us with translating instructions from the lock masters, as they operated mostly in French.

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Saint-Ann-de-Bellevue Sits at the Confluence of Two Impressive Rivers, Saint Lawrence and Ottawa –

The last stop, before our arrival in Montreal, is the second oldest community on the Island of Montreal, Saint-Ann-de-Bellevue. Founded in the early 1700s, this small town has all the charm you would expect and hope to encounter just short of Montreal. No gimmicky tourist traps here, only quaint shops, pubs, and restaurants. The town has a very European feel with a French flair. A good place to relax before we hit the big metropolis of Montreal.

We stopped here twice. It was our last stop before we hit the Saint Lawrence River and Montreal. We stopped again the day we left Montreal, to start our return trip home. On our trip east, toward Montreal, we stayed on the wall across from Saint Ann De Bellevue. On the way back, we tied up on the town-side wall. Saint-Ann-de-Bellevue is one of those places you’d want to slow down, enjoy the ambiance, and, as we did, extend our stay by one day.

The locks were getting a little bigger. We had to tie up to another boat while positioning ourselves for the sixty-five-foot Carillon Lock, it had an interesting lift gate that reminded me of a guillotine.

Since we were here on the weekend, we got to visit the local farmer’s market where the local produce and homemade goodies caught my eye. No worries about negotiating in French, nearly everyone speaks English. At the end of our trips, we are usually out of fresh produce and trying not to stock anymore, so my goal was to get only a green pepper for dinner. I only needed that one thing. but he talked me into these beautiful parsnips. He went on and on about the flavor; I had no choice, a real salesman he was! Those were some of the best radishes we’ve ever had.

On our return trip from Montreal, we locked through at Saint-Ann-de-Bellevue Canal for the last time.

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The Thousand Islands, an archipelago of 1,864 islands, lies between the US and Canadian borders. We were looking forward to cruising around the islands to get a feel for the history of the area. We saw many islands with unique houses sitting on rocks–some small cottages, but many were masonry castles. The Thousand Islands area is known for its recreational boating and historic houses. The wealthy built summer homes with big boat houses filled with classic wood boats. Lots of visual interest for the captain and crew as we maneuvered Kismet around the archipelago.

Familiar With Thousand Island Dressing?

It originated in this summer resort area. One tale of the source of the dressing is of fishermen from the area mixing common ingredients for their shore dinners. George Bolt got a taste and took the idea to one of his hotels, the Waldorf-Astoria, and the rest is history.

When we’d had enough of cruising, we settled on an anchorage in the Navy Islands on the Canadian side of the waterway. It was a lovely evening with lots of boating activity surrounding us. We relaxed on the back deck until dark – savoring the moment. We are finally boating in the Thousand Islands.

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Thousand Islands – Home to Bolt Castle!

Ever since we did the Great Loop boat trip in 2005/06, we have wanted to visit the Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands, in the Saint Lawrence River. We didn’t take that route. Ever since we’ve had it in our minds to return to the area to visit the Thousand Islands and the amazing Boldt Castle.

Millionaire George Boldt, in the late 1800s and into the early 20th century, worked for the wealthy Astor family as the General Manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, in New York City. George’s vision was to build a 120-room castle on Hart Island in Alexandria Bay. They later renamed the island to Heart Island—one of many islands in the Thousand Islands area of the Saint Lawrence River. The project started in 1900, it was a gift of love to his wife Louise. He put plans into motion and construction started on what would be one of the largest private homes in the United States. The enormous undertaking included not only the fairytale castle but a grand yacht house. There are also tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, and a children’s playhouse.

Unfortunately, the Couple Never Occupied the Castle

Tragedy struck when Louise died. Grief-stricken, George never returned to the island and canceled all work on the stone structures. The Castle sat unfinished and unoccupied for 73 years. In 1977 the New York Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought Heart Island for $1.00. The agreement of the sale was that they would work on restoring the buildings and opening the castle to the public.

Today they have repaired the grounds, the Power House, the main and second floors of the castle. All were tailored to George’s original vision, almost 120 years ago, for the Boldt family home. They left the basement and top floors unfinished up to this point. This gives visitors an idea of George’s vision and how much work went into this historic marvel.

We had to pass several islands on our way to Heart Island.

The only way to see the boat castle is to come by boat, either your own vessel or commercial ferry boat.

We arrived early to ensure we would get a spot in the small marina.

