Finally, A Day at Sea

Friday, 22 March 2013

Today the seas were forecast to be semi-smooth and the winds tolerable,though the temperature would only get into the high 60’s.

The new sea water pump had arrived this morning so I picked it up and Joe and I installed it.  Patt and Dave arrived so we headed out to Boca Grande Pass and Gasparilla Island. 

This was about 11 miles away.  Seas were indeed smooth.  We tied up at the Boca Grande Marina and rented a 6 person golf cart to travel around the island.

Many very pretty high dollar homes.   We went to the south end of the island to an appropriately named bar and grille called “South Beach Bar and Grille”. 

 After lunch we walked out on the beach and people watched and collected shells. 

Then, we rode the golf cart around for a short tour of the rest of the island before departing back to our marina.  The pier full of resting seabirds:

 One of the amazing things we saw were these Banyan Trees. 

Seas were still smooth and we encountered several more dolphins. 

We encountered this fine vessel, “Little Toot”. 

Included For Kevin Newman

On our return to the marina I prohibited Joe from looking in the engine room.

Lazy Day

Thursday, 21 March 2013

One of the things Joe discovered after we got back from our aborted attempt to go to sea on Wednesday was a leaking sea water pump on the port engine. (I told him to quit looking in the engine room, no good ever comes of that) So, with Dave’s assistance, we removed the pump and disassembled it.  It had a leaking seal which we found to be available on line, but not handily, and till we got it fixed, we were dead in the water.  Dave conferred with the Marina Maintenance Man, who declared these pumps to be non-repairable, (which prompted Joe and I to come up with our pump overhaul business plan).  Chuck and his associate, Merlyn, the maintenance men, were happy to order us a replacement pump for $400.00 and it would arrive here by 0730 the next morning. So order it we did.  Now, having nothing better to do since we could not go to sea, even if the winds allowed it, we launched the dinghy to motor up to the end of the marina cove, where there were many Manatees swarming.  We were able to get to within about 6 feet of them.

Beth and I went first, then Joe and Patt. 

Joe had worked up such a lather that he had to get into the water to cool off. (water temperature of 67 degrees).  

While he was in the water he caught the “crabs”.

 

 Don Fortune, the former Kansas City area Sports Broadcaster came down and visited with us for another hour or so.  He visited with Beth while his dog “Skipper” visited with Joe.  He advised us that we were entitled to use the marina pool and hot tub during our stay so off we went to the tub.  Returning from the tub we noticed that the Marina Lounge was having a Karaoke event. Joe and I went to this event to evaluate the talent.  We found plenty of talent, none of it good.

Rough Sea

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Temperature was going to be ok for today, but the winds were still blowing.  We attempted to go to Boca Grande, but after battling 3-4 foot waves for 3 miles we turned around and went back to the marina.  Then we went to Joe’s friends house in Cape Coral to explore the possibility of leaving the boat at their house (they live on a boat road/canal).  They have a very fine house. They were discussing the plans to demolish this fine home to rebuild it 6 inches higher to meet “code”.  It was either that or do a $400,000 remodel. After visiting them we went to the historic downtown district of Fort Myers waterfront and had lunch at Fords Garage. 

After lunch we walked over to the actual waterfront which is on the Caloosahatchie River.  There, much to our surprise/shock/amazement, were the Nina and Pinta, two of Christopher Columbus’ ships from his discover America Cruise. 

These two replica ships have been many places where we have been. Wherever we go, there they are! (quite amazing). Now it had started raining.  So in this rain, the five of us went to Cactus Jack’s for dinner. They initially seated us under a thatch roof, which was dripping all over us, so we moved.  The live jazz music was good and the food tolerable.

Wasting Away in Punta Gorda Ville

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Our original plan for this segment of the journey was to get to the Florida Keys, visit Key West, The Dry Tortugas, get around Miami and across to the Bahamas.  Since we have lost so much time due to weather delays, we have decided to leave the boat at Burnt Store Marina (Punta Gorda, FL) and return home for several weeks. But before departing for home we will visit several of the outlying islands in this area and sight see. 

While we were tiding up the boat, an official marina person approached us and asked if we were the people with the boat from the port of Perry, Kansas.  We said yes, and suddenly Beth shouted, “I know you!”. I did not know if this would require a fisticuff engagement or not.  This “celebrity” marina person is Don Fortune, a Kansas City area sports announcer/commentator for the Kansas City television and radio markets.

