PUNTA GORDA, ENGLEWOOD, VENICE, SARASOTA, MADEIRA BEACH

He Said:  Hello from Madeira Beach.  It is currently in the middle of April.  I will know see what I can remember of the past 5/6 weeks.  

We arrived in Punta Gorda on Thursday March 12^th to a standing ovation.  Pat’s sister Donna from Vegas was here visiting good old friends from Chicago.  Our plan was to stay a couple of days and we wound up staying 6, and we enjoyed every minute of it. The friends are Tom and Laura, and her mother, Shirley.  The 6 of us had a wonderful week.  They had a really cool condo and lent us their wheels for a few days.  This allowed us to escape from the marina and do some new things.  Downtown PG was just a few 100 ft. from the boat so we enjoyed the downtown scene.  We also spent a fun day in Sanibel Island.  We were there last year and really enjoyed it.  

Tom, part of our fan club

Donna, Laura, Shirley, Tom & Jack having Bloody Marys at Jack's on Marion

On Wed. March 18^th it was time to say good bye to our fun group and head to Englewood.  After being on a mooring ball for nearly 2 weeks we needed very much to get to a slip and kind of get re-juiced if you will, 50 amp, and all the good stuff you have at a dock.  We only spent 1 quick nite here in Englewood then headed to Venice. Here we caught up on laundry and rode the bikes from the marina into the cute-as-shit little town of Venice.  That nite we headed back into town to find a little sports bar so I could catch the 1 and only Ohio State/NCAA Game.  We escaped with a narrow W against Virginia Commonwealth - that was the end of our run in the tourney.  It’s tough to get excited after the football season - I think I drained all of my excitement watching College Football a few months ago.  

Entrance to Stump Pass Marina

MTB with a hitch hiker on top

Our next journey was back to Marine Jack in Sarasota and back to the ball, but what a cool area.  Downtown was about a 5 minute walk and the bar at the marina was very cool.  Most of the little cities I mentioned are places we were at last year.  We love going to new destinations, but we also love places that we have been to before.  It’s nice to kind of know your way around. 

Jack Marina, Sarasota

 Our friends from Buffalo (John and Trish) talked to us in the Keys about the St. Pete area which was our final destination. They encouraged us to consider Madeira Beach, and we are happy to have arrived here on Sat. March 21.  This is kind of a funky little beach town about 10 miles from St. Pete.  John knows the lady (Shirley) who runs the very small but cute marina here.  We decided to give Shirley a shot at selling the boat and see where it takes us.  This marina is very well priced, has a pool, tiki bar, and is 100 yards from the beach - tough to beat.  In about 5 minutes you can be at John’s Pass, this area is very cool with restaurants, bars, shops, and about anything you need.  We love being able to walk everywhere, but we got WHEELS.  Pat bought the little car she has had here eye on for about a year.  It’s a VW EOS, has a back seat, and is the only car with a sun-roof and retractable hard top - damn cute.  So now we are able to drive to St. Pete, grocery store, golf, and all the other things you folks have been doing for years.  It makes life lots easier. 

Our new car with the top down.  A fun beach drive

We have been hanging here for over 3 weeks and are really enjoying it.  My nephew Todd, his wife Katie, and their 2 kids came to visit for 4 days back on March 26^th.  We had a blast with them and it is their 3^rd trip to the boat.  We did the John’s Pass area, the beach, and lots of NCAA Hoops.  The great nephew (Jake) would go with Todd and me to watch the tourney while the girls would go shopping and stuff.  We introduced Jake to a little place down the road with large TVs called Hooters.  Yes, I did say large TVs, but if I was 14 I would like Hooters also.  I am just 50 years older than Jake, and I also like it.  Not certain what he thinks of his Uncle Jack, but I think Todd is happy there’s not a Hooters in Granville, Ohio.  We had a blast, and we always love seeing our friends and family. 

It's close quarters with 6 people on board.  The Belt's family's luggage

We also took just a short road trip and caught up with some of Pat’s good friends.  Like I said, we are digging the wheels.  Our friend Mark Camp and his wife Janet bought here a few years ago.  We of course got together with them for a fun happy hour and the beach along with a little music.  Mark and I worked together for several years at xpedx and retired at about the same time.  They are loving the great waters of Florida.   

Having dinner with friends on the ICW

Since being here for nearly a month we of course have enjoyed ourselves and life here in Mad Beach.  Pat’s parents are due in tonite from Vegas.  We have not seen them for about a half a year.  They will stay here for a week, and I am certain we will have a blast.  It is great to see them both still traveling at 82 and 80.  Ray is a trooper and a half when it comes to travel. 

