A day cruise down the ICW

Yesterday we decided to take a trip up the Intracoastal and anchor out in Boca Lake and have lunch. This trip takes you through the heart of Boca Raton. Definitely big bucks in this area. Probably a few less since Bernie Madoff, but you wouldn't know it looking from the water. Below are some pictures of homes, and boats we passed along the way

The pink tower is Boca Resort & Club. A lot of history here.

I wonder what his fuel burn is per hour? See the boat behing him and to the left? That is his also.

Homes of Boca on the ICW

A little stubby, don't you think?

I think the house is a bit bigger than the boat, but not by much.

always busy on the ICW

I think his dingy may be bigger than our boat.

Relocated to Lighthouse Point

We have left Palm Island Marina and are now on the East Coast in Lighthouse Point. The Town of Lighthouse Point is adjacent to Boca Raton and Pompano Beach. It is a very nice community and our marina, The Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club, is convenient to most shopping. The East Coast is very different from most of the West Coast. It is very busy and built up. Perhaps the West Coast learned from the planning and zoning “errors” of the East Coast.

This marina is well appointed and has everything one would need and want. Although it is a private club they allow us visitors (also known as transients) use of the facilities and partake in events. Somehow the term transient reminds me of people in flop houses in Manhattan who wait at soup lines for meals. Sometimes criminals on shows like Law & Order and NCIS are transients in one of those hotels. Actually when you look at our boat among the others we are near,  we are “THE TRANSIENTS”. I expect them to ask us to wear bells so that people will know to stay clear of us when walking the docks. Kidding aside the people are very friendly and welcoming. One great thing is no one stops and starts asking about our boat like they always did every day at our last marina. I have a feeling they may stop by and give us food and clothes and offer to take us to the free medical clinic.

We will be staying here for a month and will keep you posted if anything of interest arises. Below are some pictures of the marina.

Pool

Other shot of pool with Tiki Bar in background

Like the book Where's Waldo the people here play Where's ILLUSIONS

There she is

Our dock, Where's ILLUSIONS

A few more photos

My friend Dave Deem sent me a few more photos of our Useppa trip.

Egret waiting for dinner

You can feel the power when you can stop traffic to make them open the bridge for you.

No we are not mad at each other

White Pelicans

Now she is happy

I keep telling Dave that the fish bite better when the shinny thing is in the water

Dave still not listening to me

Charlotte Ann - Dennis O'Connor's boat

Touching base

It has been a while since I last posted, but unless something of interest happens there is no sense in boring you.
Today we took a day cruise with two other couples to Useppa Island. This is a private island and the only way you can visit here is to be a club member or the member of a club having reciprocal privileges. The marina we are staying at is a member so we have the opportunity to visit. The island's history goes back tomindian inhabitants, the civil war and also government occupation during some wars. In later years it used to be a fish camp for tarpon. Tarpon are the most spectacular fish to catch. They can run as big as over 200 lbs and have been known to accidentally jump into a boat. They are strictly catch and release. They migrate up to this area in May and Boca Grande has a huge tournament at that time.
Useppa eventually was bought by several people and has since become what it is today. There are very few homes and each has a wonderful view of the water. The island was hit pretty hard in 2004 by hurricane Charlie and many of the homes were destroyed as well as the collier Inn, but the owners rebuilt and it remains a great destination while cruising.

Trying on some threads on a visit to Boca Grande



This is Ginny Jess's sister wife while cruising



Illusions at the dock at Useppa

Dave Deem and I literally sitting on the dock by the bay



This is Denny O'Connor an interesting guy and his wife Charlotte. They have been married 50 years. You can tell by the way they posed for the picture. Dennis started as an electrician, then a plant manager for GM and then a medical doctor. A good friend to have. In one visit he can fix your switch, organize you and take your blood pressure.



Anchored out at Cayo Costa

Cayo Costa is one of the nicest Florida State parks that we have visited. This is a well protected anchorage. You can dingy to their dock and walk the trails and make your way to the Gulf of Mexico. This beach is known for collecting many shells as well as shark teeth.

Anchored and Rafted

Sunset

We made it to shore and did a bit of exploring. We are all still friends!

Staying in Cape Haze for a while

We have reached our destination of Palm Island Marina in Cape Haze where we will be for 5 weeks. We chose this spot as a "home base" because it is central to several cruising destinations such as Ussepa Island, Boca Grande, Sanibele Island and cabbage key. We also put together a Rendezvous with 15 other Ranger tugs that will take place from February 1st through the 4th. Below are a few pictures of Palm Island Marina

View of our pool

They have their own beach on the gulf and this is the ferry to bring you there

another pool view

This is the entrance from the ICW to Palm Harbor

Sitting at the dock

Sarasota

We spent 3 nights in Sarasota. This is a hustle and bustle town. We had the opportunity to go to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Ringling Museum. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens abut the Sarasota Bay there is an extensive collection of orchids, bromeliads and epiphytes. The Ringling Museum is a two day event. The interesting part is that the Ringling’s left no circus memorabilia. They left all art and their homestead. However there is an extensive exhibit on the circus. All of the artifacts were donated by other sources. Howard Tibble built and entire miniture replica of the circus and that is also displayed at the museum. When he originally made it the Ringligs did not give him permission to use their name so he called it the Howard Brothers Circus.
The history of the circus is interesting. In general back in the late 50’s and early 60’s the circus was a victim of modern medium of that time, TV, the big screen and also a change in lifestyle. The circus would travel from town to town throughout the country by train and set up tents for the day. Their arriving in town was an event in itself. Over 1,500 workers would set up 12 tents in 1.5 hours! The big top was 120 feet wide and 600 feet long. The cooking tent fed all of the works 3 meals per day. The entire operation was a scheduling feat. There are tons of facts and exhibits to see so I will stop here and you can come down yourself and explore.

Yesterday we traveled from Sarasota to Venice and below are some pictures of our trip and also of our visit to Ringling.

On the steps by the Ringling home veranda

One of the many huge homes while traveling Sarasota Bay

One view of Howard Tibble's miniature circus

Jess trying out for the circus

I never promised you a rose garden, I said bromeliad

Look close, even miniture circuses have rest areas

A view looking up at the frame of an open air gazebo



One of the many orchids at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens