2/28/07 Post Updated on 4/6/07

Hello All - - -

We spent most of Januaary and February at Riveria Dunes Marina in the Palmetto-Bradenton area. The highlight of Feburary was a visit from Earl and kathy. We spent a day at the Miami Boat Show - the last time we'll ever do that willingly as we spent 2 hours looking for a parking place. We did enjoy stayng with Ann and Terry on their boat in Ft. Lauderdale and enjoyed dinner on South Beach with friends Chuck and Barbara, owners of the Columbus Marina.

We toured the Kennedy Space Center and Epcot with Earl and Kathy. We especially enjoyed the space center - saw the shuttle on the launch pad ready for a March 15th launch. We then drove back to the boat and spent the next few days at the Ringling Museums and at Fort Desoto State Park (one of the best beaches in the world) and various other places in the area. Had a lot of fun showing Earl and Kathy some of our favorites.

Rob and I left Palmetto on the 25th and spent a couple of nights at Crows Nest Marina in Venice. Did not run into the "Venice Nazi" - an out of control Florida river policeman whose reputation preceeds him! We enjoyed dinner with Barry and Alden and got all the latest on all our friends who now live in this area of Florida. We'll definately be back next year!

Yesterday we cruised to the Gulf Harbor Marina in Ft. Myers. Had a fabulous and long day cruising inland waters. We saw dozens of dolphins - they chase boats just like dogs chase cars. There were 5 or 6 of them with us for many miles. They would jump our wake, dive down and then jump and land sideways. I guess they were trying to see how big a splash they could make. Amazing! In addition to the usual sea birds, we saw several bald eagles fishing and many osprey nests with occupants - looked like they might have been sitting on eggs. Very Cool!

John and Pyllis will be meeting us tomorrow and we'll cross Florida via Lake Okeechobee Waterway and end up in the Stuart area and then head North.

See you out there somewhere!

Rob & Ann