Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Day 54 - 83 Dec 7- Jan 5 Clearwater Beach Muncipal Marina Clearwater Beach FL

Day 54 Dec 7
This is a really nice marina with lots of things to do and see.  We have had a full night sleep....no rocking and rolling....  met Tim, Janice and Coach for breakfast at the Marina Cafe.....locals and fishermen....must be good place to eat.

We walk the beach and end up at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill on the beach.  Well it is 11:35...is that a pitcher of beer I see????   It must be 5 o'clock somewhere!!!  Rik and I had lunch with Skipper and Connie here a few years ago....think it was oysters.....

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill

The "trio" are staying at Barefoot Bay.  Nice place...quaint....pool....very clean....and across the street from the marina.  This will be the recommendation if someone visits us and wants their own space.

Barefoot Bay

Dinner tonight on the boat....Rik fixed Rib eyes on the grill with a large Caesar salad and some sourdough bread....pleasant.....Sunset....lights from the city of Clearwater and the beach...this is real nice.

We are having fun now
 
Our Sunset
 
 
Day 55 Dec 8
Good bye to Tim, Janice and Coach....they leave early so they can be home sometime tonight. Once they reach Green Turtle Bay Marina Coach will head to Marion and Tim and Janice to Mt Carmel.  I know they will be tired....but....we really enjoyed them.....the three plus Wendy are really good friends.
Think we have blue/pink jobs to do today....but we are pretty slow this AM....think the crossing is catching up with us.  Rik takes me to lunch at the Bait Shop......grouper tacos....good
We have decided to stay in Clearwater for the month of December.  So you know where to find us.  This evening is the Christmas Boat Parade.....and we can have dinner on the bridge and watch the parade from our front window.  Really neat!!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Day 56 Dec 9
Gerald is in Webster and came over for lunch and a short visit.  We are having a foggy day....but we walk the marina and have a late lunch at Crabby Bills
 

 
 
 Day 57 Dec 10
We are going to have rain this week....good maybe it will wash ALL the salt off the boat.  We have rented a car so we have wheels.  A trip to West Marine today and Walmart.  Well we got off track and ended up in Tarpon Springs at Captain Jacks for lunch.  Rik had stayed there when he brought the Nanseann up in 2010.  I had the best Cuban Sandwich and Rik had a great Cheeseburger.  Think all we do is eat.
We are able to get Saddi off the boat at high tide (2 foot tide so ramp gets steep) and she and I have found a great place to walk.  Less traffic!
 
We can see the Nanseann as we go over the bridge
 
Saddi's walking route
 
Day 58 Dec 11
Rik's Michigan cousin Sandy and her husband Tom spend the winters at Indian Rocks Beach which is just over the bridge.  Little did we know Tom had a massive heart attack Sunday evening but is recovering.  Tommy and Suzie flew in Monday to be with their mom and dad.  Tom was moved out of ICW to a room on Tuesday......progressing....I know some of our coach friends will remember Tom and Sandy when we all spent New Years 2000 at Indian Rocks Beach RV Resort.
It was great they were able to get away from the hospital and stop by before flying back home.
 
Rik, Tommy, Suzie and Sandy
 

 
Day 59 Dec 12
Tom came home from the hospital this afternoon.  He can do whatever he feels like....but Sandy says he won't be playing golf for awhile.
 
Day 60 Dec 13
 
Want to be a Pirate
 
 
Day 61 Dec 16
 
Beautiful Sunset
 
 
Dinner at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber tonight....what a treat.....

 
 
Day 62 Dec 15
Well our granddaughter Allie has made headlines.  I had a text from Jessie at the Steven Tyler concert in Tampa that Allie was on stage dancing with Steven Tyler.  Now, she has made  YouTube.   I'm sure you all are smarter than I but go on Google....YouTube.....search Aerosmith Tampa 2012.....One day little girl dancing with Steven Tyler.....and that is Allie.  Oh my she is growing up.
 
Day 63 Dec 16
Went for a walk on beach and they are having a national beach soccer tournament.  Pretty interesting
 
Think he's ready for beach soccer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tom and Sandy came over and we had a late lunch at Crabby Bills......grouper....must say it was out of this world.  Walked the marina and back to the boat for a visit.  Tom is looking good.
 
 
Tom and Sandy
 
Beautiful Sky Tonight
 
 
Day 64 Dec 17 
Lunch at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill with a local school group walking up and down the beach singing and wishing Christmas cheer.  They were having a ball.
 
