Art and Crafts at the Sponge Docks

Still waiting for boat repairs and enjoyed the weekend downtown at the sponge docks.

 Enjoying one of the most beautiful painted sponge boats.

New sponge harvest

Little babies in a train at the Art show

 Walking around looking at the crafts.  Gary and I are in great shape by now.
Work has begun on the boat so we will be leaving here for Terra Verde hopefully in October.

Time in Tarpon Springs

We are settled in now for rudder repairs at Pitman Yacht Services.  We rented a very nice condo in the historical district and a little puddle jumper to get around.  Every day is mostly been filled with insurance paperwork and getting estimates.  We have talked about some little projects we can do while we are here but haven't had any time yet.  Much is going on with our friends and family while it seems we are stuck in a slow time warp, with nothing being accomplished.  Definitly, Gary and I are action people,  I have taken to long hikes to rest my brain.  Tarpon Springs is a beautiful, interesting place.  Tonight we have a sports bar planned to see the Alabama Game, (and maybe FSU).

Still smiling
(boat in background)

Miss Em's Home for extended time

shopping in the Sponge Exchange
these are made from nut ivory

pool at the condo

outside our door

across the street

our puddle jumper

Gary's favorite stop

fabulous meat store!

Stafford House

Great walks downtown

Splash Up in Tarpon Springs!

Did you ever think that all you have is bad luck?  I sometimes feel all Gary and I do is make lemonade in our lives.  As we came in the South passage to gain the intercostal at the mouth of Tarpon Springs we hit a shoaled in area off Anaclothe Key.  As we were so tired we called our towboat service to help us get off and avoid other unkown areas.  Unfortunely, all service isn't good.The captain that came damaged our boat and we almost lost our rudder.  We are now on the hard again to get a new rudder and navigation  equipment replaced.  I am housekeeping on land for at least a month.
At least this is a beautiful place to be.

Jan at the sponge docks

Our new home and car for at least a month

Skyline bridge in St. Petersburg, gorgeous 

MissEm's new home,Pittman Yacht Services

Gary's new favorite, charbroiled octopus 

Big Bend Passage

The weather window opened and we were ready to "Do a Carrabelle!", and leave.  The beginning of the 23 hour trip was rough, but by the afternoon it was getting better and better.  By midnight the stars were out and the waves were down.  Gary had reefed the main and we were making great time.  I slept stretched out in the cockpit and Gary woke me at 4 AM for a relief break.  We started seeing Dolphins and were very excited that we had such a good passage.

Splash!

After more fun days staying with Gary's Mom and driving back and forth to Carrabelle, the boat was finally painted.  We took our neice Keira to the Tallahassee museum for a day of fun.  We also had a weekend in the Gibson Inn in Appalachicola.  Then we turned in the rental car and waited out the weather for the crossing to Tarpon Springs.

Getting  ready to leave Carrabelle all painted up

Ready to go.

Jan and Kiera

 Fun at the Tallahassee Museum. Lots of new animals to see.

 

Keira got to touch the baby alligator

She decided to skip holding the snakes

Appalachicola is a great place to visit.  We had a geat room at the Gibson Inn.

Music at Tamara's Cafe