What to do when we are not cruising or working on the Boat

This is a banyan tree it is simply beautiful in its own rustic way. Bill and I saw several here in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you bring it closer and bigger you can see the roots twisting and turning, roots that grow upward and out of crevices out the trunk and limbs.

 Today we didn't ride bikes or clean but Bill planned and charted the next leg of our trip.

However, we did walk about 4 miles just to get holding tank cleaner/enzyme and deodorant.

Tuesday, we will have the holding tank emptied before we set out for the next cruise. Part of keeping america clean the waste goes into a tank it is removed by pumping out and disposed of properly.

The weather here is beautiful but I hear on the news and weather channel that there is a cold front moving in. This means we are hopefully in a safe harbor away from wind and waves when it arrives.

Any way today after we walked Bill and I stopped for pizza at the Wood Fire Pizza place, the pizza was awesome very simple thin crust not greasy or messy simple toppings of caramelized onions, spinach,  thin slices tomatoes and garlic baked in a wood fired oven. We walked back to the boat to rest. Bill then completed entering the way points into the Garmin and I swept and mopped the salon, the salon is our main living cooking and sitting area. The fly bridge is another sitting area we use a lot its like having a sun porch on the boat, the fly bridge also has good views for all around.

 We have had some great days with friends, talking eating and sharing the adventure but tonight we rested. after a simple supper of grilled chicken and new green beans and potatoes, we watched old sit coms on T.V., and read, these kind of nights are just as nice as being busy with friends. I think it was much needed. 

Today we head out again on our adventure. I will take more pictures, enjoy more sights of Florida. 

Before I go I will share with you a recipe for lasagna soup. Make it in the crock pot serve with crusty warm bread, or salad, and if you like a glass of red wine.

Lasagna soup

1 -large 32 ounce  box of Swanson broth chicken or beef

1 box of Hamburger Helper, lasagna 

1 pound browned ground beef or if you want use ground turkey

Add  a favorite vegetables like Italian green beans, onion, red pepper, zucinni to make it colorful

2 cups water if more liquid is needed

Do not add the noodles until about 30 minutes before serving as they cook fast and become gummy if overcooked.

Its a good tasty fast meal and gets rave reviews and its so easy esp. if your day is busy and you can do it on the stove or crockpot.

Well I have to get busy because we cruise again will write more tomorrow...Love ya all, JOY

Bikes and Alligators

Bill and I started our day out visiting the Saturday market it is an open air market with fresh veggies, food, music, crafts and lots and lots and lots. You can really tell that these folks have worked hard all week to prepare for this market. Kathryn from "Next to Me"  said, "we have been to a lot of markets and this one is the best". Katheryn and Bob are about 90 percent completed then they will be finished.  

When we had purchased the goods we wanted we went back to the boat to put them away and Bill and I headed out to rent our bikes for the day.

Bill in front of the bike shack. you can rent any kind of bile from regular cruising bikes to 4 wheel surrey. Bill is walking his bike to the palm tree for a picture. 

Here we are ready to roll.

We rode 4 1/2 mile to Boyd Hill nature preserve its very rustic and most of the animals are free to roam around.

Beautiful swampy area with lilly pads

Lake Maggorie

A little black lizzard with spots on his back.

Bob and Katheryn in search of alligators.

 sculpture of a pelican

a swampy black turtle pond

armidillo made of car parts

ME at the butterfly garden

there are lots of blooms and butterflys

And finally here he is! We seen 2 of them sunning themselves near the bank of the lake.

What an awesome day!

We rode the 4 1/2 miles back to the bay area near the marina and ate at " The Moon Under Water, great food with any variety or culture you like, the place must be good its crowded .

There were a lot of events going on in St Pete's today, a regatta of sailboats from Good ol' boat,

Tampa Bay is a great place to sail according to the guide books. We seen hundreds of sailboats in the bay.

After such an exciting day we rested and the moon was full the night simply beautiful!

Oh yeah! and Becky called to check on us she told a story about  Molly, she is 2 she built herself a stage out of chairs and a bank that looks like a parking meter, just maybe she will be a singer someday. I hope Becky took pictures. Well I gotta go get my boat chores done so we can ride again. I will post more tomorrow. Love ya, JOY

Blue sky and Sunshine

Hello! from St. Petersburg, Florida
After cleaning the boat and laundry there was much exploring to do.

There is all kinds of adventures in St. Petersburg in walking distance from the marina.

First day we rode the trolley and explored the city, kinda got the lay of the land.

