Winter in Cape Coral – Part 1

While it’s unusual for me to spend so much time in one place rather than to keep moving… I was having too much fun to depart to other destinations. My winter was spent in Cape Coral, FL.

Cape Harbour Marina

The marina I chose was Cape Harbour in South West Cape Coral. I had a great location along the boardwalk.

Every morning I would make my coffee and walk the boardwalk. The cafe on the boardwalk would often have live music.

Flashed back to high school when I heard Fire & Rain

Galley Action

Upon returning from my walk, I would often griddle me up something to eat and pack the fridge with leftovers. Cooking is something I enjoy doing but when you are cooking for one I often find myself cooking large quantities. I love leftovers!

What is interesting about food provisioning for my boat… I often stick to non-perishables that store without refrigeration and last a long time. Lots of rice, bean, pastas, oats, can goods, etc. Nice to know if I shove off… food is not going to be one of the things that will force me back to a dock. When I’m in port and plugged into shore power I’m usually close to a grocery store. Those are the times I enjoy my steaks, fresh vegetables and of course mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Oreo Cookie Pie crust with MCC ice cream

Tiki Bar

When you run out of ice cream it’s off to the V.O. Tiki Bar around the corner for a beer.

Angela

New Years Eve

It was nearing the end of 2019 and the 2020 New Years decorations were being put into place.

Star Wars – A Space Opera

The last Star Wars movie had recently been released to theaters.

Star Wars in chronological story-time order

A friend asked me, “Are you a fan of Star Wars?”. “Of course!”, I said. He then asked me… “What is your favorite Star Wars movie?”. His question caught me completely off guard. Hmmmm. I tried to think back of all the different Star Wars movies I have seen in the past and I simply blurted out “Return of the Jedi”. I have to admit in that moment I simply could not recall the details of the individual movies and simply gave him an answer to avoid dead silence or him believing that I was not truly a Star Wars fan. We then made plans to go see Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in the local theater. It was in that moment that I realized I needed to re-watch the whole Star Wars series of movies in what I’ll call “story-time order” so that the SciFi space opera makes sense.

This was quite an undertaking but when I got to the last Star Wars movie I realized that the answer I had given earlier was 100% bullshit. Return of the Jedi is the worst of all the the Star Wars movies. Return of the Jedi is like watching The Muppets and it was full of cheesy dialog that just doesn’t fit the drama unfolding.

The best Star Wars movie is a toss up between two of the stand-alone movies, Rogue One & Solo. Note that these two Star wars movies were not part of the original trilogy, prequel trilogy or the sequel trilogy which form the base of the Star Wars story (shown on the bottom of the story-time timeline pictured above).

**Star Wars: The Mandalorian** series – also a favorite of mine

As I took my seat, I was excited to watch the last in the sequel trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker.

The Rise of Skywalker

While I enjoyed the last episode tremendously… the ending did raise lots of questions for me.

What do Y’All think?

South West Cape Hangouts

Thanksgiving

Well it’s Thanksgiving and Mike and his friends have invited me to T-Day dinner. It was a nice feeling to get the invite as it made my Thanksgiving.

Pub Crawling

The next night turned out to be a late one bar hoping around the Cape.

The Overtime Sports bar in South West Cape Coral is a great place for food and drinks with sports games playing on every TV that literally cover the walls.

I don’t believe I found salvation at The Dek but I do love the signage.

Why do I have a Buzz Light year face on my watch? Maybe cuz it’s 3AM and I am just pushing buttons without being able to read my watch?

December 7th a day that will live in infamy

We started it off with a boat ride.

St. James City near Sanibel Island

Dawson Canal is a narrow canal that leads up into St. James City on the southern tip of Pine Island. Lots of good places to tie up the boat and enjoy an IPA.

On our way to Fort Myers Beach

On our way to Fort Myers Beach you pass Punta Rassa. The location was named Punta Rasca (Spanish for “smooth or flat point” and later corrupted to “Punta Rassa“) by the Spanish Conquistadors in the mid-16th century, who unloaded cattle in the area.

We got back just in time to go to Dennis’s Christmas Party. Thanks Dennis for inviting me. It turned out to be a party I’ll remember.

Xmas Bash at Dennis’s Home

This is how you throw a house party in Cape Coral. Complete with catering, live band, tiki bars and so on.

We pulled up a seat on the mobile tiki bar. It’s a tiki bar built on top of a 4 wheeler where the bartender drives the bar around as you are seated.

Spend some time talking with Vince about the PBR circuit and he will amaze you with his stories. Yes, Vince was a professional bull rider who now works as a charter captain.

Claire was my friend to visit with on my morning walks around the marina. Always with a big smile on her face.

The Marina

The next morning I took it easy and walked around the marina.

One of the boats I was told was owned by the band Foreigner’s ex-drummer. Having grown up listening to the Foreigner 4 album I could not resist searching my iPhone for some Foreigner and playing it aboard. I got a strange look from the captain so I’m guessing he was in the band?

Cape Harbour Marina has many nice boats and is surrounded by fancy high-rise towers. You’ll find great restaurants like Fathoms & Rumrunners as well as the V.O. Tiki Bar.

Someone keep me honest on my fish species identification here?

House Partying

If you are into sports like Tom & Chuck you build walls of TVs all streaming different games

Mike’s group of friends were so enjoyable and quickly accepted me into their group of friends. Cape Coral felt like a second home almost instantly.

Cape Coral

While we were anchored in Fort Myers, my phone rang and it was a friend of mine who lives in Cape Coral. Guess where Tim and I are heading next…

Fort Myers to SW Cape Coral via the Caloosahatchee River

The trip west down the Caloosahatchee River took all of two hours moving at 6kts.

Many beautiful canal homes as I approach SW Cape Coral

The Marina my friend Mike suggested was Cape Harbour. Turns out it was recently acquired by Safe Harbor who also acquired my marina up north. My friend Mike was quick to meet us at the marina and soon we were sitting poolside at Mike’s. There is something nice about a screen in pool with bar and furniture poolside.

Next we were off to the V.O. Tiki Bar or Venture Out Tiki Bar. It such a cool little place right along the canal where the boats get in line for the Chiquita lock. The patrons of the Tiki Bar are all locals (Wintering Northerners) who were quick to greet me and Maca. I think I heard more Patriots fans than I did haters.

Next, the party moved from the Tiki Bar to another friends home. Mike’s friends have some beautiful homes in SW Cape Coral. You have to love the way the house opens up to the outside lanai and lit up pool at night.

You can see from the satellite photo (below) that you must go by Rum Runners bar (next to the Tiki Bar near middle of picture) and through the Chiquita lock before turning to starboard to enter Cape Harbor Marina. Because the marina is behind a lock it is very peaceful as you don’t get any wave or wake action.