30-NOV-2020 Monday – White Horse Key, Dismal Key Pass, Cape Romano Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve north of Everglade City FL to Everglades Isle Marina, Everglade City FL (16.5 nautical miles 18.0 statute miles)
25°52’03.1″N 81°23’05.7″W 25.867515, -81.384914 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
The weather came up sooner than projected so we took off for Everglade City.
Along the Way
heading towards the Indian Key Pass – dolphins ahead
The storm was all around us, but fortunately not on us. We had wind and some light rain. Waves were running 2-3 feet with an occasional 4+.
Dale hates ANY wave over 6 inches
I was at the helm.
Indian Pass. There were lots of birds sitting out the weather.
white pelicans fresh in from Minnesota
There is a large bay between the small islands and Everglade City.
Chokoloskee Bay
Barron River into Everglade City
Greeting Committee
Rod and Gun Club
Rental Cottages
School
Everglades Ilse Marina and RV Park at daymark 55
The Everglades Ilse Marina and RV Park is a high end luxury RV park. White RVs ARE NOT permitted to stay here. They also have to be under 10 years old. They do let 25 year old white boats stay here.
Welcome signs at the clubhouse.
registration desk – new arrivals
lounge and restaurant (every guests’ name)
Good Night
It rained for the off and mostly on the rest of the day. We briefly wandered out in search of food.
29-NOV-2020 Sunday – San Carlos Bay, Sanibel FL to Rookery Channel, Rookery Bay south of Naples FL to White Horse Key, Dismal Key Pass, Cape Romano Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve north of Everglade City FL (31.0 nautical miles 35.7 statute miles)
25°52’18.2″N 81°34’10.8″W 25.871715, -81.569663 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
Sunrise was brought to us by the color Orange.
Along the Way
Sunday morning early. Noticeably absent are the crazies.
Capri Pass San Marco Island
Capri Pass into the Gulf
If a dolphin in the area hears an engine running between 1200 – 1800 rpms it’s a given that it will be over to bow surf. We can’t see them bow surf from the helm due to the shape of our bow and chine. When I saw some heading towards yes dear… I ran out on the bow to take their pictures. You have to kinda lean over the rail to see them.
San Marco Island rearview mirror!
I missed a turn going into the Dismal Key Pass because I was watching the the chart plotter and not the Navionics charted path. Poor yes dear... Her bottom scraped in 2.8 feet of water even though the water depth was charted at 12 feet. She had to spin and GET OT OF THERE. Whew.
Speaking of charted paths. Some crabber dropped his crab traps right down the middle of a narrow skinny water channel. We slalomed through it.
10,000 crab traps
Being Sunday and all there were day boaters around.
Dropping anchor.
Lunch was brought to us by the color Orange.
Mooching
We Mooched (dinghyed) along the Gulf side the islands. They were all rugged from the influences of the weather. The inner islands were lush and green. Besides, I wanted to shell and Dale wanted to fish.
The beaches were rugged too. They were covered with lots of old shells and broken shells.
Shelling is a lot like hunting for Easter Eggs. Some shells are laying just right out there in the open. Others are partially or mostly buried in the sand. I love walking in the water about thigh deep looking for shells primarily because I just like walking in the water and looking at things like rays, all kinds of fish, jelly fish, etc. In reality the best shelling is onshore near the wrack line or along the waters end.
jelly fish
jelly fish
raccoon prints
Shelling is a complicated sport. Shelling is just the act of looking. Then there is finding, returning and giving. Finding is self-explanatory. Returning is either putting it back on the water or tossing it on shore for someone else to find. Giving is giving it to another person shelling. There was no giving today. I was the only person on the beach besides Dale. Dale didn’t want shells. He wanted fishing.
I did a LOT of finding and returning today. Still, I kept a hoard of shells. I’m thinking about doing some craft with the shells. I told Dale that if I can’t figure out what craft by the end of next 2021 the shells move to the ‘giving’ part of shelling. I’ll probably plant them on the beach at Cape Canaveral or tuck one in the purse or suitcase of everyone who comes to visit.
For every shell I took I left many, many more. My shell collection up to now has been take the smallest shell I can find. I still enjoy that aspect of shelling the most. I put a new twist on it today. I searched for the smallest sun-bleached shells. Ghost shells.
After a great day Mooching, the dingy dinghy motor reappeared just as we were heading out to a location where Dale could fish and I could watch for the green flash ☹ At least we didn’t have to paddle back more than a few thousand yards.
Good Night
We watched the sunset from the upper helm. Sunset was brought to us by the color Orange.
Today was another 10.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Alligators are toothy. They have between 74 and 80 teeth in their jaws at any given time, and as teeth wear down or fall out they are replaced. An alligator can go through over 2,000 teeth in its lifetime.
Now compare that that to sharks ….
While most sharks average between 5-15 rows of teeth, the aggressive Bull Shark comes in at 50, making their mouths amphitheaters of doom for other sea dwellers. Sharks lose on average a tooth a week. Also unlike humans, each lost tooth can be replaced within a day.
Whale sharks have 3,000 chompers. Their teeth are for filter-feeding plankton, krill and fish eggs.
We haven’t seen either sharks or alligators here, but we are on the lookout.
28-NOV-2020 Saturday – San Carlos Bay, Sanibel FL to Rookery Channel, Rookery Bay south of Naples FL (36.9 nautical miles 42.5 statute miles)
26°02’31.6″N 81°46’09.4″W 26.042123, -81.769267 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
We woke a little too early travel as it was still a little too dark (6:00AM). The water was totally still and the entire Milky Way Galaxy was reflected in the water.
The TV was flipped on as we made coffee.
Trump Country Radio TV.
Along the Way
A dolphin made lazy circles around yes dear… as we pulled the anchor.
Sanibel ICW homes (The cheap side of the island)
crabbers
Crossing under the west end of the Sanibel Causeway Bridge
other end of the bridge and Fort Meyers
Sanibel Lighthouse
Fort Meyers Beach
He jumps!
and he splashes!
Leatherback turtle
Fort Meyer ferry to Key West
along the shore
Naples is down there somewhere. The towers in the haze are at San Marco Island.