Alster Tower and Peristyle, (above & below), was the only new structure completed on Heart Island. The Boldt’s lived here while construction of the castle was underway.

The Peristyle (above) was a 500-by-100-foot man-made lagoon.

The main entrance to the castle is impressive. Lots to explore!

Louise Boldt (above-right).

The upstairs attic and basement are left unfinished. Interesting to see the materials used.

Dovecote and Garden (above and below-left).

The Power House renovation (above and below).

The Power House sits below this beautiful garden.

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Clayton, New York is Home to the Antique Boat Museum

Clayton, New York, and the Thousand Islands area, on the Saint Lawerence River between New York State and Ontario Canada, are places we’ve always wanted to visit. We knew we’d have to cross the border again to dock on the U.S. side of the river. We would have to cross back again to Canada to resume our trip to Montreal. The border crossing felt seamless as we used the new mobile app from the Department of Homeland Security, called CBP Roam, to check into Clayton.

One highlight of visiting this small town is its maritime history.

Clayton is home to the Antique Boat Museum (ABM), therefore the main draw for us to visit. Clayton, an old shipbuilding community founded in 1833, is nestled among the Thousand Islands. We couldn’t wait to see some of those old beautiful wooden boats.

Upon leaving Canadian waters we checked into the U.S. via CBP Roam. We had to register by first filling out an online form and sending photos of our passports. Then I opened the CBP Roam app, answered a few questions, and several minutes later I received a notice approving us to enter back into the U.S. Next stop was to top off our fuel tank and empty our holding tank before docking.

The Saint Lawrence River begins at Lake Ontario and stretches 1,000 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. The Thousand Islands make up the first sixty miles of the waterway with Ontario Canada on the north side of the river and New York to the south. The international border is drawn through the middle of the St. Lawrence River, weaving around islands placing roughly half on the Canadian side and the other half on the U.S. side. In the late 1800s, people, from the northeast United States headed north to St. Lawrence to escape polluted, overcrowded cities.

Since we arrived later in the day, we took a quick tour of downtown Clayton. Then we walked back to the boat to do laundry, which had been piling up for some time during our trip down the Trent Severn Waterway.

Our main goal in visiting Clayton was to visit the Antique Boat Museum.

To get the most out of the visit we went early the second morning. The museum is considered the premier freshwater boating museum in North America, sits on 4.5 acres of waterfront property, and has over 300 boats, marine artifacts, and much more. This is all housed in five or more buildings, including a large in-water, covered mooring building, and a couple of restoration shops. If you love old boats and maritime history, we’d recommend a visit to the ABM. If you plan to go, check the months of operation, they are closed during the off-season.

First, we toured the La Duchesse, a 106′ houseboat. George Boldt built this magnificent summer residence in 1903.

Seeing all these relics of nautical history was fascinating! ABM has an incredible collection of wood boats.

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Escaping to Charlevoix for a Three-Week Vacation! –

When we arrive home after being away for the winter, we typically have a slew of chores to do at home. That’s after we put the boat away for a couple of months. Well, we got through the list and soon our thoughts turned to scheduling summer cruising time in the Great Lakes.

Jim and I used to have a slip in Charlevoix, Michigan on Round Lake. It was our home port for many years before we retired and started long-distance cruising. Charlevoix is a second home for Jim and me. We still know people that live in Charlevoix and a few of them still dock their boats in the downtown marina. When Jim asked my thoughts on where we should go for a three-week trip, I didn’t skip a beat. “Charlevoix, let’s to Charlevoix!”

We either anchored by the island on Round Lake or stayed a few nights at a time at the marina

Although we stopped for one night in Northport on the way up, we left Charlevoix for a few days to visit Harbor Springs and Petoskey. We split our time either at the marina or anchored out across Round Lake by the island. It was the perfect getaway. We got to spend time with our good friend Hal and his wife Mary Ann. Hal was the harbormaster for many years, (he is now retired). We visited our good friends Jeff and Denise and enjoyed a social event at their condo. We also bumped into other boaters we knew in the early 2000s.

Our friend, Janice came and spent a long weekend with us on Kismet. We docked at the marina most of the time. We took her to the island for an overnighter, so she could enjoy a night away from the dock. Janice has spent time on all our boats with us. A former sailor, Janice misses boating, we try to help her get reacquainted once in a while.

