Palmetto, Florida

We traveled 45.8 NM under beautiful skies to Palmetto, Florida. We are docked just 12' from our dear friends (family) Debbie and Scott, aboard Liv'n A Dream, at Riviera Dunes Marina. They have been our boating friends for over 11 years when we all had boats at Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas. They have been full-time Liveaboards and Floridians for two years now. It's awesome to be docked together in Florida at their home port!

This boater is having a very bad day and no one seems concerned.

Upcycled barge.

Treasure Island Bridge.

Treasure Island Bridge decor.

This guys boat is about the same size of his house.

Treasure Island golf course.

Garmin is enjoying the cruise.

Tropicana Field.

Downtown Tampa.

 We are in the middle of Tampa Bay!

Skyway Sunshine Bridge.

We had to share crossing under the Skyway Sunshine Bridge with this freighter.

Reunited with Debbie and Scott for Bloody Mary's once again! (We are missing Gail!). Thank you Debbie for an amazing clam linquini dinner (which I forgot to take a photo of because we were to involved in catching up!)

Beautiful night with "family".

Who knew?!

Wiki facts on the Skyway Sunshine Bridge:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge

Clearwater Beach, Florida - Day 8

Winds were too high to travel today so we enjoyed another beautiful day here!

We enjoyed lunch at Frenchy's Salt Water Cafe.

Love the bamboo umbrella!

Outstanding Baked Grouper topped with crab, hollandaise sauce, and capers along with stone crab claws! 

Frenchy's has their own fishing boats that reel in the grouper and crabs daily!

Down the street is Frenchy's Off The Hook Restaurant and gift store. Great place!

Love the old Florida motels jazzed up in beachy colors.

Clearwater Beach, Florida - Day 7

We loved every day here! Where else would you spy an Abominable Snowman on the beach (times 2) with 79 degree temps! Weather permitting, we will head south in the morning!

Abominable Snowman (x 2) sighting!!!

Clearwater Beach, Florida - Day 6 (Tarpon Springs, Florida)

We took the Jolly Trolley to Tarpon Springs with Betsy and Dave, aboard Fryedaze, and Jane and Tom, aboard Elizabear. Tarpon Springs is a Greek community famous for their sponge diving, handmade soaps, and amazing Greek food.

Beautiful skies!

Dave at the Jolly Trolley signage.

Time to board!

Tom, Jane, Dave, and Kay

Charlie found the fudge factory.

The smell of the warm chocolate is amazing.

Lunch was at Rusty Bellies Seafood.

Betsy with Mr. Rusty!

The pirate ship is receiving maintenance. It's the same one that about ran us over when we were docking in Clearwater this past week.

We stopped in for Hellas famous baklava to go!

The interior of Hellas was festive!

No shortage of handmade soaps in this town!

Charlie scored some nice cigars!

I have no idea what this means, but we had to stop here to get Gyros to go! This is the restaurant we ate at a few days ago and I wanted more for tomorrow!

We enjoyed the sponge factory and appreciated the free educational video!

You can't visit Tarpon Springs without taking home a sponge and air plant! So I did!

Who knew?!

Click here for Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks History