Date: February 3, 2014
Day on the Cruise: 227
From: Turtle Cove Marina, Tarpon Springs, FL
To: Gulfport Municipal Marina, Gulfport, Florida
Statute Miles: 43.4 SM
Time: 5.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 5,682.2 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are Gulfport, FL, which is a part of greater St. Petersburg, FL.
We got a late start this morning. it was sunny and warm as we cruised past the fishing docks then down the Anclotte River to the Bay. As we got close to the mouth of the River, the fog bank up ahead forewarned more lousy cruising weather.
The fog enveloped Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon and we were again in zero visibility. much like we had seen on our trip into Tarpon Springs. We could see the channel markers faintly, so we followed these to the Bay. There were many small boats along the channel just stopped and fishing. Some were in the channel, anchored, which they are not supposed to do, so we played dodge the fishing boats as we tried to get out of the area.
About half way to Dunedin, the sun burned the fog off and it became a clear day again as we headed South. Getting into the ICW from the bay was a little tricky, but once we found the channel, it was well marked and easy to follow.
Through Clearwater and past the entrance to the Pass into the Gulf at Clearwater Beach, then continuing South as the waterway became narrower. Not much to see, but a lot of go slow zones for docks and manatees.
The fog became an issue with us later in the afternoon as we passed the Madeira Beach and John's Pass areas. We had to make a big turn to the East into a bay to get into Gulfport, and as we got into this bay. more dense fog enveloped us. We were lucky that a Tow Boat US vessel had just passed us going to the Marina to which we were heading, and he guided us into the channel. The fog became patchy as we entered the marina, but after we were docked, it dropped on us like a blanket.
Gulfport Marina is a big time Marina, but we could get no one to answer the phone as we tried several times during the day. They would also not answer their radio either. As Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon approached the fuel dock, and guy stumbled out of the office to assist us. Looked like he had been asleep all day. Hummmm!
We both refueled, but their pump out hose had a leak, so we did not pump out. The guy mumbled something about needing to fix it. Yea, right on buddy!
We managed to dock both boats together on a wall. The dock guy told us about restaurants a mile away through a maze of residential neighborhoods, and then the fog descended for the evening. We decided to just do Margarita's on Sun Gypsy.
Rick's Margarita's are to die for! After consuming several of these and some appetizers. we did not need dinner, so we stumbled off of Sun Gypsy in the fog to walk back to our boat. I was first off to the dock. It was dark and foggy and eeerie! As I stepped on the dock from Sun Gypsy, something jumped at me and snapped at my leg! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!! Now, I was feeling no pain from Rick's luscious libations, and I could not believe my eyes. It was a big Pelican in attack mode. Susan stepped off the boat and it went after her also. Rick got off and held it at bay, and we ran back to our boat.
Thirty minutes later, Susan says Maggie needs to go out for her nightly duty call. She gets Maggie onto the deck, and guess who has come back to our boat to camp out for the night? Yep, the Pelican is there. Maggie goes ballistic with barking and running up and down the boat. Didn't phase Mr P. at all. So, I get my flashlight and step on the dock and Mr. P. goes after my leg with his huge beak/snout thingy. I couldn't see how this could hurt me if he did manage to get a clamp on something, but I then got my boat hook and started pushing him down the dock. He did clamp onto the pole once or twice, but he couldn't hold it. I got him to the front of the boat and pushed him into the water. He then flew off to another boat, thank goodness.
Susan said she saw a Pelican on a fishing boat along our dock as she walked maggie earlier when we docked. We surmised that it was the same one that stalked us. Maybe didn't like us on his dock. Might have had a nest nearby. Might have been looking for something to eat. Who knows. Ever been stalked by a Pelican before? It is not much fun, especially after a few Margarita's!
Tomorrow we head over to Bradenton, FL, which is only twenty miles or so. We will cross Tampa Bay and then "Sun Gypsy" will cross their wake and finish the Great Loop Trip!
Thanks for Reading!
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| Gulfport, Florida |
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| Gulfport, FL Near Tampa Bay |
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| Municipal Marina at Gulfport, FL |
We got a late start this morning. it was sunny and warm as we cruised past the fishing docks then down the Anclotte River to the Bay. As we got close to the mouth of the River, the fog bank up ahead forewarned more lousy cruising weather.
