Major update from Buzz again~with pictures

Jim and Lynn Derck drove down to Scipio Marina, while I was in Apalachicola to see me. Jim knows Tug and I believe supplied the marine epoxy Tug used when building his boat. They live in Carrabelle, Florida and know the area very well. They showed me the sites and took me to lunch. I had a great time and thank you Jim and Lynn for a great day.

 

This is the city of Tarpon Springs Municipal Marina and it’s right at the tourist center for the sponge boats and all the shops.  These pictures were taken at 11 am on a Sunday.  The cold temperatures sure kept the tourists away. No one on the streets except for Buzz and he is not spending any money. It was too cold to take gloves off and get wallet out.

 

Bill and Barb Schuerman from New Port Richey came to see me. We had dinner together. They are in the process of moving back to Bloomington, Il. We had a nice talk and it was so nice to see them.

 

These pictures are for the little kid still in all of us.

 

When I checked in at Tarpon Springs Municipal Marina, they gave me a slip up front by the bathrooms/shower, well protected from the wind and wakes of boats. I thought this was great, stay two nights and then move on. Well, about 5 am I wake up and something did not feel right with the boat. I am warm and didn’t want to get out and check, but thought maybe I better. Opened the hatch and looked out and still not sure what, but boat did not rock or move. Got the flashlight out and wow, no water, I am sitting on mud. Low tide about 3 to 3 1/2 ft down and I am sitting on the mud. The sailboat beside me is sitting on bottom also, but leaning away from me. Pictures taken at 7 am. Boat did not float again until 9-9:30 am. Went in Marina office and asked if I could move down to the very end of the dock so I can leave at 8 am next morning, 6 open slips there. He looks at me and says “No” in a tone that said “I am the boss Hot Shot from Illinois. I said why not. Price the same for all slips, unless you charged extra for the sitting on the mud. I have to leave by 8 am so will you make the arrangements for two people to be here at 8 am to pull me out of that slip. I’m not paying them, that is someone else’s problem. He leaned on the counter and said ok move down there but not til this afternoon. I said not trying to cause trouble but I do need to leave early and thank you Sir, I will move this afternoon. Gee people get cranky when it’s cold out. So the next time a marina gives me what looks like the best slip they have the hair on my neck will probably start to rise up.

 

     

Bathroom at Tarpon Springs Marina. Two sinks and clean. Going to give this a pelican rating of 6. Might have been higher but still thinking of my boat sitting on the mud bottom.

 

This is what it looks like under the docks. Needs a little color to make it pretty.

 

 

Leaving Tarpon Springs Marina –Important to stay between the red and green channel markers.  They have a lot of water down here. The Gulf of Mexico on a perfect day.

 

 

Can you find the bird in the pictures? One is easier to see than the other. But same bird in both pictures.

 

   

Bathroom at Madeira City Marina. This is different, it is on wheels. Two bathrooms with a shower on the trailer. A little small, but not bad.They were clean. There was a fire extinguisher in each one.  Haven’t seen a fire extinguisher in any other bathroom. I heard some of these southern dishes are hot, but not that hot. Giving this potty on wheels a pelican rating of 5. 

 

Pictures of Intercoastal north and south of Clearwater Florida.

 

   

This is at O’Neill’s Marina just south of Gulfport. Two boats down from me was a parrot sitting on the front bow of a boat. I got the camera and started to take pictures. Ted Knowles owner of boat and the parrot said “You did it now.” The parrot’s name is Miss Mullet and is 17 years old. When someone takes pictures Miss Mullet really starts acting. This is one neat bird.

 

This is what happens when anchor at high tide close to shore. Tide goes out and boats have a problem.

 

 

Pictures taken at O’Neill’s Marina. The one with the stuffed lion is to keep birds away. Does this work? No. But it did cause me to do a double take when walking by.

 

    

Bathrooms at O’Neill’s Marina. Clean and large. Pelican rating of 9.0. I wondered what the ladies bathroom might be like. But was afraid to check it out. The rumor is they have carpet on the floors and bottles of cold wine on counter. Why is that?

 

Pictures going across Tampa Bay.

 

 

Picture at Interbay Moorings Marina at Gibsonton Fl. Every morning about 6:30 am flocks of birds would land on the larger boats. That has to be a mess to clean up.

