Cruising cats April 14

Sunday, May 14, 2006

St. James, Florida anchorage



Just to prove that anything is possible, we had four courteous boat drivers
slow down when passing us to reduce the effect of their wake on us. Two of
them were the infamous Sea Rays that seem to think they own the world.
Everybody and their mother was on the water, perhaps because it is Mother's
Day. Perhaps that also explains the courtesy.



Currently, we are at anchor just off the ICW near St. James City, Florida,
which is on the southern tip of Pine Island, slightly southwest of Cape
Coral. I guess the nearest town of any size is Fort Myers.



Our journey took us past Cabbage Key, which is where Jimmy Buffett wrote
"Hamburger in Paradise." Shortly afterward, something a woman had on her
hook slowly crossed the ICW with the two-person fishing boat in tow. We
watched in amazement as they headed, fishing rod flexing in response to the
tugs on the line, toward deeper water in Pine Island Sound. Jim commented
that it was a good thing that it was not taking them out to the Gulf of
Mexico.



We also saw the first two of what might be called billboards along the ICW.
They were sign boards mounted on posts set in the water. One was along a
marked side channel and said, "Gas, Diesel, and Pump Out." The other
advertises "Cool Breeze Charters, Ragged Ass Saloon, Double Nickel Pub."



The second sign is in view of our anchorage and seems to account for much of
the traffic passing by our boat. I guess we better remember to put on our
anchor light tonight to be visible.



Annie, crew for Cinder and Rosie