As we pulled out of Sunset Marina in Stuart, FL we requested an opening for the FL East Coast RR Bridge, with the opening of the bridge we proceeded down the St. Lucie River passing the FL East Coast RR Bridge, the old Roosevelt (Dixie Highway) Bascule Bridge, the New Roosevelt Bridge and Evans Cary Bridge at Manatee Pocket.
Manatee Pocket is the home of Chapman School of Seamanship, a non-profit school of seamanship training. Chapman Piloting and Seamanship is one of the first books we purchased when we started sailing. Shortly thereafter, we passed navigation marker 240, the end of the Okeechobee Waterway and, at ICWW mile-marker 988, entered the Intracostal Waterway.
We love the frigatebirds, to learn more about them checkout NPR: Nonstop Flight: How The Frigatebird Can Soar For Weeks Without Stopping
Our anchorage at McKay Point was pretty roly-poly but uneventful, and we slept well. Tuesday morning we weighed anchor, left the Manatee River, and returned to the Gulf Intracostal Waterway (GIWW). Continuing south we passed Long Boat Key – where the Pirate Jean Lafitte was said to have been shipwrecked, Sarasota – winter home of the Ringling Brothers, and Venice – shark tooth capital of the world. The scenery on this portion of the GIWW was comprised of amazing homes, lots of birds, dolphins, and people having fun in the sun. At the end of the day, we anchored at Manasota Key – home to beautiful white sandy beaches.
Wednesday we weighed anchor at sunrise and continued south past Gasparilla Island – where, in the late 1800’s, phosphate was loaded onto schooners for worldwide shipment, Cabbage Key – home of the cheeseburger that inspired Jimmy Buffet’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise!”, and Cayo Costa State Park – accessible only by boat. We continued south to Mile 0.0 on the GIWW, thus completing the GIWW portion of our trip. Turning east we headed towards the Caloosahatchee River, which is the beginning of our passage across Florida through the Okeechobee Waterway (OKWW).
Tonight, and for the next few days, we have a slip at Legacy Harbour Marina in Ft. Myers, we will do the 500-hour maintenance on the engine and try to solve a couple of new problems (i.e. house batteries that are draining too quickly, an electrical cord that won’t unscrew from the outlet, and a thruster that is not working). We will also take the time to enjoy the city.
Tuesday Night Anchorage
Kayaking on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Sarasota Ringling Causeway Bridge
Living on the GIWW
PWC Rush By
Approaching Blackburn Swing Bridge – Our first bridge opening on the GIWW
Albee Bridge-Our second and last bridge opening on the GIWW.
There are Hundreds of Osprey Nests on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Birds on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Birds on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Looking for an Anchorage, too shadow here!
Birds on the GIWW
Sunrise Manasota Key
Car Ferry Near Stump Pass
Living on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
Living on the GIWW
New & Old Boca Grande Bridges
Instead of removing old bridge completely, they are making fishing piers.
The wedding was wonderful and we are so happy that we had the opportunity to be a part of such a joyous occasion. We are also delighted that we are back in Florida and on the water again. With us is Brodie’s Flat Stanley. We are looking forward to his company and hope that he enjoys the trip.
This morning I went for a lovely walk while Rick prepared Andiamo for departure and paid for our slip. We enjoyed our stay at the Marjorie Park Marina, the guys at the marina were considerate and we were surprised that the cost was more reasonable than expected.
After crossing Tampa Bay, we entered the Manatee River and anchored at McKay Point. Back to the water and beautiful sunsets.
Julie, a colleague of ours from our time in South Korea, joined us for a day outing on Thursday. We visited Ybor City, founded in 1885 by a group of Cuban cigar manufacturers led by Vicente Martinez-Ybor, had lunch at Gaspar’s Grotto, and took a self-guided walking tour.
We also visited the American Victory Ship Maritime Museum, the ship is one of only four fully-operational WWII ships in the US. Great museum but a very hot tour, I recommend going on a cooler day. With the heat getting the best of us, we spent the evening in an air conditioned restaurant sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company.
The Gadarowski’s picked us up for an outing on Saturday, we spent the day visiting and hiding from the heat; lunch, the mall, and a tour of Davis Islands. The Davis Islands complex was developed during the early 1900’s Florida Land Boom by D.P. Davis. John and Jennifer lived here when they first came to Tampa and it is where we are moored. The marina is part of the 55-acre park that was donated to the city by Mr. Davis and named after his late wife Marjorie. One of the crown jewels of the islands is Bayshore Boulevard, a waterfront road that claims to have the longest continuous sidewalk in the world, 4.5 miles long and 10 feet wide. On one side of the road you have Hillsborough Bay and on the other side are multi-million dollar mansions.
