Day 84 - December 6, 2012: A day of rest
Every day can't be an adventure
Anne left for the day with Bonnie to "do some shopping." When women get close to a mall, there is a magnetic attraction that results in an irresistible urge to shop, whether anything is specifically needed or not. (:-) So, I got the day off.
I had lots of energy to find something different to do, like scuba dive or wind surf or sport fish. Maybe even ski dive? But, in the end, my list of things to do kept staring me in the face, asking for attention.
1. Look into a cruising permit
2. Get a haircut
3. Hang the new roll down shade in the pilot house
4. Fasten down the carpet
5. Write the Christmas letter
6. Order a towel rod
7. Order more boat cards
I even ate leftovers for lunch, with great pleasure, because they were from Mr. Souvlaki and so delicious. Then, I finished off the day with a nap and woke in time to greet Anne at the door.
A day of rest is good for the soul.
December 7, 2012
December 6, 2012
Day 83 - December 5, 2012: Entertaining on Great Laker
Shari and Jim were kind to lend us their car, and we spent several hours shopping and restocking Great Laker. After lunch they joined us, and we took a tour of the Anclote River and its bayous in the dinghy.
Spring Bayou is famous for the St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Cathedral's throwing of the golden cross for Epiphany. It is also home to many manatees in the winter, as the water there is warm. We looked but unfortunately didn't see any on this trip. Tarpon Bayou is the location of a number of large fishing boats and seafood shops on the docks.
The Anclote River runs along the north side of the Dodecanese Blvd where the old town sponge shops and restaurants are located. Here, too, you can find many sponge and fishing boats along the docks. The pelicans love this area, feasting on seafood remains and food tossed by tourists.
Anne made a fabulous shrimp gumbo dinner, and we reminisced and laughed about old times late into the evening.
Shari and Jim were kind to lend us their car, and we spent several hours shopping and restocking Great Laker. After lunch they joined us, and we took a tour of the Anclote River and its bayous in the dinghy.
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| Jim and Shari |
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| Captain and Admiral |
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| Anclote River through Tarpon Springs |
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| Pelicans seem to love company |
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| Pelican coming in for a landing |
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| Dinner together on Great Laker |
December 5, 2012
Day 82 - December 4, 2012: The rookery
Jim and Shari invited us up to their condo to meet some friends and have a dinner party. We started with some bird watching.
One of the daily traditions here is for residents to gather around 5:00 PM to watch the sea birds return to the rookery in the center of the pond. This nesting place is in the very top of these trees, and by dark there are birds on every branch as close as they can fit. They cruise in a "V" formation back from the Gulf and then peel off and glide one at a time up to a tree and squeeze onto a branch.
There was great squawking and chatter by those already there, and sometimes birds were forced off a branch and had to make a return landing. Jim identified one of the highest branches as the "pinnacle" and insisted that certain birds delight in capturing that spot. The birds we saw consisted of Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Anhinga, Egrets, and Herons.
Jim made some very tasty sloppy joes, and we all had at least two! It was fun to meet some of the other couples in the area. As the day came to an end, we returned to Great Laker.
Jim and Shari invited us up to their condo to meet some friends and have a dinner party. We started with some bird watching.
One of the daily traditions here is for residents to gather around 5:00 PM to watch the sea birds return to the rookery in the center of the pond. This nesting place is in the very top of these trees, and by dark there are birds on every branch as close as they can fit. They cruise in a "V" formation back from the Gulf and then peel off and glide one at a time up to a tree and squeeze onto a branch.
There was great squawking and chatter by those already there, and sometimes birds were forced off a branch and had to make a return landing. Jim identified one of the highest branches as the "pinnacle" and insisted that certain birds delight in capturing that spot. The birds we saw consisted of Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Anhinga, Egrets, and Herons.
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| One section of the rookery starting to populate |
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| Looking to the pinnacle |
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| Anne befriending an Anhinga |
Jim made some very tasty sloppy joes, and we all had at least two! It was fun to meet some of the other couples in the area. As the day came to an end, we returned to Great Laker.
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| Sunset over the rookery |
December 4, 2012
Day 81 - December 3, 2012: Another guest on Great Laker
It doesn't matter whether you are living at home or on a boat. Sometimes your computer stops working and you need help. This happened to Anne's laptop a few days ago, and I had spent sometime trying to figure it out to no avail. So, we took it over to Staples (glad for the bikes) and had a tech look at it. He concluded that the WiFi card needed replacement (my conclusion as well). A new one has put Anne back in business with secure access and a smile.
This evening another of Anne's sorority sisters, Bonnie, who lives nearby north of Tampa, came for a visit. We took the dinghy out for a sunset cruise and then ate another wonderful Greek dinner together at Hellas (salmon with lobster sauce).
We got the news that the University of Michigan is in the Outback bowl with South Carolina, and the game will be in Tampa! Go Blue! Maybe Santa will bring us some tickets.
It doesn't matter whether you are living at home or on a boat. Sometimes your computer stops working and you need help. This happened to Anne's laptop a few days ago, and I had spent sometime trying to figure it out to no avail. So, we took it over to Staples (glad for the bikes) and had a tech look at it. He concluded that the WiFi card needed replacement (my conclusion as well). A new one has put Anne back in business with secure access and a smile.
