After spending the holidays at home in Traverse City, MI, we returned to Legacy Harbor Marina in Fort Myers, Florida for the start of our 2015 winter cruising season. Our plan this winter is to cruise to Key West from Fort Myers, spending most of our time in the Keys. Legacy Harbor Marina is a fun spot to spend a week, a month, or a whole season. Last year we spent a month enjoying the amenities of the marina while exploring all the events in the Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, and Naples areas. One of the

Friends of Tom and Patsy Conrad helped get True North, to Fort Myers. Eddy and Jeff co-captained the boat to Legacy Harbour and its owners, the Conrads who were anxiously waiting to see and move back onboard their boat again. Linda, Skip, and Lolly were the support team back at the marina, helping the captains into the dock. Nice job everyone!

Another Downtown Fort Myers Bike Night in Fort Myers from 6 to 10 pm, they are always a fun time! Hundreds of bikes will noisily arrive late afternoon and line the streets. Live music on multiple stages strategically placed all over the downtown area. This is a quarterly event and all bikers are welcome.

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Kismet Secure at Legacy Harbor Marina, Fort Myers

We planned our winter trip to include a month-long stay at Legacy Harbour Marina in Fort Myers. Many of our Looper friends stay in this area during the winter months, some of them at this marina. We find that boating is like that, we bump into Loopers or boaters we know everywhere we go– planned or not. We did parts of our second Loop with buddy boats, Bella Luna and C-Life. We know other Loopers docked here from being involved with AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association). In the past, when in Fort Myers, we’ve always stayed at Fort Myers Yacht Basin, but this year we wanted to be where our friends were even though the Yacht Basin is only a few blocks away.

When we arrived at Legacy, we were given a couple of choices for dockage. We chose the dock in front of Joe’s Crab Shack. It was the perfect spot for Kismet for the month of March. Let the festivities begin!

The marina staff had some high standards for running the marina. We enjoyed getting to know the whole crew during our stay.

Tom and Patsy Conrad were in their slip on A Dock. We haven’t seen them since the last AGLCA Rendezvous we attended.

Every Thursday there is a great Farmer’s Market under the bridge just a few blocks from the marina. Great spot for a market because in inclement weather the farmers are well-protected from the elements. This is a great place to pick up some fresh, Florida produce, flowers, herbs, plants, fresh fish and shellfish, and even some microgreens (above and below).

Our friend, Louis, on Bella Luna (above), made a habit of giving his female boater friends blossoms off the gardenia plant he got at the market. Such a gentleman!

Needless to say, we ate well during our stay in Fort Myers including a day trip over the river to Cactus Jack. Louis, Diane, Robert, and Kay (below) made the excursion lots of fun.

Fort Myers’ Bike Night is lots of fun! Thousands of bikes, of every conceivable shape, color, and size, show up, once a month, for a spectacular party. Two or three bands keep the place hopping and if you want to buy a biker outfit, there are many vendors that will help you out.

And then there were the parties on the deck of the marina or Tiki Hut. We attended them all during the month of March. Starting with the marina’s Boater Appreciation Party (below).

Mike (above)  is checking hands during the Dinghy Poker Run.

Hometown friends, Mike and Lynne, joined us in Fort Myers for a week. No, they didn’t stay on our boat, they rented a room close by. Our first boat trip with them was across the river to St. James City and the Waterfront restaurant on Pine Island. It was a rough ride over and docking on the waterside of the restaurant was a little challenging. It was a fun trip.

While Mike and Lynne were still here we visited Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery. The staff provides a good tour and taste testing of some of their products.

Some of the women spent an afternoon shopping and having lunch, at Ichiban’s downtown. I have become addicted to their Hot and Sour Soup.

Jim and I went to soup at Ichiban’s another day and look at our fortune cookies! Spot on!

McGregor’s Pizza was a favorite spot for pizza and calzones. They only have two tables in there, but we made it work many a time. EXCELLENT CALZONES!

Afternoon lunch (above) at Brad and Patti’s condo in Cape Coral, yes, it does seem we do everything in groups.

Another party at the marina! This time a small group of boaters had a Marina Appreciation Party. Louis, Diane, Butch, Kelle, Kay, and Robert (below) planned a festive and delicious feast to honor the marina staff. The party included live music to dance to.

Diane, Patsy, and Lisa (above). Diane, Kelle, and Kay (below).

Louis’ favorite local BBQ pit catered the party.

Claudia (above, second from left), brought Jell-O shots. Bottom’s Up!  Thanks, Claudia!

This is how you have a party for eight on Kismet. Brunch is served with arepas and fresh fruit.

Near the end of our stay, a group of us went downtown to hang out at the top of Ford’s Garage. Great view of the river and downtown up there even a live band.

One last Happy Hour on True North, Tom and Patsy’s boat.

Near the end of our stay, fellow tug nuts, Cheryl and Rich, on Roam and Jess and Mike, on Illusions (below) came to visit at Legacy.

Across the river from the marina is this beautiful anchorage. We came to anchor at this spot a few times to get away from the commotion at the marina. So when our month’s time was up at Legacy, we came over here for one last night on the hook. First time I had ever seen an anhinga bird. He sat in a nearby tree for a long time until sunset came.

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