We timed our trip just right, we’d be present for both the
Boyne Thunder Poker Run and the Venetian Festival

At the beginning of our trip, we found out we’d be in the lake for one of the most fun events of the year, the Boyne Thunder Poker Run. Kismet was on the hook at the island that day. That was a much better spot than at the marina for watching the boats roar through the channel between Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. Best of all, we made sure we were in Charlevoix for their well-known Venetian Festival, always the highlight of the summer.

This year Venetian Festival took on a whole new meaning for us, but that is a whole other post.

From the cockpit of Kismet, we observed several big yachts come into the Lake. Most notably, the ROCK.IT, a mega yacht owned by the man who started Jimmy John’s empire. In addition, we got to see Cindy Crawford cruise by our boat in Kris Rock’s boat, Cowboy. It is a new boat designed to look like an old vintage boat.

There were a few amazing sunsets and moonrises over the lake and an impressive storm that blew through near the end of our trip.

We launched our boat at Elmwood Marina, in East Bay. Just a few miles from downtown Traverse City.

The entrance to Charlevoix is an impressive channel, even big yachts can get into Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. The map (below) will give you a good idea of what Round Lake looks like and the position of the channels out to Lake Charlevoix (right) and Lake Michigan (left).

Our good friend, Hal has been the beloved Harbormaster in Charlevoix forever. The new Harbormaster, Pat, has worked alongside Hal for several years now, so to be greeted by these two great guys when Kismet came “Home” was almost more than we could ask for.

Across from Charlevoix’s downtown marina site this little island borders the channel out into Lake Charlevoix. This has become our spot to anchor, with a fantastic view of downtown Charlevoix and the parade of boats that transit this area daily.

Boyne Thunder Poker Run (above), is an exciting event and the noise alone will make you stand at attention. We had a great view from our spot near the island. It was nice having these “go fast boats” anchored near us.

Happy Hour one night was hosted by our friends Jeff and Denise at their condo near the channel. If you look hard enough, you’ll see Kismet anchored by the island across the lake (below).

Kris Rock ferried Cindy Crawford out to meet the mega yacht, ROCK.IT when it came through the bridge one morning. The yacht eventually made it’s way to Mr. Rock’s cottage on Lake Charlevoix to anchor.

Friends Forever! Our good friend, Janice came to spend some time with us on Kismet while we were in Charlevoix.

We ran into this Ranger Tug owner one night as we were dinghying back to the boat. The full moon was amazing.

This storm looked awful. We had been off the boat in our dinghy when we noticed it approaching. The sky got darker and darker quite fast. In the end, it looked worse than it was, but it added a little thrill to our afternoon.

On our way back to Traverse City after three weeks of excellent vacation. Another brewing storm met us out by Power Island in West Bay.

Loading the boat on the trailer. The next time she will touch the water will be in Ontario, Canada for the 2018 Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats Great Lakes Area Rendezvous, followed by a trip up the Rideau to Montreal.

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On the Road Again! –

We were dubious about trailering Kismet back home; it was already mid-April. The temperature should be okay, right? We kept a close eye on the weather as there were serious low digits on the horizon for our hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. Ideally, we’d like to not have to winterize the boat when leaving Florida. Not looking too good as our departure day inched closer. We even stayed a couple more days, hoping not to do this chore. However, as serious blizzard conditions headed for Traverse City, our outlook seemed glum. We couldn’t wait much longer as we had a multitude of things to do at home. When a predetermined time comes to leave our winter digs, our thoughts always turn away from where we are to where we are going next. After a relaxing winter escape to Florida, Kismet was ready to go home.

Reports from friends and neighbors did not help our outlook. They told us how many inches of snow still covered the ground – a lot. There was a weather forecast for another two feet to dump on our home. So, we started the winterizing process in Florida and did the last bit in Ohio while we visited Jim’s mom.

Sure enough, the projected late spring blizzard came only days before we arrived and it took its sweet time melting. Oh well! Such is life, right? As soon as he was able, Jim took the boat to a storage lot we use. He wrapped the boat in a huge tarp and the boat sat there until we were ready to launch it for summer boating in northern Michigan.

On the way home we only used an RV park once – Ocala RV Park, in Ocala, Florida. It was a good find, we enjoyed our stay. Unfortunately, after that, it got too cold and we stayed at motels.

Jim is getting organized to do boat and house projects.

Definitely not what we like to come home to in April!

The post Trailering Kismet North for Summer Cruising in Northern Michigan appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Think we have the hang of loading the boat now!

