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.