Venice to Cape Coral, FL

Sunday, January 18, 2015

We would have liked to stay at Fisherman's Wharf and explore the area a little longer but it was a good day and we set off in late morning. Cruising from Venice to Gasparilla Marina at Placida, FL. was really beautiful as we passed by one grand home after another. We had 4 bridges to go under but we had enough clearance to pass through all but the last which was the swing bridge at Boca Grande. We were met by our friends Dan and Angie on Seahorse who helped us tie up – it is always great to see other Loopers!

Birds roosting on a mangrove covered island
 

One of many beautiful homes
 

Nice to see our old friends the white pelicans
 

We chuckle every time we see birds on a sandbar. We had heard of boats going off the channel and running aground. Our friend Mark always advised, "Don't go where you see birds walking!"
 

Captain’s Log January 18

Departed: Fisherman’s Wharf Marina, FL 8:05 a.m.
Engine hours: 3.4 hrs.
Actual hours: 3 hr. 10 min
Miles covered 24.05    Total for trip: 3577
Arrived: Gasparilla Marina, Placida, FL 11:15 p.m.
Wx: clear skies, temps in low 60s rising to 70, went through several bridges, one had to open and our timing was great – no waiting! Engine checks good – Serenity is purring like a kitten! Traveled with Young at Heart

The fishing boat next to us had a noisy osprey on the top roof
 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Short cruise today – the sun was shining and the winds were forecast to die down in the afternoon. We left for Cayo Costa in late morning and did encounter some rollers on Charlotte Bay. The water calmed down as we neared the island and we dropped our anchor in Pelican Bay. The water was shallow and we had lots of company.

Went for a walk with Dan and Angie before we left Gasparilla -
we have seen lots of decorative flamingos but no real ones yet
 

We dropped our dingy and fired up the little 2.5 horsepower propane motor and went  to Cayo Costa, an isolated island state park that can only be reached by boat. There were families loading and unloading camping gear on the small ferry that runs back and forth. We hitched a ride on an open wagon for the mile long jaunt to the beach and it felt good to sink my feet in the sand once again.

Angie snapped this picture of Dan and Kathy barefootin' in the Gulf
 

Later our friends on our accompanying boats gathered on our upper deck to toast Brenda and Glenn who would be crossing their wake the next day. A sailboat pulled in beside us and we recognized Last Mango with John and Karen who had been docked near us at Marker One Marina. They lowered their sailing tender and rowed over – Last Mango hadn’t see Glenn and Brenda since Grafton, IL so they had a warm reunion.

Glenn and Brenda are new Gold Loopers - crossing their wake
at Cayo Costa
 

Dan and Angie joined us on Serenity at the anchorage
 

Late afternoon sun is delightful!
 

Captain’s Log: January 19, 2015

Departed: Gasparilla Marina 11:00 a.m.
Engine hours: 1.5 hr. – 12.40 statute miles
Actual hours: 1.5 hr.   
Arrived: Pelican Bay anchorage at Cayo Costa 12:30
Wx: clear, windy NE 10- 15, calm later in the day after we were at anchor
Traveled with Young at Heart and Seahorse

January 20, 2015 - Tuesday

We had a pleasant night at anchor but the red sky in the morning was not such a good omen. The skies were overcast and it looked like rain. Our three boat armada cruised out the shallow and narrow channel. I heard a splashing noise and looked back to see a dolphin following us almost under the swim platform in the prop wash. I don’t know if it was slapping its tail in pleasure or to let us know it was there, but it followed us for quite a way.

John captured this early sunrise while the other boats still
had their anchor lights on
 

Later we met a ferry boat taking passengers to one of the islands and the passengers were all on the upper deck looking down the side. There were dolphins playing and doing flips in their wake. Entertaining!

This ferry seems to be listing to starboard!
The dolphins were too quick for me to capture.
 

So glad to see John's step-mom, Jean
 

Soon after we were tied up at Cape Coral Yacht Basin, Jean, John's stepmother, arrived to greet us and lend us her car while we were there. Of course, she had some errands to run - like shopping for a new sofa - so we were glad to drive her and give lots of advice along the way.

Captain’s Log: Jan 20, 2014

Departed: Pelican Bay anchorage at Cayo Costa 9:00 a.m.
Arrival: Cape Coral Yacht Basin 1:15 p.m.
Engine hours: 4.5/516 since beginning of trip
Actual hours: 4 hrs., 15 min Miles: 27.58Wx: overcast on departure, slight sprinkles, SE winds 5-10, Gentle cruise, no issues, traveled with Seahorse and Young at Heart.

January 20 - 28 in Cape Coral

We got to see our Vermont boating friends, Doug & Laura, and their
beautiful new home in Ft. Myers
 

Gold Looper celebration on Young at Heart
Steve & Gina, Kathy & John, Mark & Becky and Brenda & Glenn
 

Royal palms lining a street near the marina
 

We are waiting out some stormy and windy weather here in Cape Coral. If things improve as  predicted we will leave on Wednesday, Jan 28, for Marco Island and then the Keys. Meanwhile we will enjoy our visit here!

