Ding Darling

Hi All,
We made it to Sarasota with no issues. As we were coming through Sarasota Bay there was a race with one of the marks right next to the ICW so I took a few pictures.

We spent the night on a mooring ball at Marina Jack in Sarasota and then moved to an anchorage near Don Pedro Island State Park. We had a good anchorage across the ICW from the park but the wind was up and kept us from being able to explore the park in our dinghy. After staying there two nights we moved on down the ICW to Cayo Casta State Park. The anchorage was pretty shallow so we felt our way in until we bumped bottom and then dropped the anchor until the tide rose some to let us get to a little more protected spot. We were there early enough to drop the dinghy and do some fishing in the mangroves. Susan caught a Snook which fed us both last night.

With our anchorage being shallow we had to get up at 6:30 and be gone by 7:00 to make sure we had enough water. That also gave me an opportunity to try out the $50 SSB radio receiver we bought. With the antennae held against one of the stays I was able to hear Chris Parker's weather broadcast. Unfortunately, it's time that I start listening to Chris every morning. I've rather enjoyed sleeping in these last few months. Oh well. Knowing what the weather has in store is a lot more important than sleeping in.
Now we're anchored at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. What a name! The wind finally let up a little bit and we sailed almost the entire way here. The blessed silence of no engine running.  :-)
I know sailors are supposed to like the wind but 20 to 25 kts with gusts up to 30 was starting to wear thin. We really are fair weather sailors.

MarineTraffic.com seems to do a much better job of keeping up with us on  the West coast of Florida than it did through the bayous of Southern Louisiana. Here are a few screenshots of our journey since Long Boat Key with the stop in Sarasota and then on to Cape Haze (Don Pedro State Park). The trip from Cape Haze to Cayo Costa is missing which is good because you would have seen us go in circles for an hour waiting for a bridge opening.

That's it for now. Take care.
Brian