Punta Gorda

 Saturday, February 27, 2021 to Monday, March 1, 2021. Day 83 to Day 85.

We were in Punta Gorda for three nights. Neither of us had ever been there before. In fact neither of us had ever heard of it before our Clearwater friends, Cynthia and Dan, had mentioned that they had stopped at the marina there from time to time and really enjoyed it.

Because we had to stay on the west coast of Florida in order to be in a position to get our second vaccine, we were looking for new places to go, inching our way north to cut down, even if it was for only and hour, the 18 hour round trip drive to Fort Walton Beach, in the panhandle. We made arrangements for a marina for a week in Sarasota, and decided to try Punta Gorda before we went to Sarasota.

We were pleasantly surprised. Punta Gorda, and Laishley Park Municipal Marina, were quite enjoyable. The town is clean and very well organized. 

There are parks, walkways, bike paths, benches, playgrounds, outdoor exercise locations with installed equipment (even some pieces designed for handicapped workouts), trash bins, plastic pet bags, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, water fountains, covered areas with grills, and lots of shady areas and waterfront walking/bike paths. Bicycles are well maintained and free. There were lots of murals, but none as cool as those we have in Philadelphia.

 The public light fixtures were on the walkways and bike paths and the parks, were well designed, and the signage, very interesting. Some of my favorites: Senior Olympic style game registration notice, and caution to not harass the alligators (who, I wondered, needed this warning??).

And of course, many bars and restaurants, particularly in Fisherman’s Village and along the waterfront that faces west for great sunset views at happy hour.

When we arrived on Saturday afternoon, we walked along the water to Fisherman‘s Village, an area that had been re-purposed from its original use. In the 1920's, it was an industrial area and major commercial fishing center. Now there’s a mall, and motel, docks for fishing charter boats and tours, a marina, a park area, and lots of stores in the outdoor mall. Fisherman's Village was less than a mile from the Laisley Marina where we had slip E4. We continued our walk around the town enjoying some very lovely homes, walking about 3 1/2 miles; it’s always good to walk after several days at anchor.

On Sunday, we went to the farmers market and bought some vegetables and fruit, including Honeybell oranges (my father‘s favorite) and a large sweet Florida onion. We couldn't resist the scones and freshly baked bread.

After coffee and scones on our back deck, (very disappointing scones I’m sorry to say), we borrowed two of the free bikes and cycled to West Marine to buy new navigation software (hopefully Roland will be able to install it himself, if not Guru Scott may be able to assist; none of this is ever easy nor simple).

Sunday evening I treated Roland to dinner for his birthday (one may recall that he grilled a wonderful dinner on February 24, his 70th birthday and I wanted to treat him to a dinner out). He picked the Tiki Bar on the waterfront where the outdoor area was spacious, although very crowded, but we were able to secure our own picnic table far from other dinners, facing the water, so we were safely able to enjoy a great sunset over the Peace River. It was bar food: fish and chips, conch fritters, shrimp Po' boy, and, of course, cocktails. It was another celebration of Roland‘s 70th birthday and it was delightful.

We were up early on Monday, March 1, to get ready to try to get the second vaccine closer. I had called a couple pharmacies to discuss the situation and got some hints to enhance our chances to get the second vaccine in a closer location, which had not previously been possible. My alarm had been set for 6am but I was up at 2:30am, too stressed to sleep. We set up our phones and computers before the 7am start of the vaccine rat race; it was so stressful. We were trying to win the lottery, with no real clue of how to be proactive to get the computer to pick us for the coveted prize of a nearby appointment!

Before 8am, IT HAPPENED!! I got an appointment in Hialeah, the western part of Miami, and so did Roland, at the same pharmacy, 15 minutes after my 9:45am appointment! I was thrilled beyond belief. The fact that we did not have to drive 18 hours, round-trip, for our second vaccine shot, made me joyful!! Six hours round-trip felt like a gift! Hallelujah!!

There was lots of work to do to support this change: I called the pharmacy in Miami to make sure they were OK with giving us the second vaccine two days early (yay! They were fine); we asked the marina if they would allow us another day (yay! They had room); we had to cancel our week in the Sarasota marina (sad but necessary), (yay! that worked without a cancellation fee); got reservations at a yacht club in Naples to shorten the ride to Hialeah, (yay!); and arranged a rental car in Naples for the drive to Miami. Before we completed the rest of the arrangements, I went for 3 mile run, I was so happy!

Brownie's (the electric motor repair shop), returned my call to discuss the finicky electric motor that we had paid $1000 to have repaired – hopefully their suggestions will work; at least we now had something to try.

Although I don’t usually check Facebook, occasionally something pops up that makes me curious. Andi, a friend from Camp Louise, where we both worked in the late 60's, had posted a picture of herself in a bathing suit on a friend's yacht. I remembered that she winters on the West Coast of Florida. After some research, I discovered that she actually lives in Fort Myers. I sent Andi a message, and she called me immediately (as I knew she would). I told her we had spent a month in Fort Myers and I didn’t realize she was living there; she chastised me for not calling ( as I knew she would). She was available for dinner Wednesday evening and Naples was not that far from Ft Myers, so we made arrangements to meet for dinner.

We took 2 of the free bikes and used the back roads to go to the supermarket. Roland treated for ice cream when we returned. This was one good day!