Enjoying Florida

It's been a good week!  We moved on south from Tarpon Springs to Clearwater Beach, which has become a very nice tourist location.  We caught the Sunset Celebration event there.

The next day we went on down the Intracoastal Waterway to the only McDonalds Dock we've seen thus far on our travels.  We met Don's cousin, Richard & Marilyn Bruxvoort and her sister and husband there.  They are staying at a very nice condo in Maderia Beach, FL.  We left the boat docked at McDonalds and went for lunch at Mama's Kitchen Restaurant a little way down the road.  It was a good time.

I got some coffee at McDonald's to make our docking there legal.  They didn't have a boat drive thru so had to go inside.
 

After passing under several bridges and working our way down, we arrived on the Manatee River and docked at the Regatta Pointe Marina, a spot where several people live aboard their boats.  There are 2 restaurants, hot tub (which we've indulged in every day) pool, guest lounges and many other amenities at a fairly good weekly rate, so we are here for the week! 

Sunrise here - many sailboats, all kinds of boats really.

Florida water scenes

 

We are in the town of Palmetto, across the river from Bradenton in Manatee county so we went to the county fair - checked out the butter manatee (no butter cow)! 

Lots of Spanish moss in the trees here.  We were able to walk to church here in Palmetto this morning.  We usually take the bikes except for one time we took the marina courtesy van.

 

Yesterday biked out to the Emerson Point Preserve - about a 3 mile trip out there and then back again.  Lots of interesting formations on the trees, roots and plants.  Saw a group of kayakers and a biking club.  The Preserve was out on Snead Island and we could see Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay and the Manatee River from the overlook there.  We even got a picture of the Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay!  You'll never guess why we didn't get it earlier.

Something to do with my navigation.  Followed a channel right out into the gulf  instead of left down the ICW.   It turned out okay - even saw a very large cargo ship.

 

One more interesting fact - every morning we hear trains going by, so decided we might want to check that out,  Found out that these trains carry only Florida orange juice on up the coast.

 (Topicanna has a plant here.)

Weather is great - 70's everyday.  I'm having a really great time.  And Theresa is doing okay too.

That is all the news from the Bruxvoorts this week.