There is lots to tell since my last post. Remember I told you we were going to a baseball game? We did, the Pirates played Spain, weather was great and we got to move in to the season ticket holders seats in the third row left field; just up from home plate. I forgot to put my memory card back in the camera so I have no pictures. The mascots really worked the crowd. What I will always remember is my fall from the bicycle on the way back to the marina. I tried to go onto a driveway with a bit of a lip and only skidded along it but was leaning into the turn. I have not slept on my right thigh since and I seem to find a new bruise each day. Luckily I had a sweater on and the scrape on my arm in not too serious. Glad it was not worse. It was nice to have a hot tub to soak in that night. We ended the day with a wine tasting at Pier 22 and then a drink at Happy Hour and then split a dinner and another Happy Hour at O Bricks on Main Street.
When you fall off you get back on, we rode 2 miles each way to Publix the next day. On the way back my tire went flat about 6 blocks from the marina.
The weather turned cool and windy again and our trip from Bradenton to St Pertersburg on Thursday
(7th) was into the wind with waves 3 to 4 feet. A rough trip but only 2 hours to Harborage Marina.
We arrived and waited 15 minutes for our slip assignment and then they talked us into the slip via phone and no dock hand. The pool and surrounding furniture here are the pits. The marina has more sailboats over 35 feet than we have ever seen in one place. In the afternoon Dave rode many blocks to get a new tube for my bicycle. My flat tire was caused by a fine wire from a blown radial tire. He also worked on my rear brake that will need more repair. That a casualty of my crash.
Friday we rode into town and found the Publix and CVS and then on to the Pier which is scheduled for demolition and a different rebuild 2 years down the road. In town we checked out the restaurants. They are very reasonable here. Back at the marina we relaxed and then walked the docks to see big boats.....
Saturday we rode into town to the incredible Produce and more Market. Later in the morning Nancy and Jesse Shrom arrived from Tampa to spend the day with us. They checked out the new upgrades and we did some catching up on their new home and the sale of their present house. St Petersburg has a Dale Chichuly Museum and he was in town to open a new exhibit. His medium is glass art. We heard he was giving a free lecture at the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel. When we arrived the hall was full. Chairs were added and they seated a few folks at a time. We got in, sat in the back, next the Shroms got in and were seated in the front row.... An amazing experience! (http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/) We had a late Italian lunch and after getting 2 blocks of ice for our cooler we came back to the marina and visited.
Sunday we rode up town to the Chichuly Museum, WOW! Then across the street to the Vinoy Reminiscence Hotel (National Historic Register) to take some pictures with out the crowd of the previous day. We rode the beautiful park and saw the beach (Bay side).
Today Dave did some cleaning on the boat, laundry chores and correspondence with my dermatologist.
for the last week I have had what best can be explained as badly chapped lips. After internet consult I determined it was actinic cheiletis or sailors/farmers lip. I called the doctor's office and they called in a RX for me. Hopefully this will clear up soon it is painful.
Tomorrow rain and cooler weather is in the forecast, maybe the I Max theater.
Next destination is Caladesi Island for two days. It is a State Park only reachable by boat. We have been told that we might find shelling there. ( off the coast of Dunein )
Tarpon Spring for the weekend.
***For those who want more information on our location try this: (http://www.visitflorida.com/maps) I think I choose sight seeing and you can use your cursor to move the map areas and increase and decrease the size.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
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| P.T. Barnum summer home and museum from Sarasota Bay |
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| Rookery |
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| Interesting sailing vessel with ammas |
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| Visitor at the Chris Craft Plant |
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| New mat |
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| Trying out the armor |
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| Tina, anything like this in your catalog? |
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| I recognize this fabric. The Indians wore turbans, a French influence. |
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| Ramona and Don |
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| Half of the skate park along the River Walk |
Thursday, February 28 we were so glad to leave the dock in Venice that I let our a big HOOT! With the wind coming from the NW continuing all night the rollers kept coming in the inlet. A poor choice on our part, lesson learned. We rocked and rolled, then lurched forward and back hitting the pilings, not a good night for sleeping.
It was a slow motor up to the Sarasota Bay and then Tampa Bay into the Manatee River to Bradenton. There were interesting things to see along the way but also many Manatee Zones that require traveling at idle speed the the mammals protection.
We are at the Twin Dolphins Marina next to the Route 41 bridge. (a BOAT US cooperative) This marina came highly recommended by a friend and also a fellow cruiser. The best "resort" we have been too on the trip. The code protected slips have floating piers protected by a sea wall, cable TV, internet at the boat, printer for our use in the office. Heated pool and hot tub, two gas grills, laundry, 8 individual bathrooms/showers and a bag of free ice each day. We also were given a $20 certificate to Pier 22 Restaurant and a 1/2 price coupon to the museum. Unfortunately the cold windy weather (47 this AM) has not been advantageous for pool use. The printer came in handy because our BOAT US card expired on the 28 and we had to print out an email.
