Keys & Beyond

[captd]

Morning Tugnuts,

The Wallas made my coffee this morning in my old stainless steel pot. Used Dunkin Donuts coffee. The 12 volt Cruisinart takes a while, maybe not an hour, but it did spark a little interest. The idea in their advertizement is. " the 1st cup in just minutes" meaning= It stops leaking coffe when you pull the pot. Course it is the strongest coffee.

We are now at a slip in front of Capt. Jacks in Tarpon Springs. $40.00 a nignt. 1.50 per foot. we are right accross from the sponge factory. So we will walk acrossed the bridge,take the tour,eat some Greek food. Guess the Greeks settled this area and did all sponging.

The run fron inside Crystal River to inside Tarpon springs, must have 70 - 80 miles.The Gulf was smooth as glass.

Top speed, loaded as we are was 16 mph. Rpm 3750. I'm happy with that. The Cummins 150 never missed a beat. Fired right off after not being run for a few months.

We will spend another day here and go the intercoastal from here. Plan on taking our time and putsy along at 7 0r 8 mph.

We will get a few pictures here and I will post them in our album. I will title the album " Keys and Beyond "

To be continued:
Captd

PS: All of a sudden this computer won't let me correct my spelling with out eating the letter ahead So I'm am stuck with my errors. How do I fix that? Like if I try to correct and add an "e" to coffe I keep eating the letter ahead. :x

 

[Levitation]

Hit the INSERT button... It is toggled to the non-insert mode...

Glad to hear the Cummins starts good after a layup - bodes well for Levitation come spring...

denny-o

 

[captd]

Is that the "ins" button which is also the "0" ?

 

[Stella Maris]

Darrell,
Where the insert key in located is different by each computer. Mine is the top right button with "insert" written on it.

 

[jingram]

Since you are on a laptop, it most likely says INS and is accessed via a fn (function) key.

 

[Levitation]

He would answer us, but by now he has hit enough keys in random order, that his computer now displays a beautiful, blue, screen of death..

denny-o

 

[captd]

Thanks for the info, The INS button cured the problem.

Tarpon Springs:

Dee fell into the tourist trap yesterday and insists we must spend another day here in the marina. Tough trap to get out of. Every store sells sponges. There are numerous kinds, from finger sponges to flower pots to basket sponges, fulfa and many more. On a dive trip (long ago) to Bonaire we sat in a basket sponge that would hold Twenty divers. It was a light pink in color. Back years ago the red tide killed off the sponges and lots of the thousands who depended on the trade headed North to find work. The Greeks and their ancesters who built up the business still live in Tarpon springs. They own restaurants, gift shops and still go to sea and collect sponges. (Guess the sponges have come back) I could not pronounce a single word of Greek on the store fronts or on the menu. Course we had to have a Greek lunch. Things like, Tzatzike, Taramosasalata, Skordallia, Dolades, Saganaki, Souvlaki, Mousaka, and for desert we had Baklava. I was going to do a Greek dance where you hold the table in your teeth, but my false teeth kept popping out. We ended the day being happy at happy hour at Capt'n Jacks. They make some great clam chowder.

At slack tide on the Anclote River the dead fish were floating in a circle out in front of the Marina. The cold spell kills a few different fish. These looked mostly like cat fish. They closed the season on Tarpon, Snook and some other species because the cold took to many. I know the Groupers went futher out to sea where the water is warmer. On a fishing trip a couple days after the cold snap, Smaller red grouper were belly up, some were still kicking. Law says your can't take them because they are too short.

Interesting side note on the Marina: I went in to pay an extra night slip rent. There were some nice looking white polo shirts with their logo hanging on the wall. One showed a little dust collecting on the shirt. I said "Dee could wash those up, how much do you want for one? He said "take it" Kind of make the $40.00 a night more palatable. Have to see if I can get the other one for Dee just before closing. That was the dirty one.

Got some tourist type pictures. If any are of interest I'll post them.
The plan today is to drop the dink, put on the Honda 2 and pass under the bridge. ( weather permitting)The old Tarpon Springs is back around the corner somewhere.

