Moondance's new home-for now.

 

 

 

Longboat Key Marina is a first class outfit, with full use of the resort that includes pools, golf courses, tennis courts, restaurants and bars.  The grounds are impeccable, and the staff great.  It does not have the access to downtown Sarasota that Marina Jack had, but is a much more protected marina, and much more laid back, with limited access as a private resort.  Each marina has its attributes, but in the heat of summer, it is nice to have pools and beach access.

Our slip

The Aurora stayed at our dock in Houma on its way east.  Now it is across the slip from us-small world!

Marina pool and hot tub.  A shuttle will take us to the main resort on the beach with another pool there. 

The dock store is to the left, Portofino's to the right.

St Armand's Square

One of the drawbacks of our new marina, is that it is striking distance of St Armand's Square, an upscale shopping district in Sarasota.  Alexis' birthday is coming up, so we went on a spree.  Fortunately, the Square has great dinning possibilities also. 

This is how he looked before the shopping trip!

Alexis wanted a new coffee table.  This place had one for 25K.  I left quickly...

Lunch was great at Shoreside!

On another note, my headaches occur in cycles, and while on the boat too.  Last week was challenging, but the cycle has passed.  I cannot drink any alcohol while in a cycle, which I failed on occasion, and paid the price.  While out of the cycle, I can have two glasses of wine at night, so there is some hope!  The medication reduces the length of the cycle, and the severity of the headaches, so all is well.  Many of you have asked, and I appreciate the concern, but as long as I behave, it is quite manageable.  Also, I hear my friend, Melvin, is in the hospital, and we are thinking of him. 
On a positive note, Stan, Megan and Cameron arrive Wednesday, and we are looking forward to that!!

Restaurants and pigs.

One of the nice things about boating, is experiencing new towns, and what each has to offer.  We seem to concentrate in the food arena (pigs).  A sample:

• Mosaics-Sarasota.  Middle Eastern fare.  Great fish, mussels, lamb and duck.
• Marina Jack, upstairs Sarasota.  Dynamite view of Sarasota Bay, and great seafood (excellent crab cakes) and steaks.
• Tryst-St Pete.  As the name suggests, a trendy place with buff wait persons, and good food.  I had a great burger, with bacon...  Al fresco dining with a view of Tampa Bay.
• Parkshore Grill-St Pete.  Upscale with great seafood and steaks.  Also al fresco dining (we were run inside by not one, but four waterspouts)!  We had dessert at the bar inside, an apple cobbler to die for.  Superb wine list also. The wait staff were mainly college kids, and very fun.   
• Portafino Ristorante.  This is the restaurant at our marina on Longboat Key.  Great Italian fare, with homemade pizzas to boot.  I had the halibut, which was excellent.  Alexis had the mussels also good. 
• Tonight we are going to Pattigeorge, a local favorite here on Longboat.  John and Terry Spang, the loopers we met in St Pete, are at Longboat Marina for a few days, and we are joining them tonight to swap boat stories. 

So don't worry about us, we are not going to starve.  Perhaps go broke.....

Not all play and no work!

It has come to our attention that some of you resent our cheery blog and lifestyle (not naming names but one of my male siblings).  Please know that we are both working while on this trip.  We have purchased a state of the art computer for the boat, with a special modem for boats, complete with a wireless printer, Wi-Fi hot spot, and cell booster.  If fact Alexis worked till three in the morning to get out a project.  So, know that all is not fun in the sun for the Moondance crew.  Below are some working pics.

I am brushing up on my flying skills!

Alexis designed the Tropicana Dome.

We do salvage work on the side.

This is a remote location where we do some of our best work.

I am looking for oil as part of my BP duties.

Auditing sea shells.

Even Stanwood has to smile at this rainbow!

Chihuly Collection Purchase (NOT)

 

Today, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, is our last day in St. Pete.  What a great city to visit.  We went to the Museum of Fine Arts.  They are in between exhibits and only had a photographic exhibit on the National Parks.  Old photographs by well know photographers.  Well worth the free brief visit.

