Punta Gorda and the Canals

After leaving Ft. Myers Beach on our way to Punta Gorda,  we anchored out between Useppa Island and Cabbage Key. It was breezy, and there were also some wakes from passing boats.  I still was able to kayak over to explore some of the small islands and coves. 

Turkey Vultures?

White egret on a small key

Blue Heron

Under water in the shallows ???

Good Tidings at anchor near Cabbage Key

Next afternoon we took off and headed up Charlotte Harbor to Alligator Creek, on the south side of Punta Gorda to Todd and Fran Cassetta's house (our former neighbors on MYC dock 4), arriving as the tide was coming up to full.  It was skinny water in the entrance channel and even skinnier when we turned into their canal.  Todd met us in his kayak and lead us into his own canal.  He and his neighbors had set up a couple of anchors with line in the side of the canal.  Unfortunately there was a lot of wind blowing us sideways, so we dragged the anchors right away.  We went to plan "B" and tied off to the palm trees and mangroves on one side and to some land anchors and a tree on the other side.  It was a short dinghy push across to shore. We stayed safe and sound for almost a week even through a VERY rainy day, and enough north wind to blow the water out of the canal to a couple of feet below normal low!

Good Tidings tied up in the canal

Todd and Fran Cassetta's house, boat and dock

Todd and Fran have a lovely spot on the water with a great house and lanai.  It was busy season - card games, pool games (not swimming pool - a pool table) garage sale, friends for dinner...  We even found time to go for a dinghy tour of the canals and a car tour of the same area another day. 

Dinghy Tour:

Todd

Jeff

Favorite fishing spot

 Fran loves the birds, and many egrets and herons come to visit and ask for snacks.  I'm guessing they have gotten a few, since they come right to the door and don't seem afraid of people.

Fran's Birds:

Heron posing for the picture

Asking Politely

 

Ibis

Night Heron

Snowy Egret

 
The best part was all the laughter and good companionship, getting to know Russell and Wendy Williams (MYC dock 4) and of course being with Todd and Fran.  Thank you for everything.

Jeff, Todd and Fran, Russell and Wendy with Atticus

When it was time to leave, the water was still very low, so we waited as late as we could.  We went to the entrance to their canal where we had touched bottom on the way in to check the depth.  We found the high spot, and measured - 4 feet - we need 4' 2" We decided to give it a go anyway, planning to stay to the right as far as we could without hitting the shore.  First try, I stayed too far right, and as I nudged the mud, I was pushed left.  We backed off and tried again with a little more speed.  This time we got over the hump, but the stern caught as we turned.  I wiggled left and right, and we slid through.  No damage, but I think we have a clean bottom!  Following the Alligator Creek channel was easy after that, but still nerve racking, and the sigh of relief when we got out past the last marker must have been heard around the world.  The sunset was lovely, and the seas calm where we anchored in Charlotte Harbor south of Punta Gorda.