12/4/15 – 1/4/16          Tampa and Home for the Holidays

12/4/15                         Tampa

This last leg of our trip for this year was another 40+ mile cruise. Yet another somewhat cloudy, but very warm day.

Tampa like all major cities Tampa appeared to be hazy until we got further in. However coming into Tampa Bay was very impressive. We are actually staying on Davis Island with the city a stones throw away.



The slips on the left are where we are tied up.



View of downtown from the boat.

Davis Island has a really cute little town which we were able to walk and bike to. It had lots of little restaurants but very few shops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ventured  into the downtown area and did our turn around the River Walk. This is a great area and seams to center around the Convention center.

Our first alligator warning!

 

Unlike the below Cruise Ship leaving port, we rented a car and drove up to Bel Air, MD. We are staying with my son and I’m getting to really enjoy the little one. We will be heading back to the boat and resuming out trip after Ken’s daughter Dani arrives. She’ll be joining us for the about a week.

 

 

 

Happy Holidays

 and

come back to read more after the 9^th.

 

11/23/15 – 12/3/15      Apalachicola, Dog Island, Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Tarpon Springs and Gulf Port

11/23/15 – 11/26/15    Apalachicola

After all the waiting we finally had a few days coming that looked like they were going to be good enough to travel the Gulf of Mexico. We left Panama City and went to Apalachicola. This trip was primarily along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and was a 62 mile trip. I have never seen electric poles in the waterways before, but I have seen them since.

 

We had a reservation at the Apalachicola Marina, but when we got there the slip was too narrow, so we went back to the City Dock and tied up there. We had no water or electric for what turned out to be a four  night stay. But we were comfortable there and very close to everything. The city was really cute and right at the waterfront.

 

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with fellow loopers Tom and Jane from 'Elizabear' at Caroline’s Restaurant.

11/27/15 – 11/28/15    Dog Island

We headed to our Dog Island anchorage. This was a short 29 mile trip along the Gulf Intracoastal. We actually got up on the 28^th and tried to do the crossing but the seas were around 4 ft. and just a little to nasty to put up with for 8 hours. So we headed back in and waited another day. In case you have been counting, that is 6 days without electric and water. But we do have water tanks on the boat that we fill when needed.

The far side of the island is the Gulf of Mexico.

Our anchorage for two nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/29/15                      Across the Gulf of Mexico to Steinhatchee

We decided to do the short (80 mile) crossing instead of the 170 miles. So we left quite early on the 29^th and had a wonderful crossing. We were actually alone for this trip, so it was good that it was smooth. We started to see some dolphin (porpoises) during this trip. It is not easy to get shots of them, but I did catch one of them. There was nothing to see but water until we got close to our destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/30/15                      Cedar Key anchorage

When we got ready to leave, the next morning, the right motor would not start. We had to have a mechanic to check things out and then get us a new battery. This delayed our departure until around 1:30. We did see a couple of air boats while we waited.

 

Once we got on the way is was a smooth trip. This was out in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, this being a 68 mile trip, we did not get to our anchorage spot until well after dark. We did enjoy a beautiful sunset sky, just not long enough to help.

 

When we got up in the morning, it was to see the islands (keys) we anchored behind.

 

12/1/15                                 Tarpon Springs          

We actually spent most of this trip in the gulf until we were coming into port. Then we got into a lot of little islands.

 

Then we started to really see December in Florida. The temperature is around 85 and it is glorious. These folks are enjoying it at the municipal beach.

 

The city of Tarpon Springs was really quite nice. It was very much a part of the waterfront. Tarpon Springs is the Sponge Capital of the World.

Sponge boats along the waterfront

 

 

12/2/15 - 12/3/15          Gulf Port

The trip to Golf Port was made through another section of the Golf Intracoastal.  Golf Port is just passed Clearwater. This is a huge town and has an island beach, so we traveled between the two. Here are some shots of Clearwater.

 

As we were coming into Golf Port we finally caught a couple of porpoise. And saw a boat that was partially sunk.

 

We are now sitting at the Municipal Marina. It is about ½ -¾ miles from town, but it is a pleasant ride or walk. There are lots of little restaurants and shops in town..

We had a late dinner at O’Maddy’s.

 And they have a wonderful Municipal Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will try to get another post in next week before we head home for Christmas. Once we head home we will not resume our trip until around the 5^th of the New Year.