Date: February 10, 2014
Day on the Cruise: 234
From: Palm Island Marina, Cape Haze, FL
To: South Seas Resort, Captiva Island, FL
Statute Miles: 27.8 SM
Time: 3.67 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 5,848.4 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are at the starting point of our Loop trip and the finish point of the trip, South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, FL.
We crossed our wake and raised the Gold Burgee, signifying completion of the Great Loop, at 1:30 PM today at Red Marker 38 on the ICW just off Captiva Island, FL. We left Captiva on April 23, 2012, making our journey just under a year and 10 months. The bulk of the trip was done starting on April 3 of last year (2013).
Today was an exquisite day for cruising. Bright sun and warm temps. Typical South Florida weather in the Springtime. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.
We only had a short run today, so we left at 10:00 and stopped for a pump out before we left Palm Island. The Ranger Tug fleet departed about the same time as did we, so we were part of the Tug "Parade" South on the ICW.
There is a swing bridge about 3-1/2 miles South of Palm Island that only opens on the Hour and Half Hour. We knew we would not make the 10:30 opening, so we just idled down to the bridge for the 11:00 opening. The 13 Ranger Tugs in the Parade made an impressive sight, and several other boats got in line with us for the bridge opening.
Right at 11:00 the bridge swung open, and once through the bridge, we were looking at the expanse of Boca Grande Bay. Boca Grande or Gasparilla Island lay on our starboard side and the Bay stretching up to Port Charlotte Harbor lay on the port side. Boca Grande Bay is known for its great Tarpon fishing. We have crossed this bay several times in our Boston Whaler, and we have seen Tarpon jumping out of the water. No such luck today, however. The waters were very smooth and our crossing of the Bay was nice.
Next, we wound into the channel between Usseppa Island and Cabbage Key. The Ranger Tugs left us just after crossing the mouth of Boca Grande Pass and went into Pelican Bay which is a great anchorage area for overnighting and visiting Cayo Costa State Park by dinghy.
Usseppa is a private island with a number of upscale homes, a nice private marina, and an exclusive club. Cabbage Key has a small marina and a very old hotel that is unique for its bar and restaurant. Legend has it that Jimmy Buffet got the idea for his song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" from Cabbage Key. The Cheeseburgers really are very good, and the ambiance of the 1920's era hotel and the tiny island is special.
Passing Cabbage Key, we entered the wide expanse of Pine Island Sound. We encountered lots of boats in the ICW today, both Southbound and Northbound. It was a beautiful day for boating! Cruising South on Pine Island Sound, we passed North Captiva Island that is accessible only by boat or light plane. There is a sizable residential community on the island despite its remoteness.
Captiva Island was next. This is an island that is connected to the famous Sanibel Island by road. Sanibel is known for its shelling on beautiful beaches. Captiva is maybe lesser known, and it is a much smaller island, but is very much old Florida. We having been coming to South Seas Resort here on Captiva for over 20 years. The resort is carved out of an old Key Lime Plantation, and it is a beautiful setting. Very tropical and lush. The yacht harbor at the resort is a first class marina and can handle huge boats. Our "Blue Moon" looks like a toy beside some of the yachts that frequent South Seas. To each his own!
At 1:30 today, we reached Red Marker 38 on the ICW that is located just off the channel into Captiva. We passed this mark on April 23, 2012 as we left South Seas enroute to Jacksonville, FL in "Blue Moon".
So, our Great Loop trip is complete. We have circumnavigated the Eastern United States in a boat. We have proven once again, as so many others that have also done this trip, that the Eastern US is merely an island that you can sail all around in a boat.
Now we have to get "Blue Moon" back to her home port of Jacksonville, Fl. We will do some "Post Trip" entries in this Blog, so watch for those, then the Blog will sunset as the trip has come to conclusion.
We appreciate everyone reading our story of the Great Loop Trip. We hope that we were able to articulate what it has been like to travel this country and experience what was presented to us. It has been a lot of fun.......and.........Thanks Again for Reading!
Tonight we are at the starting point of our Loop trip and the finish point of the trip, South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, FL.
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| Completion of the Loop at Captiva Island, FL |
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| Captiva is North of Fort Meyers |
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| South Seas Resort on Captiva |
We crossed our wake and raised the Gold Burgee, signifying completion of the Great Loop, at 1:30 PM today at Red Marker 38 on the ICW just off Captiva Island, FL. We left Captiva on April 23, 2012, making our journey just under a year and 10 months. The bulk of the trip was done starting on April 3 of last year (2013).
 |
| Raising the Gold Burgee at Red Marker 38 |
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| Completion of the Great Loop! |
 |
| Completion of the Loop! |
Today was an exquisite day for cruising. Bright sun and warm temps. Typical South Florida weather in the Springtime. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.
