Just before we left home in Lady Lake to move on to "Companion" (our new home for the next 9 months) we met up for dinner at our favorite barbecue place with Kathy & John. They are Loopers as well and were heading up to Vermont to get on there boat. We hope to meet up with them along the Erie Canal or the Great Lakes. :-)
The day before we were leaving Madeira Beach Sally & Michael brought pizza and cocktails. What a wonderful sendoff!!!
April 25th we finally departed Madeira Beach with full fuel tanks, full galley lockers and plenty of wine & rum! :-) Our friends Mike, Kathy, Dave & Pam send us off with there blessings.
It was a beautiful sunny day as we traveled on the gulf three miles off shore. Many dolphins, flying fish and turtles entertained us during the trip. I bent down and padded the hull for a while and a dolphin swam up and turned sideways to look at me. WOW!!!! That was a thrill.
Our first night we moored at Crow's Nest Marina in Venice. Carol & Bob joined us for dinner. There were lots of Ink Fish swimming around. If you touch them they let out ink. They look spooky, especially their eyes. Two days later after (Neil Cameron, a great mechanic) repaired our oil leak on port engine, we departed Venice and all its commotion for quieter spots south. A beautiful day on the Gulf of Mexico (if a little bumpy) we made our way to Boca Grande and into the Intracoastal Waterway, south bound. We passed on Pelican Bay as it had over a dozen boats anchored and instead headed to Useppa Island. Good choice as there were only two sail boats anchored and we fit right in.(just in time for a cold beer, a steak dinner and a wonderful sunset)
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| Kathy & John |
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| Carol & Kathrin |
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| Enjoying Sunset on Sundeck |
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| Ink Fish |
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| Venice Sunset |
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| A Man & His Dog |
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| Is Captain Ron Doing Zumba? |
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| Sunset on the Hook in Useppa |