Entering Gordon Pass into Naples
Gordon Pass
Follow the pink pontoon down the ICW.
There were lots of rental boat traffic.
Rental boats = Stupid people
Anyone who pilots a boat should have a minimum set of qualifications
professional pilots need a captains license (they are crazies too)
OK. I’m off my rant.
We were pretty happy to duck into Rookery Channel where we planned to anchor. It was pretty quiet and out of the way.
But of course we needed to explore.
The Mooch is back. She’s purring along in perfect pitch. She braved the crazies and hit the beach.
securing The Mooch
A very short walk across Keewaydin Key to the Gulf
The entire beach was shells
After a 6,903 step beach walk we took The Mooch to Rookery Bay.
First we had to get there
Danger danger. We’re pretty small.
Mangroves in Rookery Bay
Rookery Bay
Tossing a line
We were going to take The Mooch for one last run to look for the green flash but decided against it to do to the all the crazies.
It’s not a Good Night for some people
A police boat hoovered around the entrance to the Rookery Channel and the ICW. I think its main purpose was to slow the crazies down as evening set it in. It stopped a couple of boats. For certain one of the boats was an alcohol related stop. We could hear screaming and yelling all the way to where we were anchored. I suspect swearing and demanding your rights doesn’t get you very far when stopped by a police boat.
Today was another 10.
Two things I really don’t understand…
I really don’t understand how come I have never seen a baby pelican and I can’t find baby Fighting Conch shells. I have found baby Queen Conch shells in the Bahamas so I know some conchs have baby babies. Still, I’m beginning to thinking pelicans and Fighting Conchs are born full sized.
This is the smallest Fighting Conch I could find and it’s still no baby.
27-NOV-2020 Friday – Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa St Park FL to San Carlos Bay, Sanibel FL (18.3 nautical miles 21.1 statute miles)
26°27’43.8″N 82°05’16.1″W 26.462174, -82.087802 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
‘Dis of the Day’
First Place: Thanks for the wake you inglorious bastard!
Second Place: Buy a cellphone you inglorious bastard! (i.e. get off the hailing channel VHF 16)
Good Bye to Cayo Costa
Looking back onto Pelican Bay as we left
Immediately back with the crazies
Last look at Pelican Bay from the south end.
It’s too shallow to enter from this direction.
Key to Cabbage Key
We were at Cabbage Key two years ago on our last Loop. Cabbage Key Marina is where Dale had the ‘toe incident’ and we had to leave town in a hurry. Keeping the long story short, we took off without returning the bathroom key. It got returned today.
Cabbage Key Marina and restaurant
We figured the small Cabbage Key Marina and restaurant would be busy, being Black Friday and all. We opted to anchor yes dear… on the other side and take The Mooch (a.k.a. the dingy dinghy) into the marina.
It’s tough enough when yes dear… gets hit with a 4 foot beam wake; but it’s a whole new game when The Mooch gets hit. (Our dingy dinghy’s name is The Mooch). I knew the The Mooch could take the wave but I thought for sure Dale and I would be popped out and swimming. Thanks for the wake all you inglorious bastards!
Inglorious bastard! Did you too have to wake us??
boats were circling looking for a place to dock or pull up
We just popped The Mooch right in and tied her up.
With The Mooch secured we headed up to the restaurant for lunch
local resident gopher tortoise
The only way you can get to Cabbage Key is private boat or shuttle boat.
The restaurant waiting list was long for parties of four or more. Us as a party of two, immediate seating. The staff has turned over since we were last here. I didn’t see a single worker over 65. Last time I didn’t see a single worker under 65.
There’s about $100,000 on the walls and ceilings in the restaurant. Each year about $15,000 falls off (or a section gets cleaned off), collected and donated to a local charity.
the ceiling has been cleaned since we were last here
adding a dollar
1/2 gallon
The final event was to drop off the key.
The Mooch was pinned into shore when we returned to her to leave. We had to pick her up and drag her to another location where we could just squeeze her through.
The Mooch was tied right in front of these two Inglorious bastards! They came in after us and pinned her. With their power poles set we couldn’t spread them enough to squeeze The Mooch through.
Back on our way
This is unusual. No land around these houses. They probably don’t need to water their yards.
Looks like the one in the middle is missing
Inglorious bastard!
This might not look like much but this is a BIG wake
Inglorious bastard! Are you close enough???
Inglorious bastard! Slow down!
Approx four miles of powerline running through Pine Island Sound out to Sanibel
Fort Meyers and the bridge to Sanibel
As soon as we dropped the anchor we dropped The Mooch and headed off to explore Tarpon Bay. Tarpon Bay is part of J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It is completely surrounded by mangroves and there are about 5 mangrove islands in the middle. It seems that every pelican in the area must roost on them at night.
entrance in the back ground and mangrove islands
mangrove islands filled with pelicans
only at high tide exit ahead
Good night
Fort Meyers on the left. Sanibel on the right.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Inglorious bastards pirates Lafitte, Blackbeard, Black Caesar, and Gasparilla are all said to have and made camps on Sanibel and Captiva.
Gasparilla (Jose Gaspar) was a pirate for 38 years and attacked more than 400 ships in the Gulf. His main camp was located near Charlotte Harbor, which is Ft. Myers today. He took women from wealthy families and held them captive for ransom on the island of Captiva in the late 1700s/early 1800s, which is how Captiva got its name.
Drolleries and Yuks
Why don’t pirates shower before they walk the plank? ~ Because they’ll just wash up on shore later.
Why is pirating so addictive? ~ They say once ye lose yer first hand, ye get hooked!
Where does a pirate by a hook? ~ At the second hand store.
What has 8 legs, 8 arms, and 8 eyes? ~ 8 pirates.
What do ye call a pirate with two eyes and two legs? ~ A rookie.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Cayo Costa Shadow People
26-NOV-2020 Thursday – Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa St Park FL (0 nautical miles 0 statute miles)
26°41’00.5″N 82°14’27.8″W 26.683476, -82.241054 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
The morning did not start well.
Ugh! There were still problems with the dingy dinghy motor. Dale ripped apart the carburetor again. The float was still sticking.
Yeah! It is now working perfectly. Perfectly enough to take it to the park.
