Got up early,and went to a restaurant that we heard about around the corner and down a canal. We waited on Barry and Andrea to drop their dinghy and off we ventured! We were unsure at first because it looked like it ended, but the canal turned right and we followed it. I could not believe what was back there! Beautiful houses, cute beach houses, docks with motorboats and beautiful scenery. As the canal got more narrow it maintained a deep path until we came to a little opening and saw a white picket fence and a place/wall to tie up at. It was the back of the restaurant with tables outside. We tied up walked the small sidewalk through the back door and were told it was a 10 minute wait for an outside table. Waiting outside we realized we were in a small mini mall area(very mini) with a craft shop(not open), a liquor store and several various shops. We were called to be seated and were given this great table on the end closest to the water. I saw kayaks tied together waiting on the group on shore to board them and explore away! It was very nice sitting there and very very peaceful. Great Breakfast would recommend this place to everyone who visits longboat key. The ride back was so nice seeing all the cool trees and houses. Got to speak to one of the home owners. He was very nice and getting his boat ready to take out. After breakfast we ventured back to the boat and loaded up for our trip to the beach and took the dinghy out to the little bay area, past the Shore restaurant and past the big house for sale around the corner (passing fellow sail boaters as we go) and under the very short bridge. Getting our dinghy stuck is very shallow water lol. Rocking it and backing up we got her unstuck and followed a very narrow path deep enough to get to a small beach area. SO many sea urchins and jellyfish around I had to watch my step when helping pull the dinghy onto the sandy area. Tying off to a mangrove limb I looked around and saw a lot of limbs lying around and grass growing up through the sand and realized that the little trail from that area lead right to the beach! We took our never used Tommy Bahama chairs along with Barry and Andrea and set them up on the beach right next to a cool set of huge rocks on the beach with the semi angry ocean pushing water up and over them creating little pools of water and shells in the washed out stone pockets of the rocks. The fog was so thick you could not see pass 30 yards and 50 yards it became blurry. It was a whiteout on the ocean.

We enjoyed several walks on the beach watching the little speedy birds run from the water before it hit their feet. One of them didn’t care it ran to the point of water overrunning its feet and then ran away. The risk taking bird, hahaha. I enjoyed finding the cool colored shells sporadically spread along the beach. It started to get cold and we packed up and loaded the dinks and headed back over the little bay and under the short bridge to the sandbar we saw going in. Lots of boats had left due to the weather but we decided to hang there enjoy the view and relax in our chairs and on the protruding narrow area of sand. It was fun and there were only a few people left on the sandbar. It became later in the day so we headed to the boats to relax. Steve and I decided to try the Shore restaurant. It was pricey but had great food and cool service. The waitress mentioned that sailboaters usually came in in a hurry and treated them like a fast food restaurant. A dig on sailors. It happens no worries. She was very nice to us and we had a great meal. Out to the boat and into the berth and fast asleep afterwards. Signing off for today. Fair seas everyone!

On the ICW headed to somewhere nice to anchor. Traveling down this area is hazardous to any boaters health. There is absolutely no regard for any other boaters health or safety. So we made our way as best we could down the racetrack that is the southern ICW. Saw an old wreck protruding from the water with birds sitting on the old rusted parts sticking out of the water as we made our way toward a huge bridge with lets say plenty of clearance. The day is dreary and foggy with decent visibility that gives away to sunshine in the afternoon. The race increases as we boat along. I have posted pictures of the inconsiderate geniuses that actually have a boat. Racing through minimal wake zones at full speed. Finally getting out of the race, we found ourselves and anchorage in Longboat Key in front of a restaurant called the shore and another smaller restaurant right beside it. Got a shot of some cool dolphins after we anchored. We got anchored out(which took a minute because of the crowded area we were in with the derelict sailboats rotting away on the hook), and decided to hit the restaurant that had the tables on the beach. Found a place to tie our boats up to the dock for that restaurant. We decided to walk around while waiting for our table and look at the houses around the circle by the restaurant. Checked out some jumping fish off of a private pier across from a huge house that was for sale. Found a really cute house with blue yellow and pink paint that reminded me of a place in the islands. We walked back to the restaurant and took some cool pics under the awning as you went in to the restaurant. Since we dinghy up to most places to eat at the dock we dont always see the front of the restaurant we eat at. It was a cool place with all the tables open to the beach and plastic walls to be dropped if needed. We met some fellow sailors while waiting that were anchored out close to us that told us a cool story. He had been on his way to eat here in his sailboat with his family when traversing an inlet that was pretty rough! Story short he had to cut his dinghy off because it was sinking and couldnt be saved. So he got a new dinghy and repeated the trip and there he was! Love the cool sailing stories. Also met a man who we couldn’t figure out nice but assholio at the same time. So…we waited for about an hour but the food was worth it. We sat at a table right on the beach and a crane hung out with us the whole time we were there. He had shrimp for dinner as we ate our shrimp hahaha! It was a wonderful night with our friends and the crane! Hope your days are as much fun as ours. Stay tuned for more adventures. Admiral Loretta out.

Captains log: Great trip today. Stopped a boat from running over a pod of dolphins!

Started out today headed to Tampa area, around Treasure Island looking for a place to stop and anchor while enjoying the scenery. I will tell you boaters in this area all the way to Venice Beach. After that toward the islands there is a huge decrease in crazy insane boaters. But until then the arrogant self serving jerks are abundant. Not caring for manatee dolphin or any other living thing that gets in their path. WOW humanity is in a dive. Dolphins trying to save a hit calf has to be the saddest thing I heard. AND manatee deaths are up 20 % since covid and idiots buying boats without boating courses. WAY TO GO SOUTH FLORIDA! SO off my soapbox and onto the trip. We found a cool place to anchor in front of the American Legion Post in Tampa. And Barry is a veteran(thank you for your service man)and we were allowed to eat there and see some really cool military pics and stories. The place was right on the ICW with beautiful views and sunsets! We really enjoyed the food, it was great! We enjoyed sitting on the deck with our awesome sailing buds and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. I just feel in awe of these guys that went out to fight for our freedom! Thank you to all the veterans reading this. I am signing off and getting some sleep. Smooth sailing everyone!