It was only about 20 miles or so down to Fort Myers Beach. There is a mooring field there just on the inside of the island, and only a couple blocks walk across to the beach. Kind of a weird group that hangs out on those moorings, but it wasn’t a bad place to spend a couple days, and was also a good way for us to make sure everything was working well onboard, unconnected from marina shore power again.
A new platform for imagination games.
The kids were goofing around in the dinghy for about five minutes before the authorities came by and told us they needed to have life jackets on. Tied off, ten feet from our boat’s swim platform! I despise this aspect of American life. My kids are excellent swimmers, a parent is standing right there watching them, and yet, a couple of yahoos still felt compelled to come by and enforce their rules on us. Needless to say, walking through town an hour later we had added another verse to our Rules, Rules, Rules song. Uggh, my heart rate doubles just typing this up. Clearly I have been in the States too long again.
Fort Myers Beach Pier.
Time to throw a sail on this thing and see what it can do.
Honestly, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing when it comes to sailing this dinghy. I’m still not entirely sure I’ve even got it rigged up right. But, when it catches the breeze it takes off like a shot, even with a giant sitting in it. It’s going to fly once the kids have it figured out a bit more and can go ripping off alone.
With a little boy things go from hugs to wrestling in a heartbeat.
16 Comments on “Fort Myers Beach”
Sorry we were not able to connect after you guys crossed Okeechobee. We have started the process of building a house here in FL, and that research and process is time- and mind-consuming. Seems like you’re ready for another fabulous adventure. Thanks for taking us with you..be safe and have fun.
We are too! In your lake, so near, but…another time for sure. A house build, very consuming. Happy Holidays!
Yay, the shackles of marina bondage have been severed. Enjoy the water, the pathless way and less rules!
I’m not sure about “shackles” but it sure feels good to be out exploring new places, with water all around.
Pat, I can SO RELATE to this last picture! As you know I have FOUR boys, including identical twins and the wrestling and rough housing never stops! Ha! I love how low the sailboat is when you’re chillin’ in it with the kids! Looks so fun!
With my kids I called them “life deservers”. It was important that they be completely ninja rad. Early days of X-Games, which helped. And I didn’t make them wear them, but when they wore them, they were free to do more stuff. And not exposed to the tsk-tskers.
Watching kids in Optis (with positive flotation) is amazing. Capsizing them side to side, front to back. Tacking standing up, by shifting weight from one foot to the other and ducking under the boom. Fearless in heavy air.
The point was, that they weren’t out sailing in the dinghy, they were screwing around tied up to the boat. When out sailing, they were the necessary gear. I guess we will take the tsk-tskers from time to time.
“It’s going to fly once the kids have it figured out a bit more and can go ripping off alone.” WHAT are you thinking? Letting your kids go off alone on that sailboat? HA! HA! Just teasing. You know that studies have proven children who are allowed to play independently, without adult supervision, grow into more adventurous, innovative adults-really? DUH! Sad that too many people overprotect their kids so fiercely in the name of good parenting. Our parents were always glad for us to run free in the neighborhood & yet we live. Bon voyage! Can’t wait for more drone photos-gorgeous!
I like you, Gail.
This past summer my wife got a warning from the Minnesota DNR for using her stand up paddle board without having a life jacket on board. He told her to return to shore and that she would get ticketed next time. It’s just a matter of time they will make kids wear them when they go tubing down a lazy river.
Ugh. Seriously…
I grew- up sailing an El Toro on SF Bay. Great times exploring and getting stuck.
The rules police are starting to be everywhere. We are currently in Vietnam and everyone was forced to wear life jackets on a row boat trip on an extremely lazy river. In Vietnam! Unreal.
Unless Florida has some obscure rule that other states don’t have, that rule is not accurate. When you are at anchor (including being tied to another boat that IS anchored or moored) you aren’t required to wear a life jacket – at any age. A drifting boat is considered “under way” and thus you ARE required to wear life jackets according to age limits. I’ve been warned by the rules police several times and they’ve yet to correctly quote their own rules. It’s bad enough that we’re a country of micromanagement, but when we’re held to random standards it’s even more infuriating.
Too many rules, with too many people trying to enforce them – but no one knows the correct rules. Awesome.
At least Maritime Services had the confidence to give our Prime Minister a ticket when he stupidly moved his dinghy 18 feet without a life jacket on. Of course in Australia we do have a history of losing prime ministers due to suspected drowning.