SATURDAY – TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7-10, 2026
SATURDAY
Today was more on the leisurely side… well, after we were rudely jolted awake by a murder of crows—and yes, in that moment, the term felt a little too on the nose 😳.
Jeff headed out early to return the rental car, with Bonnie and Louis swooping in to give him a lift back. The airport Nazis (as they’re lovingly known around here 🙄) were waving cars along like it was a NASCAR pit stop, so Jeff made a run for it. Unfortunately, there was a sign that didn’t quite respect his height, and BAM—head meets metal. Cue the blood. And wow… y’all know how much the head bleeds!
They rushed him back to the marina where I cleaned him up and suggested—very reasonably—that he might want to get it checked out. Looked like it could use a stitch or two. His response? Hard no. Of course.
Bloody but determined, we carried on with plans and headed to St. Armands Circle for lunch. We ate at Columbia, and ohhh my goodness—so good. The three of us ladies ordered their famous Original 1905 Salad, made tableside, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The restaurant has been around since 1905, and you can tell they’ve perfected their craft. We also enjoyed their sangria, also made tableside—dangerously delicious!
Our table was perfect in a lively, bustling spot with prime people-watching. After lunch, we wandered through the boutique shops, soaking up the sunshine and the vibes. It really was a wonderful afternoon.
Huge thanks to Bonnie & Louis for bringing us—Mom especially loved every minute of it ❤️.
The evening was calm and lazy, just the way we like it. A very light supper, a little TV, and then off to bed. Tomorrow the winds are finally calming down, so we’re pointing the bow south and getting back underway! 🌊⚓️
SUNDAY
Today we took a walk around the park next to the marina. What a beautiful day!
Then we slipped the lines and cruised about 30 miles down to Manasota Key, finally settling into a snug anchorage tucked just off Lemon Bay. There were already quite a few boats here, but plenty of room—as long as you can skillfully dodge the ever-present crap pots. 🚩
A few of the boats nearby told sad stories. You could tell they’d been caught in one of the many storms—damaged, partially sunk, and completely abandoned. It’s always tough to see, but unfortunately, it happens all too often.
We all piled into the dinghy with hopes of finding a place to dock so we could cross the road to the Gulf beach. No such luck. The docks were way too tall for our dinghy, unless we wanted to commit to eating at one of the restaurants. We decided to skip that plan and just take a short ride instead—especially since it was a bit chilly for my mom.
Back on the boat, Jeff fired up the grill and made pork tenderloin for dinner, which felt like the perfect ending to a calm, easygoing day. All in all, it was a great evening. 🌅🍴
MONDAY
Another beautiful day on the water…and it’s getting much warmer! The winds were calm and the dolphins were playing. We stopped for lunch at Cabbage Key, a small island only assessable by boat. There they gave the Cabbage Key Inn along with the famous Dollar Bill Bar. They serve up terrific burgers, mahi, catch of the day, etc…very busy spot. This is the place Jimmy Buffet came years ago and wrote his Cheeseburger in Paradise song after.
The dolphins have been so playful for us! Great show put on for my mom!
TUESDAY
We had anchored just off Sanibel Island, so it was a short and easy cruise over to Gulf Harbor Marina in Fort Myers today — barely enough time to finish our coffee before we were tying up! The dolphins, clearly on cue, put on yet another spectacular show for us. Leaping, playing, and racing alongside the bow on a picture-perfect day… it never gets old.
Once we were snug in our slip, it was time to shift into “real life” mode — boat baths, laundry loads, and provisioning. The glamorous side of cruising, right? But there’s something satisfying about getting everything shipshape again.
We wrapped up the day with a delicious fish and chips dinner at the marina restaurant — the perfect send-off for our last night aboard with my mom. She heads back to Minnesota tomorrow, and we’ve loved every minute of having her along for this stretch of the journey. It’s been such a special visit. I’m pretty sure my dad was right there with us in spirit, smiling at the whole adventure ❤️
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