The "REAL" Journey Begins

TRAVEL DAY 1 - Palmetto to Sarasota

February 14, 2023

4.2 Hours/31.6 Miles

    Today is "really" the day we start of the Great Loop, as opposed to the "Unofficial Start of the Great Loop". We felt pretty confident that all the preparation and work would pay off. Well, feelings are one thing, realty is another.

    We pulled out of our slip and headed for the fuel dock to top off the tanks with a few gallons of diesel and pump out the holding tank. Of course the predicted wind was not what we got, neither was the air temperature, still it was a decent day for a cruise. We're still in our home waters so we basically knew the way. Our destination was Sarasota and a free anchorage. We had planned to pick up an anchor ball at Marina Jack's but it was full. Free anchorages mean more money for food, snacks and drinks!

    Beth had planned some routes on her Navionics and Aqua Maps apps and was ready to assume her roll as "navigator", Not sure why but the iPad had performed perfect....until now. It would not grab a GPS location. Strike 1. No worries, I rely on my Simrad MFD and my "hard wired" boat systems. The iPad was a back up and it failed. We'll have to use it for planning purposes going forward if the GPS doesn't work. 

    We made our way past Marina Jack's and around Otter Key to our anchorage.  On the way we were radioed by a fellow Looper asking if we were heading into Marina Jack. We replied we had other plans. One of the really neat apps that we are relying on is the NEBO Link. Boats that have the transponder mounted on them show on the app (we have the transponder as well) and we can see who is sharing the journey and contact them as well as share our location with anyone in real time.

    When we made our way around to Otter Key, there was only one other boat there and they were pulling their anchor. This was a perfect scenario to practice our anchoring techniques. With an open anchor field, Beth prepped the forward deck and anchor. Checking the depth and calculating a 5:1 scope, I called out "let out 60 feet of chain". Beth pressed the foot control on the brand new windlass...nothing. Of course, planning vs reality. "It must be the breaker". My deck crew went below with the radio and I described what she was looking for. She reset the main breaker and returned to the foredeck. I repositioned the boat and the windlass came to life dropping the galvanized ground tackle, counting the orange spots on the chain indicating each 10' of chain, 10...20...30...40...50...60 stop. I marked the anchor with a waypoint and backed down on it to set it into the mud below. We installed the bridle to keep the tension off the windlass. Done. We organized the boat some, then dropped the dinghy in to putt up to St. Armond's circle to walk around and grab a snack. 

Hoping there aren't any dinghy thieves around

    Back at the boat we toasted our first day with a bottle of Champaign and watched the sunset. It's hard to describe, but although it was a pretty easy day, we felt mentally exhausted from everything coming at us at once and the realization that this was now our new normal. 

    

TRAVEL DAY 2 - Sarasota to Venice

February 15, 2023

2.5 Hours/17.7 Miles

    The anchorage was perfect, totally protected and we woke to a beautiful sunrise. 

    We had a small breakfast and planned our later departure for Venice and Crows Nest Marina. 

    The Galley Hand called out "The water isn't working" I could hear the pump running, but no water was coming from the faucet. I opened the engine hatch to see quite a bit of water flowing from the water heater area down to the bilge. The water was warm and the culprit was easily identified. One of the pipes at a "T" fitting had pulled out. Once I got all the water shop vac'd out, I simply had to reconnect & tighten it. This gave us a new duty. Shut off the fresh water pump when not in use.

    Running through the pre-voyage checklists, we got everything ready for departure. Up on the bow, the crew prepared to pull the anchor. As I eased the boat forward to keep off the tension, my deck crew realized she had forgot a step. Getting out the raw water hose to wash the mud from the chain and the anchor. A few choice words as the mud splattered over her and the deck. We now have a new item for the checklist, planning vs reality. Free from the bottom and our quiet anchorage we made our way out the same way we came in. 

    Once at the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) we turned south and followed the markers "RED on the Left", "Green on the Right". This really is easy boating. My Navigator informed me that a few miles ahead we had a swing bridge at Blackburn Point with a vertical clearance of about 9'. Too low for our 11' "air draft" and no way around. When we got it in sight Beth called "Blackburn Bridge, Pau Hana Southbound requesting an opening"..."Pau Hana, my next opening is at 1 pm, about 8 minutes from now"..."Thank you Blackburn Bridge, Pau Hana standing by on channel 9". Wow, my Communications Officer/Navigator/Deckhand/Galley Hand/1st Mate/Swab and 1st Class Passenger did a stellar first time job at VHF Ship-To-Shore communications. We maintained our position into the current until we could see the bridge tender walk to the mid-span and announced "This is Blackburn Bridge, all vessels stand clear for opening" we heard the bell and the bridge began to swing open. We gave the bridge tender a hearty salute as we passed by and continued south. 

   This new radio skill came in handy again when we reached the Albee Road Bridge just a short distance further down the ICW. This bridge was a drawbridge with a reported height of 12' vertical clearance. It sure didn't look it and once we got close I could see the waterline showed about 8 1/2'. We swung back around and my Communications Officer called the bridge tender. "Captain, I'll open as soon as I can, only the east span will open, closest to the bridgehouse" we replied in the affirmative and held our position until the horn sounded. We were all done with bridges at least for today. 

    As we got to the Venice Inlet and in sight of the marina, I instructed my Deckhand to get the fenders out and the lines on both side cleated and ready. We are never sure exactly which side we will dock on so we prep for both. I called the marina for instructions and dockline help and he gave me the location of our slip. Still practicing my "Single Screw" boat ability I located the slip, got into position for a "stern in, port side tie" turned the wheel hard to the starboard and proceeded to shove the gear forward and reverse (called "Back and Fill") to swing the boat stern in and move Pau Hana into her slip. The marina staff was standing by for our lines and I was able to easily get her into her new 3 day location without wacking anything. It's not always this pretty, but damn it made me feel good. There is almost always an audience standing on shore, a group akin to those on the highway wanting to see the destruction of a car wreck. Not today, "Nothing to see here folks...except superb boat handling!"...this time. 

    All hooked up we pulled out the scooters and cruised into town to explore. 

Just "Horsing Around"

Downtown Venice

For the next 2 days we did a little work, got a grocery delivery and then headed out to the beach and the pier for some more sightseeing.

Bike & Brew

Venice Pier

Sharky's at the pier

    One last time to the beach to look for shark teeth. Beth worked for well over an hour sifting through the surf sand but no luck. What was amazing and irritating was the Red Tide this time of year. We couldn't see it but it gave us a cough and a feeling like you had an allergy. Once we got away from the beach it wasn't an issue.

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