11/30-12/15/13 - On to the Keys!

On the 30th we sailed from Dunedin to Gulfport and met up with our Looper friends Mike and Hiromi

Loopers doing what they know best...docktails!

 The next day (12/1) we sailed to Sarasota.  We went to the Circus Museum and were amazed by all it had to offer.   They have all sorts of exhibits and costumes that tell the history of the modern circus.  One of the major parts of the museum is a "miniature" circus that takes the viewer from when the circus train comes into town and all the way through the show.  Fascinating.

Afterwards we went to the mansion that John and Mabel had built.  There is something fascinating about 'gilt era' mansions.

Later that day, our sailing friends from the New York City area, Mark and Linda Williamson joined us in Sarasota and sailed with us to Fort Meyers.

First stop wa at Venice where Loretta and Linda  discovered Fifi’s Consignment.  Great place for getting fashionable clothes on the cheap.
We then went to Boca Grande, and Sanibel Island, FL before getting to Fort Meyers, FL.  We dined at Joes Crab Shack which has every type of crab except stone crab which was in season.  Go figure.
Next day we took our friends to the airport and then went to the St. Petersburg Boat Show where we came across more looper friends and our boat broker.
On December 9th we arrived in Naples, FL.  WOW the houses along the water are over the top.  Guess this is where CEOs go to retire.

The next day we anchored off of Indian Key, FL.  During docktails we watched a stingray fly out of the water for about 6 ft.  Cool

We had hoped to go across Florida Bay the next day, but the weather was going to make the crossing too rough so we pulled into the Everglades park in Flamingo, FL and stayed there for 3 nights.  Talk about roughing it, No VHF, No Cell, No Wifi .  The marina while nice is poorly managed.  It also has a major shoaling problem that limits entry and exit to times when the tide is high.
On the 14th we left around noon and anchored off of Middle Cape, FL

We crossed Florida Bay on December on our way to Marathon on the Florida Keys. 

One of the hundreds and hundreds of crab pot markers we had to avoid while crossing the Florida Bay.

While the trip was shorter than the Big Bend jump (only 43 nautical miles), it was more stressful because of all of the stone crab pot markers we had to dodge.  Both of us had to keep an eye out.  (Later on we heard of some of our friends who got their props snared by these markers.  

The first sight of 7 Mile Bridge was a great relief.  We were now close to our destination.

Seven Mile Bridge

We arrived at The Boathouse Marina around 3pm and after tying up and shutting down the engine we broke out the champagne and celebrated.