After six years of trailering our Ranger Tugs R27, we guessed that loading the bigger boat onto the trailer would be harder. The only other time we trailered the boat was in the Pacific Northwest last fall. We took delivery of her in August and cruised for several weeks before loading her again. The boatyard lifted the boat out of the water by a travel lift and placed it on the trailer.

That’s a good thing because we were a little intimidated by the whole OVERSIZE LOAD requirements, rules and regulations. We wondered how the truck, our GMC Sierra 3/4 ton diesel would do pulling the bigger boat cross-country. We towed the R27 with this truck. It was way easier than we feared, almost a non-event. The truck performed well, Jim had all the paperwork lined up for any questioning authority and we got to test all environments of road conditions on our trip home. However, we still hadn’t put the boat on the trailer. Fort Lauderdale was our first experience loading Kismet.

Just as in trailering an oversize load across the United States from Washington State to Michigan, we found the loading process to go without a hitch.

We headed over to the ramp at Cooley’s Landing early in the morning of our departure day. Jim hired a guy we met at the dock. We’d gotten to know Bob during our stay at the marina. We probably didn’t need more help, but Bob was ready and willing to help his new friends and we were happy for the extra support.

I don’t believe the boat size matters too much. Most of our success in these two areas is because Jim is a stickler for detail, making sure all his ducks are lined up in a row. No surprises for our first time loading the boat, the whole process took much less time than we anticipated.

Jim made a strap for our R27 and it still works on the R29. Extra security, keeping the boat safely on the trailer, while on the road.

The post Time to Go Home – Loading Kismet in Fort Lauderdale appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Fort Lauderdale – One of my favorite stops on the water!

I love the boating activity on the New River, and the River Walk for an early morning stroll, or late afternoon explorations up and into Las Olas. I suppose the most fun we have is watching tug boats tow mega-yachts past the cockpit of our boat. We’ll sip cocktails and dream of all the places we could go in those big yachts. But, then we’ll say, “With that bigger yacht, first of all, you’ll need a bigger crew to get around, to clean and maintain. Secondly, loss of privacy would be a big downside.” Finally, we end up being thankful for our little tug. It’s perfect for us!

Everything a boater would want is within walking distance
of our marina on the New River.

Easy to get to grocery stores, restaurants, the Museum of Discovery and Science, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, boat yards, and shopping in Las Olas. It’s a great place to take a dinghy ride up or downriver and into the many canals nearby. Cooley’s Landing, our favorite marina in the area is on the New River, in Fort Lauderdale. Our slip is usually to the east of the 4th Avenue Bridge, at the start of the River Walk.

It was a fun weekend!

Last spring while helping our son, Skyler, plan a long weekend on the boat with his girlfriend, Meghan, Fort Lauderdale became one of two options we gave him for a rendezvous. (Fort Myers, the other.) Both locations offer airports nearby, they are easy to get to from the marinas we frequent. Either site offers activities to keep our guests entertained. Once we got the timeline down, we could finally talk about locations. Consequently, if they had come earlier, in January, it would have been Fort Myers. We try to launch downtown when we tow our boat to Florida after the holidays. They came later in the season due to their job schedules, which found us coming north from the Keys and heading to the New River later in the season.

Skyler and Meg, our first guests on the new Ranger Tugs R29, proved they can handle the small confines of the boat. We took boat and dinghy rides, we shopped, we ate on the boat and in town. My niece Megan and her family spent an afternoon with us on the boat. We made sure our guests enjoyed a romantic time to themselves. One night we made their bed and filled it with candles, DVDs, and edible treats as we went to bed early. Too much fun!!!

After we got to Fort Lauderdale, we rented a car to drive to Fort Myers to pick up our truck and trailer. On the way back to Fort Lauderdale, I drove the rental car while Jim lead the way in the truck.

We have previously stored our truck and trailer at the marina, however, we were not able to do that this time, so Jim checked around and finally found a guy who said we could store it in his driveway, close to the marina. Nice job, Jim!

Our view (above), from the starboard side of Kismet.

My niece, Meghan, found out we were in Fort Lauderdale. She had just gotten off a cruise trip with her husband Dave and three kids. We had a fun afternoon catching up and playing on the boat.

This (above) is one of the smaller yachts that cruise by our slip hourly. There is a constant array of mega-yachts that daily make their way up to a boatyard up the New River.

We had a tropical storm or two while Sky and Meg were here. One kicked up while we were out for a day cruise on Kismet.

