Steve and his dinghy going fishing.

Going fishing 🙂

Had to come back in for gloves some toothy fish in Florida!

Woke up to a beautiful morning and a wonderful walk on the beach. Ate breakfast at the Marina restaurant, a quaint little restaurant that serves a great breakfast. I bought a cool t-shirt and we went for a walk on the beach caught a trolley to see the city, ended up at a museum for the movie “Dolphin Tale” in which a dolphin was rescued at sea and fitted with a tail prosthesis. It got wrapped in a crab pot net line and a fisherman saw the floater moving erratically in the ocean and called for help. They rescued her and she lives here at the Clearwater Marine Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation. The museum is filled with sets from the movie because most of it was filmed here. Then we went to the aquarium and observed Winter (the dolphins name) getting physical therapy. I am ready to become and aquarium employee and work with marine animals. Petted southern rays and sea rays, observed nurse sharks in their natural habitat, saw starfish babies only a 1/4 of an inch in size, sea turtles, river otters, and saw a dolphin show with Nicholas a rescued dolphin at 6 months old with 2nd and 3rd degree sunburns from being beached with his mother. She died 3 days after they came to the aquarium with pneumonia. Nicholas can’t be released into the ocean due to the fact he did not have his mother to teach him survival skills. They learn all that from the mother dolphin. Just like children, children imitate their parents also. I loved it and didn’t want to leave i wanted to get in water and try scuba diving again. I hope i can dive someday and beat this claustrophobia! The movie i havent seen yet but Steve and I are going to get movie, we love true life movies and we know now what actually happened from the people at the museums and aquarium. Hollywood does take liberties with movies. LOL We also experienced a hurricane simulator at museum whew scary. From there we took a bus from the beach to south Florida areas and explored. Came back to boat and ate a wonderful tuna fish and sweet pickle meal. Lip smackin good,haha. Spent the evening in a storm at marina, chilling out and watching tv well watching Steve flip channels. haha  Have met so many nice boaters here all willing to help with whatever. Left the bedroom window open and got 3 pillows wet and sheet, which is OK we have 9 pillows on board. Don’t wont to be short of pillows,  🙂 dried sheet wet parts with blow dryer and went to bed. Stay tuned, more tomorrow!

CAPTAINS LOG: Dinghy is a must, need more power, need bigger motor!

Our guests left early this AM about 5 to catch a plane home to Chattanooga. We had Belgian waffles for breakfast and commenced to clean the crap out of our boat, diesel fuel really stains the white i cant get enough Westley’s Bleech White to make it partially white again (great Christmas gift). Steve and Corey had blown up the dinghy yesterday so we took it out into the bay to see how it will work, after being exhausted from scrubbing the thingamajig!  Well the boat looks great and we can go fishing in the dinghy now! We ate all three meals on boat because we had to keep cleaning it we had boat stuff all over the dock. I put bleach in the holding tank to help clean water and kill some bacteria. You cant drink it anyway but i like the thought of clean water when i shower in the boat. Reorganized all the supplies/provisions on boat and put a lot of stuff where it can’t be slung around the boat. Washed clothes and bed linens at the marina main office. Found a cool little restaurant here will eat breakfast there in AM tomorrow. We found a peculiar looking fish Sat night. Will load picture if anyone can tell me what it is please do! Birds just stare at you on dock, i walked by and Egret and it just looked at me and let me take a picture. Love it! Hopefully we can have some company come see us a round trip ticket for two is just 324.00 and a 32 dollar taxi ride to our marina. the boat pictures are from boat Christmas parade on Sat night. Christmas music and boaters having a grand Christmas time! Sorry about the quality of the pictures of boats thats the best my phone will do when i zoom.Everyone take care, signing off for now 🙂

CAPTAINS LOG: Need stronger boat cleaner for diesel stains.

Steve playing with my phone at night!

Middle of the night last night the seas calmed down and the ride was smoother. The clouds are still hanging around but the seas are calm and pretty. In the middle of the high waves i looked over to my starboard side and saw a huge round pale yellow looking circle in the waves about 2-3 feet across, did not know what it was until it raised its big old head! It was a huge sea turtle!! I was so excited. 🙂 It was a nice ride into the bay at Clearwater Florida. I will add several pictures on here of our trip into Clearwater. WOW the bay was full of boats of all kinds! Tour boats that look like sharks, calypso themed 3 tier boats, sailboats, fishing boats, yachts, just all kinds of water vehicles. Sailboats were anchored out close to the shore and they rode their dinghy’s into shore. You can anchor out like that if you are registered and insured. We chose the marina for electricity, water, cable, internet, showers and a short walk to food and the beach! We have decided to stay here for about 30 days, we are close to Allegiant airport. The thumb in the picture ts my trademark 🙂 These are all pictures from the gulf to Clearwater. We stopped at the Beach Marina everyone here is very nice, we met a couple from TN who had also come down the Tom Bigbee. Sharon and Micheal. We have nice showers with poor lighting by a bayside bar. It has a key only entry but i think some people think its a bathroom and knock on the door when your in shower. I just yell out, ” be out in an hour” hehehe. Close to all kinds of activities and access to trolly travel. Loving it here and cant wait to hopefully get my son here after Christmas!  Everyone have a wonderful day.

