Day 97 - January 6, 2013: Starbucks, Football and a Movie
This morning, after Elizabeth went running, I spent time with her at Starbucks while she wrote and submitted an application for a summer internship. As she explained it, Starbucks has just the right amount of background noise to concentrate. She says the library is too quiet and any noise draws your attention, and the dorm or sorority house is too loud with comings and goings. While there, I read threads on the Trawler Forum and I think she is right.
The ladies spent some time sunning on the upper deck today. It was the kind of day I expected every day in Florida. I watched the Colts/Ravins playoff game, maybe the first pro football game I have seen this season. There is just so much to do and see on this trip that TV and sports (other than UofM) becomes of little interest.
Later we went to Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. It is a cute and funny movie about the differences between the grandparents vs their children's approach to raising kids. Of course, the ending was emotional and made the women cry.
I'm getting anxious to get back to cruising...
January 7, 2013
January 6, 2013
Day 96 - January 5, 2013: Finally, a warm sunny day!
With the jet stream sweeping low across the country, we haven't had the typical warm Florida weather. Fog, light rain and cold winds have been the norm. Today, unexpectedly, we got a fully day of bright sun and 72 degrees. Elizabeth was quite happy sunning.
Excited by the good weather, we headed off early for the Saturday morning market and discovered a major event with not only the typical farm produce, but arts and craft booths, many food vendors, and a band. Plus, I think all the dog owners from miles around were there parading their pets.
We stayed for lunch and selected pizza smoked in a hardwood brick oven mounted on a trailer. We had never seen one like this before. It occurred to me that these markets are a great place for entrepreneurs to inexpensively test their business ideas with the public without investing and borrowing to start a storefront.
After Elizabeth and I went for an hour-long bike ride along the waterfront, the three of us decided to take the dinghy out to explore the marina. We ran across another cobalt blue hull American Tug just like ours that had a flybridge on top.
Tonight we grilled the last of the Lake Michigan salmon given to me by the yard manager at Barretts' Boat Works in Spring Lake. It has a slightly stronger flavor than the Atlantic/Pacific salmon we are used to purchasing, and I like it better.
With the jet stream sweeping low across the country, we haven't had the typical warm Florida weather. Fog, light rain and cold winds have been the norm. Today, unexpectedly, we got a fully day of bright sun and 72 degrees. Elizabeth was quite happy sunning.
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| Sun at last! |
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| St Pete Saturday Morning Market |
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| Hardwood brick oven on wheels |
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| AT 34 with flybridge |
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| Great pelican picture courtesy of Elizabeth |
Day 95 - January 4, 2013: Jazz in St. Petersburg
Today, while Anne and Elizabeth did some shopping, I caught up on boat maintenance and rode my bike over 25 miles going to West Marine and doing errands.
Later we went to The Garden Restaurant and listened to a three-piece combo led by an 81-year-old trombone player, who has been playing all his life. A trio with a trombone lead is very unusual, but he made it work. As trombone players, Elizabeth and I really enjoyed his performing.
The St. Pete skyline we see from Great Laker at night is very relaxing. Life is good.
Today, while Anne and Elizabeth did some shopping, I caught up on boat maintenance and rode my bike over 25 miles going to West Marine and doing errands.
Later we went to The Garden Restaurant and listened to a three-piece combo led by an 81-year-old trombone player, who has been playing all his life. A trio with a trombone lead is very unusual, but he made it work. As trombone players, Elizabeth and I really enjoyed his performing.
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| Trio at The Garden Restaurant |
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| St. Pete skyline from Great Laker |
January 4, 2013
Day 94 - January 3, 2013: Cruising to St. Petersburg
We arose in nearly a whiteout fog, lowered the radio mast and radar antenna, pulled the anchor, and because of low tide, just managed to get under the small causeway bridge near Pier 60. This saved us abut 40 minutes of backtracking to get to the ICW.
A VHF radio call came in from Bill and Joyce on "Carried Away" whom we met at the AGLCA Rendezvous. They were just ahead of us in the ICW, and we cruised with them to St. Petersburg.
This section of the ICW has a string of small communities, one after another, with homes on both sides, most having docks and boats. We started to encounter many "no wake" zones, which slowed down our typical average speed.
Luckily, Elizabeth got to see many dolphins both jumping ahead of us and playing in our bow wake. They are such fascinating animals to watch.
St. Petersburg is a major city stretching from the Gulf ICW to Tampa Bay. This was the skyline as we approached the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina on Tampa Bay.
After docking, we discovered St. Pete is the home of the Salvadore Dali Museum, and it was open, so we went to see it. Now, I am not an art aficionado but do appreciate fine art. I wouldn't put Dali high on my list as he always seemed to me to portray wild, meaningless images as if he were crazy, tormented, or on drugs, so I went with some trepidation.
It turns out that this very modern museum houses an extensive collection of Dali's works done over his lifetime. The works were purchased over a period of 25 years by Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, starting in 1943, and included notes they had taken in conversations with Dali about the meanings of the paintings they were purchasing.
Because of these notes, the docent on our tour was able to explain what Dali was saying with each work and how themes of his life played into his works. His paintings are frequently layered and contain hidden images in fascinating ways, and without the explanations these would be lost on most viewers. What I saw and learned was amazing and helped me to appreciate his works much more.
Dali's "The Discovery" appears to be just Columbus at Plymouth Rock, but it is quite complex, and Dali claims it predicted the "one step" landing on the moon (see the moon surface and rocks at the bottom).
We arose in nearly a whiteout fog, lowered the radio mast and radar antenna, pulled the anchor, and because of low tide, just managed to get under the small causeway bridge near Pier 60. This saved us abut 40 minutes of backtracking to get to the ICW.