Our friend, Mark (above-left), also a Ranger Tug owner, was doing a trade show in the area. He stopped by to say hi and brought two friends. Any excuse to celebrate!

The last night of their visit we celebrated with dinner on the beach by Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Jim and I walked to the Post Office one day and I saw this strange carcass flattened out on the ground.

One of the highlights of staying at Cooley’s Landing is we get to visit friends Carolyn and Harry, also Ranger Tug owners who live close to the marina.

The post New River Rendezvous with Family – Fort Lauderdale, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

A sunny day on Biscayne Bay for the crew of Kismet as we left Boca Chita. We cruised straight toward Miami, then veering to the east of the towering urban area. Our destination to anchor tonight was Lake Sylvia. After spending a month in the laid-back Florida Keys, Miami’s tall buildings stood off in the distance as a stark contrast to our adjusted, and now mellow, attitudes. Our two days on the island provided closure as we prepared to leave the Keys to transition back into city life.

We’ve anchored at Lake Sylvia before. It’s minutes from Fort Lauderdale where we had reservations for a long week with family arriving in a few days. We are not keen on arriving at a marina too late in the day. Not a good dollar value, so we’ll often anchor nearby, get up early and go the final mile or two to claim our slip. This way we get the biggest bang for our buck.

This is a good anchorage. Lots of space available without feeling crowded. We settled into our selected spot and spent the night observing the boater activity in the surrounding neighborhood. Dinghies moved to and from boats or onshore excursions, and construction on houses stopped. As dusk approached, we were treated to an amazing sunset over the rooftops and palms in the harbor.

Leaving Miami behind us we made our way to Lake Sylvia for a one-night stay at anchor.

This catamaran (above) had the most beautiful periwinkle blue hull!

Holy Moses, what a sunset that was!

The post Passing Miami’s Shoreline on Our Way to Lake Sylvia, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Within sight of Miami’s towering shoreline sits Boca Chita Key –

This breezy manicured isle is the northernmost island in the Florida Keys. Once a mangrove-covered island, it soon became a hot spot for affluent industrialists. Mark Honeywell created the current structures on the island in the early 1900s. Wealthy boaters frequented the boating paradise as a balmy retreat from the fast-growing city life of Miami and Miami Beach.

Boca Chita Key, now frequented by day boaters looking for a Bahama-style picnic retreat, can be a busy place. People may come by a small ferryboat, it shuttles people back and forth for family picnics on the island. Boca Chita became part of Biscayne National Park in the late-nineteen hundreds.

Don’t Go On the Weekends!

The island features a man-made concrete-walled harbor with the ability to host lots of boats around its circumference. We always try to avoid going to Boca Chita on Saturdays or Sundays due to the crazy activity. The weekend crowd differs substantially from the weekday visitors. They come to party hard on a typical weekend, it can be noisy with music blasting from boats. During the week, the harbor is empty and more of a pleasant stay for the crew of Kismet and other unhurried boaters. On a sunny day, you can see Miami across the bay and at night the lights twinkle far away beckoning us to partake and play.

The main feature of visiting Boca Chita is the ability to get off our boat and walk the trail around the island. We like to swim in the crystal clear water and relax on the clean white-sand beach. Boaters who visit here are friendly and relaxed, just as we feel we are when we visit. No room for stress here! Boca Chita is a gem for boaters transiting this area. If you haven’t been yet, put it on your “Go To” list.

The post Boca Chita Key – Miami’s Playground! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Key West is always a delight to visit. We cruised down, after our month-long visit to Marathon, for a two-night stay at Key West Bight Marina, in the heart of Key West’s harbor. Time to get some of our favorite almond paste croissants, visit with friends, take a walk in the morning for exercise, and again at night to see what was going on with the nightlife in Key West. After all that, time to hit our favorite happy hour spots. Our drill the two days we were in Key West Bight.

When we left here, we began our slow ascent north to Fort Lauderdale.

Our friend, Rick, came to visit and celebrate the new Kismet.

On one of our walks, we took notice of all the amazing artwork around downtown Key West.

Turtle Kralls and the massive dinghy dock is within easy reach of our slip.

The post In the Heart of Key West – Key West Bight Marina appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Call us Snowboaters or Boaterhomers – Using Our Boat On Land And Water! –

We’re certain you’ve heard of the term “Snow Birds.” Southern Boating just coined a new boating-related term for what the crew of Kismet has been doing for over seven years. “Snowboaters!” We also like to reference our over-land adventures by saying we are “Boaterhomers.”

