January 12, Day 201 –Clearwater to Long Beach on Long Boat Key

After one last breakfast at the Marina Café we did some last minute chores on the boat to make sure she was ready, undid the electrical, water and dock lines and headed out around 10:30. After being stationary at the marina for a month it felt great to be underway. The sun was shining brightly, there was very little wind and the temperature on the flybridge was in the 60’s. We even had to strip off a layer or two of clothing.

We went under many bridges today, but none that had to be opened as we fit under the vertical clearance of all of them. The water temperature was at a record low for this area – down to 42 degrees. There were many dead fish floating in the water and also many that looked like they were in a state of hibernation but, hopefully, showing signs of coming back to life. The shoreline of the area we traveled today is very developed – lots of very nice homes and huge condos.

We arrived at our destination around 4:15. Our friends, Michael and Jana on Second Star, were already anchored. Once the anchor was set, we took the dinghy down and went over to their boat for a quick happy hour. However, once the sun set, the temperature starting dropping rapidly, so we called it a night and headed back to Monk’s Vineyard.

We had a quick dinner on board, worked on the blog, watched a little TV and then off to bed. It is supposed to be cold again tonight and we don’t have shore power to run the heating, so we’ll need to pile lots of blankets on the bed. After tonight, the forecast calls for much warmer temperatures.

We had an interesting sunrise this morning

Goodbye Clearwater ... pulling out of our slip at the marina (the vacant one)

The Captain was happy to be underway once again

Passing under the Belleair Causeway Bridge

Maybe we'll do a little house shopping in the neighborhood; certainly many huge homes and in every color imaginable -- how about this reddish brown one

.. or a light yellow

or a bright yellow

or perhaps a beige one

Couldn't decide is this was a single family home or a resort of some sort -- either way, it wasn't quite finished

A tan colored home

A modest pink colored home

A salmon house

... or this little light pinkish one

Ahhhh finally -- Trailer homes along the intercoastal -- perhaps something more in our price range

Pelicans sitting in trees -- we'd never seem them sitting in trees, only on pilings, docks or in the water

Approaching Indians Rocks Beach Bridge

A Holiday Inn on the water -- it was huge with lots of docks

Gerry's driving technique --- with his new chair

We spotted an American Legion on the water -- they even appeared to have dockage available

Approaching Treasure Island Causeway Bridge

You can sort of make out the long line of red and green marks -- this is the intercoastal as it parallels the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The channel was very narrow, with shallow water on both sides.