Fall Cruise to NoWhere

The Cruise to No Where Group

Our boating club, the PGIslanders, scheduled a cruise to NoWhere.  So, where is NoWhere?  Well, the cruisers decided to go north.  We packed our boat, Indigo Star, and headed to Venice Yacht Club where we spent a pleasant evening.  The next morning we pulled into the Bird Key Yacht Club and met our friends on Friday, November 2nd, in Sarasota.  We decided to have dinner at Owen's Fish Camp, a neat little place in downtown with a backyard that featured a country band and campfire.  We could hardly believe we were in the city!  What a fun place with delicious seafood!

Us at Owen's Fish Camp

The next day we walked downtown Sarasota, met for a movie, A Man with a Gun, a new Clint Eastwood flick and then had dinner at Marina Jack's outdoor venue overlooking Sarasota Bay.  The group decided to leave the next day and we agreed we'd anchor our boats off Emerson Point in the Manatee River near Bradenton.  Those who went with us were Steve and Kathy aboard s/v North Star, Dave and Dede aboard s/v Kai Lani, Gene & Sue aboard s/v Yorkshire Rose and John & Ann aboard s/v Living the Dream.

Emerson Point anchorage was lovely and we fired up our dinghies, landed on the park-side dock and walked all around the lovely area admiring the waterside views, plants and foliage.  We enjoyed a happy hour with snacks aboard s/v Yorkshire Rose.  

Under the Sunshine Causeway Bridge

The next day we continued on to the city docks at St. Petersburg.  It was fun going under the beautiful Sunshine Causeway Bridge - and we snapped a few pictures in the area.  The group decided to walk around the neat downtown area and after discussion, we went to a wonderful Italian restaurant.  The next day we explored the historic pink Vinoy hotel and had drinks in the lobby.  Just beautiful!  Steve told us about a wonderful new western art and sculpture museum called the James Museum.  We decided to tour it and everyone agreed it was first rate.  We really enjoyed the docent tour and admired the unusual art and sculptures.  After happy hour on our boat, we dined at a local Mexican restaurant.  

Indigo Star at Bird Key Yacht Club, Sarasota

The next day, some of the group decided to go onto Clear Water while others wanted to go back to Sarasota for another club cruise to Marina Jacks.  We opted to cruise down Tampa Bay to the beautiful Tampa Yacht Club.  We spent two days there enjoying the pool and scenery.  We decided to take an Uber to downtown Tampa.  Here we enjoyed the beautiful River Walk and took a free trolley to Ybor City.  This historic city was founded by Cubans and a novel cigar factory was established there.  Gradually other ethnic groups came here and flourished.  We enjoyed walking the area and Greek food at the Acropolis.  

Sunset off Emerson Point from Indigo Star

I head from my "old" boss, Roger Hanlon, who was in Tampa for a conference.  We had a wonderful visit and caught up on the Squid Lab personnel.  Roger has a new book out and was excited about a recent article that he authored in Science.

We headed home with a stop at the Field Club.  What a wonderful 10 days aboard Indigo Star!