Fisherman’s Village Yacht Basin

Very nice sweetie, Thanks

Betty's Birthday Lunch, all candles out in one breath 

Betty and Autumn telling secrets

Friday we traveled up Charlotte Harbor to Punta Gorda, upon arrival we had a formal lunch, you can tell it was formal since the plate was wearing a tie. The Fisherman’s Village Yacht Basin is located next to a long pier full of shops and restaurants. Kim, Scott and Autumn arrived on Friday and yesterday we drove to Sarasota to celebrate Mom’s (Betty) Birthday, 94 on Friday, Wow. We are staying an extra day here at Fisherman’s Village Yacht Basin due to two family issues so we are all chilin’ out for a bit. Autumn is just a cute as she could be and has taken up residence in our bath tub. Turns out it is a really good fit with a seat cushion back for a bed and another for a head board she is quite comfortable and very secure. This retirement is just too much fun!!!

Kim and Autumn relaxing after shopping

Cozy!!

Fisherman's Village Shops

Cayo Costa Anchorage

We decided to stay here at Cayo Costa for the day and evening, did a long dinghy ride around the harbor as I hope to return here next week. Kim, Scott and granddaughter Autumn will arrive tomorrow evening. So today we prepared the boat for their arrival and relaxed, it was a stay at home day. 

Nice day mostly overcast and 75 degrees. About a half hour ago (5:45 PM) the sea breeze brought thick fog. It has been foggy each of the last couple of mornings with heavy dew on everything. The radar shows showers north of Sarasota but none in our area, cooling now very quickly, still learning about the Florida weather.

I installed some additional LED strip lighting above the windows along the main salon windows and am quite pleased with the results. 

Dew on the table under the sundeck roof, no rain 

Dew drops from the sundeck roof, with just a bit of sun

Fog rolling covering the sun

Boats at anchor in sea fog

LED strip lights good light low power consumption

Lemon Bay to Cayo Costa

Anchored in the harbor between the Islands

Cayo Costa State Park, Group Picture

Twenty mile passage today out of Lemon Bay, through Gasparilla Sound and a piece of Charlotte Harbor, across Boca Grande inlet to Pelican Pass on the inside of Cayo Costa. Showers early on then some clearing temperature to 81 degrees with mostly sun and lots of moisture. After arrival and lunch we rode the dinghy to the State Park on Cayo Costa about a mile walk to the other side of the island to the gulf beach. We visited here when we vacationed at Cabbage Key with our friends in Racine New Year’s Eve a few years ago. Would really enjoy having them all here now.

We saw shore birds and rays in the water swimming and eating I am sure. The rays would occasionally jump from the water five feet into the air. We had never witnessed that behavior. They would jump with their heads extended straight up so we could see their white bellies then generally flop back into the water. Some of the more talented rays could actually flip over and land on their backs, fun to watch.

Sailing Fun in Florida

A fern growing on the tree

This is a great anchorage with very good holding and protection from the wind in most directions. I expect there are 30 or so boats in the bay and room for 60 more if necessary. We are trying a new anchoring harness it ties to both forward cleats and hooks to the anchor chain to form a “V” at the water line. It lowers the point of contact with the boat and I believe keeps the boat straight into the wind better than the standard chain arrangement.

Venice to Lemon Bay Anchorage

Venice Beach

Foggy this morning, more water stuck to the boat than if it had rained. I mopped and scrubbed for a while to remove most of the water. We departed the marina about noon for an anchorage in Lemon Bay. A really nice open water anchorage in 6 feet of water. We traveled with the sailboat Southern Cross and another trawler Beach Quest, people we met at the marina yesterday.

Adding Rocks to shore up the island in the inlet

We noticed a large island rebuilding in the Venice inlet, the dockmaster commented that the island is now about one tenth its size and the city now had to rebuild the island and dredge the channel to restore better access.

We passed a group of kayakers on the water today and noticed a strong tidal current first increasing our speed and then decreasing it. We arrived about three o’clock and relaxed at anchor. Nice Florida day, much moisture, partly sunny with a high about 80 degrees. 

A group of people paddling kayaks 

Southern Cross planned final destination the Bahamas

Our current location is now active again by clicking the link in the right column at the top.

