Gasparilla

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After wandering around the west coast of Florida we have rented a slip at Gasparilla Marina where Gust O'Wind will wait while we head back to Canada for a small taste of winter (to remind us why we are here!) and to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

We just spent 4 days in our favourite anchorage off Cayo Costa - a state park with a protected anchorage, good fishing and a spectacular beach - what more could we ask for?

There we enjoyed a Happy Hour aboard "Barefoot Shoes" (dinghy - Flip Flop) with another couple off "Red Jello" (dinghy - Whipped Cream) - both couples are out of Kincardine (a port not far south of Sauble Beach)
But the prize for the most head turning boat name so far goes to "Wasted Seamen!....any suggestions for a dinghy name?

Merry Christmas to all - we'll be back in the new year.

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Photos

Cayo Costa
miles and miles of deserted (almost) beach to walk

what beach?
a gentle reminder to pay attention

Barefoot Shoes
a 33' trawler out of Kincardine

nice view from here
replacing the VHF antenna atop Red Jello

catch of the day
a nice haul of spotted sea trout....

dining below
....becomes the catch of the day

stone crab supreme
fishermen break both claws off the stone crab then throw it back to grow new ones

dwarfed
we look tiny beside this "Weekend Warrior" in Gasparilla Marina

boat storage
Gasparilla has storage for 1000 boats - so they stack them

forklift
when you want to use your boat you call the marina, they pick it off the shelf and drop it in the water all ready to go

pricey runabout
this little baby(Canadian owned) is for sale - for $5 million - it has twin turbo engines and is made of marine plywood

Comments

[Penelope Jayne]

We look forward to your blog
Susan and I were thinking that if you go home through Buffalo we are in St Catharines about 60 kms from Buffalo. Stop in for a night, free meal will await you and breakfast. You would have your own ensuite and would be glad to see you. Our address is 4 Dixie Road. Let me know and will give you directions.

[Garry and Yola grant]

Greetings from Waterloo
Hi Ian and Marlene We are living this winter vicariously through your experiences. Yola and I are thinking of taking our boat south next winter and so watching your blog. When you get back in the summer we would really like to get together with you and discuss some options that we may have in terms of preparing the boat and also getting it down to Florida. Have a great sailing season and a wonderful Christmas.

[John/Judi]

Grrrrrrr!!!!!
Your blog arrived on the storm of the cenrury - 50cms. Thank you or reminding us that the sun shines somewhere.

[Bill and Audrey]

missing all the snow
Hey guys..you are missing all the snow and closed roads...we were in that marina briefly..some of my crew had relatives nearby..they came to visit...brings back good memories...give us a call when you get back.. we hope to leave for Florida mid Jan...357 1024...safe trip..Bill