Boca Grande and Cayo Costa and no we are not in Mexico! We met a great couple from Fort Myers that sail and encouraged us to do some island hopping vs powering thru to their town. Bill and Linda met us at Boca Grande in their dinghy and escorted us to a secret anchorage.   The island is home to the Duponts, the Bush family, Fox news anchors and at one time starlets such as Audrey Hepburn.  We only spotted Tucker Carlson having coffee. Oh well. Bill and another local had intel to suggest that W was in town.
Great biking and a fabulous meal at the a Third St Inn.

180 degrees to Cayo Costa and 2 days in a very pristine state park.  Biking, the beach and cold showers. Silent at night except when the fish were stirred up by hungry dolphin.

Mark, I have decided I'm a marina girl after 3 nights on the hook.

Light house on Boca Grande

Gasparilla Inn BC

  

Golf course BC

Punta Gorda for Christmas.  Nice cruise down the ICW yesterday and up to Punta Gorda where fellow Loopers Penny and John Holmes invited us to their Christmas tomorrow. We have enjoyed riding the free city bikes and staying at the lovely Isles Yacht Club.  

Lots of Palm tree pics! And just one of many beautiful homes along the Intracoastal.

Isles YC

Clearwater! White sand. Biking. Yacht club super accommodating. Staying for 3 days.  Loving the old Florida vibe.

Tarpon Springs brought Greek culture, sponges and a swim with the manatees.  Loved this euro feeling town.  Greek food was fantastic and Turtle Cove marina was top notch complete with a hot tub.
Our son, Karl is with us for the week. Such a treat.
After a nice layover, we are cruising again today to Clearwater Beach. Sunny and 73.

Happy to be across the Gulf! We took 3 long days to cross in the open water with stops in Steinhatchee, Cedar Key and finally Tarpon Springs. We travelled with our seasoned Loop friend Rob Rosemont from Seattle which gave us a buddy to consult with and lots of fun on and off the water. Had a great evening with Anne Murray and Mike Anable, old friends from MSU that we haven't seen in 26 years!

We will stay here in the Tampa area for the week and look forward to our son, Karl joining us starting tomorrow.

Setting out on day one of our Gulf crossing. 

Sunset at Steinhatchee.  

Marina at Steinhatchee. A hoppin fishing town

Cedar Key 

Oyster land in Apalachicola. Very cute fishing town that has a nice light tourist touch.  Victorian homes and Palm trees add color as well. Next we do a day long jump across the Gulf!

Lovely ground cover!

Sandestin to St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club. Two good days cruising the panhandle.  Announcing the fact you are a Looper and a Bay Shore Yacht Club member have continued to provide a warm welcome.   We have seen 3 dolphins! No pics yet as we have been glued to the window to watch them and to steer clear for them. So delightful.

Good bike ride today around Panama City... Not to be confused with PCB, the spring break Mecca thank goodness.   We watched a commercial fishing boat unload Wahoo today that looked to be 4 footers. Very cool to watch them them hustle today's catch that will surely be on the menu tonite in PCB and other eateries in the area.  Sorry, no pics of the catch as it seemed a bit rude at the moment.

Approaching Sandestin.  A lovely resort east of Destin.  

The village at Sandestin.  

St Andrews Bay Yacht Club since 1933

Love the Spanish Moss

I

Pensacola bay taught us about moderate chop today.  We cruised until 1 and called it quits at the very lovely PYC.  Thank you to the yacht club for a reciprocal night and happy hour.  Good tips for our trip from several members too. I am realizing I didn't capture the 10 or so very serious ocean racing sailboats. Mostly Bennetau's, 40'-55'.
  On to Sandestin tomorrow. Still looking for Dolphins but it's only in the 60's so maybe they aren't as active.

The yacht club was all decked out

Beautiful homes across from the club

Pensacola Yacht Club. 

Pirates Cove and Florabama have provided a whole new level of chilling out. We have only gone 10 miles in two days and are just enjoying the tropical feel of Orange Beach, Alabama.  Mostly sunny and 70's.  We did ride bikes over the Florida line today too.  The staff and locals (including lots of dogs) at Pirates Cove were some of the most friendly so far on the Loop. Bare feet and storytelling made the night.  Just wear shoes in the men's room... see pic below.

Florabama is another great beach spot. We had lunch with Rob Rosemont, a Loop friend we hadn't seen in many weeks. Football Saturday still raging here in Roll Tide country.

Pirates Cove