Day 14 Stuart to Fort Pierce Wednesday January 31, 2018

Day 14  Stuart to Fort Pierce Wednesday January 31, 2018


It was a lazy day as we did not travel far at all.

The day was sunny and cool - but I got my short sleeve shirt on and shorts!!.

We drove to Fort Pierce and toured the City Marina which was nice. There is much to do around the marina. It will be a nice stop in the spring of 2018 when we head north. There is a nice downtown and library on the waterfront plaza.

One of the events of the day was to look at a Carver 57. This is the larger version of the Carver 53 that we saw and liked. We were thinking that the larger size would be nicer but we both thought that it became to large. And this one looked nice in the photos but was a mess.  But it did the trick to say that we would like a Carver 53 - some day.

A good day in the sun!!

Day 13 Venice to Northport to Stuart Tuesday January 30, 2018

Day 13  Venice to Northport to Stuart Tuesday January 30, 2018


Today was a fun day. It was sunny but cool. We visited with friends Bob and Paula and Scupper.  He is the cute one with the white hair - No No - the one with four legs.

Yes folks that is Faye. Strange things happen in Florida.

 Like finding the street sign below. Note Bob in the new supped up go fast cart. It's Paula's really.

This is our street from Litchfield - right down to the CIR (Circle)

And what would a visit be without a sighting of Super Bob.

We had a wonderful visit. After a delicious dinner that Paula made for us we headed east across the state to Stuart - we will start heading north.

Day 12 Bradenton to Venice Monday January 29, 2018

Day 12  Bradenton  to Venice Monday January 29, 2018


We stayed in Brandenton in the Hampton Inn - Faye's favorite chain - and mine too. The inn was the old hotel in "downtown" that has been renovated. It was very nice.

Today was mostly boat looking day. The first boat was a Symbol 54. I should have taken a picture of the outside - but it was out of the water and in a shed and having some work done on it. But it was huge. I an sure that it was much bigger than the "54" feet that it was labeled. It was nice but expensive.

The next boats we looked at were the Carver 53 and 52 that we had tried to see earlier - but didn't - but allowed us to scout out the marina .

I will back track slightly and tell you a funny story. When we were visiting the marina several days ago we saw a McKinna 48 - a boat that we wanted to inspect. There was someone on it so I said hello. He looked at my hat with "Maine" on it and said "Are you from Maine?' Yup. Where? Portland but we keep a boat in Boothbay. Well what do you know We have our condo in Boothbay. And he proceeded to go and fetch his "Boothbay Harbor' hat - just like the one I have. And his name was Ron.

He and wife Julie were kind enough to invite us aboard and show us around. It was nice but there were things that I didn't like. Glad to be able to check it off the list.  But they couldn't say enough good things about the Marina. Another vote for staying here next winter.

And now back to today - We first looked at the Carver 53. In short Faye said this is the one!!. Not that boat in particular as it was not well taken care of - but the model. The salon and pilot house were the highlights. We also looked a Carver 52 - the newer version of the same boat but we didn't like it as much.

After our viewing we stopped at the office and picked up an application for reservation. Will call Jennifer as she was not in on Mondays.

So it was a productive day.

We drove down to Venice so we would be able to see friends Bob and Paula on Tuesday.

Day 11 Bradenton January 28, 2018

Day 11  Bradenton  January 28, 2018


For those that know the area, and maybe from blog of our travel to Bradenton several days ago, you will note that we have back tracked north a little to stay. We were scheduled to see some boats today - that at the last minute the broker could not make it. We were somewhat annoyed, but let's make the best of it - we're retired!!!

The diamond in the rough for the situation was that, after another fine breakfast at First Watch downtown Sarasota,

we went to the location of the boats anyway as it was in a marina that we thought we should scout out. Long Boat Key Club and Marina was wonderful.

It is part a great resort on the beaches and marina members have access to all the private beaches, tennis, events and restaurants. We think we have found next winter's home!!!  We will stop back later on Monday to see if we can book a reservation!!