This evening another of Anne's sorority sisters, Bonnie, who lives nearby north of Tampa, came for a visit. We took the dinghy out for a sunset cruise and then ate another wonderful Greek dinner together at Hellas (salmon with lobster sauce).
We got the news that the University of Michigan is in the Outback bowl with South Carolina, and the game will be in Tampa! Go Blue! Maybe Santa will bring us some tickets.
December 3, 2012
Day 80 - December 2, 2012: Bike riding in Tarpon Springs
Today we rode our bikes. These are compact folding bikes, and I had built a rack to keep them in the engine room where they stay dry and out of any corrosive environment. These bikes give us fresh air and sun, a sense of freedom from the boat, and a chance for exercise that is so needed after so many days underway.
This is one of the bikes which is made by Dahon. It has 20" wheels, which are probably the same size as your first real bike as a child. However, the advantage of the smaller wheel is that this bike folds up into a very compact package that is only 1 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. They ride very easily, with 7-speed shifters to cover both hills and straightaways.
The bikes are also great for touring the areas we visit. Today we rode through the old town spending time in some of the shops, and then we explored some of the sights around the city. Later, we visited a yacht club where we were welcomed and invited to come for lunch, dinner or brunch.
Today we rode our bikes. These are compact folding bikes, and I had built a rack to keep them in the engine room where they stay dry and out of any corrosive environment. These bikes give us fresh air and sun, a sense of freedom from the boat, and a chance for exercise that is so needed after so many days underway.
This is one of the bikes which is made by Dahon. It has 20" wheels, which are probably the same size as your first real bike as a child. However, the advantage of the smaller wheel is that this bike folds up into a very compact package that is only 1 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. They ride very easily, with 7-speed shifters to cover both hills and straightaways.
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| Dahon 20" 7-speed folding bike |
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| Folded in a compact package |
December 2, 2012
Day 79 - December 1, 2012: Touring the area with family
My sister, Shari, and her husband, Jim, arrived yesterday from Michigan for their winter stay in New Port Richey. They came down today to see us and give us a tour of the area. It was nice to have transportation and to be with family.
We drove through Palm Harbor and into Ozona where we had lunch at Ozona Blue, a restaurant at Home Port Marina which overlooks the ICW. Then, we headed over to John Chestnut Senior Park on the east side of Lake Tarpon where we spent time walking and enjoying the scenery and wildlife.
My sister, Shari, and her husband, Jim, arrived yesterday from Michigan for their winter stay in New Port Richey. They came down today to see us and give us a tour of the area. It was nice to have transportation and to be with family.
We drove through Palm Harbor and into Ozona where we had lunch at Ozona Blue, a restaurant at Home Port Marina which overlooks the ICW. Then, we headed over to John Chestnut Senior Park on the east side of Lake Tarpon where we spent time walking and enjoying the scenery and wildlife.
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| Jim and Shari with Anne |
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| Bridge over alligator waters |
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| Bambi |
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| Are you going to feed me? |
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| Cormorant drying its wings |
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| Heron and its image |
The Cormorant (see above) is an all black bird common in Florida. It eats mainly fish and hunts by swimming and diving. The Cormorant's feathers are not waterproof, so they must be dried out after time spent in the water.
We looked diligently for an alligator, with no luck. We'll keep up the hunt. There are also manatees here in the marina, and we are on the lookout for them as well.
We looked diligently for an alligator, with no luck. We'll keep up the hunt. There are also manatees here in the marina, and we are on the lookout for them as well.
December 1, 2012
Day 78 - November 30, 2012: A preview visit to Clearwater Beach
Since we are staying in Tarpon Springs for several days, we decided to take the Jolly Trolley down to Clearwater for a preview of what there was to see in advance of visiting by boat after Christmas. For a few dollars you can get an all-day pass that takes you down through Dunedin and Clearwater and includes the local bus transit, as well. For lunch we shared a Super Grouper sandwich and soup at Frenchy's.
Clearwater Beach is just what I imagined Florida to be: sun, ocean beaches, high-rise hotels, restaurants and lots of t-shirt shops. We walked the hotel strip, got our feet wet, and explored the shopping. People come from all over the world just to enjoy this kind of vacation spot.
I must say that while these beaches are great, I am still very partial to the West Michigan beaches and their singing sand. We will return to Clearwater Beach in January with Elizabeth and explore some more. Back on Great Laker, we enjoyed another always unique Gulf sunset.
Since we are staying in Tarpon Springs for several days, we decided to take the Jolly Trolley down to Clearwater for a preview of what there was to see in advance of visiting by boat after Christmas. For a few dollars you can get an all-day pass that takes you down through Dunedin and Clearwater and includes the local bus transit, as well. For lunch we shared a Super Grouper sandwich and soup at Frenchy's.
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| The Jolly Trolley |
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| Frenchy's Salt Water Café |
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| Mega hotels |
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| Salt, shells and sand |
I must say that while these beaches are great, I am still very partial to the West Michigan beaches and their singing sand. We will return to Clearwater Beach in January with Elizabeth and explore some more. Back on Great Laker, we enjoyed another always unique Gulf sunset.
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| Sunset over the Gulf |
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