The Adventures of Monk's Vineyard - The Great Loop and Beyond: January 14, Day 203

This morning was quite cool, but the weather forecast promised a nice, warm day. We departed the dock at Venice around 10:00 and headed back out to the intercoastal. Today’s travels took us through the rest of Venice and its canal system and then into Lemon Bay. While the channel through the Bay required great attention because it was a bit narrow with very shallow water on both sides, we were rewarded with gorgeous water very similar to the Mediterranean.

We arrived at the inlet to Boca Grande around 2:00. It took us awhile to get back to the anchorage as the water was very, very shallow in spots. Also the corner we had to round had room only for one boat, so you certainly didn’t want to meet anyone headed out. In the anchorage itself there was not much swinging room so we had to drop the bow anchor and then tie a stern line on shore. This required lots of maneuvering and time, but finally by around 2:30 we were all tied up.

Boca Grande itself is a very charming small town. The guide books indicate it is the home of the very rich and famous. We were meeting friends (Don and Lou) that we knew from a boating club in Maryland. We met them for happy hour on their boat which was parked at the marina and caught up on respective activities over the past year or so. They, along with Michael and Jana on Second Star, walked into town to PJ’s Seagrille for dinner. The entire evening was very delightful. After that we walked back to the dinghy (where we had a note telling us we should not park our dinghy at that dock) for a short ride back to the boat.

Monk's Vineyard at the dock in Venice

Another Monk (Nellie Haggerty) parked at the yacht club across from the dock. The owner's had walked over the night before to say hello.

Trailer homes with their own boat docks

Approaching the Venice Bridge

Mural painted on the side of a building by the water's edge

A shot looking down the Venice (FL) canal -- not to be confused with Venice, Italy

This was the South Venice Beach Ferry

... and it took people to this landing. It went from the beach, across the canal, to the main shore and back.

This house was very interesting, especially the roof. It was designed to look like a steam ship.

Very relaxed fisherman

Neat houses on the point -- what a view they had -- beautiful torquoise water

The water was beautiful. Tried to take a picture to show all the different colors, but the picture doesn't do it justice.

This was another ferry. It took cars/passengers across this span. You can see both sides from this shot so it definitely wasn't very far. Took less than a minute per trip.