 

Great Loop Resumes

Saturday - Wednesday, January 10-14, 2015

After the Holidays and a wonderful visit from our kids and grandkids over Christmas, and seeing many of our Villages friends and neighbors, it was time to get back on Serenity and continue south on our journey.

Our daughter and our son arrived in Florida with their families to
play in the warm sun
 

Three generations of love - happy day! Beth, Kathy and Iris
 

John donned his Santa hat for the special day - with grandson, Ethan
 

When we had been back on the boat for just a day or so it seemed like we had never left.
We cast off our lines from Marker One Marina at Dunedin in early afternoon as the tide was rising. We traveled with two other boats and made the short trip down the channel to Indian Rocks Beach and stopped at the Holiday Inn resort for two days. Even though we had been on salt water since we left the last lock on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, the realization struck us that for most of the rest of the trip we will be watching not only the winds and weather but the changing tides and planning accordingly. The good side of that is that we should have plenty of opportunities to walk along the beaches and observe lots of shorebirds.

Finally moving again just south of Dunedin
 

Photo op at the Holiday Inn at Indian Rocks Beach
 

Little green heron perches on a line
 

Captain’s Log January 10, 2015

Departed: Marker 1 Marina, Dunedin, FL 1:00 p.m. Saturday
Engine hours: 2.1 hrs.
Actual hours: 2 hr.
Miles covered 14.4    Total for trip: 3463
Arrived: Holiday Inn Marina, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 3:00 p.m.
Wx: winds north at 10, clear skies, short cruise down ICW to Holiday Harborside Marina. A little tough backing into a very narrow slip due to current and wind, bumped the swim platform, but we made it. Traveled with Mara Beel and Seahorse.

Monday, January 12, 2015

We went for an early swim in the Holiday Inn pool and couldn’t believe how warm it was!.The pool manager came by and checked the temp for us and found it at 91 degrees! Someone has accidentally, or on purpose, turned the heater way up. We did a few laps but it was really too hot – never thought I would say that about a swimming pool.

Glenn, John and Mark reminiscing and making plans
 

Later we learned that some looper friends, Glenn and Brenda, had arrived to say hello and to get back on their boat which was parked at Madeira Beach. We decided to join them the next day and then travel with them because they were also headed for the Keys.

Mark on Mara Beel unhooks power for departure
 

Captain’s Log: January 12, 2015

Departed: Indian Rocks Beach 10:00 a.m.
Engine hours: 1.2 hr. – 7.46 statute miles
Actual hours: 1.5 hr.   
Arrived: Madeira Beach, private dock, 11:30
Wx: clear, windy s 5-10, started raining as we tied up.
Owner of slips, “Happy” Gilmore, usually only rents for long term boat storage, but gave us a good rate for two nights. Traveled with Mara Beel.

January 13 – 14, Tuesday – Wednesday

Another walk on along the shore at Madeira Beach, gathering together to make travel plans - it was so nice to be able to take our time and not feel rushed. Our trio of boats left the little channel on Wednesday morning heading for Bradenton, FL. Once on the Manatee River we separated when we stopped at our former Navy friends’ home and parked at their empty dock while the other two went on to Twin Dolphin’s Marina.

We passed the Sunshine Skyway bridge at the entrance to Tampa Bay,
but didn't go under
 

It was great to see our old friends again after several years! We invited them to join the other looper boaters and us for our late afternoon cocktail hour on Mara Beel at Twin Dolphins. They reciprocated the following night by having us all over for dinner. Everyone hit it off and we all had a great time.

Captain’s Log: Jan 14, 2014

Departed: Private dock in Madeira Beach, FL 9:28 a.m.
Arrival: Palmetto, FL on the Manatee River, private dock 1:30 p.m.
Engine hours: 4/503.8 since beginning of trip
Actual hours: 4 hrs. Miles: 27.58/Total miles on trip 503.8
Wx: overcast skies, wind NE 5-10, no issues, encountered a few rollers as we crossed Tampa Bay. Traveled with Mara Beel and Young at Heart.

Wednesday, November 15, 16, 2014

Our home on the Manatee River in the back yard of our friends' house
 

The Ringling art museum and mansion in Sarasota
were well worth the visit
 

We all went out to dinner with our wonderful hosts, Pete and Sparkie

 

 Captain’s Log: January 17, 2015

Departed: Private dock, Palmetto, FL 8:40 a.m.
Arrived: Venice, FL, Fisherman’s Wharf Marina 2:10 p.m.
Engine hours: 5.5
Actual hours: 5 hrs.  5 min
Miles covered: 42.33
Wx: cool, clear, east wind, left Manatee River, crossed lower Tampa Bay & joined Gulf ICW Afternoon temp 70 degrees, no issues, traveling with Young at Heart