Finally pulled away from the safe, secure world of Legacy Harbour Marina to venture east via the Okeechobee Waterway to Glades Boatyard where Broulee will be hauled out for work on her bottom. This decision came after our return to Ft. Myers and realizing that time was too short for a trip over to the east coast, pulling the boat in Dania (near Ft. Lauderdale) and then cruising down to the Keys. Besides we are enjoying Ft. Myers so much and love Legacy Harbour Marina. The marina is top notch and the area is so clean - palm fronds bearly touch the ground before they are mystically swept off somewhere. There are some 2,000 royal palms along a 15 mile stretch of McGregor Blvd. (the reason Ft. Myers is known as the "City of Palms"). The marina is within walking distance of the winter estate of Thomas Edison. The 14 acre riverfront estate which includes his house, laboratory and botanical gardens is open to the public. Our thoughts are to return to Ft. Myers after bottom work on the boat is complete. (Notice how I didn't say plan). Some photos of the haulout and life on the hard are posted below.

Getting ready to go into the pit for haulout.

In the pit

Always a little nerve wracking when she's hoisted. Especially this time - you could actually hear the straps groaning.

So much scum you could hardly tell the boot stripe was blue and the bottom was black. Nice to get her bottom all cleaned up!

This will be our house on stilts for a few days - it will be a challenge getting Izzy up and down the ladder - oh well, it is what it is.

The captains daily workout

This is cow country - lots of grazing land. I am a little concerned about them so close to the river because this is also alligator country! We were warned not to let Izzy go anywhere near the banks or let her look out over the cockpit.

"Holy cow - what the heck are those things"

Last morning on the hard -" good bye to all my friends - thanks for petting me". New through hulls are in, bottom paint got touched up, transducer installed and prop is clean and shiny - all is good. Looking forward to cruising on the water again.