Our long time friends Don Townsend and Ramona Lomboy have helped to make our stay enjoyable. We went out with them for sandwiches and music one evening, they had us to watch the NASCAR race and a delicious dinner, Ramona introduced me to the slots, and best of all the use of a car for several days.
This allowed us access to the Chris Craft Plant where we stopped and asked for a tour. Two hours later we came away impressed, informed and purchased a mat for the boat. Boy does it make the boat look snappy! Next stop was the marine surplus warehouse up the road. All Dave bought was a new zinc. Of course there was the obligatory grocery shopping.
Another day we drove to Anna Maria Island. The traffic was horrendous, the wind on the beach was blustery and the shelling unimpressive. We had been on the island a number of years ago with a much more satisfying experience. The new Desoto Park was very enlightening. Today we rode bikes on the River Walk and across the Route 41 bridge to the marina across the river.
Tomorrow is to be warmer and we will ride out bikes to a Pirates baseball game. This is on the cheap because it is a farm team. Hopefully we will have a chance to use the pool later in the afternoon.
It was a slow motor up to the Sarasota Bay and then Tampa Bay into the Manatee River to Bradenton. There were interesting things to see along the way but also many Manatee Zones that require traveling at idle speed the the mammals protection.
We are at the Twin Dolphins Marina next to the Route 41 bridge. (a BOAT US cooperative) This marina came highly recommended by a friend and also a fellow cruiser. The best "resort" we have been too on the trip. The code protected slips have floating piers protected by a sea wall, cable TV, internet at the boat, printer for our use in the office. Heated pool and hot tub, two gas grills, laundry, 8 individual bathrooms/showers and a bag of free ice each day. We also were given a $20 certificate to Pier 22 Restaurant and a 1/2 price coupon to the museum. Unfortunately the cold windy weather (47 this AM) has not been advantageous for pool use. The printer came in handy because our BOAT US card expired on the 28 and we had to print out an email.
Our long time friends Don Townsend and Ramona Lomboy have helped to make our stay enjoyable. We went out with them for sandwiches and music one evening, they had us to watch the NASCAR race and a delicious dinner, Ramona introduced me to the slots, and best of all the use of a car for several days.
This allowed us access to the Chris Craft Plant where we stopped and asked for a tour. Two hours later we came away impressed, informed and purchased a mat for the boat. Boy does it make the boat look snappy! Next stop was the marine surplus warehouse up the road. All Dave bought was a new zinc. Of course there was the obligatory grocery shopping.
Another day we drove to Anna Maria Island. The traffic was horrendous, the wind on the beach was blustery and the shelling unimpressive. We had been on the island a number of years ago with a much more satisfying experience. The new Desoto Park was very enlightening. Today we rode bikes on the River Walk and across the Route 41 bridge to the marina across the river.
Tomorrow is to be warmer and we will ride out bikes to a Pirates baseball game. This is on the cheap because it is a farm team. Hopefully we will have a chance to use the pool later in the afternoon.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Naples has been interesting, music on 3rd Street on Thursday night, produce market with lots of extras on Saturday AM, beach during the day, easy bike riding around gorgeous homes and landscape if you are aware of the quiet Prius, the pier at sunset. You do not need a fishing license to fish from the city pier.
Naples does everything well but could spend some money on their pilings and the facility in general. We heard that in the wind last week one broke while a boat was tied to it.
Tomorrow we are off to an anchorage off Cayo Costa Island at the State Park in Pelican Bay.The shelling is good there according to the guides but watch for alligators in the mangroves it says. Laundry is done and the rest of the provisioning will happen this afternoon.
Dave is a bit upset about missing the Daytona 500, but not the Oscars.
70% chance of rain on Tuesday so we may look for a maria.
Naples does everything well but could spend some money on their pilings and the facility in general. We heard that in the wind last week one broke while a boat was tied to it.
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| Bad pilings |
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| Not the best sunset but interesting |
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| Just part of what 3rd Street south looks like at night |
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| Alan Darcy plays to the crowd, he does Sting well too |
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| Beach was full yesterday, spring break. What do children in Naples do in Spring Bread? Water temperature 69 degrees, chilly and very shallow. Pier after dinner is very crowed for sunset viewing. No Flash! |
Dave is a bit upset about missing the Daytona 500, but not the Oscars.
70% chance of rain on Tuesday so we may look for a maria.
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