Whatever the term you use to describe what we do regularly, as a lifestyle choice, it’s working for us in a big way. Using our trailerable boat as both a land vehicle and a water vessel provides us with some amazing flexibility in our adventures. Not only on water but on land too!

To read the article, click on the screenshot below…
OR CLICK HERE

To read more posts by Trailer Trawler Life on their adventures as Snowboaters/Boaterhomers,
CLICK HERE.

The post Snowboaters Paradise – Kismet Featured in Southern Boating Magazine! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The Boat Galley Provides Valuable Tips and Tricks for Boaters! –

Occasionally you’ll come across someone who will inspire you. A few years ago I started to follow The Boat Galley, a popular boating blog created by a talented woman, Carolyn Shearlock, a full-time cruiser. Being a fellow blogger, I can appreciate the valuable content she shares with boaters. The depth of her skills, as a writer and marketer with tech-savvy computer skills, is impressive. Carolyn is a popular force in the boating community. It’s easy to see why—she loves to learn and is eager to share that knowledge with other boaters. How she does this is brilliant with a simple, well-designed, user-friendly, blog.

Carolyn started by writing a cookbook and sharing tips for cooking on a boat. In the natural progression of things, The Boat Galley expanded to include more information on boating, living on-board, cruising, and gear.

“The Boat Galley can help you with tips, reviews, and how-tos for every step of boating. From deciding if cruising’s for you to chartering, buying a boat, outfitting it, moving and living aboard, cooking, getting underway, even maintaining and repairing your boat.”–The Boat Galley

https://theboatgalley.com

From reading articles on The Boat Galley, and being a subscriber to her newsletters, I read that Carolyn and her husband, Dave, spend a lot of time in Marathon, Florida. We are in Marathon, so I contacted her, hoping we could meet… blogger to blogger. My goal was to pick her brain about some aspects of blogging I did not have experience with. I found Carolyn so friendly and open to a meeting during our text messaging back and forth. I said to myself, “I should have done this sooner?”

We planned to meet at the Hurricane Bar & Grille, right next to the office at Blackfin Resort and Marina where we dock our boat. I found out that Carolyn is the real deal, a trailblazer for the boating community. She has spunk and a beautiful smile. Carolyn is more than willing to help anyone with anything–even more so if it relates to the subject of boating.

After lunch, I asked Carolyn to come down to the marina to see Kismet and meet Jim. I also wanted to surprise a friend, Tammi. She is living with her husband on their boat, Liberty, and doing the Great Loop–she follows The Boat Galley with regularity. Can’t tell you how many times over the winter Tammi referenced Carolyn’s blog as the source for some items she bought for her boat.

A big thanks to Carolyn for taking the time to sit and talk with me about blogging. I don’t get to do that often, almost NEVER!

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Blackfin Marina has a Laid-back, Friendly Atmosphere

If you had a doubt about how much fun cruisers enjoy while boating, let’s put that notion to rest. Spending a month at Blackfin Marina and Resort in Marathon (Florida Keys), provides many social activities. Kismet has migrated to this hot spot during winter while escaping the frigid cold of Northern Michigan. We come here to hang out with other boaters who share a love of the Keys.

Sometimes we tow our boat south to Marathon and put her in at the public boat launch on the Florida Bay side of the island. Or, we cruise from the west coast of Florida, typically from Fort Myers. We’ll go on the Okeechobee Waterway to the east coast, before pointing our bow south to the Keys.

“We’re chipping in to buy lobster, give us a twenty and bring a salad”

Once settled in our slip at Blackfin Marina and Resort, we step off the boat and social interactions are a given. “Hey, join us for ‘Happy Hour’ tonight” or “We’re chipping in to buy lobster, give us a twenty and bring a salad” or “Let’s hop in our truck and drive down to Key West for the afternoon.” AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association) and MTOA (Marine Trawler Owners’ Association) put on reunions in Marathon. During these events, we often get to reunite with boaters we’ve traveled with on our cruising adventures.

We’ve been going to Blackfin Marina for several years now. Interesting how we’ve become part of that community. Half of the boats in the marina call Blackfin home year-round. The other half are transients who come for a season or a month or two. Amazing how many people, from the year-rounders, the transients, and the Loopers we’ve met over the years, have settled into various marinas in the area. Ranger Tug owners are gaining a presence in the area as they often migrate to spots together. One marina over, Banana Bay, is another popular marina on the Florida Bay side of Marathon. Many Gold Loopers settle here after completing their “Loop.”

