1/21/16     Friday           Ft. Myers

What a wet, windy, ugly day! Only available rescue was a warm and wonderful friendship. After a pretty raucous, weather-wise, David and I put better, stronger, more secure mooring lines on the pennant (during a break in the rain), gathered our stuff including dry clothes for after-shower/bath and headed into shore to meet Sheldon. About halfway across the bay it started pouring rain. Yikes! Not to cold but really blowing and WET. So the after-shower clothes were now pre-shower clothes...the pants, at least.

Then, off to breakfast in a downtown cafe suggested by the marina. Riding in a car. We lingered over breakfast since it was still raining. Great conversation - political, environmental, relationships, sailing, travel in general. David's replacement phone had arrived at the marina so we decided to go to the AT&T store to get all the transfer of data taken care of professionally. Done! Then some other shopping for fun in a Mall, lunch in the Food Court. Could have been at the Maine Mall except this one was two or three times larger. Our purchases:

David's new sandals. Our watercolors. I got a pair of socks for my wet, cold feet, too

New $20 watches. Replacing David's free one with the really broken band and mine that took a swim when I fell in the
river this summer the first time I tried to get from the dinghy onto Grace

Sheldon had s shirt printed for a cycling friend. "One Less Car" printed on the shirt.

Then off to the Ft. Myer History Museum. We spent almost 2 hours looking and reading I learned something about the Calusa tribe/community and wonder if the Caloosahatchee River is named after them.

Back at the marina we all had showers. Sheldon was rethinking the plan to sail a bit farther south with us. The weather is going to be dismal tomorrow and then the winds were predicted to be perfect for sailing south again...this time really sailing, perhaps. Now, though, winds for Sunday are wimpy so probably no sailing. Sooooo... out to dinner to decide our travel companionship plans.

Good fried seafood at Joe's, w/favorite beer, Newcastle. More topics of conversation...welfare, medical marijuana, homelessness, where to live when we're 80, community in a jointly purchased motel in a warm place.  Sheldon decided to not join us since the arrangements were iffy regarding both sailing and returning him to Ft Myers...and the slight allergy to kitty.

David and I had a lumpy dinghy ride back to Grace after goodbye hugs w/Sheldon. I think I was up for about 30 minutes before hitting the bed around 8:45 PM. A way to get warm after the day of damp, chilly-ness. Great to re-new friendship w/Sheldon and hear about his various volunteer works to benefit all rather than those who already have privilege. Makes me smile and be hopeful, provides me w/a bit of direction possibilities post ICW travel.

Hmmmmm.