Integrity Cruise

Day 274 - Naples to Goodland, FL

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Day 274: Wednesday, January 25th: We slept late again and got underway to explore some of the nation's most expensive real estate, Naples, Florida. We are told prime waterfront property in Florida runs upwards of $100,000 per foot front. The homes and yachts are extra.

So here is the parade of homes in the backwaters of Naples.

This one had the prettiest landscaping, and the house was nice also:

This poolside alligator sculpture looked like a trash can from a distance:

This pink house was a "double-wide." That's our term for a house covering two lots. $100,000 per foot front, remember:

This one had somewhat unique architecture:

Ruth liked the geometric design of this house:

The terra cotta roofs are popular; and this one had nice landscaping:

This fellow gets the prize for the most toys. An 85-footer, a 50-footer and a go-fast 30-foot center console. The home would look normal in many neighborhoods:

This one has attractive turrets and matching gazebo:

And they are saving one last lot for YOUR lovely home:

We left the Naples area and were soon cruising the "old ICW." The contrast of these mangroves with the opulent homes was striking:

The waterway was shallow and when we met this catamaran with a 19-foot beam, it was very tight:

There is great fishing in this area and this couple wasn't going to miss a minute of it! This is a common sight:

A family of dolphins (papa, mommy and baby) decided to play alongside of us. They stayed with us for several miles, playing and jumping. It attracted several boats. This one rode alongside of us, squealing and taking pictures:

We turned into the inlet to Marco, Florida. This is another "high rent" area with lots of condos; they line the banks. South bank:

.. and north bank:

These looked like the roof damage from the hurricanes still hasn't been repaired:

A little way up the Marco River we saw more results of the hurricanes:

The little town of Goodland is just south of Marco. The Calusa Island Marina was our destination for tonight. A "Wannabe Looper" couple John and Vicki, had contacted us via email a week or so ago. They offered to take us to dinner if we would share all we could tell them about doing the Loop. Of course we took them up on their kind offer.

Well, this marina is their home marina, and here is their new Monk 36, 3/4 Time:

Sadly, John had to have some sudden minor surgery this morning so we had to put the dinner plan on hold.

The marina was a small one, but very nice. The walkway to shore was sort of long:

It continued into the mangrove trees:

.. making a very pleasant, if somewhat long, walk:

At the end of the walk is the marina laundry, restrooms and showers under the dockmaster's house. It takes a REAL man to live in a lavender and yellow house!

As we passed the fish-cleaning station the big, feathered beggars were in place waiting for morsels to be tossed:

We gave the boat a good rinsing off, had a quick happy hour and walked a few blocks to "Little Bar," the best restaurant in town according to all the locals and the folks on their boats; it was very good. We were sorry John and Vicki couldn't join us:

Position tonight: N25 55.145 W081 39.122

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