Nov 14-15, Clearwater, FL

We made the 155 nautical mile crossing of the open Gulf of Mexico from Apalachicola to Clearwater today!

The winds continue to subside as the storm (formerly Hurricane Ida) has moved across Georgia into Norfolk and the outer banks of North Carolina. Winds in Apalachicola are forecast to be 10 mph and the sea conditions continue to improve. The Gulf is forecast to have waves of be 1-2 feet today, tonight and tomorrow. It doesn't get much better than that during this part of the year around here, so we head out at 6:30 am (dawn), with two other boats PERFECT REMEDY (Fred and Sharon Clarkson) and THE RIGHT COMBO (Norm and Jody Powell). KOKOMO II runs 17-18 knots all the way to Clearwater in one long day and arrives at 4 pm.

Leaving Apalachicola at first light.

Shrimp boat coming home at dawn.

This is the west end of St George Island as we go through Government Cut.

Another shrimp boat resting during the daylight hours
after shrimping all night.

Tower used to report sea conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.
About 40 miles offshore.

Clearwater is a welcome sight after nine hours on the water.

We are tied up at the Clearwater Municipal Marina which is the home to Clearwater's sportfishing and cruise boats and is across from the beach. We are in the center of the tourist area, across the water from downtown Clearwater and ten miles south of Tarpon Springs.

We visit Tarpon Springs by car and see a sponge boat just back from a month out in the Gulf of Mexico gathering sponges. Great ambience on the docks.

Sponge boat at Tarpon Springs.

Must have been a good trip looking at the sponges they brought back.

Washing and sorting by size at the dock.

Clearwater Beach has a sunset 'happening' every evening celebrated from two hours before sunset to two hours after sunset. We walk from our marina to see the sights.

Pirate ship takes tourists for a sunset cruise
from Clearwater Beach.

Mime dressed in silver.
Child and dog are manekins. Person is real in total makeup.

Blow up slide.

Umbrellas to block the wind for the vendors on the Clearwater pier.

Wide beaches with beautiful sand
are normal here on the west coast of Florida.

Sunset at Clearwater Beach
is the reason for the nightly celebration.

The fish in the bucket is bigger than the heron.

These pelicans are not afraid of anyone.
Waiting for scraps at the fish cleaning station.

We are back in the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GIWW). Nice to be in sheltered waters again for our cruising. We have all Intercoastal Waterway from here to Stuart.