Mary’s Happy Place
I love Cayo Costa. I bet I said that in yesterday’s blog too. We got to the key about 10:30AM and took the free trolley to the coast side. The ride is a little under a mile long. Not a far walk but it got us to the beach faster. We sat in the very last seat on the trolley.
Along the way
Green Flag! Perfect Day!
The camping area was almost completely full. This is one campsite.
We did walk past the alligator pond just down from the camp grounds. There were a couple of BIG alligators but they were too far for pictures using my cell phone. Some idiot was paddle board in the pond. I’m sure he would make a great Thanksgiving meal for some alligator. I didn’t hang around to find out.
The Cayo Costa beach is about nine miles of untouched beaches. Natural Florida. About 2 dozen boats had pulled up to shore on on the Gulf side.
One group came with their fishing poles and fry pans. Thanksgiving dinner for them was fresh caught trout.
One of the shell trees
It was pretty buggy so we didn’t walk the interior of Cayo Costa this time. We did on our last visit. We followed the trolley path back to the dock. It too was a little buggy. Florida au naturale.
Meanwhile back in Pelican Bay…. I counted 47 boats anchored out for the night! There were probably at least that many day trip boats as well.
Through out the late afternoon the smell of turkey and laughter wafted through the air. About 4:30 PM we took the dingy out for a pre-sun set cruise. We followed dolphins fishing along the shore, saw manatees, rays, birds and zillions of jumping fish. When the sun set at 5:36 PM conch shell horns and boat horns sounded the end of the day.
Good Night
Happy Thanksgiving from the Cayo Costa Shadow People
24-NOV-2020 Wednesday – Blackburn Bay, Casey Key FL – Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa St Park FL (33.8 nautical miles 44.1 statute miles)
26°41’00.5″N 82°14’27.8″W 26.683476, -82.241054 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Along the Way
These people kindly let us anchor in front of their mansions last night. Fair the well to the neighbors. Bye Bye.
If you are wondering why the pictures are so dark, I misread the distance we wanted to travel today. I thought we had a 60nm run not a 34nm run. I made Dale get up before sunrise and get moving.
North end of Venice Beach
This pretty little island got used for dredge. It used to be a park.
another house bigger than a motel I’ve stayed in
Cape Haze ferries across a very narrow channel. In a highly synchronized they both pull out spin around and re-dock. Cars pull straight on to the ferries but have to back off. The key side has a lot of golf cart sitting in the parking lot. I suppose for people who don’t want to bring their car.
I always wondered how the mangroves were trimmed. I hope there’s no snakes.
under construction
Pelican dives. You can kinda make out a body or foot.
There were some pretty good sized waves crossing Charlette Bay to Cayo Costa.
Today’s special feature is Small Boats
We made it to Pelican Bay on the east side of Cayo Costa Key shortly before. Cayo Costa Key is my Happy Place. I love it here. Unfortunately we had dingy dinghy motor problems AGAIN. Dale spent his afternoon working on the dingy motor.
Dale got the motor running about 4:30PM. His theory is that the float isn’t working quite right. We decided it was too late to go over to the key. I’m OK with that. I can still see the dock and it’s really nice sitting here on yes dear. Tomorrow we will be there early!
The only way you can get to Cayo Costa is private boat or $huttle $ervice from Captiva Island. (Adult $40 round trip) One of the $huttles is parked at the dock in the picture above.
There are 28 boats here in Pelican Bay anchorage for the night.
nice toys
he started off right the back of his boat
The conch horns blew at sunset and we were serenaded by a woeful bagpipe.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
On the 7:00 PM local new Floridians were asked to slow down for Thanksgiving. Police on I75 issued 64 tickets for vehicles speeding 95 to 150 mph in a two hour duration!
23-NOV-2020 Tuesday – Twin Dolphin Marina, Bradenton FL to Blackburn Bay, Casey Key FL (36.5 nautical miles 42.0 statute miles)
27°09’13.0″N 82°28’51.9″W 27.153613, -82.481094 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Along the Way
We’re glad to leave this marina, Twin Dolphins Marina. They are a high-end marina without high end amenities. NO INTERNET unless you sit directly under it outside by the swimming pool. Even there it was pretty iffy. We feel like the engine guys yesterday saved us $150 by being able to fix our motor in one day, so we didn’t have to spend two nights in the marina. Yup $150 a night. No tuck in chocolates or free coffee in the morning. Besides that, we were right under a busy bridge.
Andrew L we found a house for you.
An Andrew green roof
Desoto Point
Guy out walking his boat. He should be able to follow the sandbar into shore. I wonder if he ran out of gas?
it’s a long ways
Low bridge. There’s a pretty hefty fine if they lift a bridge for you and you don’t really need it lifted.
Holiday week traffic. Everyone is out. Many of the boats were packed with people.
Last time we were through here the ‘dis’ was “Thanks for the wake asshole” or “If you wanted to plow, by a farm”. This year’s ‘dis’ is “Take a course!”
Florida alleys.
Sarasota
Love this sign!!! Topped with a bird’s nest.
Sarasota marina
We’ve stayed in hotels smaller than these houses.
There were a lot of rental boats out on the water
Pelican nap time
thong
Some people actually had to work today.
these 3 guys and the crane operator
the bridge tender had to work
Blackburn Bridge. One of the 3 bridges on the West Florida ICW we can’t clear.
Bridgetender Tina had to work too
I think the heron is hoping for a snack
Drolleries and Yuks
What do you get when a chicken lays eggs on top of a hill? ~ Egg rolls
23-NOV-2020 Monday – Desoto Point, Bradenton FL to Twin Dolphin Marina, Bradenton FL (4.3 nautical miles 4.9 statute miles)
27°30’00.1″N 82°34’17.3″W 27.500026, -82.571457 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Along the Way
The Bait sign went up about 6:30 AM and fishermen on their boats came in like Mary to chocolate.
The dinghy motor quit working. I really don’t like it when Dale say “Oh F_ck” when he is working on the dinghy. He spent the better part of this morning trying to get it going with no luck. He called around and found a marina slip for tonight and a motor doctor in Bradenton who would start work on our dingy dinghy motor today. We were off.
