Second Wind on the Great Loop and Beyond

Monday - Wednesday, December 7-9.
Our last day in Clearwater Beach was cloudy and cool, perfect for doing laundry. We enjoyed dinner with some Loopers at Frenchy’s Cafe, a local favorite. There will be a big influx of Loopers here in the next few days. If we hadn’t crossed the Gulf last Saturday, we would still be waiting for a weather window in Florida's Panhandle with about two dozen boats. Having enjoyed Clearwater Beach for a week, it’s time to move on. We are looking forward to meeting up with Looper friends further south.

Early Tuesday morning, Bob and I cast off our lines and headed south. The heavy fog was a surprise, so we were mighty glad to have our radar up and running again. The stretch of the Intercoastal Waterway between Clearwater and St. Petersburg is lined with condos and large private homes, punctuated by numerous bridges. It was slow going because of a steady procession of No Wake zones. By 1 p.m. we pulled into the Harborage Marina, where we plan to leave the boat for a month. Hurray, it has floating docks -- no pilings!

Bob and I immediately caught a trolley so we could see the lay of the land. The trolley fare was only 10 cents each for seniors – such a deal! Although St. Pete is tourist friendly like Clearwater, it has an entirely different character. St Pete is an active city with grassy parks, museums, interesting architecture, lots of history, and a lovely waterfront. With so much to see and do, we will stay busy every day we are here. For example, the only attraction in Florida’s west coast with top ratings by the Michelin Guide is the Salvadore Dali Museum, which just happens to be located next door to our marina. I never thought I was a fan of Salvadore Dali’s work, but after an excellent docent-led tour, we were both enthralled by his complex and confounding images as well as his jewelry.