On Sunday we met Silver, a paralytic Angora rabbit that Jennifer has been nursing. Such a sweet rabbit, she seemed to love coming to visit and spending time outside. We look forward to hearing more about her progress. Along with Silver, John and Jennifer brought us a cutting from one of their plumeria plants. We are looking forward to seeing how it grows on Andiamo.
While at Gulfport Municipal Marina we had docktails with Susan and David on s/v Veritas Friday night and on Saturday we went with them to Costco and Publix’s for provisioning. Sunday was spent with Jennifer (my grandniece), John, Devon, Athena, and Venus at Fort Desoto. What a great day, we always enjoy this special family and we look forward to seeing them again.
We had hoped that we would be able to leave Andiamo at the Gulfport Municipal Marina while going back to Missouri for Alisha and Patrick’s wedding but that didn’t work, so, on Monday we moved to Marjorie Park Marina, Tampa. The marina is small with very nice floating concrete docks, is quiet with calm water, and has a great view of downtown Tampa. The floating docks have been great for washing and waxing Andiamo and cleaning the canvas and kayaks.
On Wednesday we moved from the Anclote Keys to the Marina at Caladesi Island State Park, where we spent a lazy day walking the beach, the nature trail, and visiting with other boaters. Thursday we continued down the GIWW and enjoyed the local ambiance. We are currently docked at Gulfport Municipal Marina.
What a delightful family week with Rick’s parents, Dick and Betty, and his aunt and uncle, Mike and Linda. We spent an ideal week visiting, telling tall tales, cruising the Florida Panhandle, soaking up the sunshine, and walking on sandy beaches. We visited Eden Gardens, Conservation Park, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, and Saint Andrews. On Friday Betty, Mike, Linda and I toured Wesley House while Rick and Dick made the long drive to Pensacola to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum. A great time was had by all, with the highlight of celebrating Betty’s 84th birthday.
Now that we have had our “family fix,” it is time to head east. Although the sun is brightly shining and the temperature is in the seventies, the sea-state will keep us here a few of more days.
Finally, an alligator sighting at Alligator Pond, Saint Andrews State Park.
After visiting Alligator Pond, Rick and I walked five miles of beach and nature trails. This Florida State Park remains one of our favorites. It is close, has snow-white sandy beaches and dunes, sea oats, pines, rosemary, turtles, deer, and a variety of birds.
Graceful Egret
Showing Off…
Mating Call?
Egrets
Mr. Alligator
Sea Gazing
Heron
Red-breasted Merganser
Brown Pelican
Heron
St. Andrews Sand Dune
Swimming Alligator
Coots Feasting at Alligator Pond
My Favorite Beach Music
What a weekend: Mardi Gras, Beaches, Sand Dunes, Birds, Turtles, Deer, Alligators, and more . . .
Happy Hour at Alligator Point – Looking across the Grand Lagoon at St. Andrews State Park, where we visited Alligator Pond.
Sunday we visited Maddox Park at Shipyard Cove in Port Saint Joe, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, and St George Island State Park. All containing beautiful seascapes, snow-white sandy beaches, hiking trails along the Gulf of Mexico, and interior passageways to observe the park’s wildlife and natural beauty.
Pelican at St. Joe Marina
Ducks at St. Joe Marina
Pathway to Beach
Great Blue Heron at the Lily Pond
Gulf of Mexico
Relocated Cape San Blas Lighthouse
Lily Pond
Snow White Sandy Beach
Girls Learning to Fish
Bridge to St. George Island
Fishing Pier at St. George Island
Saint George Island Lighthouse
Florida History
On December 3, 1838, delegates from across the Territory of Florida gathered in the town of Saint Joseph to draft a constitution in preparation for statehood. Although Saint Joseph was to disappear from the map within a decade, after suffering a devastating hurricane and repeated outbreaks of yellow fever, the work of the constitutional convention survived, resulting in this document. The 1838 constitution established a one-term governor, a bicameral legislature, tight restrictions on banking (a response to the national banking crisis of 1837), and a strict separation of church and state (no clergyman could serve as governor or legislator). Delegates used the constitutions of several other southern states as models. This constitution, approved in 1845 by the United States Congress, remained the basic governing document of the state through the Civil War. Confederate Florida amended, but did not replace, the 1838 constitution. In 1865, Reconstruction delegates adopted a new constitution as part of the process of restoring Florida to the Union. The original constitution, signed by the delegates, has never been found. Considered a “secretary’s copy,” this document is the only known copy of the 1838 constitution. ~~Florida Constitution of 1838
Today we joined approximately 50,000 Mardi Gras revelers for food, floats, music, beads, doubloons, and moon pies at the 20th Anniversary of the St. Andrews Mardi Gras. If you like “people watching” this was the place to be.