 
 
Day 65 Dec 18
Rik took me to Hooter's for wings.  Told me he was taking me so I could get a picture of the Roundabout....now do you believe that????
 


Cars, bicyles, scooters going everywhere
 
Day 66 Dec 19
Downtown Clearwater Farmer's Market is every Wednesday.  Two blocks on Cleveland street are blocked off.  You can buy lunch, listen to live music and sample all types of produce.  Sweet Carolina bakery from Palm Harbor was there and is a must stop.  We came home with FRESH OJ and Plant City strawberries plus a few samples from the bakery.
 
Took this going in
 
 
Santa Claus was greeting the visitors
 
 
Day 67 Dec 20
Boat mechanic came today to change the Zincs.  A day on the boat.  Big front moving in this evening.  Lots of small craft warnings are out.....so our lines are secure....sweatshirts are on....we're ready.
 
Day 68 Dec 21
12 foot seas in the Gulf......wind 25 - 30 mph.....a day to stay inside and rock and roll.  Big front moving through and I wish it would hurry up.  Big fishing boats are even staying in the harbor.
 
Day 69 Dec 22
Greg and Sandy, friends from Savannah Creek in North Carolina came over for lunch.  These two were willing to take care of Saddi for a whole year if she wouldn't get on the boat.  They winter in Homosassa.  Still cold and still some wind....
 
 
Sandy Saddi Greg
 
 
Day 70 Dec 23
Rik and I wandered on the beach......found some Stone Crab.  The story is the octapus are eating the stone crab this year....do not know why.... 
 
Sunrise
 
 


Sunset Coming
 
Red Skies at Night...Sailor's Delight
 
 
 
 Day 71 Dec 24
 
Rik, Saddi and I want to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS.  Wish you were here
 
Saddi and her Christmas toy
 
 
Day 72 Dec 25
 
We were invited to the Dock Christmas Party.  There were 10 of us that shared a potluck dinner and it was really nice.  Lots of fun meeting everyone.
 
 
 
Lou, Carol, Jackie and Rik
 
Jim Michael and Lou with Scooby and Java

 
 Day 75 Dec 28
We had a long walk on the beach.....lots of people out doing the same thing we were doing....enjoying the weather and finding shells.  Stopped at Crabby Bills
 
Clearwater Beach
 
Let's build a castle
 
Everyone walks and listens to something
 
Looking for food
 
 
When we returned to the boat Rik checked his e-mails and these shots were from Terry and Phyllis
 

Our house all white and pretty
 
8-10 inches of snow
 
 
TOO BAD WE'RE NOT HOME
 
HO  HO  HO
 
 
I like the sunshine too
 
 

 
 Day 77 Dec 30
Rick, Jamie, Jessie and Allie came over for the day from Ocala.  Big day for us as their schedules are BUSY.
 
 
 
 
This is Beach Day and the beach if full.  South Carolina and Michigan play in the Outback Bowl on New Years Day so you are lucky to get a parking space.  The blimp was even in town.
 
 
Going over the Marina
 
 

We spent the day on the beach with lunch at Frenchy's.  The Battle of the Bands was exciting to watch.  As I said people everywhere.....and the temp was in the 50s
 
Allie and Jessie
 
South Carolina Marching Band
 
Michigan Marching Band
 
 
 
Day 78 Dec 31
 
New Years Party on the dock late afternoon.  We need sunshine!  The "Nanseann"  hosted the group with everyone bringing munchies........Made some of Aunt Marcie's hot Raspberry Dip and Rik cooked up some of Uncle Earl's Cajun sausages.  You both were a hit!!!!!
 
 
Ron and Steve
 
Nancy and Denise
 
Ron and Carol
 
Lou and Sherry
 
Anne, Pam and Jim
 
Michael and Rik
 
 
Fireworks on the beach at midnight.....we wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
New Years Day was quiet.....black eyed peas with rice and cornbread.....You needed a permit to drive on the roads as cars were lined up over the Memorial Causway bridge.  Everyone who wasn't at the game wanted to be on the beach.  We watched the Michigan - South Carolina.....great game.  And best of all.....the warm sunshine....
 
Day 81  Jan 3
First sea fog this afternoon....really pretty over the water but I'm glad we in dock....
 
Looking back at Clearwater
 
 
Looking at Clearwater Beach
 
 

Day 83 Jan 5
We have spent time the last two days getting ready for our run to the Florida Keys.  Our month on Clearwater Beach has been great......we have met so many new friends on the dock and we hope to meet up with them somewhere......
The weather has been cool with all the fronts moving across the country....we are ready to head SOUTH.
Yes we will come back 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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