So I was sitting in a bar in Boston....

Ididntdoit

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2007
2,777
South Florida
Boat Info
Dusky 217
Engines
Suzuki
Having lunch with my niece, when my phone rang

Me: What's up captain

Rusty: Mikey, where are you

Me: I'm in Boston having lunch with my niece

Rusty: Ugh, I've got a run I could use your help on

Me: No problem, when?

Rusty: Tomorrow 10am

5 min later.....

Me: I'm landing at 9:30 - Cheryl's already there, she'll pick me up and drop me off at the boat

Rusty: Cheryl's here? The heck with you, send her!


20 hours later I'm on board and we're under way. We exit Port Everglades inlet in Ft. Lauderdale to......bliss. With fair winds and calm seas, we pointed our bow south.....first stop, marathon - 140 miles away. Conditions built a little in Hawk’s Channel, but were still quite benign.


Perhaps I should back up a bit.....our "mount" was a brand new 60' fly - equipped with pods, it effortlessly plied along at 24-25 knots turning 2000 rpm - All the while handling like a sport boat, dodging crab pots with aplomb. It was "fresh off the boat" from its European delivery, with test and port delivery hours only as we headed out.


Our route took us past the upper and middle keys. The leg ended at boot key where we took on 300 gallons of diesel....One thing you learn quick about Rusty – He has friends EVERYWHERE – from Rick on the fuel dock to the “proprietors” of our overnight stop - Harbor Palms.....an idyllic location.....but don't search for it, this club welcomes friends new and old with open arms and southern hospitality - but it is very much a private retreat. Even though half of this dynamic duo (HINT, he used to be a prolific poster on here, and really enjoyed his "sneaker”) was away making preparations for an upcoming adventure, the red carpet was nonetheless rolled out for us.


Alas, after a wonderful meal, much appreciated shower and comfortable night’s sleep, it was time to go at sun up. Truth be known, we really wanted to stay and spend the day hunting lobster.....


But it was time to go.....this was work after all. We woke up to calm wind and seas again, today's destination, Ft Myers - another 150 miles away. We eased out of boot key and made our way under the seven mile bridge. This time, we pointed out bow north. After clearing Bullard Bank, we quickly lost sight of land, only to re-emerge at Marco Island. From there a final trot to San Carlos Bay and through a very congested no wake zone in the Caloosahatchee Rive to our final destination.


In all, we were under way over 10 hours, covered almost 300 miles and burned a ton of diesel. We saw dolphins, turtles and countess other natural wonders (in bikinis). More important was time with friends (old and new) - that’s really what it all about. We managed to avoid the 2 things that a very wise man told me can ruin a trip.....bad weather and a bad boat.


From Ft. Myers we ran a rental car back to Ft. Lauderdale - Rusty headed home, and I met my son, who lives in our place near Ft. Lauderdale, for dinner.....less than 48 hours after the adventure started in that Boston bar, I was home.


I leaned a ton, as a kid I always had a mentor - and it feels so good to have one again - Rusty is the definition of a "giver" and I am proud to call him my friend.

And I know the deal.....we all like pics!
1.jpg

Boot Key
2.jpg

Marathon Marina
3.jpg


4.jpg

Harbor Palms
5.jpg

7 Mile Bridge
6.jpg
8.jpg
7.jpg

The great wide open
9.jpg

Delivered as promised - Rusty had to break out the shoehorn and vaseline to stuff 10 pounds of "potatoes" into a 5 pound bag!
 
I’ll swab the heads………AND decks as I ride along…….
 

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