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| Clearwater Beach Causeway ICW Bridge |
This section of the ICW has a string of small communities, one after another, with homes on both sides, most having docks and boats. We started to encounter many "no wake" zones, which slowed down our typical average speed.
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| Typical homes along this section of the ICW |
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| A dolphin riding the bow wake underwater |
After docking, we discovered St. Pete is the home of the Salvadore Dali Museum, and it was open, so we went to see it. Now, I am not an art aficionado but do appreciate fine art. I wouldn't put Dali high on my list as he always seemed to me to portray wild, meaningless images as if he were crazy, tormented, or on drugs, so I went with some trepidation.
It turns out that this very modern museum houses an extensive collection of Dali's works done over his lifetime. The works were purchased over a period of 25 years by Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, starting in 1943, and included notes they had taken in conversations with Dali about the meanings of the paintings they were purchasing.
Because of these notes, the docent on our tour was able to explain what Dali was saying with each work and how themes of his life played into his works. His paintings are frequently layered and contain hidden images in fascinating ways, and without the explanations these would be lost on most viewers. What I saw and learned was amazing and helped me to appreciate his works much more.
Dali's "The Discovery" appears to be just Columbus at Plymouth Rock, but it is quite complex, and Dali claims it predicted the "one step" landing on the moon (see the moon surface and rocks at the bottom).
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| Dali's "The Discovery" |
January 2, 2013
Day 93 - January 2, 2013: Clearwater and Elizabeth's Birthday
Ah, to get out cruising again at last! It felt good to have my sea legs back after too much terra firma.
We headed out to Anclote Key off Tarpon Springs and stopped at the south end near the abandoned lighthouse. With Great Laker safely on anchor, we took the dinghy to shore to do some shelling. The best location turned out to be on the Gulf side where the waves were sweeping over the sand. Fortunately, it was low tide, and this exposed large areas of shells. Armed with our water shoes, and an orange pail (a gift from Dog River Marina), we set out to find whatever nature would provide.
Bingo! We hit the jackpot and brought back so many great shells we will have to sort out and clean the ones that are worth keeping. Here is one of my favorites. It is only two inches long, but has incredible detail and color intensity.
Today was Elizabeth's 20th birthday! She called it a "nothing year." She explained that when you are 16, it is sweet. When you are 18, you are no longer a minor and can vote. When you are 21, you can order a drink. But 20???
Here was our beautiful birthday daughter ready to dinghy over to Island Way Grill for raw oysters, sushi, and salmon. What a wonderful meal and happy time together.
Ah, to get out cruising again at last! It felt good to have my sea legs back after too much terra firma.
We headed out to Anclote Key off Tarpon Springs and stopped at the south end near the abandoned lighthouse. With Great Laker safely on anchor, we took the dinghy to shore to do some shelling. The best location turned out to be on the Gulf side where the waves were sweeping over the sand. Fortunately, it was low tide, and this exposed large areas of shells. Armed with our water shoes, and an orange pail (a gift from Dog River Marina), we set out to find whatever nature would provide.
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| Shelling on Anclote Key |
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| Shell from Anclote Key |
Here was our beautiful birthday daughter ready to dinghy over to Island Way Grill for raw oysters, sushi, and salmon. What a wonderful meal and happy time together.
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| Elizabeth ready for her 20th birthday dinner |
January 1, 2013
Day 92 - January 1, 2013: Outback Bowl Game Day
The day started out well with us attending a tailgate party hosted by Anne's relatives, Mary K., Emilio, Terri and Paul, in the Tampa Raymond James Stadium parking lot. It was a perfect winter day in Florida with temperatures in the mid - 70s and sun.
The good news? The Michigan Band was just incredibly outstanding, and Michigan came from behind and still led with 16 seconds left.
The bad news? USC - 33 / UofM - 28
The best news? Tomorrow we are back to cruising!!!
The day started out well with us attending a tailgate party hosted by Anne's relatives, Mary K., Emilio, Terri and Paul, in the Tampa Raymond James Stadium parking lot. It was a perfect winter day in Florida with temperatures in the mid - 70s and sun.
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| Tailgate party: Mix of Blue and Red |
The bad news? USC - 33 / UofM - 28
The best news? Tomorrow we are back to cruising!!!
Day 91 - December, 31, 2012: Ready for the Outback Bowl
This day was spent anticipating tomorrow's bowl game and getting ready to get back to cruising on Wednesday.
We got our Michigan shirts, hats and face paint ready to go while singing "Hail to the Victors." Written in 1898 by a UofM student, it gradually caught on and many years later became the official fight song.
John Philip Sousa was quoted as saying that Hail to the Victors is "the greatest fight song ever written," and I certainly agree.
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The leaders and best!
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
The champions of the West!
Win or lose, I am proud of all the players, support personnel, coaches and staff for a great season of football and for building for the future.
Anne and I spent the evening at Bonnie and Dwayne's New Years Eve party. They are great hosts and had a wonderful band.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Larry and Anne
This day was spent anticipating tomorrow's bowl game and getting ready to get back to cruising on Wednesday.
We got our Michigan shirts, hats and face paint ready to go while singing "Hail to the Victors." Written in 1898 by a UofM student, it gradually caught on and many years later became the official fight song.
John Philip Sousa was quoted as saying that Hail to the Victors is "the greatest fight song ever written," and I certainly agree.
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The leaders and best!
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
The champions of the West!
Win or lose, I am proud of all the players, support personnel, coaches and staff for a great season of football and for building for the future.
Anne and I spent the evening at Bonnie and Dwayne's New Years Eve party. They are great hosts and had a wonderful band.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Larry and Anne
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