Ditch Trip 3 Okochobee Waterway 2013

[Tidbart]

Jim and I spoke yesterday for a while and possibly came up with something different to consider, along the lines of his previous proposal.

Here it is. Friday night (optional), stay at RMs and leave Saturday morning and head west toward Ft Myers Beach. I say Friday is optional because you have the option of meeting the group along the way and starting the trip at WP Franklin Lock, where you can leave your truck and trailer.

Head over to FM Beach to a little place I found after hours of trying to find an affordable place with docks.
Here is there website: http://www.shipwreckmotel.com/

This place is located on a small cove awy from wakes, has 2 pools, bars and restaraunts within walking distance, rooms $70-90, with dockage included.
This place has boating group written all over it.

FYI One way trip from RMs to FMB is about 85 miles. WP Franklin to FMB is about 35 miles one way.
This is something to think about as you get pick you level of participation and expenses, and can be a very affordable get-together.

Feedback please!!!

[boxy]

Don't have a lot to add, except that the Shipwreck is a great site. When we take my Dad's boat to FMB beach, we always tie up at the Shipwreck.
Another plus is that is 50 feet from the Smokin Oyster Brewery....;

[Budmann]

Denese and I are IN!!!!!!! Both sound fun! Jim, South Seas sounds great but Bob is right. Big dollars for rooms and dockage. As an addition... no one has mentioned Cabbage Key for lunch.

Jim remember the hamburger joint on the island? Thats just about an hour run from F.M. The place is great! The interior walls of the place are COVERED with dollar bills from people that have visited there. As the dollars fall off the owners donate them to charity! How cool!!!!!!!! Last time we were there I asked what the average per year they donate and the server told me between 13 to 15 K a year!

Love people who help others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just my two cents..........


Bud

[boxy]

Denese and I are IN!!!!!!! Both sound fun! Jim, South Seas sounds great but Bob is right. Big dollars for rooms and dockage. As an addition... no one has mentioned Cabbage Key for lunch.

Jim remember the hamburger joint on the island? Thats just about an hour run from F.M. The place is great! The interior walls of the place are COVERED with dollar bills from people that have visited there. As the dollars fall off the owners donate them to charity! How cool!!!!!!!! Last time we were there I asked what the average per year they donate and the server told me between 13 to 15 K a year!

Love people who help others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just my two cents..........


Bud

Budman, I think you are talking about Cabbage Key ....24815_410836960750_1931492_n.jpg24815_410836640750_6217231_n.jpg


Great run from FMB, just watch the flats North of the Sanibel Bridge...

[BUIZILLA]

room and slip booked..

[Budmann]

Room and slip booked! c'mon people...IT'S FLORIDA!!!! No excuses! Get ur DONZI on!!!!!!

[Tidbart]

Just so I keep up with the thread.......

OK, so here is the plan.

This trip is going to be a west-end trip. Due to a bunch of factors, we won't do the cross Florida trip this year.

Plan is to leave from WP Franklin lock on Friday, May 3rd at around noon. Head west for a two night stay at the Shipwreck Motel at Fort Myers Beach. Leave on Sunday, May 5th.
Overnight parking for vehicles and trailers at the Lock is a donation. Lock area is attended and pretty secure and we have left vehicles there in the past without incident.

The in-between details will be worked out later, lunches, dinners, side-trips, etc.

The nice thing about this trip is that it is a flexible. A noon departure will allow time for travel on Friday, from most places. The trip from WPF to FMB is about 35 miles. Easily doable in any size boat, and it won't take all day. If for some reason, you can't make it until late Friday or Saturday, for instance, we can easily head back up river to meet you and your group.


Hotel: Listen up! Reserve your room now. Call the Shipwreck Motel at: (239) 463-4691, hit button for reservations and ask for Tia. Tell her you are with the Donzi Group and want a room for the 3-5th, if those are the nights you can make it. In an effort to keep the group together, I have asked for rooms around the rectangular pool in back of Zushi. They are all efficiencies, @ $79.95/nt. =tax. There are other rooms available, some more and some less money, if need be. Also, the rate includes dockage. . That's right, no extra fee.

I could not block rooms, so call asap and secure a room.



Questions? Just ask.

Bob