Cruising Indigo Star in Gorgeous Fall Weather

INDIGO STAR docked at the beautiful Field Club

After battling jet lag from our awesome China trip, we prepared Indigo Star for a fall trip with our cruising club, the PGIslanders.  Early November is prime time for going out on the water here in Southwest Florida and we wanted to take advantage of it.  It would not have been possible except for our daughter, Michele, who volunteered to travel here from northern California to advocate for my almost 97-year old Mom, who recently fractured her humerus where it connects to her shoulder.  It is going to take Mom quite a while to heal and figure out how to get out of a chair.  I know we will be spending quite a bit of time in Rehab with her.

Field House Channel

Up went the bimini. Richard swept off the cobwebs and off we went on a gorgeous day.  Our first destination was Venice Yacht Club where Richard pulled the boat into a 90 degree turn to get into a tight slip.   I swam in their heated pool and Richard walked Bleu Kitty on his leach all around the marina.  The next day we headed up the Intercoastal Waterway to the beautiful Field Club, the once summer home of Marshall Field, a retailer in the Chicago area. 
It's now reborn as a yacht and tennis club.  The grounds are gorgeous overlooking Sarasota Bay with old pin oaks gracing the shores.  We enjoyed lunch with Michele who came to pick me up for a Family Meeting and doctor appointment for my Mom.  Later, Jackie and Bob Whitaker arrived and we thoroughly enjoyed dinner with them the second evening there. 

Docked at Marina Jacks, downtown Sarasota

We were off early in the morning for Marina Jack's, the marina that the PGIslanders were all meeting at as their cruise destination.  After multiple conversations with the dockmaster, we were finally able to snag a "good" slip on D Dock, close to our friends' boats.  It took me reminding them that we had asked for an easy "in" and "out" multiple times.  They still wanted to put us far away from our group.  Finally, when I said, "I just hope I don't hit any other boats," they got the idea and gave us what we asked for!  I had to be VERY assertive there, but it was worth it.  We had a super fun time with all our

Docktails!

boating friends.  There must have been 20 boats there!  We had docktails on  the dock and all went to Salute, a very nice Italian restaurant in downtown Sarasota.  We also enjoyed a great Veteran's Day Parade and breakfast at First Watch. 

Our next plan was to continue onto the Sarasota Yacht Club and then the next day to Bird Key Yacht Club.  We are trying to visit 13 boating clubs in the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs so that we qualify for a dinner and award at the Change of Watch next March.  We

Joanne at Art Festival

were able to get into both clubs, despite strong north winds.

Joan & Joe Thomas had their hose rescued by us!

Richard set up our routes and reviewed the approach to each  club or marina.  We talked to each dock master before heading out for the day to confirm that were on the same page.  We had a fun time visiting each of these places and enjoyed some great meals.  We also attended a wonderful Arts Festival at St. Armond's Circle and watched the Sarasota Veteran's Parade.

Tomorrow, we head for home.  Wind blowing down Charlotte Harbor from the NE for the last few days has created nasty & steep waves. So after following the ICW from Bird Key, Sarasota down to Pine Island Sound, we plan to anchor at Useppa Island tomorrow afternoon and come up the harbor early Wednesday morning as we hope for lighter wind and better conditions early in the morning.