Siesta Key to Maderia Beach

Nice cruise day, 70's, East wind 15+, partly cloudy, 2 ft waves in the Tampa Channel. Dolphins paralleled us for quite a while after crossing the channel, arrived at Maderia Beach about 3:00 great conversation with new/old friends Charli and Al. 

The Sunshine Bridge 

Condo City

More Condos

Dolphin in the Bow Wave

Splashing back in for another leap

Two swam with us for quite a while, fun!

Punta Gorda to Siesta Key Anchorage

Good to be back traveling on Reunion, it takes a bit to get my mind set back on the boat after being on land for so long. Traveled down Charlotte Harbor to near Boca Grand and then up the intracoastal waterway no at a very quiet anchorage on the south end of Siesta Key. We passed a trawler south bound named Chester B, we met them in Grand Haven and travel part of the eastern shore of Lake Michigan with them last August. They planned to spend a night in Punta Gorda, so we were able to arrange for them to use our slip at Laishley's while we are gone. We saw 7 8 man sculls today practicing in the intracoastal. At one point, I slowed so as not to wake them and they began rowing and passed us up. We were traveling about 6.5 MPH and they were well over 7 MPH as they pulled away. Great fun to watch them move so gracefully. Huge wind shift tonight as we anchored, 15 from the Northwest, anchored calm to variable, rotated twice then the wind picked up again from the Southeast, 180 degrees from the previous direction. The forecast is for Northeast wind tonight, so we pulled up the anchor and moved to the other side of the canal and behind a spit of land. Very comfortable now wind back to East less than 5 MPH. Pork chops on the grill tonight with a nice salad. 

Our pick for new neighbors

Our new modern friends

A bit more modest

Just down the block and across a small channel

On the Boat again, just can't wait to be on the boat again!

Maderia Beach to Longboat Key Moorings

Great Christmas Boat Parade Party at Al and Charlie's Beach house. The parade was energetic and exciting and passed within 10 feet of the boat. Good stew, cheese, shredded beef, Christmas Music, old friends, new friends, Canadian Friends, a good time was had by all.

Today we departed about 10:30, warm morning with temps climbing to the 80's quite high for December, but definitely enjoyable. The wind increased and the sea state as well as we crossed the Tampa Bay entrance and passed the Sunshine Bridge. Then back to the intracoastal to the marina, a very fine marina, with a pool, good Italian restaurant, golf course all the amenities. Doug has joined us for the three day trip to Punta Gorda it is nice to have him aboard again.

Christmas at the Beach House

The Sunshine Bridge

Doug at Longboat Key Moorings Marina

Relaxing at the end of the day

Apalachicola to Maderia Beach

The crossing was great, Eddie call a perfect crossing day smooth for the first third, wind shifting to the southeast for the middle third and a gentle breeze off the shore and we entered. Twenty eight hours, 219 miles nice to have the crossing completed. When we arrived at Maderia Beach, Al and Charlie were there to great us with champagne and treats and the afternoon relaxing at the beach house. Tomorrow is the Zac Brown concert in Tampa and Saturday is RibFest. Reunion will stay here at the beach house for a few weeks while we go to Wisconsin to visit family and bring our car down to Florida. So this will be the last blog for a while, I will begin again when we return and move the boat to Punta Gorda.

Overcast but very calm at 8:00 AM

Shrimpers at Apalachicola

Museum's Classic Yacht

A shrimper returning with a few birds

I guess they like to ride on shrimp boats

Our hitch hiker 60 miles out in the Gulf

The sunsets on a beautiful day

Sunrise over Clearwater

Bait fish going nuts on the top of the water near the pass

John's Pass, Maderia Beach

Reunion tied to Al's Beach House Dock

Prep Day in Apalachicola

The weather forecast is still good for a crossing beginning Wednesday morning. Today I rode my bike to the NAPA for a gallon of engine oil, got a haircut, and stopped at the drug store. Carol washed clothes, and in general we prepared for the crossing. Carol is in contact with several other boater that are ready to cross and I discussed the crossing with Tim on Bodacious. The plan is to leave after 8:00 to arrive at Dog Island about noon and begin the crossing. Our plan is to go to St. John's pass and tie up in Madeira Beach at Al and Charlies beach house. We will activate SPOT every two hours to keep family updated on our progress.

Apalachicola Again

We saw the sun, scrubbed the flybridge, and ate oysters at the Owl Taproom. Wind has shifted to the north and temperature dropped 20 degrees over supper. We are here in Apalachicola at least another day waiting for a weather window.

Apalachicola

It rained. Really hard. All day. The Packers Lost.