Caribbean Trek - Ft Myers to the Islands !!!

[fppilot]

Well! Looks like I lost the battle but won the war.  When you last saw us we were sitting on the ramp at Ft Myers (KFMY) waiting to offload to a different aircraft.  When they showed up it was not the C208 Grand Caravan I had contracted.  Turns out their boss took the more festive “island hopper” C208 with upgraded avionics to Nassau to drop off some paying customers, leaving me with the “plane Jane” C208 for the trip to Grand Cayman.  I received promises they will shuttle the island hopper down to us in time for the remainder of our island hopping.

Received another grand promise from him as well but will have to see if that pans out before mentioning it!

Anyway! After three days we have gathered and loaded provisions for the trip and are ready to go!

 

Ugh! Just what I feared when I saw the aged avionics in this “plane-Jane” business taxi.  This is what it was like on departure from KFMY in Ft Myers.  I was going to cruise VFR at 9,000 and we were looking forward to the views along the Florida coast and over Key West.  To do that this morning required staying below 5,000, which limits the span of the views.  Not to mention the interference from lower clouds.

 

South of Marco Island, Florida, now out over the gulf.  Still under the 5,000 ft ceiling.  Can usually start to see the outline of Key West from here on a clear day.  Not today though. Not at this altitude and not in this weather.  My guests in the seats behind me have resorted to playing cards!

 

Gave up and climbed to 9,000 for economy and speed.  No sense keeping my head in the clouds and with them playing Euchre with the cards.  The overcast is beginning to break up.  At least a little.  Below and to the left we get an occasional view of Key West.

 

Wouldn’t you know it!  The first good look at the surface? It had to be Cuba on this trip.  Here we are passing over the northern Cuba coast near Mariel, west of Havana. Not very scenic and no cigar!

 

At times the combination of the colors of the Caribbean Sea, spectacular clouds against the pristine out-to-sea sky.  When combined with speed in opposite directions the clouds can produce breathtaking results.  This was during my initial descent as we approached Grand Cayman.

 

Starting descent on final to Rwy 08 at MWCR, Owen Roberts Intl Airport near Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island.  Cruise ships, hotels, condominiums, restaurants and bars all dot the landscape, especially along the famous seven mile beach.

 

Parked on the ramp ready to offload.  Small airport. Intermixes both small and large aircraft. 

My Cayman Island scenery was obtained through Latin VFR. Not sure it is their own product however.

 

Our view from where we walked to the beach from our rented condo.  Those same clouds again combine with the deep blue sky, the sea, and this time the colors of and along the beach, to provide another breathtaking view.

 

Our sunset vantage point from one of our favorite Grand Cayman hangouts, The Warf, which is also walking distance for us. The Warf is near the south end of Seven Mile Beach.

 

The local Mahi Mahi was incredible.  With a roasted basil and tomato topping and tender asparagus.  Several in our group had the Mango BBQ Rum Glazed Salmon.  It too looked to-die-for. I will try that one before this trek is over!

We will be making a couple of day trips over the next three or four days before hopping elsewhere for stay-overs.

[Guest John_Cillis]

Incredible screenshots and cloud formations!

John

[John F]

This trip just keeps getting better and better!

John

[HLJames]

Very nice details ....looking forward to island hopping!

HLJAMES