After Tarpon Springs....

... we headed south on Monday, March 18th. Our next goal was to get to Port Charlotte to meet up with friends Doug and Judy. We met them along with another looper couple, Frank and Carrie  in North Myrtle Beach about three years ago. They both have since completed the loop and are preparing to re-explore some areas this spring and summer.

After leaving our Tarpon Springs moorage at Turtle Bay Marina, we headed down the Anclote River to rejoin the ICW.

This was about a five mile section by itself but worth the trip to see Tarpon Springs. We were not sure how far we would get because we were going to experience a new first today that would be repeated a number of times. That would be the passage under bascule bridges.

These bridges have published heights in reference books and on the charts but can you really trust them? So, not being sure we proceeded with great caution lowering the VHF antenna and rechecking the published height for In My Element. As we approached that first bridge it certainly looked to low.

And then it looked lower yet as we got closer.

And the we were under the bridge without asking for an opening as it appeared that we had the clearance required.
Then it happened... a crashing noise and clunking and clanging.... as a car crossed overhead. The boat was just fine but the car passing overhead scared the heck out of us for a moment. Then we had a good laugh.

As we moved further south using all the navigational aids available...

 we encountered some unusual watercraft that were out giving tours.

We did follow a few of these through a few bridge openings just to be on the safe side.

That evening we had our worst marina experience yet. Part of that is our lack of experience in dealing with their type of docks. They have short finger piers sticking out with piling to secure your bow and even your mid ship area. We had to back into our slip for the first time. Maybe we'll do better next time. As we were securing our lines, the board holding the cleat for our stern tie came loose. To inspire confidence the attendant came out with a drill and some deck screws and screwed it back in.

That night we had some [what locals call] straight line winds in the range of 25-35 knots. We were up at midnight adding extra lines to try to make sure In My Element was secure. But... could we trust the piling to hold. Needless to say we were gone at first light.

Tuesday took us further south yet with more bridge encounters. This one near Tampa-St. Petersburg is also a work of art.

The reason for not having every bridge raised for you is that there is up to a $25,000 fine if you had an opening that was not required! Early on we were able to pass behind other larger boats that required an opening.

This guy referred to us as the "little white trawler" between him and the bridge. We let him pass and it was interesting to note that the "big blue ship" had an orange bucket on his stern just like the rest of us who need to swab the deck ourselves from time to time.

That night found us in another out of the way marina on the south end of Siesta Key. It was now called Turtle Beach Marina. After calling them on the cell phone we secured a reservation for the night. We were the only transient moorage boat in there that night.

We found out by experience that it had a  VERY shallow and narrow entrance which was the only piece of information left out by the marina.

[David: those osprey will build a nest anywhere!]

There was a little mud stirred up by our props as we maneuvered to get dock side. After that it was a pleasant surprise. What appeared to be a small beach side bar turned out to be a full blown restaurant with a great menu. The two for one margarita special caught our eye immediately.

Next door there was a small marine store with a variety of things in it none of which we needed! But the interior floor was decorated with beach sand. It was a great idea and brought the outdoor beach inside.

Of course there are some great sunsets to watch each night and to end the day on a note of beauty.

Nautical Word For The Day:    [ from seatalk.info ]

Halcyon Days:                                                                      

                                            

1. Peaceful, calm, and pleasant days at sea.                       

From Great Loop Jargon:                                                     

2. A medication occasionally prescribed by endodontists for their very nervous patients or taken by endodontists after having a very nervous patient. Its duration can last for       days.... if you have enough of them!