Then Bill and I explored the museum.

There are street vendors on most corners.....

SO! First time ever we bought hotdogs and sat under a palm tree listening to 50's and 60's music on the side of the bay.

This was the view during lunch.

2nd day St Pete. about a .05 mile from the marina The Titanic exibit and Dali museum.

Our visit to the Titanic exhibit. It was great! Not allowed to take pictures of the exhibit so you get to see us.

Across the street from the exhibit is the airport. We ate lunch at the Hanger.

This was the view from the restaurant watching planes and boats Bill was in his element, he loves that stuff...

St Petersburg is full of parks, fountains, restaurants beaches and shopping.

After a nap and light supper we walked again about 0.5 mile, then joined Bob and Katheryn on "Next to me" to share the days adventures. The skys are beautiful blue and sun is warm. I am really enjoying our time here.

Check in again tomorrow because we plan to go to the farmers market then bike ride to a animal park about 4 miles you won't want to miss Ma Joy and Pa Bills adventure on bikes would you? That may be a sight to remember.

 Love ya, JOY 

Clearwater to St. Pete

As I really don't mean to bore you with all the details but ...This is great!

The ride from Clearwater to St. Pete was wonderful although the air was cool in the 70's the sun was out brilliantly shining on the water as in a path it made a way to the Inter-coastal waterway we were on our way to St Petes.

Leaving Clearwater about 830 am and our good friends behind we set out on this next adventure to St. Pete's  the trip was fairly uneventful although the starboard engine did have to show off again her name is Ethyl she has to be pampered she had her fuel polished in Clearwater and now she is being persnickety about air in the lines, no matter, Bill got her up and running again he has the touch to fix her once again and we arrived in St. Petersburg about 130 pm. We settled in made a quick lunch, did laundry, and cleaned the kitchen sounds much like at home dosen't it? 

This is the sunrise in the marina at St Petersburg, Florida the day promises to be beautiful with blue skies and temps of 72 degrees. 

Our plan is to enjoy the day with a touring trip around the city, visit some museums. M/V Searanna is here but they are leaving today, Dick and Deanna gave Bill some good advice on places to see while we are here.

With and full agenda we will have to get started. I will write more later Love you all, Maw Joy 

We are off to see the beach

Here we are traveling on January 19 from Tarpon Spring to Clear water Beach

Katheryn from "Next to me'" took the picture from the helm of her boat.

While waiting for the tide to rise in the Anclote river so that we could get back to the GICW waterway we walked downtown to a craft show with Phyllis ans Buddy from "SEA N RED"

This is their little tug boat Buddy is removing his fenders and getting ready to leave Phillis is standing in the doorway taking pictures of us leaving.

Along our route a dolphin raced beside our boat jumping along side as we traveled.

We left Tarpon Spring at about 145 pm and arrived at 430 pm other Loopers met us at the dock to catch our ropes and help tie up. Then we gathered on the dock for docktails Mike and Gay on "Irish Attitude" and Don and Anita on "Limelight". We laughed and talked until about 715pm then, Bill and I went inside for dinner and showers we were exhausted. OH yeah, the starboard engine stopped again, this time we are getting the fuel polished. Polishing the fuel will clean the tank on the starboard side and remove the water and trash that may be causing the problems.

Sunday Morning after a good nights rest and hearty breakfast we walked to Clearwater beach, this is what the trip is about sand, surf and sun....? The sand is cold and there are clouds. But still its beautiful white soft sand and I am blessed to be here. I picked up a couple of shells. We met a couple from Canada taking their walk they said back home in their town its 21 below. They were so nice as they told about their travels.

The Beach at 1000am

Same beach at 400 pm the temperature is about 75 wind is chilly.

Clearwater Beach

Bill and I spent the afternoon just walking around the beach and the shops. We bought 1 tee-shirt, ate a pizza then walked along the pier at the looking at crafts and vendors, local artist gather with their goods and their talents for 4 hours every evening 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours after sunset. 

After such a long walk we came back to the boat to plan the next leg of the trip and rest, it was nice.

I spent the evening watching t.v. (we have cable here) and Bill navigated to the next stop.  

Since I am the admiral I approved his decision. We have a good cruising window  for a couple of days before the next storm system comes in. Florida is beautiful, I prefer the natural side to the touristy side because I love to take pictures. 

A pelican sits on a piling at the back of our boat.

Proud Lady in her slip at Clearwater Marina.

Will write more later, Love Joy