Celebrating the New Year with FOL's

Thursday, December 27, 2012 - Tuesday, January 2, 2013

Irish Attitude followed her track out of the bayous of Tarpon Springs and headed for Clearwater Beach, FL. It was not Christmas in the Keys as we originally imagined or even the Ft. Myers area but it was close enough. Mike and I had an uneventful cruise. Dolphins playfully swam around the boat. Mike did an excellent job docking the boat in the narrow slip. We chose wisely between the two city marina. The beach was only a couple blocks away. Although, the commercial traffic kept the boats rocking! Fishing boats, dolphin tours, wave runners and party boats made constant trips in and out of port.






It was nice to find 'loopers' MAIA and Nanceanne docked nearby. Lou, one of the dock locals was formally from Harbor Springs, MI! Everywhere we go, someone is from Michigan. That evening we went to dinner with Lou and his wife Annie. We met up with Steve and Jim and their wife and girlfriend joined us later. What a great group of people. It was a fun night with interesting people. Steve and Denise are heading to the Bahamas from Chattanooga on their new sailboat. They had never sailed before! Annie had done the loop with her mother and son and she shared some harrowing experiences.  Nice people, nice time! Mike and I spent the next day preparing the boat to take on 4 more passengers.

Our girls flew into Ft. Lauderdale airport Friday. Kristy and Clint took the red eye from Denver and Jen and Jared flew in from Michigan. We were anxious for them to arrive! This was our first chance to see Jen since she started to show. Their baby is due in mid March! This was Kris' first chance to see Irish Attitude. Everyone piled into the boat. The kids stayed in the staterooms and Mike and I on the fold out couch in the salon since we are the early risers. Our first day was spent provisioning and just relaxing. Jen, Kris and I took a long walk on the beach, catching up. The guys made a trip to West Marine. We got a late start on Sunday, but then, we had no schedule. It was a short trip to Madeira Beach but not bad for a shake down cruise with the new crew!  'They're a fine crew, everyone last one of 'em....' A few pods of dolphins were spotted. Kris & Clint took the dinghy out and motored around the marinas. Our girls did most of the cooking and we all took turns on K.P. duty. Surprisingly, we did not feel crowded aboard. Well, maybe in the galley!

The Captain and The Admiral

 

The guys were working their way up from swab to mate!

Jen, Jared and Baby makes 3! 

 

Kris & Clint prepare to cast off



 



Dolphin Sighting!

 Gotcha! Finally.

Fast Burst Camera App assisted in catching these shots

A destination for New Year's Eve was narrowed down and we were just waiting to hear back from the marinas on our list as to availability. St. Petersburg won out! It would provide a decent days cruise and what sounded like a fun city to welcome in the new year! The trip down was great. There were many dolphins sightings. I had discovered earlier that the dolphins would swim right next to the boat at the bow. You had to look over the rail to see them. They would even turn on their sides to look at us! Absolutely amazing.

Approaching St. Petersburg

St. Pete's Pier



St. Petersburg Municipal Marina in near a small airport. It was not noisy, just interesting, watching the small and even bi-planes take off and land. Our slip was in the south basin at an open dock vacated by a seasonal boater. Two full time boaters on the dock were formerly from Michigan, Bay City and Ada.

 

Jared recommended a place for dinner that night, an Irish pub with outdoor seating. The waterfront was in full swing. There was everything from a band playing to a single guy drumming on 5 gallon pails. Luminaries circled around and around in a meditation path and a people were scaling a huge banyan tree. We walked all along the waterfront taking it all in. Boating does wear you out and so we headed back. Jen and Jared had gone to bed shortly before midnight. Kris, Clint, Mike and I watched the fireworks signaling the start of 2013! I think I was in bed by the time they finished. It's so good to have them here. We missed you, Rob!

 

Dinner at an Irish Pub

Posing by the Banyon Tree

Meditation Path

Crazy FOL's

 

 

 

Climbing the Banyon Tree



Happy New Year!

We motored back to Clearwater Beach Marina on New Year's Day. Done Dreamin passed us heading south. Now that we are in Florida we will cross paths of people we have met on the rivers. Some many places to see, so much to do! It was a relaxing ride back, not so for docking. Our calm day had whipped up 20 mph winds by the time we arrived. It was not textbook but no harm, no foul! This short ride was not the best representation our trip so far. It was more like most 'boat day' with dolphins added! A family of dolphins traveled with us for a time. There appeared to be a father, mother and baby. Any day aboard is a good day!

Back at Clearwater Beach, Jared treated us to ice cream, we re provisioned (while we still had access to a car!) and just hung out on the boat. Jen and Jared went for a dinghy ride around. Kristy said we had awakened a sleeping giant in Clint. Everywhere we went he was looking at sailboats for sale! In the morning reality came back to greet everyone as our family prepared to head back to the frozen north. The days were not the warmest but 68 degrees and sun beats 34 degrees and clouds. It would be another long day of travel home. Their Dad and I are grateful to have had the chance to see them. Maybe they will be able to crew with us again!

One last shot!

That afternoon I experienced something new, sea fog. I thought a rain front was approaching as the tops of the huge hotels began to disappear from view. Fog enveloped the area in a gray shroud.  I thought it unusual for a foggy day to begin in the afternoon. Imagine all the kids having to stay at school due to fog!!

The landscape disappeared
in the sea fog