2-29-16

Leaving Longboat


Ok, it's Leap Year, time to leap.  Been here soooo long and it's sooo nice, but being on a trip implies movement, so here we go.  We have some good weather forecasts for the next week.  Wind has finally laid down a bit.

After a late (1400) start our first stop turns out to be the Venice City dock by their boat ramp, about 40 miles south of Longboat/Sarasota, 1700.  Sign said "No Overnight Docking", midnight to 0600.  By midnight we were asleep and forgot to move.  Police forgot to check, so all was good.  Besides, there was a sailboat there that appeared permanent.   .2 mi. walk to Crows Nest Restaurant.

 

 

 The channel out of Longboat.

A swing bridge opening for us.

 

 

 Sunset at Venice

A peaceful channel passage.

Next we anchored at Pelican Bay in the lee of Cayo Costa Is.

From Pelican Bay we went to Ding Darling Anchorage sheltered by Sanibel Is.  It was a huge bay with only us.  Huge fetch to the NE, but wave heights were small even with wind from NE.

 

We see many Osprey nests, along with myriad other species of herons, egrets, ibis, ducks, pelicans, vultures, hawks, and many more.  Florida seems really full of wildlife.

Anchoring at Marco Is.

One must always be ready to kneel, to secure lines, handle anchoring, check engines, repair assorted malfunctions and to praise Neptune.

 The Wilderness of the Sea. 

No land in sight.  The way it looked millions of years ago.  Nothing man-made.  It is awe inspiring and exhilerating to be out and alone except the sound of the wind and waves (and two diesels we hope to Hell keep running).

 

After anchoring in Little Shark River in the Everglades, we finally made it to Marathon in the Florida Keys, anchoring in Boot key Harbor.

 The winds have been 20+ knots, gusting higher at times. After shifting from north to east we find ourselves only 15 yards from a boat behind us.

Meanwhile, the boat ahead has gotten very close, dragging anchor.  Many boats are dragging anchor and repositioning.
Our big Fortress FX55 held tight.


This trawler moved so we moved ahead and put down two anchors, the Fortress and a 35 lb. CQR just for insurance.  Winds are forecast to increase to 28 with gusts over 30 knots.

 

 

Arriving back home from dinghy dock and land-based operations.

  2/22/2016

More pictures from Longboat Key and environs. We've been here about 6 weeks but will be heading south to Ft. Myers, then down to the Keys at the end of the month.




Hamburgers at a bait shop ??? Hmmmm.....maybe not such a good idea.



Dingy trip across the bay to Sarasota



Ringling Mansion from the water



Happy Hour on Anna Maria Island with Tiffany and James

 

 

Beach access from Longboat Key Resort



Longboat Key Beach on the Gulf side



Longboat Key Club pool

Out with the Blands on their Larson

The Channel on our way back into the Harbor

Bridge opening on the Intracoastal

View to Sarasota at Dusk

Arnoldo and his visitors from Italy. Sorry Susan, someone had to take the picture.

Adios to Sax and Sherry on their 42 foot Grand Banks, Red Eagle.

Marina walkway

Of course boats constantly break and need maintenance.  The forward head took 4 days to diagnose, call around to find out everyone is too busy to help, get parts, R&R a couple of times, but it's working great now with a new macerator and pump assembly.

Grand Bay Condos with views to the Gulf of Mexico and the Sarasota Bay

Cruising in the Dingy

On the canal created by the Mangrove hedge between the shore and the Bay



Homes on the Canal

 

There are many Parks around Longboat Key.  This one has a boardwalk through the salt marsh.

 

 

More homes on the water canal



G0 Big or go home? In this case, I guess it's both.

I see the boat.  Where's the house? 



More Bay waterfront homes

Lazy Sunday on Longboat Key

Sarasota



Longboat Key Beach
It feels a lot warmer than it looks





Lots of seashells all over the beach





Everywhere

 





Curious heron, just a tad too close for comfort, ya know?





 

The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg



Awesome exhibit



 



Longboat Key Moorings Marina

 

January 20, 2016

Longboat Key Club Mooring Marina

Longboat Key is our first "intended" long stay place.  This is an upscale marina and resort with lots of amenities included: shuttle, pumpout boat, pool, hot tub, gym, cable, bikes.  They have golf and tennis available as well.

Downtown Sarasota is about 9 miles from Longboat Marina. Marina Jack's Marina is right down town, usually a waiting list and 2-3 times the rate of Longboat Key.




Found great seafood at Barnacle Bill's on Main Street, Sarasota


 



Happy Hour at  Bistro

.

The Gulf is raging away with  25+ winds.



Ops!!

 

We went to Bridge St. Bistro in Bradenton Beach.  It's a very nice low-key part of the area north of the marina.



Calm Gulf  in background.



Now this version of the Gulf conditions is more conducive to making the crossing. 



Chris and Janis at fuel dock, on their way out of Longboat. Weather has been hit and miss, but this looked like a good day to cruise.

Marina decided we were too long here so sent us to a bigger berth.

View of Marina from office.

Pelican rookery next to our boat






Salt water catfish caught off Anna Maria Pier
 

See ya on down the coast