We look forward to our 2019 stay in Marathon. Every year brings another level of connectivity to the boating community we love. Whether it be the Ranger Tugs group, the Looper group, or the Blackfin group, it’s our people and always a fun time.

Our first get-together on the point was a “Bring Something to Grill and a Side Dish” affair.

Farmer’s Market (above) is within walking distance of Blackfin Marina and Resort.

This was one of those nights when some of the Ranger Tug owners invited everyone to share their catch from a fishing expedition the previous day. We gathered onshore in front of our boats, side dishes at the ready while the cooks fried up a huge batch of fish for consumption.

It’s Not a Vacation, It’s a Lifestyle!

Aside from the social opportunities, the support and help boaters share are abundant. We can’t speak for other cruisers, but it has been our experience, you can’t cruise and sit on the beach, day after day. It’s not a vacation, it’s a lifestyle! Some can, but many can’t. So, on Kismet at least, boat projects are in full swing most days in the marina. There’s always something to add, fix or improve on a boat. I know my Jim is that way, and so am I. We’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then work before we hit the pool, exercise, or run errands. It’s amazing how busy we can be during the day just doing those things.

While on the boat, we live outside most of the time, at the least our doors and windows are open to the elements. We’ve even continued this practice at our home in Traverse City. Doors and windows wide open, sometimes the bugs fly in one door and out the other. Guess after all the boating we’ve done, over the years, it’s hard being closed in with stale air.

Our friends had a month-long 50th-anniversary celebration, this is only one of the cakes (above) they received.

Lobster night on the point with our Ranger Tug buddies was a feast and a lot of fun.

Every winter there is a Sunset Celebration for past and present Loopers, this year it was held at Banana Bay Marina.

The post Finding Our People at Blackfin Marina – Marathon, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Zooming down the Overseas Highway, through the town of Marathon, you might be at a loss to understand the attraction some people feel toward this small, laid-back, community. Marathon sits on a group of 13 islands in the mid to lower half of the Florida Keys. Many of you have probably seen a movie or TV show depicting life in the Keys as lethargic, perhaps even a little unrefined. Things move at a slower pace here, Folks don’t get wound up about things so much. Life is simpler in the Keys – especially in Marathon.

Marathon has an “Old Florida” appeal.

The area isn’t new and shiny, it’s weathered and worn, more like something out of the late 1950s. This was especially true this year as most of the Keys were still recovering from Hurricane Irma. We enjoy a lifestyle that fits the easy-going reputation and attitude of the Keys.

Kismet arrived at Blackfin Marina and Resort by way of the Everglades and Florida Bay. Our goal is to try to stay for a month if possible. Lisa and I have visited Marathon about seven times during our boating endeavors. We have enjoyed docking at many of the local marinas in the area. We also stayed on a mooring ball at boot key harbor once or twice. This is our third stay at Blackfin Marina. Our crew fits in well with the friendly year-round boaters who call Blackfin their home. Blackfin, like many of the marinas here, also has rooms to rent, which is nice for boaters, like us, with small boats. We can have guests come to visit us and just rent a room at the marina. Marathon has become a home base for us when we cruise and winter in the southernmost location of the United States.

I was talking with Barry, the property manager, one afternoon and I asked him how his day was going. He replied, “Well, the day started off kinda slow and it tapered off from there.” If you like beautiful sunsets, funky music, casual outdoor bars, and the company of easygoing and friendly people, Marathon could be for you too.

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We Anchored Twice in the Everglades This Trip –
Russell Pass and Snake River –

We have cruised this stretch of the Everglades several times during our boating adventures. The remoteness of this part of southern Florida appeals to our nature-seeking personalities. Anchoring in remote locations will give a boater an opportunity to experience wildlife in its most secluded habitats. After settling into an anchorage here, we try to put everything aside for a while. We turn the music off, get binoculars out and sit quietly outside in the cockpit as long as we can before the bugs come out at dusk. This gives us an excellent chance to understand life in the wild. An enormous collection of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians thrive here.

