GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: CAYO COSTA / PELICAN BAY

DAY 199, THURS. FEB. 2, DAY 200 FRI. FEB 3, 2012

AM; HAZY, WARM. WIND 5-10K, SEAS CALM

DEP. VENICE (mm 57) 09:45 ARR. PELICAN BAY (mm25) 2:35

D. 27sm / 3431

We cruised from Venice and caught up with Nauti Nell as they were entering the ICW from the anchorage in Estero where they stayed the previous night. It was typical ICW cruising, narrow channels thru wide shallow bays with beautiful homes and condos on the waterfront. We had no problems, but you had to play close attention to the channel markers, and frequently look behind you to be sure you had not drifted out of the channel. We arrived at the Boca Grande Bridge at 12:40, about 10 minutes after Nauti Nell, and had to wait for the 1PM opening. Once thru the bridge we had about 7 miles to go west down Charlotte Harbor and then south to the entrance of Pelican Bay. Having been warned, we stayed close to the island side of the channel and made an uneventful entrance into the bay. The holding was excellent and we were able to relax and unwind with the confidence that we would not drag anchor. We stayed aboard and awoke to a beautiful morning with the sun shining and the wind calm. After breakfast we went ashore to explore the island and picked up a lot of shells on the beach. At Happy Hour, Twyla and Mike Chapman for Nauti Nell came over for cocktails