Down the ICW

Pirates in Clearwater, FL

Friday, November 4

We are underway by 9 am, headed to Tierra Verde Island, about 34  miles away.  It is a scenic ride with 8 bridges before our destination, and only one does not require an opening. A bit stressful navigating this waterway, it is narrow and shallow, have maintained 7.5 to 10 foot at mid channel.
We arrived at Tierra Verde Marina at 2 pm, tight getting in with the current and wind against us. We will be waiting out a front coming thru tonight and tomorrow. Not much of a marina, we have no showers and no wifi, but for $1 per foot per night, you get what you pay for. The problem in this area is finding a marina that can accommodate a 6 foot draft, the majority are 3 - 5 foot.
Next day Kathy & Terry took a cab ride to WalMart at $20 each way. Had breakfast at Sun Cafe, where we could get wifi to check on weather and our next stop. Kathy cooked supper, and invited Mike and Terry to join us.

This pirate ship was no threat

Sunday, November 6

Cool morning, winds NE 15knts, cast off at 8 am, heading across Tampa Bay today, doing 7 knts with 2 foot seas. As we enter the ICW on the other side of the bay, Rebel Soul reports engine problems, now to try and find a place to stop, remember everything is too shallow for us. Found a place in Anna Maria Island, the Sea Food Shack, easy in lay along pier. At 1 pm we are docked, Rebel Soul made repairs, and we checked out our steering, low on air pressure. Had lunch at the restaurant and resume our trip, continue on to  Sarasota Sailing Squadron. This is a sailing club for small sail boats in the 20 to 25 foot range and smaller, the only place to accommodate our draft. This was a tight and tricky approach specially at night, arrived at 7 pm and had at least 10 persons on the dock, all with an opinion on how we should dock. They were all in awe at the size of the boat, and “just you and your wife can handle this boat?” They were all very nice and accommodating, we had wi-fi, laundry and showers, but no power or water on a lay along floating dock, for $30/night we could not complain. Rebel Soul lagging behind, and made it in several hours later. We talked them in and used lights to guide them in.

Maria Island...the one next to us is sunk!

Keeping watch?

Florida Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Tampa Bay)

Monday, November 7

Stayed another day to do laundry and figure our next stop, today winds 15-20 kts, waters rough. Folks here were very friendly, they all asked permission to take pictures of the boat and had friends over to see the “big boat.” We have one more stop before reaching Fort Myers, need to arrive at next port in day light, these night time landings in narrow and shallow waters is getting too stressful, not much room for error.