Also, congrats to Duke.  Coach K is nothing short of amazing. I loved seeing 2 Big Ten teams in the Final 4.  I, of course, was pulling for the Badgers.  What a great season for Madison, but short just 1 game.  Oh well, it was once again a terrific tourney. 

We will keep you all posted on the sale of MTB.  We are none too anxious, but when it happens it happens. We realize neither Florida with its humidity or Phoenix with its high heat are exactly Paradise in the summer.  Either place will work for us depending on the boat selling. 

From Mad Beach, Florida this is Capt. Jack saying L8R 

 

She Said:  We were really looking forward to Punta Gorda and we were not disappointed.  We went for four days and stayed six.  That’s usually a good sign. 

Punta Gorda (PG) is about 15 miles off the ICW where Charlotte Harbor meets the Peace River.  All along Charlotte Harbor, our welcoming committee of my sister, Donna, and friends Tom & Laura, was there waving to us.  We were much more visible than they were, but we could see the gang using our binoculars.  In two years, we never had such a welcome.  What fun! 

Our Welcoming Committee
 

We met the gang, including Laura’s mom Shirley, at the Tiki Bar (one of our favorite places from last year) and then continued to another favorite, Dean’s Cantina for Mexican.  Tom & Laura have two cars in PG and they loaned us one so it made meeting up really easy.  We spent a lot of time hanging out at Tom & Laura’s gorgeous condo and pool.  They also introduced us to numerous new restaurants and bars – it was such fun.  One day we visited Tom’s sister in Sanibel Island.  We went to Sanibel last year, but didn’t have a chance to get there this year, so it was a fun treat.   

Pat, Donna & Jack our first night in Punta Gorda

One day we planned to meet for lunch and Bloody Marys at Jack's on Marion and then go for a ride on MTB.  Jack and I got to the car and it wouldn’t start.  Granted, we haven’t driven a car much in the last 2 years, but we do know how to unlock a car and start it.  So it was AAA to the rescue.  The best we can figure out is that the theft alarm went off at night and drained the battery.  We eventually had lunch and took a boat ride.  We even saw dolphins.  We finished the day at Tom & Laura’s for pool time and dinner, then said our good byes.  Tom & Laura hope to spend some time in PG this summer, and we will definitely get together with them. 

Sunset from the mooring field in Punta Gorda

When we stayed in PG last year, we were the only boat in the mooring field.  This year there were about 10 boats.  It’s nice to see the balls being used.  One day we were visited by another boater who recognized us from St. Augustine.  It’s always fun to reconnect.  On another day we were boarded by Florida Fish & Wildlife – they have a lot of authority and we were nervous.  They checked mostly emergency gear like flares, fire extinguishers, and floating devises.  They also checked environmental concerns – mainly toilet waste.  They didn’t like the position of a particular lever and really interrogated us about our pump out procedures, frequency and documentation.  They finally believed that we were following appropriate procedures, but they did want us to move one of the waste levers.  We passed our first “boarding” with no tickets, fines or warnings.  Yeah for us. 

After the gang left PG, Jack and I used the marina’s bicycles and did some grocery shopping (we didn’t have time when we had the car) and ran other errands.  We’ve gotten pretty good at getting around on bicycles.  We also participated in the marina’s St. Patrick’s Day potluck.  We met a lot of new people and had fun sharing stories.  After the potluck broke up, we walked into town for the typical Irish craziness.  We were leaving early the next morning, so we made it an early evening. 

Setting up our potluck St. Patty's Day feast

We got up early the next morning to an almost dead battery and one toilet that wouldn’t flush.  Whatever was wrong with the toilet caused it to run all night draining the battery.  Not good, but at least we have a second bank of batteries and a second toilet to hold us until we get to St. Pete where will address the situation.  

The trip to Stump Pass Marina in Englewood was pleasant and uneventful – until we got there.  This marina is really more of a boat storage facility with boats stored in a multi-level parking lot-type building.  It was crazy busy with small boats moving in and out all day – along with a busy restaurant and fuel dock.  There was so much activity – even a couple boat fender benders.  We were the largest boat and there were only five small slips.  We weren’t feeling good as we made our approach.  Jack brought us in stern first (his least favorite docking) only to find that the power at the slip wasn’t working.  We had been on a mooring ball for two weeks and I was really looking forward to a power hook up.  It was too late in the day to move to another marina so we decided to make the best of it.  About two hours later, the marina got the power working at another slip and we moved.  Just what Jack likes – two stern in dockings in one day!  It was a fun location with a great view off the back patio. 

