Ten MBYC boats braved the cold on Thursday, January 6th for a three day cruise to Naples Bay Resort in Naples.  The combined attitude seemed to be “we have had it with this cold weather and we aren’t going to take it anymore”!  Optimism was in abundance, but reality soon overwhelmed all.  Most were unable to get their canvas snaps to reach.  I cracked one of mine while trying to force it.  I took the others into the house and hit them with a hair dryer first, but that still wasn’t sufficient.  Not owning a hair dryer, Anzalone needed snap extenders.
The water was cold (56 degrees), but calm on the way up and it actually was pretty pleasant.  We arrived around 1:30 and puttered around or socialized on our boats until 4:30 when we poured into the Bonefish Grill for an early dinner.  Quite a few couples drove up from Marco to join us and I believe that we seated over 40 for dinner.  The Bonefish was very accommodating and the meals were excellent.  It is fast becoming one of my favorite restaurants.
Following dinner, we all waddled over to the Captain’s Lounge and drank too much while telling lies about much colder and wetter cruises of long ago.  By the time the football game came on the big screen TV, most of us didn’t care anymore.
Friday morning was most pleasant and it looked like we were going to have a nice day.  It was rumored that we might even see a tropical heat wave all the way up into the high 60s, but gloom and doom (that’s Anzalone) soon set in.  The new forecast was for high winds, huge seas and plenty of rain by early evening.  Most of us walked up to the Ship’s Store and announced our pending departure.  Naples Bay was exceedingly gracious in refunding our overnight fee.  We then stuck around until late afternoon so that the gals could play a few rounds of Mah Jongg with those who had driven up from Marco to join in.  (This Mah Jongg thing is getting out of control!)  Some walked into town and shopped a little.  One group sauntered off to Saint George’s Dragon for lunch.
We pulled out around 2:30 or so and beat it back to Marco.  It was a pleasant ride, but you could see the cold front pouring in from the northwest.  It was REALLY dark and gloomy and I am glad that we left.  As I write this on Saturday morning, it is raining and windy out there.  The temperature is all of 47.  I want to see some 'Global Warming'….and soon!