Punta Gorda, FL Burnt Store Marina 11/28/2016
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| Sarasota Yacht Club lite up this morning |
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| Lily gets impatient with me photographing |
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| Sunrise |
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| They were in the middle of decorating their boats for the holidays when we arrived |
Mom and dad were so excited to get home that they were on the water before 8 AM. It was a beautiful, sunny but windy morning for the last leg, so we decided to stay on the ICW instead of going out on the Gulf again. Besides, it’s such a pretty part of the ICW despite all the slow parts… We seemed to hit the bridges at the right time so we didn’t have to wait to openings…
For a change we were able to get under most of them without asking for an opening…
Mom got out the frozen Jimmy Dean frittatas to fix for us for breakfast…Delicious!!! It was such an a delightful ride…especially with all the dolphins performing for us!!!
This part of the trip holds such memories for M & D since they had spent so many Christmas holidays in Siesta Keys with Bek and Mike, Mom’s parents and sometimes with mom’s brother Gary and his girls, Stacy and Jodi…even one Christmas with our German foreign exchange student, her dad and sisters!!! So we adore Sarasota and Siesta Key!!!
The closer they got to Charlotte Harbor, they had more memories of day boat trips with the Walsh’s, Fry’s, Mundhenke’s, Lapinski’s and Shetter’s…(Not to mention, Mom’s crazy fun and team spirit with her dragon boat team, Draggin Dragons and Vogue Dragons…it was so much fun catching up with them along our journey!!!)
Arriving home was so exciting, but surreal at the same time…everything looked great but not too changed…
However, M & D definitely felt different as do I! We all have so many terrific stories to remember and tell… Finally, mom got me off the boat, so I could go and she could hug Charlie and Barbara Hunt! North and Bill came to catch our lines and Faith came to see how I survived the trip…M & D even got to see Rosemarie and her little grandson, who they haven’t seen in years now…
I ran around smelling the place and checking out what dogs were around…I was very Ecstatic!!! …Even more so when mom got me to our condo. She didn’t have to lead me, I knew the way so I showed her. She was dragging the boat cart and not moving very fast!!! I kept trying to get her to speed up!!!
Once mom opened the door, I ran to the pantry door where my goodies are kept and waited for my treat…Mom was really slow to catch on!!! HOME!!! We are really here!
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| Fisherman on the bridge |
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| The bridge operators are all so helpful!!! |
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| Siesta Key Bridge, the first one for us |
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| So many kinds of architectural choices along Siesta Key |
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| A new name for us, but the same old restaurant we use to enjoy right off Siesta Key... |
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| The Bay Tree Club where we had so many wonderful Christmas memories... |
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| It's been awhile since we had to wait for a swing bridge |
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| This Blackburn Point bridge is unusual since the operator is in the middle of it |
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| What a sweetheart...hope I can figure out how to send this photo to her.. |
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| Think this one was on Casey Key |
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| A number of dolphins entertained us today... |
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| Notice the Sign...they are into the holidays... |
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| Venice Inlet with the Gulf on the other side... |
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| More modest housing along the ICW in Venice |
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| Venice's old train station |
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| These homes remind me of the type of homes that my Uncle, Aunt and Grandparents lived in on the East Coast of FL |
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| Circus Bridge was named in honor of Ringling's Barnum and Bailey Circus' Winter Home |
http://www.onthisveryspot.com/find/spot.php?spot_web_name=Ringling_Brothers_Winter_Headquarters
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| Mike was able to run at 16.8 knots for a few minutes. We were finally able to pass some bikers. LOL |
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| Don't know what was going on but there was a huge flock of vultures flying and on the ground here |
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| The Fisheries, a favorite restaurant in Placida on Gasparilla Island |
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| The new improved Boca Grande bridge...tall enough we didn't need a lift |
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This photo showed only a small percentage of the birds that were hanging out here
Love this current home of ours… We all can’t wait for our looper buddies, friends and family to come visit us here…before we take off on another road or boat trip…
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| Burnt Store Marina, our home port |
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| Looking into South basin, as we enter the canal to the North basin |
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| Fisherman love this canal |
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| Our building is the one straight ahead. Our condo is the far left penthouse...looks good! |
Many thanks again for all the people who helped, visited and entertained us along the way…
from instructing us in boating/looping ways,
Kathy and Denis, Lori and Don, North and Jan, Berwick and Alexis, Curtis; Ron and Marji
letting us send mail & supplies to them and having them deliver it, then taking time for dinner or lunch with us:
Tarynn and Brian, NYC
Pat and Rodney, Hilton Head
Minnie and George, Oswego, NY
Steve and Cindy, Myrtle Beach, SC
Kate and Ray, Kingston, Ontario
Bill and Barbara arranged for a Big Chill Weekend with other friends/FL neighbors; Rosemarie and Dan, and Mary and Bernie in Holland, MI
North and Jan, Menominee, MI
Ed and Lori met us in Green Turtle Bay, KY;
to lending us their car & treating us to dinner,
Vic and Bev, Ontario;
meeting us for dinners:
Penny, Lou and Marilyn in Ontario;
Trish and family treated us to a real New England boil in NJ;
Paul and Sharon for treating us to a Union League dinner in Chicago;
Berwick met us at the Sarasota Yacht Club.
Don & Jo, Don & Lori, Dan & Sarah in Petosky;
Bek, Milena & Houdini; Anita & Tom in Ludington, MI;
Sue & Bob and Rodney & Pat in Hilton Head, SC;
Molly in Columbus and her hubby Andy in Ft. Walton.
Vicki and Wayne in Holland, MI
picking us up, driving us around and taking us to dinner;
Christy and Gerry, Norfolk, VA
Laura and Wad in Cooperstown;
North and Jan for taking incredibly good care of us at Casa Shetter’s in Menominee. …Appetizers/cocktails with the Higley’s there as well…
Bobbie and Jose Luis in Vero Beach, FL.
Oh MY Gosh...Beverly and Gary in Petersborough, Ontario
If we have forgotten anyone we are sincerely sorry…and we will add you in as soon as our tired brains wake up.
friends & family who joined us for longer parts of our journey, whether we were moving or not:
Pam and Hershel, NYC
Don and Jo, Petosky, MI
Bek, Milena and Houdini, Ludington, MI
Ed and Lori, Green Turtle Bay, KY
Mandie, John, & Becca, Annapolis, MD
For all our new looper friends, there are just too many to name…
the ones that we spent the longest stretches with:
Knot Sew Easy, Bob and Liz
Chasin 80, Kevin and Jill
Jammin Jane, Ben and Jane
Lonestar, Steve and Kevin
Our Time, Kathleen and Steve
Fins, Phil and Lynne
Salt Lick, Hank and Janet
Compass Rose, Sandra and John
Gypsy, Mark and his hunny
Gracie, Hamp and Denise
Two Infinity, Jeff and Bern
Fourth Quarter, Syl and Jim
Sandy Gal II, Nick and Rachel
but we loved all our experiences with you all and hope you won’t be a stranger…keep in touch!!!
At some point we will add an Epilogue of our final statistics…as soon as the Captain can assemble it from his logs…
Thanks for sharing this journey with us!!!
May all of you have a Blessed Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and New Year!!!
