Day Twenty Nine

First day on the water with Tom and Beverly...things went almost uneventfully.  Tom is ensuring I continue the learning that Capt Gene started so, once again, I became the bilge rat first thing as I checked out everything in the engine room prior to departure. I then was able to appreciate Capt Tom's expertise in maneuvering the boat as he had to turn it in a 50 foot channel lined with expensive boats on either side, so we could get fuel.  He did so flawlessly.

Goodbye St Pete

Went through the usual bridges, intracoastal views (did see the dolphins again, which by now we consider a day with dolphins means good luck) and usual array of boats.  We did see a couple of interesting pirate ships which I have on the blog.  Being a Saturday, there was much activity on the water and we got pummeled by quite a few inconsiderate and illiterate boaters who obviously don't understand what "minimum wake" means. 

Leaving St Pete

We had trouble finding a marina to stay in tonight, for some reason they were all booked.  We finally found one advertising available transient slips and floating docks.  So, we booked it and came on...we should have been suspicious as to why they were the only ones with availability.  Not only did they not have floating docks, they almost didn't even have docks.  They directed us to our slip which ended up being two telephone-pole looking posts with a tiny piece of rickety dock at the end of the slip.  As we turned the boat in, they neglected to inform us that the current was extremely fast, thus the boat quickly went sideways and ended up stuck between two poles, heading entirely the wrong direction!  Beverly and I kept trying to fend off and I was getting frustrated thinking my strength had abandoned me when I realized the boat was firmly entrenched between the two poles and was not going anywhere with our pushing.  We were able, with the help of some marina hands and nifty rope tricks, to unlodge it and get it docked.  After wondering what on earth had happened, the office manager at the Marina told us that we were one of the few who had actually done well getting into that slip!  Others ended up in much worse situations...Obviously we won't be back here again.  And then, we  had our chops set for Greek food since there is a large population of Greek sponge divers here, but the marina is too far away from town and we are told that the 5' tides will make it almost impossible to get on and off the boat when the tide comes in (remember, no floating docks).  So, we took a picture of the boat next door, OPA, and consoled ourselves with a burger on the grill.

Coming into Tarpon Springs

The hospitality of boaters never ceases to amaze me.  As we were waiting for a bridge to open today, we got a call from a catamaran who asked for "The trawler from Texas".  We both had some time to spare, so we chit chatted and before the conversation was over, had an invitation from this complete stranger and his wife to come dock at their dock and home in Gulf Shores, Alabama when we pass through.  We might actually do it. 

The marina is full of liveaboards...as we sat watching the sunset, I got a view of one of the couples cutting her husbands' hair on the front deck of the boat while another couple caught several fish off their stern. 

Fishing under the bridge

So, Gene and Maggie, while Kilkenny Creek still gets number one vote as the worst marina experience, this one comes in a close second.

We plan on getting the heck out of Dodge first thing in the morning and heading to a town called Yankeetown.  More later... 

No Way Will He Make it

What is he thinking?

I can't watch

Phew, he made it

Pirates Invading

More Pirates

For Rita B

Leaving Harborage Marina

Tarpon Springs River

Drew Tulley, for you

Greek Residents