CAPTAINS LOG: Found out secondary pass was just recently dredged. Beautiful weather and nice marina with easy access.

We left the dock at around 9:30 last night off to the Gulf of Mexico! We are looking forward to our new adventure! Weather was supposed to be good with one to two foot seas. NOT!!! About 1 AM the sea kicked up like a woman with PMS! 4-6 foot seas with 8 foot swells, our boat was rocking and rolling dipping and diving on the sea. Waves were rising up and breaking over the stern with a vengeance. The waves were kicking up and slapping the boat like a bad child. The sea spray washed our hair and cleaned our faces for us! When the bow of the boat came back down off the top of the wave it sounded like it was gonna break in half. Standing is not an option at this point, 3 points of contact at all times when moving around and being tied to the boat with caribeaners and line when outside. The waves look so deep looking at them, they hit us from the Northeast side , first time i have ever been on a water roller coaster. Steve and Corey are piloting the boat in shifts with the rain gear and cold weather gear, yep i had to drag back out the Under Armor and Frogg Toggs. I have to hand it to the guys without them we would be lost! I slept thru most of it, about all you can do when you cant stand up! But if your not asleep the best place to be was the helm area outside. It is hard to be inside the cabin, now i know how clothes feel in the dryer! The new chart plotter was awesome kept us on track, and the compass settings also. The sailors will tell you, “The sea she is an unforgiving mistress” which is soooo true! You can’t turn down the waves, pull over to shelter or even stop sailing, you have to keep going no matter what. the only thing you have control over is your boat and if the sea decides to take that control away your just done! It is actually very exhilarating to be on the sea in this weather. All i know is that no one on this ride will have loose anal sphincter syndrome afterwards, LOL! All the “great” packing i did with my supplies, they flew out of the front storage all over the floor and all over my guests sleeping quarters. We were not prepared for the weather and i am still cleaning pineapple juice off my counter, floors and out of my fridge, LOL. there was not an item that wasnt in the floor, my boat looked like an episode of “Hoarders”. Anything that wasnt tied down or in a drawer or in closet was scattered like a flea market! We decided we couldnt clean it up we couldn’t stand, haha. Carolyn and Corey are great they just roll with the flow, so to speak! We are resting up for the next crossing!

CAPTAINS LOG: Learned a lot about sailing and the sea, and i need more equipment. Like a satellite radio for starters!

Going to leave for gulf crossing tonight around 9 or 11. Corey bought some shrimp and a fisherman gave us some great fish to cook. They have so many fishing boats and shrimp boats at this marina and they come and go a lot. The shrimp boats stay out a week at a time. We had a good time today i think the chart plotter is ready to go. Will leave tonite around 6-11 PM. All the sailors and the weather predicts good sailing and smooth seas. We have so many boaters and sailors helping us with all our equipment and giving us endless advice on everything, LOL.

Getting ready to go on our crossing with Corey and Carolyn. Hanging at the dock today will leave for the gulf crossing from St Andrews to Clearwater Florida. We went to eat at Hunts Oyster Bar, lucky we got there early it packed out after we got seated. Tried my first oysters can take em or leave em, Steve really liked them. I love their crab cakes best i ever ate! We took the boat out to find some dolphins and did found plenty i hope i can add video on here. Trying out the new chart plotter and synchronizing it with the auto pilot. We ate Mexican for supper and walked around town and in the park with all the Christmas lights! Back to boat for some rest. Leaving for the crossing tomorrow night. We have good weather reports and are looking forward to it!

Today is the day we head back to St Andrews, awaiting the arrival of two of our good friends heading out with us, Corey and Carolyn. Hate to leave the puppies and mad because i didnt get to see my son this trip. Glad that i didnt make him sick though if this is a virus we have. Still feeling under the weather. Steve has had a better day today, whew yesterday was bad toward evening. Packed our stuff in car and headed back to Florida and shorts weather :-). Great day with great friends, arrived in St Andrews about midnight, put bed back together we had taken apart to install GPS system and instantly fell asleep.

Are we there yet?

Today we ran all our errands, Steve took care of all the business problems and we got all our stuff together for the trip back to St Andrews. We had a dinner with our employees at Chillis and then rest,  we are still under the weather. Not much to tell today will keep you informed. Have a great day!

Taking it easy!

Steve has been sick all day so we are staying close to home. I have been getting some small things done at home, washed clothes, getting things together to head out to Florida. Had a good trip back to Rossville yesterday love the rental car, drove home with minimal nausea thank goodness. Last time i buy steak at Sams Club. The puppies are so glad to see us they can lie in living room floor and sleep! haha Made sure all the vehicles are still running well, did all my paperwork,and bought some groceries. There is absolutely no food in the house. Talked to my son to see how he is doing,, and he informed me all the decorations i left at that house are all out and put up! Yeah! Of course i unplugged the christmas tree and it has about fifty different plugs it only lights up one color! OOPS! I did it again! lolol. Everyone have a great day will keep you informed on trip.

Captains Log: Dont buy steak at Sams.