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