Alligators are at the center of the Everglade ecosystem. This is the only location in the world alligators and crocodiles live together. While shining a flashlight at night, we might be lucky enough to see a pair of alligator eyes peeking out from under mangrove trees. Another important symbol of the Everglades is the Florida panther, one of the most endangered species here. There’s an abundance of rare, and at-risk, birds in the Everglades. The Florida Bay estuary provides breeding habitat for wood storks, roseate spoonbills, and white and glossy ibis’, also many varieties of egrets and herons.

Last, but not least, are the snakes. The Everglades have several poisonous types of snakes, including rattlesnakes.

We stopped to anchor twice while transiting the Everglades, one night at Russell Pass and another at Little Shark River. On our last night in Snake River, we noticed an interesting event occurring with the bird population. As we sat in the cockpit, in the late afternoon, we saw birds gliding east over our boat and landing deep into the mangrove swamp that surrounded us. Usually flying in pairs they seemed to return home after a long day of fishing out in the bay.

It was a little stormy out in the bay on this day, but not too bad. Everything had a yellow/green hue against an angry dark purply blue sky. Not too rocky though.

We only passed two or three boats on our way into the river.

It was a hot day, we dug out the little portable fan so the captain could keep cool.

The post Skirting the Everglades National Park – On Our Way to the Keys appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Leaving the shelter of Florida’s well-protected Gulf Coast ICW, we made two stops before we hit the Everglades – Marco Island – Goodland Anchorages. I don’t know what it is about transiting this part of Florida. It’s pretty thrilling to slowly leave civilization behind, knowing that we are about to head out into the vast expanse of hot and steamy wilderness that is Florida’s Everglades.

The first stop was Factory Bay – An anchorage Off Marco Island

We usually don’t have a problem setting the anchor, and not sure if it was the wind whipping us around or the somewhat crowded anchorage, but it did take a couple of tries. An uneventful night followed as we spent the evening observing the activity in the harbor. Later, we watched the sun set over land as the fast-moving, dark skies, threatened us from above.

Goodland Bay Anchorage

Next, we anchored in Goodland Bay an anchorage off the small town of Goodland. It was close enough to land so that we could dinghy to shore for an early dinner. On our way into Goodland, we observed boats, beached earlier in the year by Hurricane Irma, and quite extensive damage to the Goodland Marina.

This was a new anchorage for us. On our last visit to Goodland, we anchored just off the marina.

Look at Jim giving me the Evil Eye!

We had a great lunch in town, it would be the last off-boat meal for a while, as we were headed into the wilds of the Everglades when we left Goodland.

After our early dinner, we went for a walk over to the marina to see if some friends were docked there. Did not find our friends, but we witnessed, up close, some of the damage hurricane Irma did to this area.

Marco Island – Goodland

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Lovers Key, at New Pass Inlet, South of Fort Myers Beach,
is a Wonderful Anchorage Surrounded by Two State Parks –

This is a place we “LOVE” to return to. After a brief stay at Salty Sams, in Fort Myers Beach, we followed Matanzas Pass south, past Ostego Bay. We then crossed Big Carlos Pass on our way to this anchorage between Lovers Key State Park and Pelican Landings Beach Park. We anchored in six feet of water, with the Dog Park (part of the Lovers Key State Park) to our north. The beach park was west of us and the opening to the Gulf, New Pass Inlet was between the two. It was Saturday, and by the time we arrived the place was full of weekend activity. Dogs were running and playing in the dog park. Many boats beached on the shore. Ferry boats hauled people back and forth to the parks all day long. Plenty of boating activity all around us.

By mid-afternoon, however, boats slowly began to depart. By sunset, we had the ENTIRE New Pass, Lovers Key Pelican Beach area to ourselves… just as we had planned.

We spent a peaceful night on the hook, watching the sunset over the white sand beach, as we caught a sliver of setting sun through New Pass, looking west into the Gulf of Mexico. Day two started with Kismet standing sentinel in the bay, all alone. We enjoyed the early morning peace and quiet, enjoying our coffee and breakfast as the crescendo of the busy day ahead slowly unfolded. Just like the previous day, small boats stirred up the cove, and dogs noisily played on the beach.

By mid-day, one could hardly find a place to beach-land a boat. The Dog Park has as many dogs frolicking in and out of the water as there were boats. Then, as the day wore on, it was as if someone set off a timed alert. Boats started to migrate back to their home docks around 3:00 pm and by 6:00 pm, we again had the entire place to ourselves again.

Spending another peaceful night at anchor also meant the Gulf was calm and flat so, just as planned, we were able to venture out of New Pass early in the morning, making our way to the next planned stop, Marco Island.

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