Really???? Who had the right of way?
If you don’t know you shouldn’t be out here. (actually they were all good)
Look at that tree? Is it Spring?
And on the 8th day God created crows
We ‘Ubered’ to Manatee Marine. Dale had to sweet talk the Uber driver into letting him put the motor in his trunk. Wente worked on the motor for while then gave the starter a pull. It started on first pull!!!!! Woo Woo! It had looked really dismal about three hours ago.
Wente at work
nice one person fishing boat
We called Uber for a ride back to the marina. The Uber driver came, took one look at us and the motor, turned around and left. The owner of Manatee Marine took pity on us and drove us back to the boat. Thank you Manatee Marine!
22-NOV-2020 Sunday –St Pete Municipal Marina, St Pete FL to Desoto Point, Bradenton FL (18.7 nautical miles 21.5 statute miles)
27°31’22.0″N 82°38’28.1″W 27.522763, -82.641151 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Dale’s been telling me for the last 3-4 days “The wind is going to lie down. The wind is going to lie down. The wind is going to lie down. I’ve checked Windy. The wind is going to lie down.”
I suppose if you keep saying that long enough eventually the wind will lie down. The wind laid down this morning. It was a great day for crossing Tampa Bay. Waves were under a 6 inches.
Heading into the Sunshine
The Sunshine Bridge
There WAS sunshine immediately after we crossed under the bridge!
This was marked as a fishing location so, of course, we needed to stop.
My first though was that I was running yes dear aground! It looked like rocks!
There were several ‘fevers’ of rays in this fishing location. Each fever easily numbered well over 50 rays. (A group of rays is called a fever.)
The flags on this chart indicate deviation from magnetic north. Interesting. Wonder why.
Capt Bud
The best radio hail I heard today was some guy asking to be ‘waked’. His boat was stuck on a sandbar and needed assistance to roll off. LOL.
Neighbors
Our anchorage is just off a main thoroughfare. It was a road race until the sun settled. It is Sunday night of Thanksgiving week so it really wasn’t unexpected. It’s going to be a busy on-the-water week.
There are eight boats in our anchorage. Only one looks like a derelict.
Bradenton in the background
Floccinaucinihilipilification
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, at 4.1 miles long and 19 stories high, is the western hemisphere’s largest suspension bridge. The Travel Channel ranked it number 3 as one of “The 10 Best Bridges of the World.”
Because of the high number of suicides attempted from the Sunshine Skyway, the State of Florida installed six crisis hotline phones along the center span of the bridge.
21-NOV-2020 Saturday – St Pete Municipal Marina, St Pete FL (0 nautical miles 0 statute miles)
27°46’05.2″N 82°37’41.8″W 27.768111, -82.628272 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Along the Way
First on our agenda was the St Pete’s Farmers Market. We were just where we wanted to be. Ground zero. Right there in downtown St Pete for the farmers’ market and the Dali Museum. We were feeling pretty smug about not having to pay $5.00 for parking to come to this farmers’ market until we remembered we paid $106 for our boat slip.
We bought a little of everything, but not everything.
We skipped the Wisconsin cheese curds
Mr. I Got ‘Em ribs were great with mustard based southern BBQ sauce.
The last thing I needed on yes dear… was an expensive pottery bowl. I bought one anyway. The artist is holding the one I bought.
Half the fun of a farmers’ market or art festival is the people.
the poodle club
She brought her pet chicken along on a leash
Dali Museum!!!!
The Dali Museum had a new exhibit grand opening today and was all sold out for the next few days. ☹ We’ve been there before and had wanted to go back. I guess we will have to do it another trip. This is a MUST DO if you have never been there before.
We did get free access to the Dali Museum parking lot.
industrial hieroglyphics
We rode the free Jolly Trolley to escape the drizzling rains. Turns out we’d already walked most of the route yesterday, and more.
Jolliest trolley we’ve ever been on!!!! Kudos to the driver!!!!
Neighbors
seahawk
Propane canister motor. It uses a propane can just like your Coleman lantern or grill. Dale says they’ve been around for a while but I have seen one. Just attach the can and away you go. (There is no can in the motor picture below, but you can see where it goes.)
ppropane motor
Look at ALL the junk piled on this boat. It’s truly junk. Are marina fees cheaper than storage fees? Interestingly, there are two pedestal plant urns with live flowers blooming in them.
Next time were are in the ‘Burg ….
I want to go to Hellview Cemetery. Dang. I didn’t find out about it until tonight. Early natives said it was near a “Gateway to Shadow,” believing that the Hellview Cemetery area was a portal for evil.
Courigan’s Irish Pub
Today’s blog (and yesterday’s) was brought to you from Courigan’s Irish Pub. The marina does not have internet and Courigan’s Irish Pub is the closest place with internet we could walk to. All for the price of 3 on tap Guinness and a hors devour.
20-NOV-2020 Friday – Belleview Island, Belleair, FL to St Pete Municipal Marina, St Pete FL (29.9 nautical miles 34.4 statute miles)
27°46’05.2″N 82°37’41.8″W 27.768111, -82.628272 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Along the Way
Sand Key runs ~14 miles along the ICW from Clearwater Beach, Belleair, Indian Shores, Redington Beach to Madeira Beach.
Holiday Inn
There are many vestiges of Old Florida along this stretch. Old Florida is alive and well if you look closely.
Transitional Florida
Madeira Beach
VFW
McDonald’s dock
Looks like Hurricane Eta cleared out a few boats around here.
You rarely see a sunk trawler
It’s usually the sailboats
The Florida Finger
Canal depths in the ICW aren’t as deep as the canal depths on the rivers. I suspect it’s because there are no tows through this area.
St Pete’s Beach – Once again I am astounded by how many rich people there are in Florida
Under construction
The iconic Don Cesar Hotel
Dale hailed the bridge before we crossed under. They requested he wait for the crane barge to move to the other side before we went through. After our slow pass through BOTH the bridge workers and the crane hailed him to thank him for his consideration in hailing them and his courteous slow passage.
Good thing Dale was polite. The Coast Guard was just on the other side.
Boca Ciega Bay – You know it’s a shallow bay if there is a heron standing in middle of it.