One of the ferry runs across the ICW from the Florida mainland to the barrier islands

Stump Marina Restaurant & TIki Bar

Our view from MTB at Stump Pass Marina

Stump Marina Sunset

It was a short trip the next day, so we planned to enjoy a leisurely morning before departing for Venice.  Wrong!  We woke up to another non-working toilet, so I spent the morning on the phone trying to line up a toilet repair guy in Venice.  I found a guy who talked me through some trouble shooting and while we were talking I had an idea.  Maybe the problem had something to do with that lever the Fish & Wildlife guys made us move.  YES!  We moved the lever and one of the toilets started working.  We were in business again until we get to St. Pete to have a more thorough look at the problem.   

We visited Venice last year and returned to the same marina.  It’s such a great location we really enjoy just sitting on the boat and watching the activities.  Later in the day we borrowed the marina’s bicycles and rode about 2 miles in to town – Jack watched basketball and I went shopping.  We rode the bicycles to the beach to watch the sun go down before returning to MTB.  Our trip to Sarasota would be another short day, so we took the bikes into town the next morning for breakfast before leaving.  

Sun setting over the Gulf , Venice

This was our third stay at Jack Marina in Sarasota.  We decided to pump out and get fuel before grabbing a mooring ball.  The woman who helped us at the dock went to high school with Jack’s sister-in-law and knew Jack’s brothers.  What a small world.  We headed to the mooring ball and I did a terrible job.  I had to let go of the hook and a neighboring boat (he was our neighbor the night before in Venice) came to my aid.  It was not the way I wanted to handle our last mooring ball.  But, it was such a gorgeous day and the marina restaurant was super busy, so we dinghied in for happy hour.  This was our last official “traveling” night on the boat, so we headed back to MTB around sunset for dinner onboard. 

Sunset from the mooring field in Sarasota

It was a really nice cruising day to Madeira Beach, our home for at least the next six weeks.  We saw lots of dolphins which always makes the day fun.  Madeira Beach is on a series of barrier islands on The Gulf of Mexico off the coast of St. Petersburg.  Last year we stayed in the town of St. Petersburg which is about 10 miles due east of Madeira Beach on Tampa Bay.  There are 3 bridges that connect the barrier islands to the mainland.  Our marina is on the ICW, has a pool and is across the street from the beach on The Gulf.  There’s also a tourist-type shopping area a block from the marina and a trolley bus that runs the whole length of the barrier islands.  It’s a great beach location!   

Our first Madeira Beach Sunset

Less than a week after we arrived, Jack’s nephew and family joined us for 3 nights.  This is Todd’s 4th visit and his family’s second.  We hung out on the beach and at the pool.  The St. Petersburg Grand Prix, a 1.8 mile Indy-car race that takes place on the streets of St. Pete, was in town so we drove in to check it out.  The guys went to the race and the girls went shopping.  Unfortunately, the rain brought the day to an early end.  As always, we had a great time the gang. 

We also got together with Jack’s former co-worker and his wife, Mark & Janet.  They live about 4 miles from our marina.  We hung out with them last year and had just as much fun with them this year.  We look forward to more great nights with them. 

Our plan was to put the boat up for sale somewhere in the St. Pete area and we decided to list it with a boat broker here in Madeira Beach.  Needless to say, we’ve been busy cleaning and doing minor maintenance on the boat.  We also have a handyman and mechanic scheduled to come onboard to make sure everything is ready to go.  We planned to have the boat on the market after my parents’ visit, but our broker is a real go-getter and she’s got it listed already.  There have been two impromptu showings already! 

MTB in all her glory.  We will be sad to see her go

One of the more exciting things is we BOUGHT A CAR!  We planned on buying a car when we got here, and we bought it 9 days after arriving.  It is sooooo nice having a car.  The only downside is I’ve gotten lost a few times.  Everyplace here is new to us, and while I’m out exploring I have found myself turned around.  So as fun as it is getting to know a new place, it can also be kind of frustrating.  But the positives far out weigh the negatives.  We have even taken a short road trip to visit friends.   

Our new ride!

My mom and dad arrive later today for one week.  We will be celebrating my parents’ 60^th wedding anniversary and my mom’s 80^th birthday.  Should be fun! 

With the car and our plan to stay here awhile, it’s really like living in a condo on the water.  This area will be our home until we sell MTB.  The average time on market for a boat like ours is over 200 days, so we will likely be here for quite awhile.  We will probably move the boat to downtown St. Pete for a few months, because we both really like that area.  In a car, it’s 11 miles from this marina to the one we stayed at last year – but the environment is worlds apart.  The great thing about a boat is that we can move her whenever we’re looking for something new!   

After hours and hours of discussion, we’ve decided that Phoenix will once again be our home. So wish us luck on the sale of MTB and our move back to AZ.  We will keep you posted along the way!