March 17, 2012 - Key Biscayne

Away we go! After six weeks of cruising the west coast of Florida, then six weeks at our “home club”, Marathon Yacht Club, we are off on our second Great Loop, headed north along the Florida Coast.

We had a wonderful time with old and new friends at Marathon Yacht Club in the middle Florida Keys. As has been the case before in our lives, a yacht club has become our neighborhood, with many new and old friends to share time with.

One wonderful surprise was receiving honorable mention for the number of Florida Council Yacht Clubs we had visited in 2011, complete with a FCYC Yachtsman of the Year pennant, which Jerry hoisted proudly on our halyard.

We had a warm stay at MYC, both weather and many visiting friends, and a warm send-off the morning we departed. Life is better on the water! We cruised the inside ICW, north along the Keys, as the east wind has been strong for days. The area is extremely shallow, with shoals visible very near our path.

Our first stop for the night was Barnes Sound, with a quiet anchorage in a natural area – no lights, just the stars, and songbirds to wake us in the morning. Then north up Jewfish Creek into Card Sound, and on to Biscayne Bay, just off Miami. On a sunny calm St. Patrick’s Day Saturday, what a wild place!

As we anchored, we were surrounded by hundreds of boats enjoying the weather and the water. It reminded us of the phenomenon in Lake St. Clair, Michigan, called “Jobbie Nooner” when hundred of boaters gather for an afternoon of revelry at anchor.

Here at Key Biscayne, many boats were rafted-up together, with a fleet of interesting hydrofoil dinghies racing among the anchored boats. By sunset, the fleet had diminished to about eight boats on the hook for the night in an increasingly quiet anchorage.

The Miami skyline reminded us we were back in civilization.

April 22, 2010 - St. Charles Yacht Club, Ft. Myers, Florida

After transiting Pine Island Sound, and leaving the Intracoastal for the last time this season, we entered the Miserable Mile and the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. Here is an entrepreneur ready to sell you lunch or bait, floating near the channel.

The Nylands joined us for a refreshing swim in the pool of St. Charles Yacht Club, our destination for the night in Ft. Myers.

We were delighted that our friends Carl and Nancy Meyers from Marco Island could join us for Jerry’s birthday party dinner tonight, in the clubhouse.

The club furnished the Marathon Yacht Club burgee as our table centerpiece. We had a fine evening with good friends, and homemade rhubarb pie back aboard Monarch.

Now it’s time to put Monarch in storage for the summer, while Marty and Jerry spend the summer at their cabin on Stag Island in the Georgian Bay. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Monarch when she resumes her journey in October.

April 20-21, 2010 - Isles Yacht Club, Punta Gorda Isles, Florida

We eagerly anticipated the arrival of friends John & Carol Nyland from St. Michaels, Maryland and Lake Charlevoix, Michigan. They flew in and met us at the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda Isles.

We enjoyed some fine cruising across Charlotte Harbor with the Nylands.

The weather was warmer than we have seen all winter, and we sought shady locations!

We anchored at Cayo Costa, and dinghied to Cabbage Key, famous for its Cheeseburgers in Paradise of Jimmy Buffet’ song.

The grounds of Cabbage Key have beautiful plantings, and we saw some wildlife. A gopher tortoise was crossing the sidewalk.

And eagle-eyed Carol spotted two otters in the water, which climbed into an adjacent boat and attempted a break-in of the cooler onboard!

Our next stop was a manatee cove, where we have seen manatee on many occasions.

Like many animals, spring is the season when manatees mate.

These normally docile “sea cows,” usually scarcely visible above water level, were very active today, and we spent hours watching them get friendly.

April 16 - 20, 2010 - Venice & Cayo Costa, Florida

We traveled south on the Intracoastal, transiting a number of bridges, including the Hatchett Creek Bridge. This is a bascule bridge, with the bridge hinged and lifting for boats to pass.

We stayed the night at the Venice Yacht Club. We were fortunate to get in, as they were hosting a sailing regatta, and barely had room for us.

They put Monarch at a secondary dock, near the Club, which was accessible through this impossibly narrow channel.