I got to thinking about the name of the bay, Boca Ciega, and wondered what it translated to. Blind mouth. Hum. That then got me thinking about what Bota Roton translates to, rat’s mouth. The untranslated names see so much more romantic.
There ain’t no sunshine on the Sunshine Bridge.
Look west to the bridge in Boca Ciega Bay
St Petersburg
Tampa Rays stadium on left. Our marina on right
St Pete’s Pier
About town
and into the evening….. By 8:00PM you’d never know there’s a COVID-19 pandemic in Florida!
about 6:30 PM
Could be yours for $46,000
St Pete’s Pier – The 26-acre Pier District just opened on July 6, 2020. This year! The old pier closed in 2013. The walk to the end of it is about .3 miles.
St Pete’s Pier
Spin classes in the open air
view of the city from on top
Neighbors
Albert Whitted Airfield
Dali Museum
Floccinaucinihilipilification
If you want to be hip and cool DON’T call St Petersburg the ‘St. Pete.” Call it “The Burg.” And yes, you call the locals “Burgers.”
19-NOV-2020 Thursday –Turtle Cove Marina, Tarpon Springs FL to Belleview Island, Belleair, FL (19.3 nautical miles 22.2 statute miles)
27°56’28.5″N 82°49’05.5″W 27.941259, -82.818189 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Low Tide
Low tide was at 9:00 AM. We had to wait it out till mid, rising tide before we could leave the marina without grounding. It was 2:00PM when we left.
With time on our hands we walked Dodecanese Blvd one last time, stopping for lunch at Yianni’s. We also grabbed to-go pastries at Hellas Bakery.
Back at the boat we discovered yes dear… is down wind wind from offsite Hellas bakery. Good thing we were still full from lunch and had the to-go pastries. It smelled amazing.
Dumb as a Sponge
Tarpon Springs has lots of dive boats along the sea walls and docks. It wasn’t until today that it finally connected with me they are professional sponge diving boats. Duh. Up until now I had been trying to figure out where the recreational diving reefs were and wondering if we should book a dive before we leave Tarpon Springs.
sponge diving boat
cleaning sponges
drying the sponge harvest
We left Tarpon Springs about 2:00PM.
tide is still low
squeezing by Ms Riley Jane
the segull isn’t here to day
nice boat
Back in the Intercoastal
Bridge to Honeymoon Island from Dundin. Our first, of many West Florida ICW bridges.
Sea hawk has himself a mansion. Just like everyone else along the ICW.
there are a lot of small spoils islands (man-made from dredging)
Little Toot was a big jerk. No Wake Zone
The Clearwater Scientology Meca
Clearwater Beach and marina
Anchorage neighbors. We’ve got a better view because we aren’t looking a a stupid boat.
Dale – first use of new Florida fishing license
First cast!!!!
Good Night
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Are there alligators in Clearwater Beach?
Yes! There are plenty of Gators on Clearwater Beach. However, these Gators are harmless for the most part and have few teeth. They tend to be loud, obnoxious, and highly intoxicated.
28°09’06.9″N 82°45’42.9″W 28.151920, -82.761903 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
It felt so good to sleep in today. First thing we did went we got up was to go to the office and request another day. And then the next morning, another day.
We had been warned about low tide in the marina.
There shouldn’t be sand there. There should be water
yes dear is sitting on the bottom
Turtle Cove Marina is a large marina.
Road to the island. We are on the back side of this build.
The island isn’t much bigger than this building
surrounding view
surrounding view
on the move
Along the Way
First on the agenda was electrical parts and West Marine for two new fender lines. We jumped on the Jolly Trolly road it for about a mile jumped off and walked the rest of the way (and back).
The walk to West Marine and parts store.
Historic Downtown Tarpon Springs
newly planted trees
dive shop
pressure washed political sidewalk tag
The sign at West Marine reminded us to social distance at 1 fathom (6 feet)
West Marine always has cool toys
on sale at Walmart
We walked back streets to get return to the boat.
I could live here
Last stop was for Dale to buy guitar strings.
Once back at the boat Dale MacGyvered in a solution for a loose wire in the air conditioner. A couple days ago it blew a fuse and melted the fuse holder. He will fix it permanently when he can get the parts he really wanted.
Scoot Scoot Scooting Around
Jim and Susan, we checked out your suggestion to go see Howard Island, the popsicle on the left in the below map. Our marina is near Rusty Bellies on the right. Dodecanese Blvd, where the Historic Sponge District is, runs East-West along that section of the Anclote River.
a city park
checking directions???
causeway to Howard Park
beach
fresh seagull poop in the water
Outdoor seating at Rusty Bellies for lunch. I was going for a tonsils photo shot.
yah
yah
yah
Same bird new location.
really??
You looking at his chin. His head is tossed backwards over his back in a screech.
Quick tour of Historic Tarpon Springs Sponge District down Dodecanese Blvd, heading west.
Anclote River Waterfront
Visitors Center
up river
across the river
down river
Then back up Dodecanese Blvd, heading east.
passing on the one whistle
Dan H, I took these pictures for you. Every display case in Hellas Bakery.
Both my FitBit and my tummy has been happy here in Tarpon Springs.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
In 1887, John Cheney discovered money could be made by harvesting the sponges growing in the waters of the Gulf. By 1890, the sponge industry was firmly established in Tarpon Springs.
In the next few years, experienced divers from Greece were brought to Tarpon Springs. By using rubberized diving suits and helmets, they increased harvests. By 1905, over 500 Greek sponge divers were at work using 50 boats.
In the 1940s, blight reduced the growth of sponges and by the 1950s sponging as a profitable industry was nearly wiped out. However, in the 1980s, new sponge beds were found. Now, Tarpon Springs is back to being a leader in the world’s natural sponge market.
Drolleries and Yuks
How many Greeks does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Olive them
A Greek was trying to figure out how long a day was. But after 24 hours he called it a day.
Who is the most attractive Greek mythological figure? I don’t know about you, but Medusa always gets me rock hard.
The Greeks invented the threesome But it was the Romans who thought of adding women
In Ancient Greek mythology, Chiron was a half-horse, half-human doctor. He was the Centaur for Disease Control.
