Little Shark River to Naples, FL

Friday 3/2/2018
Depart: Little Shark River Anchorage, Everglades 7:50
Arrive: Naples Boat Club 3:50
Distance: 65 nm

One advantage of having trouble sleeping on a rocky boat is getting up early enough to see the sunrise.

Sunrise at Little Shark River Anchorage

Around 7:30, when we prepared to raise our anchor, we saw Viator pulling away to start their trip to Everglades City. Fifteen minutes later we had our anchor up and followed their wake westward. Since we traveled to Naples, we eventually diverged to take alternate paths to our destinations.

Sunset Delight decided to have multiple issues on this leg of our journey. First, the battery failed to start the starboard engine. Fortunately though, Clark recently installed the parallel solenoid, so he could start the starboard engine from the port side battery. Then as we traveled Clark noticed a problem with the centerfielder he installed recently to manage the externally regulated alternators. The two fuses blew, so something was definitely not right! The third item he grew concerned over was a patch of oil forming under one engine. "When it rains, it pours!"

So we need a new seal for the fuel injector pump

and a couple of these fuses!

Because we planned to meet someone for dinner that Clark knew from his childhood, we did not have much time to look into the issues. When they picked us up for dinner, however, he asked that we go to a store to buy fuses first. They took us to the local Ace Hardware, and he got the fuses he needed.

In Naples we stayed at the Naples Boat Club.

Naples Boat Club

We ate dinner at Pinchers Restaurant at the Tin City shops. When we traveled the Great Loop in 2016, we stopped in Naples. As Clark's friend drove us around, we started recognizing some of the sights. They took us out to see the pier first and then to Tin City for dinner.

Dinner at Pinchers Restaurant in Naples Tin City
Clark, Ev, Barbara, and Pete
(3 beers and a water)

After dinner Barbara and Pete came back to the boat for a tour. Then we sat and talked and shared favorite memories of Clark's mother, Martha. Barbara and I agreed that Martha had a "wicked" sense of humor. Apparently we saw a side of Martha that Clark missed as he seemed surprised by this revelation about his mother.