Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest 2008

TJ · 07-13-2008, 10:47 PM

ok, just in case some of you aren't busy next weekend. That's the date, july 18 thru 20. were doing it once again. lovers Key Resort. Nothing like really really short notice, unless you've been on other web pages like, seadoo.net or pwctoday.com. This year has been a bad one for me so I've been down in the dumps and not on top of things for a while. So please forgive me for not posting this months ago. But it looks like were having a nice size crowd this year, at least 40 rooms are reserved. If anyone wants to join in next weekend please come down to Ft Myers, Lovers Key, I'll buy you a drink or two. Thanks, TJ

Hoping this will blow me out of the dumper!
e-mail me @ tjstrain@mac.com

TJ · 07-13-2008, 10:50 PM

Directions to Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest, PWC paradise..
Take I-75 south (or north from the east coast) to exit 116, Bonita springs. Go down the ramp and turn right (if traveling south), turn left if you came from the east coast. Stay straight on that Road, (Bonita Beach Road) for about 9 miles and you will see the “Lovers Key Resort" 12 story tall building on your right. Turn right into the road/driveway follow it straight back past two other tall condo buildings. It is at the end of the road, short road at that. The management says that we must park our skis in the grass field on the left, right before their building. You will see others parked there when you arrive.
Bonita Beach Road from the interstate to the resort: Starts out well populated with lots of buildings and cross roads, for about 4 - 5 miles. Then is curves to your right (North) and you are now paralleling the gulf front. Only one row of homes separates you from the beach. Proceed a couple of miles and you go over your first bridge and onto an island. Up ahead is a very high, sky blue, water tower with "Bonita Springs" painted on it. Might be tough to see in the dark. The road then curves to the left and goes another mile to the next bridge. About a mile up from there is the free public boat launch on your right. (Lovers Key State Park) Pass right on by there because you’re only 1 more mile away from The Lovers Key Resort, on the right. After going over 1 more small bridge and kids play area on your right there will be the Road on your right to turn into. You will see the Big RED "LOVERS KEY" (In the dark of course.) words at the top of the building before you see the road that you turn on. Don’t go over the draw bridge.
It's really easy to find, TJ

www.loverskey.com

TJ · 07-15-2008, 11:08 PM

So how are the "space coast jet riders" doing this year???? Haven't heard anything from your side of the state??? Lou, you still over there? Andy, Farieda and the rest of you, maybe we'll see ya this weekend.

TJ · 07-17-2008, 01:09 PM

The rainy weather has disapeared!!!!!!!! Were back to our usual wather pattern as stated on the news. No more all day rains, STARTING TODAY! Just in time for our weekend. Just filled up my 6 gas containers and I'm almost ready to go. Damn, almost forgot to wait for my wife to get home from work. Maybe she forgot and won't miss me for a few day's!

Eco Jim · 07-21-2008, 10:20 AM

I've attached a few thumbnails of some of the skis that were there Saturday.

2008 Lovers' Key (a).JPG

2008 Lovers' Key (b).JPG

2008 Lovers' Key (c).JPG

TJ · 07-24-2008, 11:11 PM

Another event gone by and what a great time we all had. Only one ticket was given out for the whole 4 days. I lost both of my ski's to the mechanical gods. One as I was getting ready and the other on Saturday. A special Thanks to all who wanted to and/or did loan me their ski's. I would have been happy just sitting poolside with some of those beautiful ladies while the rest of you rode. Thanks Glenn for taking my phone calls to try and guide me through a fix for my ski. Thanks to all who helped out throughout the weekend and thanks to all who just showed up and had a blast with us. Thanks to TODD and LEO for taking us up a couple of NEW trails into dead ends. At least the trail were fairly long before we all got backed up at the end. I love exploring new trails!
Saturday morning before we ever got started there were about 50 ski's sitting on the beach at Lovers Key. More joined us as they put in at the boat ramp. We had two ski's end up in the tree's. One flew up into the branches and the other submarined(trying to avoid a stopped ski in front) down and came up under a major tree branch pinning the driver against the seat with a branch damn close to some family jewels. No blood was seen in those two though.
We started skiing Friday morning and finished up Monday about noon (only six ski's) with our second trip out into the Gulf of Mexico up to Sanibel Island and one more trip up the river to end a great water adventure.
Thanks to the Clubs that attended, Watercraft Innovations for the great prizes and demo ski's, SBT for bringing their crew and tent of great stuff, parts and give-a-way free-be's. Thanks to Lovers Key Resort for donating another dream stay at their resort for 3 day's and 2 night's. Thanks again to those who found their way up to my room and partied with us, hope the maid shampoooo's the carpet. I think a few drinks found their way there. Until next time we ski, TJ

TJ · 07-30-2008, 06:05 PM

http://gallery.mac.com/tjstrain#100008

link above to pictures, add some of your if you were there. Tania and Armondo supplied these so far. Thanks, TJ

LisaLisa · 07-30-2008, 06:26 PM

TJ,

Thanks for continuing to put this together each year. I was just looking at some old photos the other day and remembering how beautiful it is there and how much fun we had "back in the day". Maybe one day I'll get free from a weekend from racing one and will come join you guys for some more mangrove tunnel running

Here's some shots of Lover's Key circa 2001!

Beach Stop coast side

Dinner Saturday night...can't remember the name of the restaurant, but it waqs good!

Mangrove Run!

View from the condo

More view from the condo

Stuck your boat in a tree? Dont worry - these guys will rescue you!

Sunset at Lover's Key...

TJ · 07-31-2008, 09:23 AM

Lisa, looking forward to that day! It gets better every year, in different ways... Remember the SPUD GUN, and the front desk calling up to your room to turn the noise down? We had the tunes crank'in in my room this year and no phone calls!

more pics and video's added to link:

http://gallery.mac.com/tjstrain#100008

you can add you shots to this collection for all of us to see......

TJ · 07-31-2008, 09:29 AM

Jim, nice shot's! Thanks for posting. Wildwood NJ or FL