The word “Politics” is derived from two Greek words “Poly” meaning “many” and “ticks” meaning “blood sucking creatures”
15-NOV-2020 Monday – Cedar Key FL to Turtle Cove Marina, Tarpon Springs FL (62.0 nautical miles 71.4 statute miles)
28°09’06.9″N 82°45’42.9″W 28.151920, -82.761903 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
We had a stowaway during the night.
the Way
Today was another big 60 NM open water jump from Cedar Key to Tarpon Springs. We were ~18NM off shore at our furthest point. No big deal as we were still easily in VHF radio range to other boats and the Coast Guard if the unexpected happens.
7:03AM was sunrise, but not that we would notice. In Minnesota we would call this an overcast day. Here, it’s high coastal fog… overcast.
The morning run started with a Sea World worthy display from four dolphins our bow. Magnificent, synchronized leaps. Too bad my camera was downstairs.
It was a beautiful run with 8 NM winds on our port rear quarter panel, a near following sea.
we saw lots of dolphins today
We slalomed through the enormous number lines of crab traps. Everyone says there are a lot of traps in the Tarpon Springs are. There are. It’s a regular mine field.
Crab trap floaties come in all colors (white, green, red, lime, aqua, orange, yellow, black, navy….) and designs (solid, solid top, stripes, multi stripes, lines, Xs). They they range in size from just larger than a soft ball to slightly smaller than a bowling ball.
Watching for crab traps is similar to watching pelicans fly in as much “now you see them …. now you don’t”. All of a sudden, out of no where, there will be 50 of them right there. Right in front of you. We have a line cutter on our prop but hate to be in a position where it has to be used as they are not 100% reliable. 🙁 We did eventually hit a crab trap. The cutter did its job. Whew.
Cutter up. Remains of a crab trap buoy
By the end of the day, I have to say we got our money’s worth from the line cutters. They are $50 a piece. We need two, one for each shaft. Line cutters can cost up to $500. Not saying… but we might have hit 4 crab traps.
He almost got himself run over.
The smoke stack was visible from a long distance out.
There are no short cuts into Tarpon Spring. It’s real shallow outside the channel. The north end of Anclote Island is where the West Florida ICW.
It’s 4.48 miles to our marina up river
Dolphin Adventures
Boating with a porpoise
scuba boat
There’s 14. We turn into our marina at 50.
The Historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks are straight ahead.
We turn starboard here
Rusty Belly’s Grill
narrow waterways
Turtle Cove Marina
You can only get into the marina on mid to high tide. We came in on high tide.
The End.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Tarpon Springs city’s name is said to have been coined in 1880 when Mary Ormond Boyer, standing on the banks of Spring Bayou, spied fish jumping: “Look at the tarpon spring!” No matter that the fish probably were mullet; residents liked the ring of the name.
15-NOV-2020 Sunday – Dog Island, FL to Cedar Key, FL (93.3 nautical miles 107.4 statute miles)
29°05’32.6″N 83°05’20.5″W 29.092400, -83.089033 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
Good Morning
First light to the east
Along the Way
Heading into the Gulf
Leaving Dog Island at 6:00AM was a challenge. The 4-5 foot bounce back waves the first 3 miles almost made us turn around. Sea Tow was bringing in a boat. We had to think really hard about continuing. It takes a two vote in decision making. In all fairness most inlets have interesting waves. The joke is that as long as you don’t see elephants it’s OK to run it. Elephants are BIG round waves. Even on land if elephants are coming towards you turn and RUN. Wait it out.
Overnight the 3 day forecast had shifted so we shifted. It’s weather. Once out of the bounce back waves, we refiled our float plan (Thanks kids and bro’ Jim for taking on the responsibility of calling the Coast Guard if we don’t call you 8:00 PM). Rather than running to Steinhatchee we targeted Cedar Key, about 40 NM further south. We knew we would hit Cedar Key near dark, but we wouldn’t be catching the 3 footers straight on the beam for the first 3 hours. The weather was predicted to lay down at 11:00AM.
Dale had the jitters for the first two hour so. I doubt it was because he’d had too much coffee. He settled down as the morning progressed, as did the waves. About 9AM he concluded the waves weren’t really wasn’t any different than Lake Superior or Lake Michigan and all was good.
Me? I love it. The big open water. It’s exhilarating.
This has been a weird year for Loopers. All the Looper boats are 50-65 feet, newer and traveling by themselves. No one seems to be buddying up.
One of our lines loosened and I had to go grab it. I put my big boy Type 1 life jacket on to go retie it.
Dolphins would gallop across the waves to come bow surf at yes dear.
It’s funny what you run into in the middle of no where.
K-Tower
The U.S Air Force tower N7 (also known as K-Tower) provides researchers, fishermen, boaters, and the local community with important oceanographic data. The tower is equipped with atmospheric and oceanic instrumentation, through which data is transmitted in real-time to the Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory (FSUCML) and then to the Center for Oceanic and Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) on the main FSU campus for processing and publishing on their website. Atmospheric data is collected from 19 meters and 30 meters above sea level, and oceanic data is collected from 3, 9, and 18 meters below sea level. Measurements include relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, water salinity, and wave height.
Fisherman
half way to Main Ship Channel into Cedar Key
With the lulling roll of the waves it was everything I could do to stay awake during my turns at the helm.
We had a surprise guest! A seagull landed on our bow and rode with us for about half an hour.
With the changing wind direction we ran into disorganized chop and v-shaped waves. After a hour it settled back into a rocking chair roll.
Something is in the water. Bait fish are jumping for their lives.
Good Night
Hello from the other side! We are now in the West Florida Intercoastal Waterway and anchored in the middle of no where, 2 nautical miles out in the Gulf from the nearest island. (Not my idea this time.)
The night is clear and the weather is calm. Dale suggested we just drop anchor for the night rather than wander the 3 nm in to the marked anchorages. Why not?
Tonight every star or planet you ever wanted to see was out. To top the beauty of the evening SpaceEx shot off a rocket. Four astronauts were launched into orbit in the first fully operational flight to the space station by SpaceX’s new passenger spacecraft. The tail of the rocket in the sky from our view point was at least half an inch long.