The village of St Armand is at the start of the Longboat Key. We enjoyed a great lunch and made it just ahead of the showers.  The gal in blue was our waitress and was in the staff pool of when it was to rain. She had 2:30 We left around 2:00 and the rain started right after - think she won.

 

Nice day even with a change of plans!!!

Day 10 Sarasota Saturday January 27, 2018

We had planned to spend several days with Paul and Taffy but they had commitments come up that required that they keep moving. So we played sightseers today.

We got the car out and drove as far north as St Petersburg and stopped for a leisurely lunch at Bradenton.

Our day started with another trip to the First Watch restaurant for breakfast. See why we came back again?

 We next wandered further up some of the city streets. It has a nice downtown as seen in the photos below

We soon ran into a wonderful farmers market. Fresh vegetables and a lot of bakery products such as in the creative van below.

 And at the end of the walk a Whole Foods!! Go Amazon

And across from Whole Foods a bus terminal to take us around the world - well maybe not that far but a ways for sure - maybe Walmart!

And a short distance later a large Baptist Church - we won't be able to try it this trip but nice to know it's there.

We traveled to Bradenton via Longboat Key. The large island protecting Sarasota from the open ocean. It was a nice ride. It had a nice town center with an art show that provided the explanation  for "why is the traffic so slow?"

We arrived in Bradenton looking for a place for lunch. It was really a long time since that big breakfast I promise! Pier 22 is the marina and restaurant facility in town. Very nice and they are in the process of redoing a large section for more floating docks and dredging of the basin.

 Bradenton is on the Manatee River. When we first crossed the bridge coming into town on Friday on the way to Sarasota we could see a large sign on a building "Manatee Memorial Hospital." We both wondered at first, " I know they like their manatees down here - but a hospital for them?" But as we got closer, we figured that the manatees would not require emergency ambulances in the number we saw around the hospital - and thus concluded that the Manatees will have to check in at SeaWorld for health care.

On the other side of the Manatee River at the end of the peninsula that formed the start of the river  there was the very nice Emerson Park. It featured native mangrove areas with walking trails. I just walked a ways and got some of the photos below. Man was the water warm. I wanted to got swimming as it seemed like a heated pool - my idea of comfortable.

We then drove to St Petersburg to the downtown area. I don't have any photos, but it has a very nice marina right in downtown. The downtown area has really been spiffed up. We agreed we could stay there for a while latter on our pass through the area.

It was dark by the time we got back to the hotel. Here is a shot looking at the nice view we had. 

 I'm beat - Time for bed. Good night

Day 9 Sarasota Friday January 26, 2018

Day 9  Sarasota Friday January 26, 2018



Today was again sunny but very cool to start - 50 or so. I guess that is balmy compared to home but I am looking for warm air that comes during the day and stays through the night to start the next day with mild temperatures.

We found a nice place for breakfast a few blocks away. Then it was off to met Paul and Taffy and fellow boater Dave, a single handed boater, and Deborah, who's Captain is back on the boat working on the generator, who were loopers traveling with Paul and Taffy.

It is off to visit the Ringley museum.
It was very impressive. There were displays of the circus, including a magnificent miniature circus city. The several photos below do not do it justice. As Dave said "You have to see it in person to appreciate it."

Faye and Taffy waiting for the gates to open

 This houses the miniature display below and a number of static displays.

 The mural at the entrance

 Taffy is only one that dared try - and she succeeded in getting into the famous small clown car!!

 Some wagons from the parade show.

The steam calliope below was real interesting. It was played from a keyboard like connection up front. Note the wires connecting to the whistles. It is steam powered and the boiler hides in the back.

 We are cute!

 The traveling human cannon machine

The displays are on the grounds of John and Mabel Ringley winter home. We toured the house. We were not allowed to take photos inside. But the shots from outside clearly document the grandeur of the mansion.

Below is the tower from the ground and then there are shots from the terrace of the tower. Magnificent it was.

 Our troopers

The sun again heading west to end another day as seen from Marina Jacks where they are moored and the location of the restaurant that we all ate at.

 A fine day - no driving and we felt like real tourists.
A I have to say that there were all old people at the museum - humm - is there a take away I should be making of that?