We visited and caught up on old times.  Don had a sailboat on Lake Perry at the Perry Yacht Club Marina during his time broadcasting in the Kansas City area. He had retired from broadcasting and moved to this area and whiles away his time working at this marina.  He told us he was working 4 days this week, through Saturday, so we would have many opportunities to visit more.

Dave and Patt came to pick us up and we went to breakfast at John Skis’s House of Breakfast in Punta Gorda.  A menu to behold. Then it was on to West Marine for another couple hundred dollars of stuff, then Walmart, Bealls, then to Dave and Pats home.  Dave, Joe and I rested while Beth and Patt went out to do even more shopping.  Dave and Patt had been invited to a Hors d'oeuvres event at Carl and Linda’s condo at our marina, so we dressed in our finest and away we went.  Carl is a retired Harbor Pilot from the New York Harbor area and entertained us with many interesting sea faring tales.

On to Burnt Store Marina

Monday, 18 March 2013

Omission, before I talk about today, I forgot to include a couple of items from Sunday.  Our route took us through Tampa Bay.

Approaching the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge



Under we go!

The Coast Guard was broadcasting that a moving security zone would be in place beginning at 1600 hours while a cruise ship moved out to sea from the Tampa Cruise Ship terminal so we were in quite a hurry to get out of the way before we were shut down for a couple of hours.  We were successful.  Now, back to today.

Under way again, today headed to Burnt Store Marina, located in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. About 58 miles by water, we traveled through the Venice Florida area. Many, many, many high dollar homes and condo developments along the waterway and recreational boat traffic is increasing with many boats piloted by not so skilled or courteous skippers.  The first thing we encountered after getting underway was the U.S. Corps of Engineers Dredge Murdock. I hailed him on the radio to coordinate passing instructions and he advised me that the channel was 100 feet wide and he was using the right hand 50 feet of it, so I should pass close alongside.  It is quite a vessel!

It is dredging sand up from underneath itself and depositing it in the interior of the ship.   The channel clearly needed it since we showed only 4 feet of water.

Soon after passing through the Venice area, we received a severe thunderstorm alert warning of "deadly air to sea lightning" so we headed to the nearest marina to park next to something taller than us.  We found the Palm Island Marina and called them for tie up instructions. They were most helpful.  This marina is located in Englewood, Florida and must have been the favorite place for lunch and extended lunches on this coast.  It was packed.  After a hour, it quit lightning and the rain had eased up so we got under way once again.

This was the last obstacle blocking our access to Charlotte Harbor.

It opens on the half hour and hour, so after a 9 minute wait we were through.

We arrived at the Burnt Store Marina about 1800 hours and were met by Beth's brother Dave and his friend Patt.  Once secured, we moved to the marina lounge for celebratory stuff.

Refreshed

Sunday, 17 March 2013

Up at 0700 for another early departure, we had 60 plus miles to go through the Intra-Coastal Waterway, hoping to get to Sarasota Bay by night fall.  We were only successful in getting to the Bradenton, Florida area as it was getting dark.  According to our Skipper Bob Guidebook, there was an anchorage available across the waterway from Bradenton.  We pulled into the anchorage and were hailed by a man on a moored sailboat.  He told us where we could anchor.  We did not know if it was free or who to pay, so we just dropped the anchor.  There were about 30 boats moored in this area, and half of them appeared to be abandoned derelicts, to include one sunken Carver that had only part of the flybridge showing above the water.  The wind was really blowing hard from the south as Beth prepared our Waffle House T-Bone steaks.  A Waffle House T-Bone is huge in size but only ¼ inch thick.  The wind had us swinging in wide arcs so we heaved out the aft anchor.  It did not quit blowing/raining until about 5 in the morning.  During the night I heard a horrible grinding noise and went out to see what disaster had occurred.  I thought that either we had broken loose or another boat had and we were grinding against one another.  The culprit was a strap to the radar that the wind was causing to vibrate and make the noise.  I swiftly fixed it and went back inside.

Saturday Continued

Saturday, 16 March 2013

Once we arrived at the Port Tarpon Marina, we refueled and tied up.  We then caught a taxi to the historic dock section of Tarpon Springs to sample the Greek cuisine.  We also visited the “Sponge Museum”.  Tarpon Springs was the sponge diving capital of the U.S. Here, I am shown wearing one of the diving outfits.

 

 

We returned to the marina in time to watch KU beat K-State in the Big 12 Championship game.  While we watched the game, the birds watched the boat.

Retired early from our grueling previous 36 hours.