Nauti Words
The Three Nautical Mile Line limit refers to a traditional and now largely obsolete conception of the international law of the seas which defined a country’s territorial waters, for the purposes of trade regulation and exclusivity. It was extending as far as the reach of cannons fired from land. Since the mid-20th century, numerous nations have claimed territorial waters well beyond the traditional three-mile limit. Commonly these maritime territories extend 12 nautical miles from a coastline. this was eventually established as the international norm by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Three Nautical Mile Line is still retained on NOAA nautical charts because it continues to be used in certain federal laws.
The COLREGSdemarcationLine, U.S. collision regulation boundaries are lines of demarcation delineating those waters upon which mariners shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) and those waters upon which mariners shall comply with the Inland Navigation Rules.
Tonight we are anchored just inside the COLREGS demarcation line in the above pictures.
14-NOV-2020 Saturday – East Bay, Allanton FL to St George Sound, NW end Dog Island, FL (63.6 nautical miles 73.2 statute miles)
29°47’02.4″N 84°38’56.7″W 29.783997, -84.649089 Elevation: Sea Level States (1): Florida
We were up at 5:30AM CST as a practice for our Dog Island to Steinhatchee Gulf crossing tomorrow. Ha. There was a time zone change near Apalachicola. Ha. We have to reset our alarm clocks to 4:30AM EST.
We’ve been debating the past few days how we are going to approach the Gulf crossing. Typically there are 11 good crossing days in November where a slower boat like ours can cross from Dog Island to either Tarpon Springs or Clearwater, 150 to 180 statute miles respectively. This year there have been none in November and it doesn’t look like there are any in the 10 day outlook. Tomorrow looks do-able for running the 70 statute mile Gulf crossing to Steinhatchee. (I hate do-able and prefer good.) We can then make southward progress by bouncing south, in two shorter open water hops, down to Tarpon Springs. We do not need to look for as large of an open weather window.
Along the Way
Today was another run on a canal through salt swamps, cypress swamps and a small lake.
Mexico Beach and Port St Joe, just south of today’s route took the eye of Hurricane Michelle in 2018. Houses have rebuilt and lives have moved on, but still there is a lot of landscape, vegetation and wildlife devastation. That Michael was one vicious storm.
devastation courtesy of Hurricane Michael 2 years ago
even today the destruction is unbelievable
wind just snapped the tops of the trees off
that one made it!
GICW canal cross road to Port St Joe canal
Canal to Port St Joe
off the grid
entrance to Lake Wimico
What the ???? I didn’t expect this. We are miles from anywhere.
Cypress swamp. The cone shaped things at the bottom near the Cypress tree bases are called knees. Their function is unknown, but they are generally seen on trees growing in swamps. Some current hypotheses state that they might help to aerate the tree’s roots, create a barrier to catch sediment and reduce erosion, assist in anchoring the tree in the soft and muddy soil, or any combination thereof.
It’s Saturday. The fishermen are out.
Entering Apalachicola. Population: 2,344.
main street
our fuel dock stop was in back of restaurant
Oh what a wonderous bird is a pelican. He can hold in is beak enough for a week and I don’t know how the hell he can.
These pelicans have fish cornered and are swarming in for the feast
Heading out into Apalachicola Bay
Bryant Patton Bridge to St George Island
Dog Island Inlet – We leave through here tomorrow.
Dog Island. Tonight’s anchorage.
There is no access to Dog Island other than boat. All material for housing and food need to be boated in. The houses that are on Dog Island are on stilts. Sections of it are so narrow waves wash over it.
Final act for tonight was prepping for tomorrow 70 mile open water Gulf run to Steinhatchee. (Dale’s has a D on it and mine has an M so we can quickly identify whose is whose and get it on. No fidgeting with making them fit.)
Pull out the Type I Offshore Life Jackets
Set up the ditch bag (IDs, money, water, towels, sunscreen, hats, flares ….)
File our float plan, final check the dingy, final check the engines and filters.
Good Night
It is so unbelievably calm. There are so many, many stars.
There is a reason Florida is called the Sunshine State
There is a reason Florida is called the Sunshine State. I had my sunnies on at 6:10AM.
Along the Way
Ahhh. Here’s where the noise makers are from. C130s on the tarmac.
Even the garage had a white picket widows walk
Big Flag. The flag almost touches the ground!
part of the 3 mile bridge at Destin
did you have to wake us??????
Destin bridge
Social Distancing
Hi Jim! Hi Susan! Dale’s brother Jim and his lovely wife Susan are staying in Miramar Beach. We couldn’t coordinate meeting them on land so they waved us bye at the US 331 Bridge. Sorry we couldn’t connect. Love you!
This should be RED buoy.
Dang pelicans
Out of the bay and into the Grand Canyon canal. Sections of the Grand Canyon was severely pummeled by Hurricane Michael in 2018. It’s recovering. A beautiful run today.
Full live aboard. Look how he has it propped up.
Restored bank from 2018 Hurricane Michael damage
leftovers from Hurricane Michael
The Bank Team
Exiting the Grand Canyon into West Bay
There is a reason they call Florida the Sunshine State. Sunshine ALL DAY!
Good Night
You just never know who your neighbors are going to be unless you’ve anchored in that spot before or some one tells you.
Eastern Ship Building company. They are building Staten Island Ferries!!!!!!
Heading out and leaving the gray bleak yonder. Heading for sunshine.
Good bye rivers and Mobile AL
First 45 minutes out was snotty. We took 1 to 1.5 foot chop waves on the beam. They are annoying. Once we got around Great Point Clear we adjust our direction and had following seas, making a much more enjoyable run. All in all it wasn’t a bad run on the Mobile Bay. It cooperated both yesterday and today for us.
Even though Mobile Bay is a very large body of water it is not deep. Unless you travel in the marked channels you need to be alert and thread you way through.
middle of Mobile Bay and 2 feet deep humps
Leaving the SE corner of Mobil Bay and heading into the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GICW).
They are all getting new roofs curtesy of Hurricane Sally and Zeta. It seems to me our last time through here these condos were damaged too.
Some land developer should be sued.
