Date: February 8, 2014
Day on the Cruise: 232
From: Marina Jack, Sarasota, FL
To: Marina Jack, Sarasota, FL
Statute Miles: 28.6 SM
Time: 3.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 5,738.3 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we remain at Marina Jack in the Bayfront section of downtown Sarasota, FL.
Well, today was supposed to be a sunny day. Nope!. Overcast and foggy all day and rain in the afternoon. Another Yucky day in what is usually a beautiful area.
We got off the boat about 10:30 and walked up Main Street. Soon we were right in the middle of a beautiful part of downtown Sarasota - a very affluent area. We happened upon a Farmer's Market that is held every Saturday. Three or four blocks of streets were blocked off and there were rows of tents with vendors and food. We saw half a dozen musical acts on the streets as well. It was fun doing the Market.
Several folks had told us about a Trolley that you can take out to Longboat Key and St. Armand's Key from Sarasota. We started out looking for this Trolley after doing the Farmer's Market. After seeing signs for a Visitor's Center, we walked North out of the downtown area and tried to find the place to inquire about the Trolley. The signage led us on a roundabout path that doubled back on itself and eventually took us to a building that was touted as a Visitor's Center.
Entering the place, we confronted two ladies who worked there, and we asked about the Trolley. They had no clue. Both said that they had not heard of a Trolley but that there might be bus service over there. Might be bus service? One of the ladies left to answer the phone. The other handed us a thick packet that had every route that the bus company runs in Manatee County.
I was pretty livid at this point. I asked for the Cliff Notes version of the Bus Schedule and the staffer knew nothing about the bus service in the area. I told her we were on a boat and we were walking and did not have a car. I suggested that she put herself in our place and think how tourists in our shoes would need info on transportation. I also suggested that on her next day off that she explore the bus service so that she could help future tourists such as ourselves. Needless to say, this did not go over well with the staffer, and we left this so called Tourist Information Center very disappointed, but with a thick pad of bus routes in Manatee County!
We decided to walk back to the Marina and eat lunch. We stopped at the restaurant at Marina Jack and had a sandwich, which was very good. This gave us an opportunity to sift through the Bus packet.
Now, for future use if you are ever in Sarasota and need to get to the Island, there is "the Longboat Key Trolley" that leaves from the downtown Bus Station every hour and goes all the way North to Coquina Beach. There is also Bus Route 4 that leaves every hour from the downtown station and goes to the Island and South to South Lido Beach.
After lunch, we just felt that we didn't have time to walk back into town, wait on the bus or Trolley, then ride it over to the Island. Glad we passed because about an hour later, rain started to fall and lasted most of the rest of the day. The bad experience at the Visitor's Center sort of turned us off on Sarasota. Bottom line? You probably need a car to see what this place has to offer.
We ate dinner on board again tonight. Tomorrow they say it might be sunny, but we have heard that before. We are planning to run about 35 miles South through Venice, FL to a marina we found at Cape Haze.
Thanks for reading!
Tonight we remain at Marina Jack in the Bayfront section of downtown Sarasota, FL.
Well, today was supposed to be a sunny day. Nope!. Overcast and foggy all day and rain in the afternoon. Another Yucky day in what is usually a beautiful area.
We got off the boat about 10:30 and walked up Main Street. Soon we were right in the middle of a beautiful part of downtown Sarasota - a very affluent area. We happened upon a Farmer's Market that is held every Saturday. Three or four blocks of streets were blocked off and there were rows of tents with vendors and food. We saw half a dozen musical acts on the streets as well. It was fun doing the Market.
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| Blue Moon at Marina Jack |
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| Maggie Enjoyed the Park Around Marina Jack |
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| Marina Jack on a Gray Day |
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| Slips at Marina Jack |
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| Gates at the Bayfront Area |
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| Gates at the Bayfront Area |
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| Marina Jack |
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| Condos as seen from Marina Jack |
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| The Park at Marina Jack |
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| The Five Points Area of Sarasota |
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| Main Street |
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| Main Street |
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| A park in Sarasota |
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| Street Scene in Sarasota |
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| Street Scene in Sarasota |
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| Farmer's Market Downtown |
Several folks had told us about a Trolley that you can take out to Longboat Key and St. Armand's Key from Sarasota. We started out looking for this Trolley after doing the Farmer's Market. After seeing signs for a Visitor's Center, we walked North out of the downtown area and tried to find the place to inquire about the Trolley. The signage led us on a roundabout path that doubled back on itself and eventually took us to a building that was touted as a Visitor's Center.
Entering the place, we confronted two ladies who worked there, and we asked about the Trolley. They had no clue. Both said that they had not heard of a Trolley but that there might be bus service over there. Might be bus service? One of the ladies left to answer the phone. The other handed us a thick packet that had every route that the bus company runs in Manatee County.
I was pretty livid at this point. I asked for the Cliff Notes version of the Bus Schedule and the staffer knew nothing about the bus service in the area. I told her we were on a boat and we were walking and did not have a car. I suggested that she put herself in our place and think how tourists in our shoes would need info on transportation. I also suggested that on her next day off that she explore the bus service so that she could help future tourists such as ourselves. Needless to say, this did not go over well with the staffer, and we left this so called Tourist Information Center very disappointed, but with a thick pad of bus routes in Manatee County!
We decided to walk back to the Marina and eat lunch. We stopped at the restaurant at Marina Jack and had a sandwich, which was very good. This gave us an opportunity to sift through the Bus packet.
Now, for future use if you are ever in Sarasota and need to get to the Island, there is "the Longboat Key Trolley" that leaves from the downtown Bus Station every hour and goes all the way North to Coquina Beach. There is also Bus Route 4 that leaves every hour from the downtown station and goes to the Island and South to South Lido Beach.
After lunch, we just felt that we didn't have time to walk back into town, wait on the bus or Trolley, then ride it over to the Island. Glad we passed because about an hour later, rain started to fall and lasted most of the rest of the day. The bad experience at the Visitor's Center sort of turned us off on Sarasota. Bottom line? You probably need a car to see what this place has to offer.
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| Visitor to the boat in the rain this afternoon. |
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| Another visitor to the boat this afternoon. |
We ate dinner on board again tonight. Tomorrow they say it might be sunny, but we have heard that before. We are planning to run about 35 miles South through Venice, FL to a marina we found at Cape Haze.
Thanks for reading!
Chuck and Susan,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Garry Nelson and my Admiral is Jacque. We are the couple that did the Lake Superior trip with Doug and Jan Martin last summer on our 39 Kadey Krogen just like Day Dreams. Ours is Waterford. We have really enjoyed your blog, and knowing your trip is just about complete I wanted to say Well Done! I know there are days that are a grind, but the memories you will have are ... Priceless.
We hope to meet you some day, and I am sure we can exchange emails through Doug. Again, your detailed blogs will serve as a tremendous resource for us as we begin the next big chapter in a few months. I know you have had some poor weather recently, but consider our plight with over a foot of snow on the ground -- a record one month snow-fall, and boats in storage. It could be worse. I would actually rather be where you are now! Be safe -- have fun, and best wishes for a strong finish. I'm sure there will be a detailed recap, and I am looking forward to it. Cheers Once in Blue Moon .... Waterford!!