Sarasota to Venice

Van Wezel Performing Arts Center

We are back on the water again after our six-week stay in Sarasota.  There is a lot to see and do in Sarasota.  We highly recommend the Ringling Circus Museum and Art Museum, the Van Wezel performing arts center, and Mote Marine Aquarium on Longboat Key.  Our favorite place is still Siesta Key Village and Siesta Key beach – they are incomparable and the very best example of paradise in Florida.  We also did a ton of socializing and visiting my Mom and had great time with Mary and Fred.   Carol’s sister Mary, and brother-in-law Fred loaned us a vehicle for the entire time we were in Sarasota and it made all the difference in the world being able to get around town.  A million thanks to them for their hospitality and generosity.

Fred and Mary at the St. Petersburg Art Festival

On Monday, Feb. 3 we departed Sarasota and cruised down the ICW past all the Sarasota landmarks we have seen from land; beautiful homes, beautiful waterways and a new point of view. Just a short 21 mile ride from north Sarasota Bay to the Venice inlet. Four bridges two we could cross under one 9 ft. high and the last bridge had a 14 ft. clearance. Venice inlet is very popular and a place we have enjoyed visiting by car several times a real old Florida place, where the locals play horseshoes in the sand.

A beautiful Florida day, 80 degrees, lots of sun and a light wind from the southeast. Traveling on the intracoastal between the barrier islands and the mainland is just great, protected water and lots of things to see, the land development, birds and dolphins.

Nice views of the Intracoastal

Arriving in Venice, we docked overnight at Crow’s Nest and quickly met 3 other looper boats and a sailboat, we had docktails visited each other’s boats and had dinner together. Tomorrow there will be more discussions and the opportunity to travel together.  

 

Passing Sarasota

Nice Boat and Nicer House

Crow's Nest at Venice Inlet

January in Sarasota

Today's side trip

We have done a lot of fun things in Sarasota, but we decided not to stop yet.  Today we went to Mote Marine Aquarium and aquatic research center.  Mote has locations all around Florida for research, but the headquarters and Aquarium are here, on Longboat Key, just across Sarasota Bay.

There are a number of beautiful aquariums with exotic fish and sea life.  Outdoors there is a huge shark tank and another deep-water lagoon for dolphins.  There are also exhibits for manatee and sea turtles.  It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I have spent many hours visiting Mom at the assisted living center, and going to lunch or out shopping with my sister Mary.  We have also become adept at cooking good healthy meals on board.  We use the grill several times a week, we keep a pantry of easy to cook and canned foods and we stop frequently for produce and dairy goods.  This week I tried baking cookies in the oven – which turned out to be a challenge.  More honestly they turned out burned on the bottom.  Guess we haven’t mastered that oven yet. 

Tomorrow we have a diver coming to inspect the bottom of the boat.  Dennis has been busy with lots of projects such as painting porthole trim and whipping the ends of boat lines.

Carol's iPhone Movie

Music, Music, everywhere

Brandon, the Irish Folk Singer

We have had a most fun weekend.  Friday evening we went to the Hideaway Lounge in St. Petersburg with Al and Charli for an evening of folk singers.  There was a  Key West/ Jimmy Buffett kind of singer, a blues man from Chicago and, our favorite, an Irish folk singer from…..Ireland.  The place was an intimate little venue, more than a bar, not quite a restaurant, with live entertainment every week.  Really excellent entertainment. 

Steve sings Jazz, Brandon Irish tunes, Dave Key West Songs

Saturday Dennis and Al worked on Al’s boat dock and Charlie and I stayed out of their way.  We went to an Art Fair on Main Street in Dunedin and saw a bagpiper in the park, playing for young Scottish dancers.  Then we went to lunch where there was an Elvis style singer.   I even got to visit the largest quilt store in Florida – no music, but it made me smile.

Today we went out to Clearwater Beach in Bob’s fast boat and had lunch at the Rockaway Grill.  We also had a nice walk on the beach and some Ice Cream. Not bad for a January day.   Finally, I got to visit with Mom and tell her all about our latest adventures. Just a couple more weeks in Sarasota before we continue with the Great Loop.  We are starting to communicate with other boaters who are out in front of us, or who may catch up to us before we get to the Keys.

Dunedin is north of Clearwater and south of Tarpon Springs

Bagpiper at the Art Festival

Launching Bob's boat, Joan in the foreground

Eating Ice Cream at the Beach, in January