An Entire Week in Clearwater Beach and there was no medical emergency!

We arrived in Clearwater Beach last Tuesday after our overnight Gulf Crossing from Carrabelle. Never thought I could be in one place for a week- (without a medical emergency :-)) - without getting antsy- but this past week has been perfect. It is so warm and sunny here! We walk everywhere and absolutely totally love it! I told Dave that we have to move here- everyone is so healthy looking... always out walking or running or biking. I really am enjoying walking to the Publix a mile away or to the shops on the main street. It just makes you feel good about yourself! Tomorrow we are leaving for an anchorage somewhere near St. Petersburg. Our reservations at Longboat Key don't start until the 14th so we will be just enjoying short days and anchorages- our favorite type of cruising! We are hoping to meet up with our new Rendezvous friends Lori and Dave and anchor out together next weekend. Right now Longboat is dealing with a terrible red tide and lots of dead fish and we aren't in any hurry to get into the resort!

Last week we went to the Clearwater Aquarium and a Dolphin Expedition. We probably didn't need the boat trip as we have seen so many dolphins- but it was fun watching the excitement of the children on the trip. We saw lots and lots of dolphins and the trip is actually research for the Aquarium as they gather data about the dolphins and the water quality. The aquarium houses the dolphin Winter that lost its tail in a crab trap. The movies Dolphin Tale 1 and 2 were filmed at the aquarium. Hope and Nicholas, who were also featured in the movie, are also still at the aquarium. It was so interesting to watch their training and Winter's physical therapy session. The aquarium is also an animal hospital and we watched them administrating I.V. therapy for a huge sea turtle. If you are ever in the Clearwater area it is well worth the trip!

On Friday we took the Jolly Trolley to Tarpon Springs with our friends on Plane 2 Sea (Charlie and Kay) and Elizabear (Tom and Jane). We had a wonderful time! It was like stepping back into the 70's! It is heavily populated by Greek Immigrants who were/are sponge divers/farmers. There are sponges for sale everywhere! We all (the ladies) bought a sponge and air plants to put into them. Dave said I will kill it just like all the others but I am hoping for better success! Lunch was incredible- fresh seafood and fresh house-made Sangria. We bought Greek wine and of course incredible Greek pastries! Dave said the restaurant looked like Disney World! All in all we just had the best day!

Saturday our good friends and fellow Loopers- Principal Bob and Sharon came up from Englewood to spend the afternoon and go out to dinner. We cruised with them from New York City up through Canada and really missed them! They are Gold Loopers now after crossing their wake in New Buffalo, MI. Today a friend of Dave's came and visited as he is in St. Petersburg on nuclear power business. Greg has the sister boat just like ours. We stayed at his dock in N.J. when we first started on our Loop.

We will fly from Tampa to Baltimore on the 19th and our good Maryland friends Jo Ann and Robbie are going to bring our van to the airport and we will leave for home from there.

Our niece recommended this place. First night not so good... but 2nd time was excellent!

 

Some of our favorite Loopers- Principal Bob and Sharon at Crabbie Bill's

Just loved Clearwater Beach and Pier 60 for sunsets

 

Instant waterpark on the beach

 

Love pelicans! They are very trusting around people here

 

Got very close to this bird too!

 


Sunset at Pier 60

 

This was our Dolphin Cruise. Enjoyed watching the kids

 

This was Nicholas an incredible dolphin. His mom was dying and beached herself in order to breathe easier. Nicholas followed her on to the beach and got 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his back. He has been in captivity since he was 6 months old.

 
 

Sea turtles that have been rescued

 

This was at the emergency hospital and they were administering I.V. therapy to an injured sea turtle

 

Nicholas smiling at us!

 

We have pointsettias in MD but they are hot-house grown- not in the ground!

Tom, Jane, Kay and Dave. Charlie was somewhere hunting for Key Lime Pie!

 

Saw really neat metal art everywhere. And of course being with Artist Kay I began noticing things that wouldn't normally catch my eye!

 

This was the girls favorite sign. Dave and Tom took advantage of our shopping time to have a "beer on the dock"

 

This was where we had lunch and the most incredible fresh sangria! Thanks Carrie and Evelyn for the lunch suggestion!

 

Hellas Greek Restaurant

 

Pastry counter at Hellas

 

 

 




Sponges that came off the boat- fascinating!


 
 

Here is one of the sponges and the air plants that everyone plants in them. Hoping I don't kill them!

 

I wasn't allowed to bring much on our trip, but I did manage to bring aboard my Willow Tree Nativity Set