Ahoy all . . . Please disregard the previous post and use this link http://phaseiiloop.blogspot.com  to access the blog we created to specifically capture our journey of doing The Great Loop.  To find out more about what The Great Loop is, Google AGLCA or Great Loop.

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Hi All....We have created a new blog address just for "doing the Loop".  Please just click on this link.

Off to the Keys, so we thought . . . .

On February 6th we pulled out of Longboat Key and headed south, with our sights on Key West.

Our plan was to be gone for about a month, with our first stop anchoring at Stump Pass, where Dave & Darbi are here checking out the "hood" from the bow of the boat.



 

Our next stop was Ft. Myers to visit our northern neighbor Doc Martuccio.  We stayed 3 nights at the marina in Gulf Harbour and had a great time hanging out with Doc.  Darbi was so happy to see him!

 

Had a great dinner at his beautiful condo, which was just a short walk from the boat.

 

As we left Ft. Myers, we were cruising down the Caloosahatchee River, when some people we met at Doc's marina came cruising by, took this picture & emailed it to me.  We meet the friendliest people wherever we go!!

 

We continued on down past Marco Island to Panther Key to anchor for the night in anticipation of our open water run the next day to the middle Keys.  I was watching the beautiful sunset while Dave was doing the end-of-day engine check, when (surprise, surprise) he found an oil hose leaking . . . it's a boat!!

 

So back to Coon Key Marina for 2 days to get a new hose installed.  Unfortunately, the hose delay caused us to miss the good weather window for ideal wind & wave conditions to cruise to the Keys, so we went back to one of our favorite spots just north of Marco Island.  We spent several days anchored at Keewaydin Island, which is a real hot spot for the locals to hang out on the beach, which is only accessible by boat.

 

Here's Dave & Darbi watching all the activity on the beach . . .

 

... and watching the crazy guys who were power parasailing all around us . . .

 

Morning walks on the beach were peaceful & beautiful . . .

 

. . . with Dave checking out the local creatures, while Darbi kept her distance!

 

Then back to Panther Key for another "on deck" for the Keys . . .

 

 

Back on the boat in 2014......

Before the end of December, we headed south to escape the brutal winter in Ohio.  We arrived in Longboat Key on December 30th and found our dear 'ol friends and "new neighbors" enjoying their new 46' power cat named Adventure Us on the Q-dock.  Just to warn any potential visitors, Nancy McLean & Ron Doerr visited us in LBK last February and within 4 months had bought a boat & moved it to LBK Club Moorings to be our cruising buddies (as soon as they retire, of course!!).

Ron's daughter, Lisa, helped ring in the New Year on Adventure Us. 

We are all so excited about reuniting as "neighbors" after 25 years!!

Nance & Ron were a great help in getting our new refrigerator into the boat.  The old one was dead when we arrived.  It's always something on a boat!

And the "how" is always interesting ~ had to move the boat to a different slip to get it through the port side window!

 

She works great . . .

 

 

 

Life back on the boat is again full of peace, tranquility & incredible sunrises & sunsets ......

And walks along the Sarasota Bay . . . .

and around the marina & golf course . . .



 

and through Joan Durante Park on Longboat Key . . . .

And since "it's a boat", we spent most of January working on Phase II getting her ready for our maiden voyage to The Keys!  As Dave says . . . "you've got to be Gumby to work on a boat!"



 

But installing the new grill was easy . . .

 



 

 

 



Off to Tarpon Springs . . . .

The sunrises . . .

 

& sunsets . . . .

 

on Longboat Key continue to be more beautiful from one day to the next.  The weather has been unseasonably cool for March, but sixties & sunny is still more pleasant than twenties & snow!

 

February brought more visitors from the north.  We took a short cruise around Sarasota Bay with my parents & Aunt Carol & Uncle Bob.  Aunt Mary Ann & Uncle Dave were also down the following week, but unfortunately we only had a short time to visit on the boat before we all flew home. 

 

On February 22nd we left the marina & headed north for a several day cruise up to Tarpon Springs. Our "winter water home" is at the end of this channel in a well protected basin.

 

Our journey took us along Anna Marie Island, where the waters were clear & a beautiful blue-green.

 

And then into theTampa Bay, which was like being out in the Gulf.

 

Approaching & passing under the Sunshine Bridge was an awesome experience.  We have travelled over the bridge so many times, but passing under it was incredible!

 

We anchored in Boca Ciega Bay at Gulfport for the night.  It was a quaint little town adjacent to St. Petersburg.

 

The next morning, we headed north travelling past many cool beach towns.

 

There were several stretches that were so narrow that we could see the Gulf of Mexico across the road (look closely).

 

The weather was a bit hazy with minimal sunshine,  but it was still a fun ride.  Darbi looks a little bored here . . . .

 

. . . but quickly regained interest when a dolphin joined us.

 

She just can't figure out what they are, but she sure lets them know she is there! 

 

We passed a variety of boats along the way, from jet skies to pirate boats to dinner cruises.

 

We passed Clearwater Beach & Honeymoon Island at Dunedin, where the weather became really eery!  It was like we were heading into an abyss!

 

We finally made it to the mouth of the Anclote River, which was our passage way to Tarpon Springs.

 

The sponge docks were everything we expected.  The street was lined with Greek restaurants with authentic Greek food & music filling the air!

 

We docked at the famous Pappas Restaurant, which was within walking distance of all the festivities.

 

The next day we had a blast experiencing the "Greekness" of Tarpon Springs, including overdosing on baklava!!

 

Later that day we hooked up with one of the Y-guys, "Beijing Bob" & his brother Dave.  Here we are having a cocktail at the Veranda rooftop bar overlooking the sponge docks . . .

 

and our boat . . .

 

From the rooftop, we enjoyed yet another incredible sunset!

 

After three fun days & nights, we departed Tarpon Springs with the moon setting at our bow & the sun rising at our stern.

 

Another memory made . . . .