Harbor Happening

A is for Awesome. We formed up and called out our letters: “p”, “G”, “C”, “i”, try again “I” and “A.” Islanders formed the “A” and we were awesome. Chuck and Trudy danced to the music at the top of our “A” while we waited for the plane and helicopter to take our picture, a human “PGCIA” sculpture to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association. Islanders went wild to YMCA.

Our Friday remained overcast, chilly and damp upon our return from Solomon's Castle. Our neighbors from Chicago thought we were crazy as we loaded Eagle's Wings for an overnight adventure anchoring in the Peace River with a predicted 15 kt NE wind and dozens of other sailboats for company. I thought so too but Joanne insisted that we join the Harbor Happening! 

We anchored off Fisherman's Village where the US 41 bridges knocked down the waves to provide us a very pleasant if chilly evening. Chuck & Trudy, bundled in sweaters and jeans, gave us ride in their dinghy to the Friday night dock party at Lashley's community room filled with folks from all the boat clubs. Saturday morning warmed up with sunbeams when we dinghied in to join the letter “A.” A photo of our letter “A” made the Sunday paper but the aerial photo didn't. . Hopefully, I can get a copies of the aerial shots someday as most of my photos turned out awful.  See UTube Video.

About six Islander boats anchored out. Most of the power boats canceled as the mooring field east of the bridges was rougher than the sailboat anchorage. What a dumb move installing that mooring field was! But both Dave and eighty year old Harold took moorings Friday night! Harold actually got a ride in and spent the night at home while Dave and Carolyn rode it out all night!

The Saturday's newspaper reported about one hundred and fifty boats anchored out on Friday but I counted only about fifty or sixty. More boats joined us Saturday morning for a memorable Harbor Happening.

 

Photos

Solomon's Castle

Friday awakened chilly and damp, our day for a trip with the Power Squadron to Solomon's Castle located Northeast of Arcadia in a Manatee County Swamp. The castle as is all the treasure it holds is constructed from recycled material, mostly recovered from junk yards. A tour for tourists filled with puns shows what one man, Harold Solomon, can craft combining imagination and junk with a welder. I dare say the transformed junk that fill the first floor gallery rival anything that New York or San Francisco's beatnik art scene has to offer. I found his work interesting. A friend called it hideous.

Photos

Eagle's Wings Fall Cruise North

It's finally cooled off in Punta Gorda - so that means it's "Fall Cruise Time" on our sailboat, Eagle's Wings!  We pulled away from our dock on November 1st, our route being to Venice to join our boat club, the PGIslanders, for the Venice Art Festival and other destinations north.  We loved looking at the spectacular art and Joanne even won a purse in a free drawing.  Lots of club members attended - we had fun "docktails" and a nice dinner at the Crow's Nest.

We then traveled to Sarosota via the intercoastal waterway and spent 3 days there listening to the election results and enjoying the town.  On the way home, we anchored off of Cape Haze and in Pelican Bay.  Check out the picture of Richard.  He founded a rare arrowhead sanddollar.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving.  My sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Al, will visit from Indiana.  We are also hosing people from the Ukraine as part of a inbound exchange of the Friendship Force, our traveling club.


Pictures