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| Passing the Boat Docks in Tarpon Springs |
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| Passing Fishing Boats in Tarpon Springs |
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| Passing Rusty Bellies in tarpon Springs |
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| Pelican bids us Goodbye in Tarpon Springs |
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| Heading down the Anclotte River. Goodbye Tarpon Springs! |
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| Looking at the Fog Bank Ahead as We Leave the Anclotte River |
The fog enveloped Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon and we were again in zero visibility. much like we had seen on our trip into Tarpon Springs. We could see the channel markers faintly, so we followed these to the Bay. There were many small boats along the channel just stopped and fishing. Some were in the channel, anchored, which they are not supposed to do, so we played dodge the fishing boats as we tried to get out of the area.
About half way to Dunedin, the sun burned the fog off and it became a clear day again as we headed South. Getting into the ICW from the bay was a little tricky, but once we found the channel, it was well marked and easy to follow.
Through Clearwater and past the entrance to the Pass into the Gulf at Clearwater Beach, then continuing South as the waterway became narrower. Not much to see, but a lot of go slow zones for docks and manatees.
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| Downtown Clearwater |
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| Library (Blue Roof) that we build |
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| Bridge over the Clearwater Beach Pass into the Gulf |
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| Cruising on the ICW and looking over at the Gulf |
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| Cruising on the ICW Near St. Pete |
The fog became an issue with us later in the afternoon as we passed the Madeira Beach and John's Pass areas. We had to make a big turn to the East into a bay to get into Gulfport, and as we got into this bay. more dense fog enveloped us. We were lucky that a Tow Boat US vessel had just passed us going to the Marina to which we were heading, and he guided us into the channel. The fog became patchy as we entered the marina, but after we were docked, it dropped on us like a blanket.
 |
| Following Sun Gypsy into Gulfport |
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| Entering Gulfport Marina |
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| Fog envelops us at Gulfport Marina |
Gulfport Marina is a big time Marina, but we could get no one to answer the phone as we tried several times during the day. They would also not answer their radio either. As Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon approached the fuel dock, and guy stumbled out of the office to assist us. Looked like he had been asleep all day. Hummmm!
We both refueled, but their pump out hose had a leak, so we did not pump out. The guy mumbled something about needing to fix it. Yea, right on buddy!
 |
| Resident Pelican on a fishing boat. Is this the "Stalking Pelican"? |
We managed to dock both boats together on a wall. The dock guy told us about restaurants a mile away through a maze of residential neighborhoods, and then the fog descended for the evening. We decided to just do Margarita's on Sun Gypsy.
Rick's Margarita's are to die for! After consuming several of these and some appetizers. we did not need dinner, so we stumbled off of Sun Gypsy in the fog to walk back to our boat. I was first off to the dock. It was dark and foggy and eeerie! As I stepped on the dock from Sun Gypsy, something jumped at me and snapped at my leg! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!! Now, I was feeling no pain from Rick's luscious libations, and I could not believe my eyes. It was a big Pelican in attack mode. Susan stepped off the boat and it went after her also. Rick got off and held it at bay, and we ran back to our boat.
Thirty minutes later, Susan says Maggie needs to go out for her nightly duty call. She gets Maggie onto the deck, and guess who has come back to our boat to camp out for the night? Yep, the Pelican is there. Maggie goes ballistic with barking and running up and down the boat. Didn't phase Mr P. at all. So, I get my flashlight and step on the dock and Mr. P. goes after my leg with his huge beak/snout thingy. I couldn't see how this could hurt me if he did manage to get a clamp on something, but I then got my boat hook and started pushing him down the dock. He did clamp onto the pole once or twice, but he couldn't hold it. I got him to the front of the boat and pushed him into the water. He then flew off to another boat, thank goodness.
Susan said she saw a Pelican on a fishing boat along our dock as she walked maggie earlier when we docked. We surmised that it was the same one that stalked us. Maybe didn't like us on his dock. Might have had a nest nearby. Might have been looking for something to eat. Who knows. Ever been stalked by a Pelican before? It is not much fun, especially after a few Margarita's!
Tomorrow we head over to Bradenton, FL, which is only twenty miles or so. We will cross Tampa Bay and then "Sun Gypsy" will cross their wake and finish the Great Loop Trip!
Thanks for Reading!
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