To be continued 😀
captd

 

[Texas Steve]

Capt'n D:

I hope you understand how much those of us stuck in offices appreciate your kindness in sharing your adventures. We keep promising ourselves we will take our Slow 'n Easy cruising, but it never seems to happen. I hope you will inspire others to share their experiences with us land locked dreamers! I look forward to seeing your pictures as they are posted.

Texas Steve

 

[jingram]

I second that though CaptD!! Look forward to hearing your stories and seeing those pictures!

Jack

 

[Zuma]

Give Sweet Dee a big hug from me! Looking forward to hearing of your adventures.

 

[Ainokea]

D and D

Cathy and I will be in Key West Jan 30th thru Feb 2. Send us e-mail if you will be there and we will stop by. Have a great and safe trip, wish we were going by tug but not enough time....

Cheers

Frank

Ainokea

 

[captd]

Frank,
I am sure we will be there. In fact we will make a point to be there at that time. Are you flying in? Work or play?

Darrel

 

[captd]

Tugnuts.
4 days and nights in Tarpon Springs. It is now Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. Time to move. On a tip from some new found friends we will go only about 10 miles to an island called "Caladesio" It is a state park. We have to go right past it so we may as well go into the inlet and see what it is all about. The Garmin says there are slips available. If priced like Hontoon State Park it should be about $16.00. Beats $40.00.
Lots of wind and rain while tied up here in Tarpon, then fog in the morning.
Bloated dead fish are collecting on the banks and in the side bays and starting to stink. After a dink ride yesterday and getting up close to lots of them, it looks like cat fish and mullet were the big victims. Some of the back waters and bays hold hundreds on the banks. Birds are having a field day.

Been trying to find a piece of 1/1/4 inch pvc about 3 ft long for a tiller extention for the honda. Run into a lot of 1 1/2" at the marine supplies.Guess I wll ride the bike a couple of miles to the Ace hardware. Garmin says there in one up the road.

Last night my oldest Grandson went on line with video. 1st time we have done that. It was great to see and talk at the same time, and I could actually hear clearly. He put his lab pup on so I could see how much he has grown. Dee won't be so lonesome for the kids now. Man some of these new inovations are great. Just got to set the time to meet.

I'm going to see if I can find the camera a transfer some pictures.

captd

 

[captd]

Mornin Tuggers,
!st posting didn't go, some where out into space. Oh well , got more info about this place. After a choppy ride splashing over the windshield and about 15 miles down ranger, we are now tied up to a floating dock. Caladesi Island State Park. $.50 per square foot. Whoopee! ($12.50). Signed up for three nights. Cheaper than the St John's, Hontoon State Park. 108 slips. A short board walk over the dunes takes you to an award winning Beach nearly 4 miles long. Considered one of the best in the country. Kayaking through 3 miles of mangrove trails or walking miles of interesting nature trails, all while watching out for rattle snakes.

This beach is on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Likely to see, Shore birds such as: American Oystercatchers, black skimers, royal and least terns and snowy, Wilson's and piping plovers. On the bay side of the island , great blue hurons, snowy egrets, and roseate spoombills in the shallows and tidal flats. Loggerhead turtles nest on the beach. Cold was killing them. State saved them somehow.

This island was homesteaded in the 1880's by Henry Scharrer and his daughter Myrtle Scharrer Betz. As a child she rowed her boat across the channel everyday. Later in life at 87 she penned a book called " Yesterday I Lived in Paradise " I can buy the book here on the island...I'll have to do that.

The Marina had quite a few open slips with short finger docks. Thanks to the thrusters it was no problem. Don't leave home without them.

Hope to do some picture taking today, if so I will post in the morning. Looks like a good place to pick shells. Dee will like that.