 

        

Pictures of Larry Wilson (Rita Patterson’s brother), his bait shop, fishing supplies, etc. Real nice place. Ate at Larry’s house 3 nights and really enjoyed being there. Larry, Rita, and Aubrey sure went out of their way to cater to my needs. I thank them very much. Larry’s place is called Fisherman One Stop located on Route 41 Gibsonton, Fl.

 

 

This is a bar/grill one block from the marina called River’s Edge. It is a biker bar. The bikers sure carry/pull hardware behind their bikes. How would you like looking down the barrel of that 45 cal. It is a grill that can hold 100-200 hamburgers.

 

 

At Interbay Moorings Marina. One picture high tide at 1 am in the morning and the other at 6:30 am in the morning. Same location both photos. Big difference in the water level.

 

 

Pictures of manatees and one picture of fiddler crabs. I am not really that close. The camera has a zoom lens.

 

 

Bathroom/shower at Interbay Mooring’s Marina. Clean, large with hooks to hang clothes. This gets a pelican rating of 8.5.

 

  

Have seen lots of dolphins. Taken about 200 pictures and only got 1 picture of a dolphin.

 

 

Picture of Sunshine Bridge on Tampa Bay. They must have heard I was coming and installed those pillar protectors. 

 

   

This is in the Seafood Shack at Bradenton Beach. This Floating Chapel on the Bay was parked right across from me. They had a wedding there the next day. One the railing of the floating chapel they had a clipboard. It was a sign up sheet for stand in grooms. Must be available in 15 mins and no tie necessary. I wrote down a few names of guys from where I used to work.

 

 

Bathrooms at Seafood Shack Marina. All tile, 4 bathrooms with showers. Very nice. Pelican rating of 9.

 

At Marina Jack’s in Sarasota, Fl, there was an excursion boat. Maybe I need a mermaid and a palm tree on my boat.

 

    

Not sure what kind of tree this is, but the roots start on the branches and go to the ground.

 

This lady lives on this 24"’ power boat. Diane is her name and also the name of her boat. She bought the boat new in 1983 and travels back and forth from New York to Florida. Here at Marina Jack’s, she says she comes here for a month every year.

 

Bathrooms at Marina Jack’s- They have 8 bathrooms and 3 washers and dryers. This gets a pelican rating of 9.5.

 

This is 25’ tall and in a small park in front of marina.

 

 

This Oloid is a little hard for me to understand.  I am not the brightest bulb in the room. But this burned out my light when I first read it.

 

  

This is a dinner cruise operated out of Marina Jack’s in Sarasota. The gentleman on the left is the captain. I had their names, but can’t find the paper.

 

  

After leaving Marina Jack’s in Sarasota and heading south on the Intercoastal, I look behind me and there is a guy rowing. It seems he is getting closer to me. I think no he can’t be getting closer.  Well, when he pulled up beside me, I yelled to him, “You are making me look bad.” He just smiled and went on by. Maybe I need two 2.5 HP instead of just two 2 HP.

 

 

Pictures on the Intercoastal between Sarasota and Englewood, Fl.

 

Pelicans sitting in the trees on an island. I have not seen pelicans sitting in trees before.

 

One night after dark, I shined the flashlight in the water and a bunch of little fish all of a sudden appeared. Maybe not a big deal to everybody. But first time I ever shined a light in water and fish appear.

 

 

Bathrooms at Royal Palm Marina in Englewood. Large and shared with the Teke Bar. Taking a shower with guys coming in with a few beers in their belly, a guy has to be careful. If you see a twinkle in their eye, just growl at them. Gets a pelican rating of 6.0 and a growl.

 

   

Pictures at Royal Palm Marina. The lighthouse works and looks neat at night. 

 

This is Dale Wentzel. He and his wife Johnna just took over the marina and are making changes all over. this will be an even nicer place. I wish Dale and Johnna the very best.

 

 

While riding the bike and killing my butt, I stopped at a used items type of store. Found a Jack Higgins paperback I haven’t read. It cost me 82 cents including tax. The lady checking me out was very excited about the big sale. After I left I thought maybe I should have bought two 82 cent books.

 

   

Pictures along Intercoastal between Englewood and Boca Grande, Fl. One picture is of a crab pot marker. They are all over and attached to a wire cage of all different sizes. This is a bird drying off after fishing. Large swing bridge over the Intercoastal.

