Longboat Key

Arrived in Longboat Key (Moore's Stone Crab anchorage)yesterday, took the dingy to shore and walked across the Longboat Pass Bridge to check out trolley service. Really beautiful walking over the bridge, and a totally different perspective than being on Free Spirit and going under it! On the way back we saw a school of dolphins swimming near the bridge. Saw Tosca at Mar Vista (she is the hostess), and what was really funny about that is that when we were walking in the DeSoto Point Park a couple of days ago, we ran into her walking her dog. When Mom, Deb and I were last at Mar Vista, she said she would like to have a sister so I said I would adopt her and I left her a note on the reception stand with my email.
BBQ'd a delicious steak and had a nice evening on board. This morning, we took off with backpacks for the day; we walked across the bridge again and got on the free trolley and rode it to my favorite breakfast spot for triple berry pancakes (Gulf Drive Cafe). We got on the trolley and rode it all the way to the Ana Maria pier and checked out all of the cute little shops. Caught the trolley back to the bridge, and while walking over the bridge say a dolphin breach out of the water. Beautiful!
Tonight we are eating soup and pasta on board, and heading out to Venice tomorrow.

Calm after storm

We hunkered down yesterday while it rained pretty much all day. The boat was dry, warm and cozy. We read and rested and Eric routinely checked and made adjustments to the anchor. Since the weather was not conducive to grilling we made delicious spaghetti and salad. Shortly after sunset the storm disappeared and it was a lovely evening. We were able to watch our favorite program (Boardwalk Empire) on hbotogo. Technology is amazing...but it is even better to take advantage of it on a sailboat.
I woke up in time for the sunrise, took pictures and made coffee. It is interesting how time doesn't matter out here. Waking up real early is a pleasure here. I am looking out on the water, listening to birds and feeling the breeze. I don't have to rush off to a meeting or shove breakfast down my throat. And I don't really care that I was up at the crack of dawn because I will nap later.

sailing nov. 2011

Headed out to the manatee river to meet the benstocks on their new sababa after a delicious thanksgiving with the family.
Arrived to enjoy margot's new mango rum drink and happy hour on their new beautiful boat. We had a yummy shabbos dinner of bbq steaks and homemade challah.
On Eric's bday we all went for a wonderful sail (even played scrabble which eric beat mike by one point. mike said he let eric win for his bday) We made dinner on free spirit (grouper) and managed to watch the gator/fsu game on the computer.
The next day we had breakfast on sababa and bid the benstocks goodbye. We dingied to shore and walked 2.5 miles to and from grocery/liquor store to pick up some mango rum, martini glasses and some veggies.
This morning was a great Monday morning. Woke to watch and photograph the sunrise, went for a 5k walk around the park and surrounding neighborhood and got back to boat just in time as now it is pouring.
It takes me a couple of days to adjust to the cruising life. I woke up thinking what am I going to do all day at anchor? No stores close by, no Publix a block away, etc. But now I realize that I may not have enough time at all to all I want to do today on this very rainy day. After this blog post I will make lunch. Then I will read. I would like to do some needlepoint. Of course I must take nap. Then it will be time for happy hour, followed by dinner, washing the dishes, reading some more and maybe a game of scrabble. I think I could adjust to this with no problem.