2nd week in Tarpon Springs--Mar. '11

The weather has been a bit stormy this week--so we've stuck close to 'home'. Barry wired in an anchor windlass yesterday--it automatically pulls in the anchor and the chain, saving Barry's shoulders and hands from wear and tear. Today we visited some marine salvage and sales operations--Barry LOVES this. It's like shopping a great sale at Macy's! In the afternoon, we took our dinghy up the creeks here and saw two unusual birds--which makes me extremely happy! So, it was a great day for both of us. Tomorrow we head back to Anclote Key to enjoy the better weather and the sun and sand. Can't wait!

March in Tarpon Springs

We're back in Tarpon Springs, enjoying temperatures in the 80s, no humidity, and clear skies. Our friends, Dan and Dawn, joined us and stayed on the boat for a week. We had a great time--exploring nearby islands, sailing, bird watching, anchoring out, and meeting new friends. Honestly, we are both exhausted right now!!!

Last weekend, we joined a local sailing club and anchored out in order to fully enjoy the exceptional full moon. Everyone brought a dish to share--great food and great people. Afterwards, we watched the sun set and the moon rise. Breathtaking! While anchoring out that night, we once again proved that we are a good team in a crisis. During the night, our anchor dragged and we were headed towards low water and the beach. Barry pulled the anchor up, while I ran the engine and headed the boat out to deeper water. We were lucky--I envisioned a call to Boat US for a tow, while our boat rested lopsided on the sand. Luckily, we're a good team!

Dawn and I enjoyed the white sand and solitude of a couple of the islands near here--watching the birds and the waves. Barry was our cabana boy--delivering us in our dinghy to the beach and bringing much needed and appreciated liquid refreshment. Dan enjoyed fishing--although he didn't provide dinner for us. Maybe next time:)

We were happy to see our friends George and Sue Stock who joined us for a barbeque and some dockside fellowship. This is a great community!

Yesterday we invited friends from St. Louis to join us for a sail--the highlight of the trip being our ability to spot and avoid the MANY prop-fouling crab pots set up in the Gulf right now. Thankfully, it's the end of the season.

We're taking it easy for a couple of days and then hope to catch up with some new friends next week. We'll keep in touch!