Well, it came time to shake off the barnacles and get back on the waterway again today. It was made easy by having a clear, low humidity, sunny day with a start of 61 degrees which is just perfect for us northern boaters. Gary and Rose on Rose’s Pick decided also to leave today and we traveled together for 44 miles to Anna Marie Island.
This trip entails going under 10 bridges. Bob had lowered our tall antennas for this (19.6') as we were going after low tide but all had a clearance of at least 21 feet. I should mention for fellow Loopers that the bridge tenders monitor Channel 9 which was not immediately apparent to us at the first bridge ( Bellaire)which also had important numbers missing on their sign that the central portion of the bridge span is 4 feet higher. Do not plan on making a lot of speed on this portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) as there are a lot of no-wake zones and some crab pots. You will have plenty of depth in well-marked channels and be accompanied periodically by curious dolphins.
As we neared Anna Marie Island, we saw a Coast Guard rescue practice mission with helicopters and boats which was made more real by the CG radio announcement later that an EPIRB (emergency beacon) had deployed in the area. It’s good to know that the technology works and that the CG is there.
US Today did a feature story on Anna Marie Island a few weeks ago and described it as the real Florida. It is a narrow island 8 miles long and is remarkable for the lack of hotels, hi-rises, shopping malls and box stores. We loved the laid-back feel and the 1950’s style Mom and Pop stores and restaurants. Cortez and Coquina beaches merge and provide miles of sand and Gulf waters ribboned by a walking and bike trail. Gary and Rose opted for the early evening spaghetti feed at the Moose Lodge, and Bob and I enjoyed a glorious sunset and full moonlight walk on the beach. The Manatee Trolley bus shuttles between here, Longboat Key and the mainland which makes the area accessible, but for now, it is still forgotten.
As we move south, the boats and people are getting more colorful. Would you guess that this colorful boat used to be a 1963 sedate 41’ Hatteras? The owner Rick is not done yet and plans to add another level of red and purple to “really bring out the color”. He shares the space with his cat and 2 African birds that talk and make girlie whistles. For a special treat, Rick lit all the Christmas lights and decorations for which he won 1st place at the boat parade, and that together with the neon glow of the boat, made it possible for us to do without inside lights that night.
This trip entails going under 10 bridges. Bob had lowered our tall antennas for this (19.6') as we were going after low tide but all had a clearance of at least 21 feet. I should mention for fellow Loopers that the bridge tenders monitor Channel 9 which was not immediately apparent to us at the first bridge ( Bellaire)which also had important numbers missing on their sign that the central portion of the bridge span is 4 feet higher. Do not plan on making a lot of speed on this portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) as there are a lot of no-wake zones and some crab pots. You will have plenty of depth in well-marked channels and be accompanied periodically by curious dolphins.
As we neared Anna Marie Island, we saw a Coast Guard rescue practice mission with helicopters and boats which was made more real by the CG radio announcement later that an EPIRB (emergency beacon) had deployed in the area. It’s good to know that the technology works and that the CG is there.
US Today did a feature story on Anna Marie Island a few weeks ago and described it as the real Florida. It is a narrow island 8 miles long and is remarkable for the lack of hotels, hi-rises, shopping malls and box stores. We loved the laid-back feel and the 1950’s style Mom and Pop stores and restaurants. Cortez and Coquina beaches merge and provide miles of sand and Gulf waters ribboned by a walking and bike trail. Gary and Rose opted for the early evening spaghetti feed at the Moose Lodge, and Bob and I enjoyed a glorious sunset and full moonlight walk on the beach. The Manatee Trolley bus shuttles between here, Longboat Key and the mainland which makes the area accessible, but for now, it is still forgotten.
As we move south, the boats and people are getting more colorful. Would you guess that this colorful boat used to be a 1963 sedate 41’ Hatteras? The owner Rick is not done yet and plans to add another level of red and purple to “really bring out the color”. He shares the space with his cat and 2 African birds that talk and make girlie whistles. For a special treat, Rick lit all the Christmas lights and decorations for which he won 1st place at the boat parade, and that together with the neon glow of the boat, made it possible for us to do without inside lights that night.
