Headed down to the Cayo Costa Park to anchor out and enjoy the beautiful beaches covered in shells and gorgeous sunsets. Travelling down the ICW we saw some gorgeous homes and islands. Seeing several kestrels and a lot of birds. It was a great day boating and we just enjoyed the serenity of the trip. NOT a racetrac today very calm traffic and very few boats! We sailed into parrot key into a very nice anchorage very safe and sheltered. We got out into the dinghy and headed to the little beach area which as we found was the place to hang out at for the locals and tourists. There were a lot of boats in that area and it was an absolutely gorgeous sunny day. We walked along the little beaches and found some cool shells and very nice scenery. I had to find a little wildlife path through the sharp grass and bushes from beach to beach. Andrea being the good sport she is followed me without complaint as I can take off through questionable trails when exploring new places. It was a cool place and we stayed for a while until we took off to the boats again because we couldn’t go to the restaurant due to the waves being a little grouchy today. BUT we shall try again tomorrow to go to the restaurant. My son sent me pictures of him and my grandson snow sledding down a hill. Enjoy the pics and I am out….

Today we shall explore the Venice beach and look for shark teeth!The winds are still very strong and the waves are high. So Steve Barry and I took off to the beach. Andrea was not feeling 100 percent and stayed behind. I was looking for the dolphin statue that used to stand in the middle of the parking lot but it wasnt there, I was sad. Anyway walking through the sand to the beach through a cute place in the trees with a bench and a neat pathway to the beach. We had a ball looking for the sharks teeth I found one and was so excited. We kept looking and looking buy never found another one. The ocean was rough and it was hard to keep digging through the sand and waves. After several hours on the beach we decided to dinghy back and get Andrea to see the sunset. It was a beautiful sunset and we found 4 chairs already on the beach so we sat and watched the gorgeous sunset. Leaving there we found some really cool shell pictures created by someone who loved to create obviously! We had a great night and are going to get ready for more adventures tomorrow. Enjoy the pics. Signing off for tonight!

Today we started it with a great breakfast at the end of that beautiful waterway near us. After that we pulled anchor and started on our adventure down the racetrack known as the Sarasota/Tampa ICW. As usual we had to take it very slow and watch out for pshychotic boaters, hahahaha. Well we enjoyed the beautiful scenery that includes the cool houses on the banks of the ICW. The temperature was good today also so I sat our on the front of the boat and enjoyed it. Coming into Venice it was like a traffic jam on the freeway and finally made it safely into a side waterway and into the venice anchorage areas.

Quickly we realized that the anchorages were the same ones we anchored at in 2012 that left us on the hard ground and where we came to a sudden stop when leaving when our keel slammed into something very hard. SO we found a place that would stay deep enough where our boat would still be floating when the tide went out. Very hard to find a place to take dinghy until we ran into the yacht club member that let us know that the very end of the boat pier close to the road was empty and to dock there. He even gave us the code to the bathrooms and the shower(even though we didnt use them). SO we took off into the town of Venice toward a cool restaurant on the water. It only took a few minutes to get there walking down the sidewalk. There are a lot of condos in this town that are so cool. We went into the restaurant and it had some great food as well as some neat benches and decorations. IT also had the showers and washer/dryers in the bottom area close to the parking garage. They were actually the nicest showers and we had access to them because the marina was closed to boats due to the storm coming in couldnt take us so they gave us access to the amenities! We walked back to the dinghy then back to the boats to get a good nights sleep. More adventures tomorrow! Good night everyone.

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!

December 23 2021

ON our way home for Christmas!! YAY!! Just an uneventful long trip home with our friends Barry and Andrea. We cant wait to surprise Jett and well get some work done also! Stay tuned will be back on the boat on December 29 2021.

Took a little dinghy tour of the houses, inlets, and islands of Clearwater. The coolest thing was finding an island called two tree island, I guess one of them got blown away because only one was left standing. It was so cool there were a few other people on the island but it was still cool. Today I will post mostly pictures with less talk….

Happy Anniversary to my sister Paula and her husband Jud. We went for a walk on the beautiful beaches of Clearwater today. Enjoyed . a great breakfast at a place called Ryans Island Cafe, if you are in Clearwater beach it is a must. Walked the beaches for a long time and picked up a few shells while walking in the cold clear water running over our feet. After walking around the beach we went back to the boat for some work time. I pulled out my Sailrite and made a little bag to carry my phone and minimal stuff in. Took me a while but I pulled it off. Watched Christmas Story while sewing it was so much fun. The tour boats and speed boat tours rock us daily when they go by. I dont think people understand common courtesy today. But we are a sailboat and rock is what we do and we are used to it.

Signing off, stay tuned!

Started on our journey to Clearwater Florida today. It will be an overnight sail into the 17 so that we can leave for home on the 19^th for Christmas. The day started out foggy and rough with no chance to stop on the way if conditions worsened. We put out the sails and as the saying goes “keep calm and sail on”. As the trip continued conditions lessened and was very pleasant overnight. We braved the rough waters and fog and had a great cruise to Clearwater. Arriving on the morning of the 17^th we came into the narrow channel with the shallow water on either side and found a place to anchor in the anchorage close to the Clearwater Municipal Marina where we stayed before. They had no transient room for us due to increased boat travel since Covid was released. Caretta also found a place to anchor and we took some time to nap and then on to Clearwater. We went to the marina and made arrangements to dock our boats in two unused permanent slips that were available. They would not let us use the shower rooms until we were actually in the slips but later on they gave us the codes.(we had already paid for the slips). They were very nice. We walked down to Frenchys on the beach for some great food. It was really great to see all the places we were when we where there ten years ago. Taking the dinghy and just motoring around to find all the places we use to go. The dolphin aquarium, with other rescued animals there also. I think it is like an animal hospital. Anyway we came back to the anchorages where there are too many derelict boats,i think the homeless live in a few of them. Good idea really. If you ever meet me ask me this “three went out two came back”. It is a very good story. Signing off stay tuned.