March 27-29, 2017 Russell Pass to the Little Shark River, then on toward Marathon... each leg being 43 miles.

We waved “fair winds and following seas” to our new Canadian sailboat buddies at daybreak... beginning our 6 hour run from Russell Pass to the Little Shark River. By noon we were anchored 300 feet inside the point past the red marker. The current was noticable. With the incoming tide still filling up the river, Summertime faced toward the Gulf... into the tidal flow. By 4 pm the tide was falling, so our boat began to swing into the outward flow... facing eventually up the river. This rotation cycle continued throughout the night. 

The only boat there when we arrived was a 50 foot off-shore fishing boat. It turned out to be staged in the mouth of the river to operate as a “Mother Ship”. At meal times, five small boats would cluster around her, the fisherman climbing aboard to take in sustenance and also get a break from the sun’s heat and glare. Quite a good plan, actually, since it is 43 miles to the nearest port. At dusk, the five boats returned to the Mother Ship for the night.

Three sailboats joined us. After sunset all we could see were the 5 anchor lights and the twinkling starry sky. All we could hear was the whine of the shark-like mosquitoes waiting for us to venture outside our screened back porch! We were happy to disappoint them!

A shot through the screen since the bugs were so bad!

As usual, by daybreak we were prepared to pull up our anchor and get on with the last 43 mile leg of our journey. That new Lewmar windlass that Wally installed in Fort Myers had been doing a great job of lifting the chain and anchor. That morning, however, it was put to the test. Because Summertime had twirled around so much with the turning of the tide, her chain had become securely wrapped around, of all things, a sizeable chunk of cement!  The added weight over-rode the windlass clutch, but in a matter of moments, the chain unraveled itself and the cement fell away, allowing the windlass to resume it’s operation. Hallelulah!

A Night Heron hitched a ride for an hour or so...

Special Note: It’s been two years since I woke up with the boat anchored in the Little Shark River and I couldn’t move a muscle... February 17, 2015. It took four months of searching for answers and Wally taking care of my every need to find that I had polymyalgia rheumatica. That young rheumatologist in Bangor, Maine who recognized my condition changed my life. He knew the medication that could give me back my mobility. I have reduced my dosage of prednisone from 20 mg to 4 1/2 mg and live most days with little or no pain. That sweet doctor is my hero and Wally continues to be my best friend. Without them, there could have been no Great Loop or quality time spent with friends and family. God is soooo good! 

Created by Darcy O. Campbell