Happy New Year!!  from Fort Myers.  A balmy 64 – 82°F.  Partly sunny. Partly Cloudy.  Just partly beautiful.

We are taking a breather here in at Legacy Harbour marina.    We are planning a trip across Florida via the Okeechobee waterway but we don’t want to go across the lake during the weekend.  Too many crazy boaters out there including us!  We are also waiting for just the right weather window.  Soon!

Before I forget, let me introduce you to our new neighbors:

Spiders web between  the dock and the mangroves

Mangroves?

OR is this a better picture?  That thick foliage along canals and rivers.  So thick you really cannot walk amongst them.  And home to spiders, mosquitos, and other critters!

mangroves along the dock

Did you see the fish?  Look closer……

Fish in the mangrove…sending a hello kiss to you all!

A couple of fish… Really, there are at least 2…

I am sure the color of the water doesn’t help.  I don’t know what kind of fish these guys are but they were a bit skittish.  I tried to catch them like they do on that TV show with catfish tickling.  Dinner was late.  Alas, we had chicken instead.

Boats closest to the river were being swarmed by these little creatures covering their boats.  They look like mosquitos.  They are “Midges”.  They don’t bite or sting.  The boaters were not happy with them because when the die or get killed ( generally with a swatting motion ), they leave a green stain behind.  Just nasty looking.  Several boat owners were trying to wash them away with a hose but no sooner were they swept away, a whole new batch showed up.

Midges

These midges are a new phenomena here at the marina.  “In the past 7 years, they have never been this bad nor stayed this long.  No one knows exactly why.  The bugs are not across the river at Cape Coral.  Nor up the stream.  Nor down the stream.  They are just  here!” an exasperated boat owner was telling me.  I don’t think the spiders are doing their job well enough.  Always Home is located farthest from the river.  Boy are we glad.  We may not have a view like this one below, but we also don’t have midges either.

Another new neighbor that have recently arrived on the river are these birds:

Moon set on the Caloosahatchee River

Yes, that is the moon setting.  Here is an early morning feeder.

Ibis

A member of the neighborhood watch keeping an eye on us!!