Laishley Park Marina

Laishley Park City Marina in Punta Gorda has been our temporary home for the past few weeks.  It's a great place to stay while we get the boat ready for traveling, with easy access to everything we might need...several marine supply stores, grocery stores, Lowes/Home Depot, and, of course, Walmart!  We have dealt with a number of small issues (like a leak in the water system), and done the necessary cleaning and polishing.  Serious teak work will have to wait, though.

The weather has been wonderful.  In fact, we have even complained (very quietly) that it's sometimes just a little too hot.  On those days, we just work a little less.  We had been here for almost two weeks when Michael observed that we had not yet visited the Tiki Bar.  Amazing!  We were very quick to remedy the oversight, and headed off to the Bloody Mary bar that Sunday morning.  For $2.50 you get a shot of vodka in a glass, with ice, and head off to make your own drink just the way you like it.  Choices included several different Bloody Mary mix varieties (from regular to extra spicy), celery, olives, horse radish, and shrimps.  What a civilized way to spend a Sunday morning.

There has been a bit of rain, and we are in a great position to watch the clouds build over Charlotte Harbor.  Clouds also make for lovely sunsets, which we can see from our aft deck.  It's a favourite spot for our 'Is it 5 o'clock yet?' cocktail.

There are plenty of birds around the marina.  Pelicans and terns are constantly fishing, and the snowy egrets wait patiently on lines to catch their dinner.

This green heron made himself at home on our forward deck while he waited for the sun to go down so he could indulge in a little night fishing.

Another day of hard work was capped off by a short run in the dinghy to make sure it was in good running order.  How better to celebrate than a cold beer at the Tiki Bar?  This little beach seems custom made for our little boat.