Down the GICW
downed trees
Lulu’s (as in Lulu Buffet, Jimmy’s sister) in Gulf Shores sustained damage. Parts of the operational but some of the marina is still not.
restaurant is open
trashed boat in the marina. some slips open
Along the canal
there is a backroad running along the GICW
wrecked boats being removed
and dumped
Gas for $3.48. We bought it for $2.13 at Gulf Shores Marina in Fairhope
Hoity toity ‘The Wharf Marina’. Slips $4 per foot.
Our friends white 47 foot Hatteras September looks like a baby boat.
To heck with a big house. A great dock is where it’s at.
The huge Barbers Marina sustained a lot of damage and is still not operational.
one tiny section of Barbers Marina
Barbers Marina docks
dock menders
at least the boat was spared
I was wondering where people had their boats during the storm. I haven’t seen many derelict boats.
Found one.
Inter coastal side of Perdito Key.
Our friend Ron in Pensacola used to be a jet pilot. He stays connected with all the happenings at the base. He said the Blue Angels just started flying a new style of jet on Monday of this week. The jet is slightly larger than the ones they were flying. The pilots are just getting used to them which is why we could only see 2 or 3 jets out practicing together and not the whole group.
Thanks for the wake As_hole
missing screens. lots of them.
pretty little houses
The Gulf is on other side of Santa Rosa Key
The Narrows into Pensacola Bay
Pensacola
Pensacola Inlet Lighthouse
I couldn’t figure out what this is. Anyone know?
Air base
Coast Guarased ships at b
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola
Navarro Beach
Navarro Beach parasail
ICW signs have a yellow square on them, both the greens and the reds
pelicans
chemical barge on the GICW
Neighbors
training jet. Both props and jet engine
Osprey
props upright for landing
It was a little noisy till later in the evening as the planes were flying fairly close overhead. There was also practice night bombing going on a ways away. KABOOM.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Mobile Bay is 413 square miles in area. It is 31 miles long by a maximum width of 24 miles. The deepest areas of the bay are located within the shipping channel, sometimes in excess of 75 feet deep, but the average depth of the bay is 10 feet.
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW) runs approximately 1,050 miles from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.
Sweet Home Florida! Some where during the course of the day we crossed into Florida. Mary and Dale became Florida residents in August of this year.
11-NOV-2020 Wednesday – Okatuppa Creek, Womak Hill, AL (~TBW 123.3) to Mobile Bay Fairhope Docks Marina, Fairhope AL (60.1 nautical miles 69.2 statute miles)
My day started with a good laugh. We ran the generator so we could catch the weather on TV. LOL We tuned into Alabama’s Wheel of Fugitives. One big spin and the lucky person becomes the fugitive of the week for the officers to focus on.
Along the Way
Another bleak weather day.
see the barge?
Dale’s dream property. The owner has a house in back on right side
Delivery location is .1 mile away at Thyssenkrupp Steel mile 48
Alabama River confluence on left. The Tombigbee-Black Warrior widened and flattened
Barry Steel Plant statute mile 30. It right in the middle of an ox bow.
front side
side
backside
Trigger Happy. I took a lot of pictures.
The changing landscapes and varied vegetation heading down river into the bayou and on to Mobile.
The cab has its own boom, completely independent from scoop boom.
Mobile in the distance from 12 Mile Island
Mobile AL
Chochrane Bridge
dredger
Steel for the steel man
mini me
I wanted to stay here on the free wall near the convention center. Dale wanted to stay at a marina in Fairhope. I let him win one. We kept going.
Naval Shipyard
retro fitting on dry dock
Past the container shipyard and into Mobile Bay.
do not put your tug here
coal roller coaster
prop exposed when ship is emptied
into the bay
looking back towards Mobile
port turn at the range sign
Ugh. Back in the world of crab traps
Fairhope Docks Marina
A shrimp boat was unloading. I bought 3 pounds of white Atlantic shrimp.
A scooter run to the grocery store.
regional foods
Good Night
We went with the Hoppin’ John with the shrimp. I have to say it was the best shrimp I’ve ever eaten. It was flavorful and very tender.
ready to boil
Neighbors
Fairhope Docks Marina
Mobile across Mobile Bay
Drolleries and Yuks
“Officer, how did the hacker escape?” “I don’t know. He just ransomeware.”
One more dam to do and if the lock will let us through
10-NOV-2020 Tuesday – Okatuppa Creek, Womak Hill, AL (~TBW 123.3) to Alabama River Cutoff, Malcolm, AL (~TBW 53.0) 61.7 nautical miles 71.0 statute miles)
Locks (1): Tombigbee-Black Warrior Waterway Mile 116.6, Coffeeville Lock and Dam States (1): Alabama
Along the Way
But of course! Top of the morning. It’s a barge.
Bobby’s Fish Camp. The only marina on the lower section of the Tombigbee-Black Warrior Waterway.
One more dam to do and if the lock will let us through. The Coffeeville Lock had a work crew working on it. We had a little over an hour wait before we could lock down. Guess we move to anchorage target B. We won’t make our targeted anchorage at mile 17.
fishermen
No more locks till we get to New York! We are now in tidal water.
Hello from the other side.
US 84 Bridge
The landscape looks very much like yesterday’s landscape, but probably worse. It has been ravaged by the river.
Signs of high water
tires tossed to manage washouts
bank slide
all ground vegetation is washed away
I would venture to say that for every in-location buoy there is at least 1-2 out of location buoys, most of them in log jams on the banks. This is the one that perplexed me the most. 20 feet up in the tree.
Lovers Leap mile 98
Industries
logging
new age tire stacking
sand
sand hill
It misted the better part of the day. We ran with the side window open and the center window closed.
A case of the bends. Ox bow switch backs with too much regularity. The Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway is not ‘canalized’ like the Tenn-Tom Waterway was.
Today’s run was 71 statue miles on the river! (41 statue miles as the crow flies)
Good Night
Anchorage
Spooky huh? There were lots of owls conversing too. The smell of pine in the air reminded me of a good gin.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Alabama’s own rocket scientist Lonnie Johnson invented the Super Soaker. The Super Soaker was released in 1989 and still remains one of today’s top-selling toys.
