Enjoying Tarpon Springs FL

Monday, December 9:  Looking back on the Monday after Thanksgiving of our Crossing, the one thing I vividly remember is Clay saying to me at 3:50 a.m. as we got out of bed, "I'm in no hurry." Hello! Why are we getting up at 3:50 a.m.? As the day played out, we made our journey with time to spare, but didn't know that on the front end. We joined many other Looper boats at Turtle Cove Marina end point, many having left Carrabelle Sunday mid-afternoon and making an overnight crossing. We traveled at an average of 19 mph, having 2-440 hp diesels and thus able to travel at a higher rate of speed than those overnighters who travel at about 10 mph max speed. Following our arrival on Monday, there were others who docked on Tuesday. It seems that Turtle Cove, Tarpon Springs, FL was a popular southern endpoint.

We had plenty of time to explore Tarpon Springs, having now arrived in a warmer climate than the area along the panhandle coastline and wishing to unwind after the anticipation of crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The marina was located in historic downtown Tarpon Springs, offering and promoting the usual mix of touristy attractions. "Boutiki Hut" immediately caught my attention. This area is highly populated by Greek descendants, and we found Greek restaurants in abundance as well as a huge sponge exchange, the harvesting process brought over from the Mediterranean and used in the waters of the Gulf.

Having opened my closet on Tuesday morning to find the pole and accompanying clothes and hangers on the bottom of the closet floor, our walking destination that morning was ACE Hardward where Clay bought fittings and changed out such to reposition the hangers. I guess, even with minimal wave action, the vibration of Monday's trip broke the aged endcaps. Kudos to Clay! Being project oriented, I found it nice to have a project and a destination for our walk; I'm adapting to retirement, but I don't think I'll ever really like it! 

Tuesday evening found us in a group of eight Loopers seated at Mykonos, a Greek restaurant recommended by the marina staff. The congenial waitress took our orders, answering questions about Greek preparation, then served us huge portions of reasonably-priced menu items. I'm finding 'Greek' food often means 'seasoned-rubs' and tomato-based seasoned sauces. Delicious. And, we all took home leftovers!

Incorporated into our Wednesday morning walk was a stop at the 'sponge factory' to view a movie which explained the harvesting of sponges, the various kinds of sponges and their uses, etc. It was quite informative and had been highly recommended during the previous evening's dinner conversation. I took the opportunity to buy a few sponges and also some lotions/potions/soaps made with goats milk and olive oil. That evening, on the way back from dinner, again at Mykonos for me to order lamp chops (5 plus sides for $19.95--wow, can't even buy 5 chops at the grocery for $20) and Clay, lamb shank in a tomato-based sauce, we stopped at my new favorite sponge/soap shop for additional purchases. I found that this business has a location in Branson, MO, and the Greek proprietor talked excitedly and antimatedly about his trips to Branson. He's sold on Branson, MO!

On Thursday, Clay decided it was time to move farther down the coastline (by about 7-8 miles) to Dunedin, SaSea Sally's home for the next 1+ month while we enjoy Christmas at home with family and friends! Our departure included a stop at a nearby location to gas up from the Crossing; it wasn't pretty as Clay had underestimated the current of this river, and the dockhand was inept at best. A combination of factors yielded two full diesel tanks but a bent fender holder (lucky the experience wasn't more damaging!) We journeyed to Dunedin and arrived at Marker 1 Marina after successfully navigating the nearby bridge (you've received that email previously!).

Now docked at slip A12, we are enjoying beautiful, above-normal temperatures and sunshine. Thursday night's bill of fare included grilled burgers and zucchini (we have the boat's gas grill positioned and grilling mastered by now); Friday's dinner consisted of Mykonos' leftovers after we spent the day exploring downtown Dunedin by riding the Jolley Trolley (public transit system additional to the Pinellas County Transit bus system). The Jolley Trolley was such fun...an open air trolley of sorts that travels from the northern end, Tarpon Springs, to the southern end, Clearwater, stopping at bus stops and elsewhere along the way by merely being flagged down by those wanting to ride. $4.50 ($2.25 for seniors) buys unlimited one-day access to the trolley which runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. We had quite a bit of trouble figuring out, initially, where the trolley picks up passengers! Even the locals were of little help. But, we boarded the trolley and rode first into downtown Dunedin where we wandered through the historical downtown, explored the Friday farmers' market, and ate lunch at a cute, little outdoor cafe called the Broadway Deli and Cafe. Re-boarding the southbound trolley after Sally jumped up and down at the curb, waving her arms frantically to attract the driver's attention, we rode to the trolley's end at the Clearwater Publix (grocery), then back to our starting point in Dunedin. Was fun being on a wheeled, motorized vehicle, but the seats were sure uncomfortable!

Saturday dawned warm and sunny, and Sal spent much of the morning doing a large load of laundry at the facility on-site; because marina staff dock transients at the far end of the docks/fingers, it's usually a 'decent' walk to and from. 

Marker 1 hosted a low country shrimp boil over the lunch hour which we enjoyed along with a large crowd, all of whom were anticipating the boat parade Saturday evening in celebration of the Christmas holiday season. Clay and I were ill-prepared for the crowd that swelled as the sun set, all of whom appreciated the exquisitely-decorated/lighted boats. 

Having unloaded our bikes from the boat railings late Saturday afternoon in anticipation of a Sunday ride along the Pinellas Trail, we were sadly disappointed to awaken Sunday morning to missing bikes. Of course, that gave direction to our morning walk as we searched in vain for our vintage-1960's 'funky' foldable bikes. All of a sudden, the bikes, of which Sal wasn't too fond (funky, rusted, eye-sores, but worked) became "Oh, my bike :>( " (They photographed pretty darn well, we realized after filing a sheriff's report and having to email pix of said stolen bikes.) Returning to the marina after our morning walk, Clay extended boat hooks (poles) and raked the bottom of the harbor surrounding our boat, hoping against hope that maybe the 2 bikes got knocked in. No luck--yet.

I realize that, this boating world in which we are currently living, is an artificial society (Clay appropriately selected the adjective 'artificial'), this realization brought on by losing our bikes. Boaters are friendly, accommodating, quick to help/aid/and assist without being asked, courteous and congenial. We find few pretenses among our boater friends/acquaintances; we women wear no make-up, clothes with holes, and take orders from the captain, mostly without questioning (the saying, "The captain is always right" is accepted and makes for smooth sailing in most instances). The presumed theft of the bikes (slim chance they are on the harbor bottom which the marina diver will check out soon) came as a rude awakening because we've become lax in locking our belongings and careless in our assessing the honesty of the crowd around us.

Sunday and Monday have now passed in anticipation of Tuesday's flight home for the Christmas celebration. Again, we are leaving beautiful weather for home and family...gladly, tho' we may regret our eagerness once we arrive to 7 degrees windchill.

Until our S3 (SaSea Sally) journey resumes in mid-January, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years, 2014!