The Venice Inlet allows boats to come and go to the Gulf.

We walked the nice beach, well populated on this warm day.

We found this ship’s wheel, marking the entrance to a motel.

The next morning, as we departed Venice, we paused so another group of Optimist Dinghies could make their way out for a race.

It was a great day for small sailboats, as we next saw a Sunfish regatta.

Here is a fly fisherman, trying his luck in the Intracoastal.

We headed for Cayo Costa once more. It was a busy time at the barrier sand bar.

And a beautiful night awaited us.

April 14 - 16, 2009, Bradenton & Sarasota, Florida

Back across Tampa Bay on a windy, sunny day. We felt at home with freighters in the channel.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is very modern and often photographed. Yet, we are more impressed by the Might Mac.

This bridge is held in place by gossamer cables, reminiscent of a spider’s web.

Next stop is Bradenton Yacht Club.

They have a nice clubhouse and pool, and bicycles to borrow.

We went inside for a drink and popcorn, and to look around the Club.

As we relaxed on deck, we noticed small sailboats called Optimist Dinghies racing up the channel, next to Monarch.

They skillfully came VERY close to our boat, and then tacked away at the last minute. The harbormaster informed us that the Club has a young girl who is State Champion of this sailing class.

We looked good from the bridge vantage point.

The next morning, we cruised south, passing this interesting bird sanctuary.

Our next stop was the Field Club in Sarasota. At one time, this was the winter home of noted retailer Marshall Field.

It was a pleasant surprise to see this beautiful private home turned tennis and yacht club! The architecture reminded us of the Fisher Mansion in Detroit, with the Spanish influence.

The Olympic-size pool was inviting, as was the adjacent outdoor dining area.

The grounds were lovely, and very large, with a dozen tennis courts. Other beautiful homes were arrayed on adjacent lots, many with walkways to the Club for easy access.

This was the mansion’s gatehouse, now the Club’s maintenance headquarters.

The best feature on the property is the drive-through canal, under the house. We could imagine Marshall taking his beautiful Gar Wood custom boat through it, to dock in the calm pond behind the mansion.

As we went inside the Club for dinner with Bradenton friends (and GM retirees) Mark and Karen Alexander, we were greeted by this beautiful fountain in the inner courtyard.

April 12-13, 2010 - Sarasota and St. Pete, Florida

Heading further north on the Intracoastal, we noted car ferries that take vehicles over to Knight Island.

There were two ferries to accommodate the volume of traffic at the tail end of “high season.”

All along this stretch of Intracoastal, ferries access the barrier islands – this one for people going to the beach near Venice.

We passed by the Venice Inlet, staying in the Intracoastal. The channel of the Inlet is visible as a darker area in the water, surrounded by lighter shoals.

This is a nice way to live.

The architecture along the waterway is interesting. This looks like a covered wagon.

Further along, as we approached Sarasota Yacht Club, we knew we were headed the right direction!

The Club marina has over 100 boats at the docks.

The Sarasota Yacht Club is brand new and very modern in design. The “official” grand opening hadn’t occurred yet when we stayed here.

This is the most contemporary yacht club design we have ever seen. The beautiful outdoor pool was open, as well as a large health club facility and beautiful showers and restrooms.

After departing Sarasota Yacht Club, we headed north through the bay, and past a favorite restaurant, Moore’s Crab Shack.

Here is a beautiful location for a hidden cabin, with a private dock, near Longboat Key Pass.

And here is the Pass, a popular spot to access the Gulf through the bascule bridge.

We next crossed Tampa Bay, and headed for St. Petersburg’s notable skyline.

This shopping complex and tourist attraction juts into the bay at St. Petersburg. You can’t miss it!

We docked for the night at St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and Jerry did some clean up.

Monarch looked “Bristol” at the dock.

We did our walkabout in St. Pete’s adjacent downtown district. There were many restaurants, shops, a Publix Supermarket and the essential West Marine, all within a short walk.

The area is lovely, with this pocket park to give shade on a hot day.

We enjoyed an evening at the Club, having a drink and a snack from their Taco buffet.