Hi

[seadaddler]

Well we are on our way on our cruise up north and so far we anchored Sat night out at Pelican Bay and early this morning headed up north on the ICW and decided to stop at Englewood Beach and do some exploring in our dinghy around Stump Pass and on the beach at Englewood.
We all decided about 5 boats go into the Pink Elephant for drinks and dinner and all was very good
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Sarasota

Heading up to Sarasota in morning yes we are retired no rush just take in all the beatiful scenery and should be less boats on the water,lots of boat traffic today
Nick

 

[Ed Schenck]

Nick, just north of Sarasota past the bridge and bay find Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant. It is on Long Boat Key. Lots of dockage right in front. They let us stay tied overnight after we had dinner there. Or there is a nice anchorage just a couple of hundred yards south. Lat-27° 26' 19" Lon-82° 40' 51"

 

[soling42]

S winds forecast at 15 today will make the Moores anchorage pretty lumpy and on a leeward shore. At 10mi N of Sarasota the food and holding is great at Mar Vista/ Moores but with a long fetch from the S I'd look for cover at Otter Key off of S Lido in sarasota at Big pass.

When the wind shifts to NW tomorrow you can easily head out the pass and run back down the coast with a stiff breeze behind you for Charlotte harbor or delay a day and head to Moores when it'll be a quiet stop and well protected from any NW wind. Hope your trip N is fun. Sorry we can't catch up but I'm not retired just yet.

All our best, Mike and kelli

 

[Ed A]

Its funny how all our secret little florida spots are put on the net, then we complain when we go there that there is no place to anchor, and you get to listen to the boom boxes on the other boats untill the wee hours. Or the Damn Generators running in the anchorage.

Maybe we should keep a bit quiet about or secret spots.

Im not bitter but, i guess i am bitter...

 

[seadaddler]

Venice

Hi again it's tough seeing my notebook up in the cockpit while motoring along the ICW but a nice day.
Having a nice time motoring taking in the scenery our first time up this way

 

[soling42]

Sarasota airport anemometer reading S@15 gusting to 30. The ICW was a good choice.

Ed, If it was me in an unfamiliar spot I'd be glad that people share the knowledge about the details of their less than secret spots(or even their secret ones). The anchorages at Moores near Longboat pass and Otter key in Big pass are in nearly every cruising book out there. Don't go to Activecaptain.com or you'll have a hemorrhage about all the secret spots everywhere being posted for any smartphone or internet user.

Our families have been living in SW Fl since the 20's and know the details of almost every hole between Pass-a-grill and Sanabel. Happy to share what I know with any sailor passing through. Most spots are still completely vacant during the week so Fl natives like me can feel some peace but I still welcome new neighbors.....if they don't run generators or boom boxes all night. Then I guess I get bitter too.

Mike

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bitter? Sooner or later they all figure it out, they just follow YOU!

Like Yogi Berra said: "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

 

[seadaddler]

Well we pulled up anchor early this morning after hearing the tornado warnings on the VHF and weather channels and went into Marina Jack's just in the nick of time,it's raining buckets here and windy with lighting and thunder so far and we are so happy to be tied up to a marina