The Great Dinghy Escape

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015
Mantanza Marina's Mooring Field
Ft Myers, FL


Mark forgot somethings he needed on the boat for his 5 or 6 days away. He asked Lee to meet him at a grocery store that was dinghy accessible and bring him back to the boat at 9 this morning, then return him when he retrieved his things. So Lee was preparing to dinghy off to the grocery store when the dinghy floated away. There was a current carrying it quickly. Fortunately for us a neighboring boats occupant was returning to his boat in his dinghy and Lee yelled for him to help. He saw the problem and went and captured it and returned it to us. We had met the people at the laundry the other day. They had 2 adorable dachshunds. Anybody with 2 dogs can't be too bad, right?

Lee went to meet Mark and his brother Steve who had driven him as far as the grocery store. It was low tide and land access was not great. He went aground and a homeless guy pulled him up to the shore, mud bank. Mark and Steve went to Windbird and when they were finished Lee took them back to the grocery store to get the car. Hatchling (the dinghy) came home all muddy inside. Served her right for trying to float away. But now I have to clean the mud mess.

Our friend Bill Sears who is spending a lot of time in central FL at his ranch drove over this afternoon, We met him on shore and since neither he nor Lee had eaten lunch we picked up some at Nervous Nellie's. Bills reuben  looked big enough for 2 people and I ordered carrot cake that could have fed 4 people. Not a cheap restaurant but the portions were huge. After eating we brought Bill back to the boat for a visit.  Unfortunately he didn't have long to stay as he was going to his nieces who lives in Ft Myers after seeing us.

We have really been burning up the propane since our dinghy motor runs on it and we have done a lot of traveling in the dinghy. Lee got our 20 lb tank from Marks boat but it would not run the dinghy  motor. So we figured it was empty or about. We took our 2 10# tanks and the 20# one all to a place about a mile and a half away to be filled. Bill was kind enough to take Lee to do that and drop him back at the dinghy dock for the marina. That is a big worry off our minds.

It was a bright sunny day and comfortable temps but going to be another 50 something night. Lee ate the rest of my cake for dinner and leftovers form his lunch I think. Enjoyed our friends visit and our meal out,and the sun, but not the dinghy jail break. Not sure if we will rent a car tomorrow or not since one of the reasons we wanted it was to get propane. We shall see what tomorrow brings, 60% chance of rain is forecast.