Next we crossed the street to the Chihuly Collection Exhibit.  WOW! I can't describe what the artist has done in the medium of blown glass.  The pictures will speak for themselves.  Berwick mentioned that I should keep a look out for something I might like for my birthday.  I did, but LOL he said it was outside my gift budget.  MEN!

We then ventured to the sidewalk café for sorbet.  Luke (our 4 yr. old grandson who rathers sorbet over ice cream) would love this place.  Then back to the boat to cool off before venturing out for dinner.

Pond setting - depiction of various plants in glass.

 

After seeing the price of a rather large vase, I decided to shop elsewhere.  That's $32,000!

A really cool ceiling - various pieces resting on glass!



Thought of Melvin and his upside down tree decorations.

 

Last day in St Pete

Today, we walked and walked.  To the brand new Dali museum, to our old marina (the Harborage), to the Fine Arts Museum (disappointing) to shops, and lastly the ice cream parlor.  Tonight we will eat again, and head south in the morning.  We met fellow loopers, John and Terry Spang, on the Lucky Us (www.luckyusjourney.blogspot.com).  They will be looping in 2014, and we will cross paths again! 

This research vessel came in loaded with young scientists going into the Gulf to measure toxin levels in whales as a result of the BP spill.  They were from England, The Netherlands, and the States.  They will be out 60 days.

We had afternoon drinks at the Vinoy Hotel front porch bar with a view the marina.

The shopping bench of shame, with my new pal.

The much ballyhooed Super Moon!

 

Shopping and eating and eating.....

Still in St Pete.  We walk early, work during the heat of the day, and eat and drink in the evenings.  A tough life.  We will stay here another day, and then start heading south to meet Stan and family next week at South Seas-Captiva Island. 

A USGS boat with underwater survey equipment.

Another Looper-note the flag.

Modern art?

Oh no.....

Maybe Adams and Reese needs a Looper law expert?

Nooooo....

Lots of al fresco dinning. 

The glass is from the Chihuly collection (yes there is a gallery).  We would have to sell the boat to buy it...

St Pete has many museums, art galleries, and a dynamite performing arts hall. 

We partook at this establishment, among others.

Moondance behind Dauntless, from Newport, RI.

Performing Arts Hall.

Another Looper.

St. Pete

Well, we have left Marina Jack after saying goodbye to good friends there.  I took the boat to Longboat, while Alexis drove the car there.  She jumped on board, and we headed north to St Petersburg.  We stayed a winter there several years ago, and it is a great city.  I'll let the pics do the talking.  Note-click on a pic to zoom.

Goodbye Sarasota

Longboat Marina, our new home.

We are technically on the "Loop" so are flying our flag!

We bought an unlimited tow package from these folks, just in case.

Longboat Pass

Tampa Bay Sunshine Causeway

St Pete

The Pier at St Pete.  This is closed and to be demolished, but it is a big local stink.  We are seeing lots of political signs about this.

The Admiral has the helm.

Goodbye Marina Jack

Well, we are leaving Marina Jack after a great six months here.  Alexis and I drove down last night for a 30 day vacation.  We plan to visit St Pete for a few days, and then head to South Seas on Captiva Island for 10 days. The kids and grandkids will all join us at South Seas coming in and out at various times.  Summer has arrived and it is hot.  We spent all day provisioning the boat, and will head to St Pete in the morning and spend a few days there.  We will miss our great access to downtown Sarasota with all its restaurants, plays, shops, etc., but due to hurricane season, have to head to a more enclosed marina (there really is none that are safe from the "big" one).  At least the new marina has a pool.  Our insurance company is leery of unattended vessels in Florida, and would not write us unless the marina had a written plan to take care of the boat. Longboat Key Marina does, for a fee, and their plan was approved, so we will end up across Sarasota Bay from Marina Jack on Longboat Key for the remainder of the summer.  We will dine at Mosaic one last time tonight.

Fountain from Marina Jack's restaurant.

Best tomato soup ever at Mosaic.

Moondance sporting new green canvas!