What a Week

Wednesday and Friday
January 25 and 27, 2017

After the stormy weather at the first part of the week, Wednesday was near perfect weather for a boat ride with friends.

Debbie, Beth, Todd, Terri, Bruce, Don, Anna, Kelly

We got out to Tampa Bay but it was too bouncy so we turned around and took a great ride up the Manatee River.

Daybreak on Friday did not look good for our departure, but the clouds cleared as we left the Twin Dolphin Marina.

There was only a light chop on the river, but when we got to the bay the waves were 4' on the beam. Some of these waves hitting us on the side were teeth jarring! We only had to skirt the southeast corner of the bay before we turned south into Anna Marie Sound and the seas flattened.

Debbie and Todd drove over to downtown Sarasota and were right by the purple pier so we waved bye and kept heading south.

It was a very nice day for a leisurely cruise to Venice to stay at the Crow's Nest Marina.

Holy Wind-Blown Ship

Saturday, Sunday, Monday
January 21, 22, 23, 2017

Saturday was sunny and warm and the perfect day for a walk. I got 2 blocks and saw a farmers market--fresh veggies and fruits and home canned goods--oh my!!!! I spent the $10 I had in my pocket and went back to the boat. Kelly was cooking breakfast so I sat down for eggs, sausage and toast. It is not good to shop on an empty stomach. Ooops-already done that! We finished eating and back to the farmers market. Fresh baked bread, pickled okra, and red shrimp to go along with the kale and zuccini I bought earlier. Perfect meal!

Sunday started out sunny and warm also. Bruce and Beth picked us up to go to Don and Anna's. Debbie and Todd were there too! Good food and good friends!! We barely got back to the boat at dark with the wind blowing hard and the rain starting. There were tornado warnings in the area, but not too close to us. By 2 a.m. the boat was rocking like a bucking bull in a rodeo! Not much sleep for us that night.
                                  

And it is still a pretty stiff wind today--just look at those whitecaps on the river in the background. But shopping is on the schedule today! The guys went one way and us gals had a great time searching all the area thrift stores. No fantastic finds but we had a great day visiting!

Anna, Terri, Debbie, and Beth

                                  

To Bradenton

Thursday and Friday
January 19-20, 2017

We said goodbye to Madiera Beach about noon on Thursday and slowly made our way to Bradenton just 33 miles south on the intracoastal waterway. The view of Tampa Bay was breathtaking. And the bay is big-16 miles across the mouth. There were not many boats traveling that day except one large cargo ship. We passed with plenty of distance between us!

We went about 4 miles up the Manatee River to dock at Twin Dolphin Marina. The marina is right in downtown Bradenton, across the street from the police station and the public library. There is a great Riverwalk along the river that I hope to explore along with the downtown area.

Fresh seafood was excellent at Star Fish Company! Friends from Huntington staying for the winter in Bradenton - Don and Anna, and Bruce and Beth - drove us there. It is by the water, outside eating on picnic tables, lots of fresh air and sunshine, good friends and great food.

Feel the Sunshine!!!!

We hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We had a very good holiday with family and everyone is well. We did get to see a little bit of snow and I hope that is all the snow we see this season.

I

It was so nice to see the Florida sunset and put my coat in the suitcase!!!

Go Go Go

Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving

We woke up Thanksgiving morning to bright sunshine and a good weather forecast. Everybody is ready and anxious to get going. The first group of 4 boats leaves at 11 a.m. and includes Time Out, Katherine Marie, Sea Cow, and In Deep Ship bringing up the rear. We all cruise about the same speed of 7 knots or 8 mph. The second group of boats go faster so they leave 3 hours later. The Gulf starts out pretty choppy with waves 1 to 2 feet, a nice breeze and still lots of sunshine. We feel nervous about the crossing and a little seasick but manage to hold down our breakfast.
                                              

Late afternoon the waves smooth out and we have a great sunset.

Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico

After dark we all use radar and stay less than a mile apart so that we can see each others running lights. Around midnight the wind comes out of the north and the following seas give us a little boost in speed. Every hour Time Out checks with each boat to keep us awake. They all have autopilot except us, we have to steer the boat all night.  We take turns, but we don't find much sleep. About 3 a.m. the wind changes again. It makes us feel like a sailboat running on our side for a couple hours.

Sunrise with Clearwater on the horizon

Friday and Saturdary, November 25 and 26
We are glad for sunrise and no wind and by 9:30 a.m. we arrive at Clearwater Beach Marina. Every one is safe and no one had problems. We are really happy to be back on land!

Sleep all day, then we met with some loopers for docktails and to celebrate a great crossing! The next day several of us hop on the Jolly Trolley to visit Tarpon Springs and the Greek docks.

Ann, Paul, Cindy, Terri, Kelly

Sunday, November 27 to Monday, December 5

Clearwater Beach Marina was very busy with too much rocking and rolling to stay there. We moved the boat along with Time Out and Sea Cow to Madiera Beach at a small public marina. We visited John's Pass and part of St. Petersburg by bus with Paul and Ann! 

We relaxed and cleaned the boat and visited the small town of Madiera Beach for another week. Paul and Ann on Sea Cow departed after a few day to continue their loop.  Dan and Jean on Time Out are flying home for the holidays. We have a flight on Allegiant and ubered to the airport--it was easier than we thought!

Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready.......

Monday - Wednesday, November 21 - 23, 2016

We arrive at Carrabelle, Florida at C-Quarters Marina--it is THE place to start a trip across the Gulf of Mexico. Most all the marinas now have pilings that you have to tie the boat at all 4 corners with enough slack for the changing tides. I need more practice for sure!!

We ask about a restaurant, but there are none open in Carrabelle on Mondays. We are in luck, the Marina has a pot luck dinner for anyone who shows up. Good food and other boaters show up so there are about 20+ people. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Fisherman's wife restaurant is open and the seafood is delicious especially the oysters! We join a group of loopers to talk about the crossing.

Carrabelle claims they have the smallest police station in the world. Right on the main street, easy to find!

We make several trips to the local IGA grocery store. They have a very prominent display of Barefoot wines and bubbly. Have to get some just in case we need to celebrate crossing the Gulf!!

Finally it looks like the weather and wind will be good for crossing the Gulf of Mexico on Thanksgiving. No cooking turkey, I have the feeling we are the turkeys!

Appalachicola

Sunday, November 20, 2016

We are up early--but I forgot to mention that we are back in the Eastern time zone! It feels so much better for the sunshine to ageee with the time. We are still working our way across the intracoastal waterway in the panhandle of Florida and stop in Appalachicola for the night. The marina is farther from the small downtown area than we thought so we walked to the nearest restaurant. Their clay oven is wood-fired and the pizzas were very tasty and Kelly's chicken wings were great!