To be continued.
captd

 

[tuggertoy]

Darrell,

We are so glad you are taking the time to post your experiences on this trip. My wife Moria and I will be trailering Tugger Toy to Palmetto, FL in early March to visit with my Step-mother. She has a condo that includes a slip with a lift right outside her door. Her place is located at the Manatee River Terra Ceia Bay Inlet and we are excited at the prospect of exploring some of the same areas you will be passing through on your trip. Caladesi is one of those spots but we have a question. As we travel with our two Jack Russell Terriers, we are wondering if Caladesi allows pets. We can see from the website that they do not allow pets on the ferry from the mainland but they don't mention any restrictions for boaters tying up with pets. Would you mind checking on this for us and posting the answer here?

Thanks, and keep on sharing.

Eric

 

[captd]

Eric,
Dogs are no problem,the boat next to me has two big Irish setters. and they just jump off the boat and go to the pet run by themselves. Rules say all dogs must be on a six foot leash. No dogs allowed on the beach or the dunes. This is a big area and all kinds of room for walking the dog. Pooper bags are provided.
captd

 

[tuggertoy]

CaptD,

Thanks for the info. We are really looking forward to our trip. 😎

We will be following your trip with avid interest and longing in our heart. 😛

Thanks again,

Eric

 

[captd]

Wind blew all day yesterday and all night along with lots of rain. Must be Floridas winter.

Slept in this morning, awoke about 6:30 . 66. degrees in the boat so I made coffee with the wallas and my old stainless steel pot. Makes the best coffee. The 12 volt one is a Cruisinart. Works good, just takes more time. When it is too warm for the wallas and too early for the genset (besides it is to noisey) the 12 volt is the way to go.

I will be doing the velcro trick on some other items today. Lots of room in the v-berth. ( see other post)

Hope to pull out of the slip in the morning. How far we go will be open . ( depending on the Admiral )

Yesterday while setting out in a swing set in front of the Lucky Fin.( reading,) a gopher turtle came crawling by. A park employee said they will burrow down up to 40 ft in the ground. Phoo Bear didn't know what to make of it.
To be continued

captd

 

[captd]

Left Caladesi State Park, 9:00am . Nice day, sun shining, Got to Tampa Bay, run aground. Took it out of gear and sailed out of it.
Tampa Bay was a little confuseing , Sunshine bridge was magnificent. After passing under it we headed for the Manatee River. About 4.5 mile up we hit the Twin Dolphin Marina for fuel. Floating dock, Two boys on dock, Dee throws them a line. I hear a commotion, stick my head our the window and low and behold , Dee is in the water, hanging on to the dock. My hand frooze on the transmission and stopped using the thrusters and about had a heart attack. The two young boys looked totally baffled. They held the dock lines , I yelled pull me in so I can jump to the dock to pull Dee out of the water. They didn't know what to do. They were trying to get her on the dive platform. The Pudgy sets on the dive platform and the dive ladder is behind it. No room for two people to get on it to pull her up. One of them pulled the Lucky Fin in close enough for me to jump on the dock. Two of us drug her up on the dock while the other boy tied up the Lucky Fin. She was a little embarrassed but other then that, not hurt. It could hve been a disaster. But she didn't even get her hair wet. Maybe she can walk on water. I won't go into the possibilities.

We are now in a quite peacefull anchorage, Desota State Park on the Manatee River. Took the dog ashore , looked it over a bit, rowed back to the boat.
Law Enforcement just left. Ordered to turn on my anchor light. Which I did.
Long day and I'm tired.

To be continued
captd

 

[tuggertoy]

CaptD,

You are anchored right across the river from my step-moms place. She is at the cut between Terra Ceia Bay and the Manatee River. That is where we are headed with Tugger Toy for the first two weeks in March.

My wife, Moria, fell overboard here on the Chesapeake Bay this November 6th. The air temperature was 35 degrees and the water temp was 58. She was heavily clothed (fleece top and all) and no life jacket. Aside from the shock from the cold she was stunned at how heavy she was in all of that clothing once it was wet. I got her up on the swim platform with the help of the ladder.

We always wear our life jackets now when at the rail for any reason.

Eric