Thursday, November 30, 2017

Indian Mound Park– a Historic Indian Burial Ground Site

Day 224 … Thurs, Nov 30, 2017 … 31 miles, 4.5 hours

Marina Jacks, Sarasota, FL to Indian Mound Park, Paulson Point, Sarasota, FL

Farther down the FICW today. Part of the time is past mangroves, part of the time in a man made canal and through a lot of bridges, of which some had to open for us.

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One of the bridges that did not need to open for us, but was not that much taller.

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Clearly this bridge had to open for us!!

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Once at anchor, the beach and park are in sight. Cally gets to swim again; 2 days in a row!! Later 3 Loopers pass us, SV Glass Slipper & buddy boat SV No Worries, then Kia Mae passes. Both are continuing on farther that us today.

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The park is named for the Indian Burial Ground it surrounds as part of the park.

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Click on link below for more information on the this archeological site

https://www.trailoffloridasindianheritage.org/indianmoundpark

We are anchored in front of a few very nice homes with very handsome boats at the pier. Hope they don’t mind the view for the night.

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Goodnight from Indian Mound Park

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Looks like Cally enjoys sunsets as much as I enjoy them.

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The next morning, well before we pull up the anchor … row teams are out practicing.

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Tomorrow, Punta Gorda … home for a month!!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Marina Jack’s, Sarasota, FL

Day 223 … Wed, Nov 29, 2017 … 31.9 miles, 5 hours

Maximo Park to a mooring at Marina Jack’s, Sarasota, Fl

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MarinaJack N29 (17)First up, we cross Tampa Bay; we only see the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from a distance. MarinaJack N29 (34)Then another interesting day down the FICW. Lots to see on either bank and several bridges to go through.

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I enjoy watching all the birds on the markers.

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Our first choice of an anchorage next to a great park for Cally, was a bit too open & unprotected from winds, so we moved slightly south and took a mooring at Marina Jack’s in Sarasota. A mooring is a permanently anchor connected by chain to a large floating ball with a line attached. I needed to grab the line and secure it to the boat. That will hold us like putting an anchor down with out using our anchor. More boats fit when moored AND the marina can charge for the mooring.DCIM\100GOPRO\GOPR1991.JPG

I got it the first time, but the wind blew before I could secure it; SO, the captain had to maneuver us back to the ball again. Second time worked well. This was our first mooring; I have read lots of accounts of how many times it took (think an hour or two) to grab correctly AND tales of first mates going over board trying to grab the mooring ball line. First time out, not so bad.

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during the afternoon we saw another boater (not a Looper) being towed into the marina.

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Here’s one of the party boats taking folks on a cruise. Very festive!

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The best news? Cally could go swimming here. Though the marina itself and it’s dinghy dock are NOT very accommodating for us to bring the dog to shore there is a park with beach right at the mooring field. So, we just went to the beach and park and skipped the marina side of things.

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The park has a Tiki bar; we didn’t have time or energy to stop by there. BUT, Cally could have gone with us.

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Good night from Sarasota FL

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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Maximo Park, FL

Day 222 … Tues, Nov 28, 2017 … 29.9 miles, 4.5 hours

Marker One Anchorage, Dunedin, FL to Maximo Park, FL

MaximoPark N28 (25)A short day today; under 30 miles!!! The whole crew is rejoicing.


Some of the sights from the ICW today:

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Even birds have to scratch themselves



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Being invaded by Pirates

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Another great park for Cally, almost perfect; except No Dogs on the beach or allowed swimming from the beach.  The anchorage is by the beach and close location to floating docks by the public boat ramps at a large park (with trash cans!!)

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Cally enjoyed herself, despite the lack of beach access.MaximoPark N28 (33)MaximoPark N28 (37)

In pic below … Can you spot all THREE birds in the mangroves??

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Just a little recap … here is where we have been so far (our satellite tracker wasn’t working quite right when we started our Loop) .

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I still have a hard time believing we were in Canada for 2 months this summer in our boat and have now crossed The Gulf of Mexico and are in Florida.