Mike and Beth's Adventures

Lunch at "The Living Room", Dunedin Florida 29 January 2022 Unexpectedly we found our stay in Tarpon Springs to be 12 days, but for a good reason.  The bonus was we had time to explore the surrounding area more thoroughly!  To extend our range, we used our bicycles and the local "Jolley Trolley" to expand out into the surrounding communities.  Our targets were tasty or unusual restaurants, bike trails, nature preserves, and downtown areas as well as waterfronts. Lunch was a delicious chicken salad sandwich accompanied by tomato bisque or corn chowder soup Delicious Beignets Opportunistically, we found we could get the bottom paint renewed on Amy Marie at Port Tarpon Marina.  They completed the job in 5 days, with two of those being rain days.  We should not have to repeat this process for another 2 years.  Although they cautioned us to have a diver check running gear for barnacles at least once a month.   Amy Marie at the Spa - New Bottom Paint Except for the two da

Pelicans in the Bayou 24 January 2022 Tarpon Springs is the perfect spot to recover and recharge following a Gulf crossing.  We docked at the Municipal Marina in the heart of town, right on the main street.  The harbormaster was friendly, and helped us tie up.  One of the first things we noticed was Greek music playing softly from the lamp posts.   Tarpon Springs was settled by Greek sponge divers and the town enthusiastically honors its heritage.  From Amy Marie, it was just a few short steps to ShrimpWrecked  Restaurant and Dockside Bar.  A convenient location to celebrate our return to terra firma.  It was difficult to walk a straight line from the boat to the bar.  After being in a vigorously rocking boat for hours, your body instinctively reacts as if the world is still moving.  The result is you feel like the ground is still rocking and you can't walk a straight line.....  All this before the first sip of any cold adult beverage! Amy Marie at the Municipal Marina I don't

Sunset during our 20 hour Gulf Crossing- Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs January 18th-19th, 2022  Preparations Every day on the Loop is different.  This helps cultivate your sense of adventure.  Even as experienced boaters, we constantly find ourselves challenged in new ways.  Our 20 hour open water voyage from Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs was one of those challenges that you will remember forever.   My navigator is confident she can guide us to the other side First of all, the Gulf crossing seems larger than life.  The type of event where you can easily build a "boogie man" that grows in size, proportionate to your  anxiety level.  Many hours are spent in discussions, conversations and musings anticipating "the crossing"   There are so many tasks that must be completed or learned. which puts this in a different category of life experiences.  The decisions you make, and the care you have taken, to prepare yourself and you vessel will determine your success.  Help is a