Rod & Gun Club

We helped two boats tie up here yesterday. We recognized them as having been anchored behind Little Marco Island the same time we were there. (Four days ago.) They are flying AGLCA burgees (America's Great Loop Cruisers Assoc.) Everyone we meet claims to be "doing the loop." So from now on, we are "doing the loop" too. We're just doing small chunks at a time. I've already done the part from Chicago down the Illinois River, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee (a side trip up the Cumberland) the west coast of Florida, another side trip--half way across the Okeechobee, down to Key West, and some small parts of the east coast. All this time I've been "doing the loop" and didn't know it.

Once you get this far south, there's a few things that come with the territory.

When it this warm (mid 80's) there's bugs. Some so small you can't even see them (no-see-ums). They can go through screens, but have razor sharp 3" long teeth. When we were anchored in the everglades, some of the bugs were as big as small crows. I have no idea what they were, because I was afraid to look them in the eye. We could hear them hit the side of the boat with a thud. Now, tied up to the sea wall in front of the Rod and Gun Club, ants are showing up in the boat. They must smell food, and crawl across the dock lines.

I was opening the rear sliding door yesterday, and a nut fell off one of the machine screws holding on the handle. After further investigation, I found all of them had vibrated loose. That may not seem like a big thing, but Wayne and Priscilla will realize what that means. The slots on the flat head screws are no longer aligned ! I immediately straightened them, and checked every other screw on the boat.

I think we will stay here another night. However, the commercial fishing fleet left the river at 4 am this morning, throwing a 4' wake from each of their boats- slapping us broadside against the sea wall.

Fortunately, we have yet had to shovel any snow.