Sarasota and Southwest Florida

Our adventure has taken us to Sarasotawhere we enjoyed much of what this gorgeous city has to offer. We rode our bikes over the Ringling Causeway to St. Armand’s Circle and explored the downtown area of Sarasota. We were treated to a downtown art festival as well. We stayed a week enjoying the ambiance and beauty of this waterfront city. We were also waiting out strong winds and very cold temperatures for several of those days. We have found that the cold weather that Florida has experienced this year has taken quite a toll on the wildlife. The endangered Manatees cannot tolerate water less than 64 degrees and many turtles and baitfish have succumbed to the cold water. We noticed the Pelicans shivering in Clearwater and flocking the fishing boats as they returned to port loaded with the days catch, the Pelicans hoping for a morsel to sustain them. Pelicans are a common sight but what we didn’t immediately realize was that they were not diving and swooping as usual. The seagulls became very aggressive, stealing food right off of plates at the dockside restaurants. The cause of this, we were told, was the lack of baitfish. We are pleased that the weather has now begun to warm again and it is reassuring to once again see the gulls and Pelicans diving for food and the shorebirds hunting along the banks. (If you look closely you will see that this Osprey has caught a nice size fish) Departing Sarasota we anchored in Pelican Bay where we explored the beaches and trails of Cayo Costa State Park, an unspoiled “old Florida” barrier island. Departing Pelican Bay, our next stop was lunch at Cabbage Key Inn, said to be Jimmy Buffett's inspiration for the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. The story goes that the fishermen would stop by for rest and refreshment and to guarantee a cold beer on their return, started a tradition of posting signed dollar bills on the bar and restaurant walls. The accumulated currency covers every square inch of the walls and ceiling adding up to more than $60,000. We, of course, enjoyed a cheeseburger and posted our dollar on the ceiling. Every year some 15,000 dollar bills fall naturally to the floor, these are collected and donated to charity. After lunch we climbed the 41 steps of the 1930’s water tower to view of the stunning beauty of the area. We were privileged to see many dolphins playing in the wakes of boats as they moved along the waterway. We are currently docked at Sanibel Harbor Resort and Marina where we are enjoying the beautiful pools and facilities of this lovely spot. We are awaiting a calm day to once again cross the Gulf, this time on our way to the Florida Keys.

Tarpon Springs, Clearwater and Beyond

At the turn of the 20^th Century divers from the Greek Isles settled in Tarpon Springs to establish the sponge industry. Through hard work and dedication they created the Village of Tarpon Springs and made it the Sponge Capital of the World. Sponges continue to be harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and can be purchased in the many shops in this small village. There are many Greek Restaurants and nearly as many Greek Bakeries to tempt one as they wander the streets of this waterside town. Departing Tarpon Springs we were able to once again enter the Intracoastal Waterway, this time heading south along the barrier islands of Florida’s West Coast. We stopped in Clearwater Beach where we enjoyed the white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. We watched the fishing boats leave the marina in the morning filled with tourists hoping to catch the “big one” and return with loads of Grey Snapper which the crew would clean. It was very entertaining to watch the Pelicans as they gathered to feast on the tidbits thrown to them by the crew as they cleaned their catch. They occasionally fought over morsels, some would move away to swallow their prize in peace. We left our boat for a few days and flew to Sedona, AZ to visit Leslie’s parents. It was wonderful to see them and we had a great visit. We were treated to some snow while we were there. Returning to Clearwater we found the cold weather had once again descended upon Florida. It was so cold that the Pelicans were shivering! We delayed our departure for two days when the winds were their strongest which allowed us an opportunity to visit with our friends Bob and Janet Halderman who had come down from Indiana in search of warmer weather. We have truly enjoyed our time here and are grateful for the opportunity to visit with family and friends. We will depart in the morning certain we will find the warm weather Florida is known for.