Big Smoke to Little Smoke

Kitty's to Everglades City

We spent 4 days at Kitty's had nightly docktails discussing all manner of topics, shared meals, swam in the pool (well Colin did) & caught up on many little jobs on the boat. While there we watched as a couple of very strong storms sped across the sky in late afternoon drenching everything. We had arranged to meet with our very first looping friends and boat buddies Bill & Joyce Craig from 'Carried Away'. They have their boat for sale & slipped in Legacy Marina close by. We spent the day with them at Ford & Edison Estates in Fort Myers – their summer homes, laboratory, museum & tree filled grounds & tropical plants - all labelled. Edison was experimenting trying to find the best rubber producing plant for Ford to use in the development of his cars. We then went down town for lunch at The Ford Restaurant – full of car parts – wheels as hand basins, pump nozzles as door handles & taps. We didn't think we would be able to catch up with Bill & Joyce again but our dates happened to coincide. It was appropriate that we have Kitty & Bill & Joyce involved in our photographic record of receiving our gold looper burgee – our 1^st harbour host & our 1^st looper boating buddies.

We left Cape Coral & travelled outside in the gulf at Naples where we came back into the old ICW & travelled south inland via the Marco River. It was a narrow winding river of mangroves, mud & mosquitoes & except for the mossies a welcome change to the 12-15 knot winds & lumpy seas. There was a huge variety of bird life & sanctuaries for them. We anchored for the night behind Little Marcos Is & after the hundreds of fizz boats had gone by & gone home had a calm & peaceful night. Next morning we carried on the ICW into Goodland Bay, & Coon Key then outside in the Gulf, past The Ten Thousand Islands to Indian Pass where we turned in to meander the 6 miles into Everglades City.

We docked at The Rod & Gun Club – an old historical Hotel that is well preserved & reminds us of 'Raffles' in Singapore – large verandahs, easy chairs, stuffed animal heads, & whole animals, an alligator skin & décor in keeping with that era. The piped music of slow waltz's & crooning is also of the era. In its heyday many famous people visited including presidents & film stars. It needs some up grading & is looking a little tired but quite unique. They do not take credit cards.

The city has a population of about 400 only but was a very well planned & wealthy town – thanks to a benefactor - with community buildings many of which still exist & all well preserved. There are public amenities such as tennis courts, a full size Baseball Field, plus a practice field, & a very well maintained School. All the homes are very well maintained, no doubt the Crab industry is a good employer. There have been cyclones, hurricanes & fires – the large empty lots are evidence of this. We took bike rides around the city & found the extensive fishing wharves & stacks of stone crab pots indicating that crab season may have finished. We found the Sweet Mayberry Cafe which served freshly ground coffee, key lime cake & great sherbet ice creams.

We spent a few days here until the weather became more favourable for our continued journey south.