Going across, the third time

We did not have a weather window to cross, and the few opportunities were weeks apart.

So we kept moving north toward a jumping point. Clearwater was next.

Compared to the other municipal marinas, it was the least impressive.

New clean docks, etc. But a long walk to the showers and town.

Scientology has set up operations downtown, and students of all ages are walking around very nicely dressed all going somewhere.

They told us Tom Cruise had bought the first two floors of a high rise overlooking the marina. We didn’t see him.

After having lunch and haircut, we decided to go. It would be a long 36 hour day, but it was clear except for the last eight hours, which should not be that bad.

It was not easy but we made it, and tucked into Appalachicola to hide from another front and recuperate, along with four other trawlers, of which we met three of them.

Claire and I hit our old haunts, and stayed for the wooden boat show.

This was a student made paddle board.

We left Easter morning.

For those unaware, a really bad hurricane hit here this year. Appalachicola got hit pretty bad. Lots of damage still exists, homes leaning, docks gone, and trees knocked over.

That was a dense Forest, completely blown down.

As we arrived in Panama City, the damage was way more severe.

This is one of our favorites, Sun Harbor Marina. They are closed and still rebuilding.

That is where Columbia docked.

We felt like family here. You can read about Sun Harbor several times in this blog.

We stayed at Treasure Island Marina, on Panama City Beach. They had most rebuilding finished, nice place.

Could not help taking a picture of this: before these were covered slips.

The roof was torn off, as expected, but it also snapped about half the telephone pole pilings off. Incredible power, those were almost two feet in diameter.

We met Chemistry when they tied up next to us in Appalachicola. Since they are headed to Houston we are keeping in touch.

Then we did the ditch sgain, almost enjoyable boredom.

And, we hit Niceville, again, and saw this 1990, 36 Grand Banks Europa.

Need to talk to him.

St Petersburg

We left Billy’s and motored a little over an hour to St Petersburg Municipal Marina.

I had been helping Billy build a set of floating shelves, and the architect had just flat worn us out.

Our plan was to hole up for the weekend to hide from the crazies and ride out the bad weather moving in from Texas.

This is a very pretty town with a very upscale downtown scene. Lots to see and do.

Several big Marina’s along the waterfront, beautiful gardens, parks, and landscaping.

I would rank the Ft Myers marina and downtown the coziest, Sarasota is good but a little ‘see and be seen’, St Petersburg is excellent, think a high class Miami without a lot of Cubans, but with a lot of milenials.

Seems plastic surgeons must do quite a bit of augmentation work here…..

We motored into town through a regional sailboat race.

The dock master fell in love with Choices, and has even brought his wife by. Obviously a knowledge boating man.

There is a hot little bar that has decent food right on the marina. Here you can dock and pay by the hour, just like parking a car. Saw a boat named, “Hers & Hers”, captained by a chick with three other gals on it.

We walked the town then ended up in a nice Italian place that had the best Carbonara. I really like Carbonara, and this one had mushrooms. May eat there again before we leave.

Took a selfie at a cool fountain while walking back

Then watched the sun go down from the flying bridge.

PDA, by female guests and crew, for the captain is always appreciated and continuously encouraged.

Next day we ate at Ruth’s Chris. Took this picture for jim and Margie.

The steak was excellent, swimming in extra sizzling butter, with bread pudding and hot Grand Manier.

Once again back to the boat by sunset. The night before we were eaten by “no-see-ums”. These small nats bite like fleas, and the welts lasts for weeks and itche like hell. A good breeze blows them away.

I didn’t last long, I had waxed half the boat in the morning, and was pretty tired. Must have taken this picture before dusk.

Sunday Billy and his clan made a quick trip over to check things out and say goodbye. Had to do the prerequisite Titanic picture off the pulpit.

That night in an act of solidarity to my all female crew, I went to MaMaMia in the marina park. It lasted about an hour till it was stopped due to it pouring rain.

I still don’t know who her father was.

Cabbage Key

We were really wanting to head back to Texas the beginning of March. Thank God we did not. Terry and Cathy Lee did and froze to death.

We need a solid 24 hour weather window to cross the Gulf. And, it is cold up in the panhandle of Florida.

This gave us a chance to reflash the Garmin systems, tune them up, and spend some time together.

Now it is in the 80s, and we are enjoying the good weather.

First stop was Cabbage Key. Built in the 1930s, it remains virtually unchanged.

The food was very good, but the charm was in having the place to ourselves. We were one of only three other boats in the small marina. Should have stayed two days.

The walls of a few rooms in the resturant are covered in dollars bills, held on with masking tape. Money regularly falls on the floor.

They also have these large, very old torteises wandering around roped off burrows with their names on them.

The island gets it’s power from an underwater power line. There is a well and watertower. When was the last time you saw a wood one?

Daisy got a quick bath after going swimming. She usually does not like to swim unless on a beach.

Here she is posing after a bath and a  walk, where she stepped over a three foot snake to smell a dog turd.

My guess is the small camp homes, 1400-1800 sqr.ft. sell for $3-5M up, and rarely come to market. This makes Key West realestate seem low. No cars, only arrival is by boat.

After this we ran to Sarasota and stayed at Marina Jack. Nice place, but the best part of this marina is the close proximity to the art galleries, restaurants, and speak easys. While here we had some killer Carbonara at a sidewalk restaurant, with a live dead weight under the table.

There were some nice boats in Sarasota, this awesome catamaran sport fisherman,

These beautiful picnic boats,

And an unreal 1950s wood Trumpy. Will update blog when I get those pictures.

Billy ran over from his house in his new 25 Sportsman. He wheeled in and tied up to our stern for s couple hours.

Pictures suck cause he was soo long. So next day we motored to Billy’s house and tied up to his dock. both boats fit good there. 

While there this large eagle sat on our mast, and crapped on our boat.

Then we took the boys for a quick ride on Billy’s boat.

After that Nadia wanted to watch the sunset, where she took our picture for her rouge’s gallery.