 

  

Got to Whidden’s Marina in Boca Grade, Fl. This is a real old, (1925) marina and nothing has changed in the 85 years. Well, one thing changed. they did a bathroom upgrade. So I am going to do the bathroom rating before we tour the marina. The shower is built up and over a small canal, it does have a door on it. the one single bathroom is for everyone, but the door is cute.  This is a watch where you step and lay your clothes type of operation. Give this charming set up a pelican rating of 3.5.

 

 

Here at Whidden’s Marina they have two pet pigs, two ducks that act like they run the place. 1st marina with pet pigs. I went in to get a slip, and I could not even see the lady behind the counter. But then I did not know that was the counter with 85 years of paper piled up. We finally made contact and I found out one thing that they are current on. She said we take all types of credit cards. I did sign their guest book. All kinds of really old signs hanging around. This is quite a place.

 

   

Downtown Boca Grande, Fl. This is a very ice area. Golf carts all over, with parking for them. All kinds of small shops, an 18 hole golf course along the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoyed my afternoon here.

 

 

On 1/27/2010 arrived at Monroe Canal Marina in St James City on Pine Island. this marina is the smallest I have been in. Only has 9 slips total. It is located about 1 mile off of Pine Island Sound back up a canal with homes on both sides. Real nice going up this canal. No trawlers/big boats of any kind.

 

 

The bathroom here at Monroe Canal Marina is one I haven’t seen before at a marina with transient slips. This gets a pelican rating of 1 and don’t get locked in.

 

 

Arrived at Fort Myers today and got a slip at Legacy Harbor Marina. This is a top shelf marina. Protected from wind and waves. Guess what I got a slip right up front and close to all the services. I know what I said after Tarpon Springs, but there is about 5” of water under me and only a two foot tide swing. The cost is reasonable. I have paid a lot more for a lot less. A grocery store, 7/11 convenience store, restaurants close and one restaurant on the water within 1000 ft. When I tied up there was a diver working on the bottom of a boat. I walked down and asked if I could take his picture. His name is Greg. I asked him about things he has run into in the water. He said in marinas manatees are attracted to the air bubbles and come in close, you can’t touch them but they get close. Out of the marinas you have all the fish, sharks, have not been a problem, they come look around and leave. The alligators you don’t see until they are right on top of you. You do have to watch out for them.

 

I had the pleasure of getting a slip next to the boat called BeachCat. Owners Doug and Sue Walton are here at Legacy Harbor Marina. they travel with their two dogs Scotter and Lacy. The boat is 44’ manta with a 21’ beam(that’s wide) with only a 2 1/2 ft draft. It is spotless and a beauty. They were kind enough to give me a tour of the boat. Completely air conditioned, three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen with visibility 360 degrees. I know there was a lot of other items that I can’t remember but they do have solar panels on top of the boat. This boat has it all. Every day Sue or Doug would ask if I needed anything. It was my good fortune to meet Doug and Sue and I wish them the very best of everything in the coming years.

 

   

This is a big boat leaving the marina Friday morning. They pulled away from the dock so smooth and under control I just had to take the pictures.

 

This is my 1st real problem I have had with the boat. Monroe Canal Marina I smelled something just as I was getting ready to leave. Found my electrical plug to shore power was hot and after shutting off the electrical disconnect I had to pull hard on the extension cord to disconnect from the boat. The insulation on the wires were melted and pulled one lead out of the plug. I did get it repaired here at Legacy Harbor Marina.

 

 

Did not see any seaplanes using this dock.

 

This restaurant was right beside Legacy Harbor Marina.

 

 

This is Sam Taylor and his dog River on their special modified pontoon boat called River Rat. I had met Sam on Kentucky Lake earlier this trip.

 

  

These are pictures of Legacy Harbor Marina. The two ladies run the marina from this office. Seating is Sheila and and standing is Lanna. This is a really great marina.  This marina had the nicest boater lounge I have seen. Complete with refrigerator, microwave, tv and computer for boaters use. 

 

 

At Legacy Harbor Marina, these are the bathroom and laundry with book exchange. Everything clean and easy to use. Gets a pelican rating of 9.5.

 

  

 

Ken and Kay Kiemel came to Fort Myers with friends of theirs to see me today~ Jan. 31, 2010. We walked around the marina and then we went out to eat at a place called Sweet Tomato. This was a great restaurant, if anyone in Illinois gets a chance to go to a Sweet Tomato restaurant, Do It. In the pictures are in front, Ken and Kay, Bill and Arlene Anker and Carl and Berdie Prins.