We only had a short run today, so we left at 10:00 and stopped for a pump out before we left Palm Island. The Ranger Tug fleet departed about the same time as did we, so we were part of the Tug "Parade" South on the ICW.
 |
| Leaving Palm Island Marina |
 |
| Part of the "Ranger Tug Parade" |
There is a swing bridge about 3-1/2 miles South of Palm Island that only opens on the Hour and Half Hour. We knew we would not make the 10:30 opening, so we just idled down to the bridge for the 11:00 opening. The 13 Ranger Tugs in the Parade made an impressive sight, and several other boats got in line with us for the bridge opening.
 |
| Waiting for the swing bridge to open at Boca Grande |
 |
| Navigating through the Boca Grande swing bridge |
 |
| Parade of Ranger Tugs coming through the swing bridge |
Right at 11:00 the bridge swung open, and once through the bridge, we were looking at the expanse of Boca Grande Bay. Boca Grande or Gasparilla Island lay on our starboard side and the Bay stretching up to Port Charlotte Harbor lay on the port side. Boca Grande Bay is known for its great Tarpon fishing. We have crossed this bay several times in our Boston Whaler, and we have seen Tarpon jumping out of the water. No such luck today, however. The waters were very smooth and our crossing of the Bay was nice.
 |
| View out the front door today |
 |
| Boca Grande Pass |
Next, we wound into the channel between Usseppa Island and Cabbage Key. The Ranger Tugs left us just after crossing the mouth of Boca Grande Pass and went into Pelican Bay which is a great anchorage area for overnighting and visiting Cayo Costa State Park by dinghy.
Usseppa is a private island with a number of upscale homes, a nice private marina, and an exclusive club. Cabbage Key has a small marina and a very old hotel that is unique for its bar and restaurant. Legend has it that Jimmy Buffet got the idea for his song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" from Cabbage Key. The Cheeseburgers really are very good, and the ambiance of the 1920's era hotel and the tiny island is special.
Passing Cabbage Key, we entered the wide expanse of Pine Island Sound. We encountered lots of boats in the ICW today, both Southbound and Northbound. It was a beautiful day for boating! Cruising South on Pine Island Sound, we passed North Captiva Island that is accessible only by boat or light plane. There is a sizable residential community on the island despite its remoteness.
Captiva Island was next. This is an island that is connected to the famous Sanibel Island by road. Sanibel is known for its shelling on beautiful beaches. Captiva is maybe lesser known, and it is a much smaller island, but is very much old Florida. We having been coming to South Seas Resort here on Captiva for over 20 years. The resort is carved out of an old Key Lime Plantation, and it is a beautiful setting. Very tropical and lush. The yacht harbor at the resort is a first class marina and can handle huge boats. Our "Blue Moon" looks like a toy beside some of the yachts that frequent South Seas. To each his own!
At 1:30 today, we reached Red Marker 38 on the ICW that is located just off the channel into Captiva. We passed this mark on April 23, 2012 as we left South Seas enroute to Jacksonville, FL in "Blue Moon".
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| Approaching South Seas on Captiva |
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| Approaching South Seas on Captiva |
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| Approaching South Seas on Captiva |
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| Approaching South Seas on Captiva |
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| Entrance channel to the Marina |
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| Entering the Marina |
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| Gold Burgee Flying on "Blue Moon". We are "Gold Loopers"! |
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| Blue Moon at South Seas |
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| Blue Moon at South Seas |
So, our Great Loop trip is complete. We have circumnavigated the Eastern United States in a boat. We have proven once again, as so many others that have also done this trip, that the Eastern US is merely an island that you can sail all around in a boat.
Now we have to get "Blue Moon" back to her home port of Jacksonville, Fl. We will do some "Post Trip" entries in this Blog, so watch for those, then the Blog will sunset as the trip has come to conclusion.
 |
| Sunset at South Seas and Sunset on Our Great Loop Trip |
We appreciate everyone reading our story of the Great Loop Trip. We hope that we were able to articulate what it has been like to travel this country and experience what was presented to us. It has been a lot of fun.......and.........Thanks Again for Reading!
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