Heading South

After Tarpon Springs, we made an overnight stop behind Egmont Key. We traveled on the outside to avoid the bridges that slow travel as well as the no wake zones. We were alone at the anchorage next to the island which is mostly a bird sanctuary. We were able to walk across and see the gulf from solid land. Sarasota was our next stop. We did travel inside but only two bridges slowed our travel. Both opened on the hour and half hour which was not very convenient since they were only a mile apart. But who is in a hurry. Remind me to discuss TIDES and WIND, two forces of nature that suddenly are very important to these folks living on a boat. We moored in Sarasota off Island Park at the foot of the causeway to Lido Key. We attached ourselves to a mooring ball for the first time. It was a time saver both going in and coming out - no anchor to clean, no 100 plus feet of anchor chain to retrieve, or “five hundred” mooring lines to detach from the dock and coil properly on the deck. Due to Steve’s expert piloting skills I was able to snag the line on the first pass (beginners luck no doubt). Mooring balls are wonderful! Our stop in Sarasota included the gracious assistance of Terry – owner of Terry’s Plumbing. He took us to West Marine and Publix for essential supplies. We are amazed at the generosity of spirit among the folk we meet both in other boats and at marinas. From Sarasota we have moseyed down to Boca Grande on Gasparillia Island. This is little jewel of a place. The quaint never stops. It lacks all the modern big names – no fast food franchises, name brand stores or even gas stations. Everything is clean and manicured but not fake. It is a place built for bikes and golf carts. Great restaurants also proliferate to satisfy the appetites from beach combing and biking. This has been a great place to catch up on e-mail, laundry, and shelter from the storm that is blowing through before we head on south…… As usual a few photos to explain things more clearly.