The last few days have been interesting.  After leaving Naples we headed North on the ICW and found a wonderful anchorage in a State Park on Caya Costa.  We came into the peaceful anchorage and both of us said,  "Doesn't this remind you of the Chesapeake Bay?"  This was to be a two night stay for relaxing and shelling until we found the house battery had died.  We did enjoy cocktails in the cockpit and later the almost full moon rising.  Later we read by lantern light.
The weather report called for strong wind and nasty thunder storms to come so we hunted up a new battery in a nice recovering marina in Pineland.  Then on to Punta Gorda and Laishley Marina that came recommended to us by folks we met in a Watkins 25.  In the day room at the marina we met another couple who also had a Watkins 25 and they of course knew each other.  They gave us tips on where to explore.
We did some shopping and saw the water front, historical section and Fisherman's Wharf, the  wind was very strong and bicycle riding was not easy.  The rain came in the afternoon but we were prepared for leaks but the boat rocked and rolled like crazy.  At noon we had good burgers at the Crab House by the marina but the evening was the best when I steamed the shrimp we bought from the boat docked next to us that returned at 5 AM that day.  $10 a pound, no heads.
This AM we proceeded down Charlotte Harbour; back to the ICW.   The wind was from the NW and not a problem so we came up to Venice.  This is Dave's sister's favorite spot.  Unfortunately the Crowes Nest Marina is at the Venice inlet and the wind direction was producing the worst conditions they have seen. Rock, roll, tug and pull so we are in the small day room.  Dave joined me on a brief walk on the beach but the shelling was poor and the Red Tide was making us cough and our noses run and the shells were mixed with the dead fish. However the wind generated great surf and school was out,  surfers  were there in droves.  Enough of that, we used the loaner bikes and rode in to town for a short walk by the shops.   More wind and temperatures are much cooler and it was overcast.
On to Bradenton tomorrow.