January 22nd

Ireland’s Eye will stay in Sarasota in the mooring field until February 14th. Nana is taking a break to visit her brother in Ireland. Picking up a mooring ball for the first time was very interesting- I think it will be Nandads job when we get back to release the lines! The pictures give a wonderful summary of how Sarasota Bayfront developed. It always fascinates Nana how places develope over time. While a very busy spot it has a wonderful small trail along the waterfront. We will have to return to visit the Van Wezel Performing Arts and The Ringling Museum.

January 20th Ireland’s Eye arrives in Sarasota.

Three bridges later and 30 nm of cruising IE arrives in Sarasota. Our cruise was very eventful which involved a rescue from Tow Boat US! Nana and Nandad came to the rescue to assist a boat that has run aground but unfortunately we were not successful and succeeded in getting stuck! So IE has had her official first rescue on the GIWW. The cruise up to Sarasota from Venice is slow due to many no wake zones but many beautiful homes along the waterways. We secured a slip at Jacks Marina despite there being a boat show event and were tied up and secured by 2.45pm. 

Sarasota is a very busy city but the Marina is right down by the historic area and within walking distance to the Bayfront Park. The first picture is of Nana and Nandad at the fountain over by the edge of the park. At sunset there were bagpipers playing which was lovely. The second picture is a budding young artist at the beach working on her skills sketching the mooring field.

Nandad was on a roll today after attending 9am mass at St Martha’s he went for a walk to the park, then walked to the grocery store, then rode his bike with Nana to tour the beautiful homes around by the Botanical Gardens and after that walked over the Ringling Bridge and took a great picture of the sailor kissing the nurse when the end of World War 11was announced. What a day.

Tomorrow IE will leave for Anna Marie Island towards St Petersburg.

January 19th Ireland’s Eye is in Venice FL

The entrance to the Marina at Boca Grande is very intimidating when the tide is at its lowest as the photograph will show. That is part of the golf course you are looking at on the left and the sand bank on the right.

Another perfect layday today starting with Yoga followed by coffee and banana nut muffin at The Bakery. We chatted with a lovely couple from Maine who have been renting a home on Gasparilla for several years. The advantage of having no particular schedule meant we brought them back to tour IE. We then took the golf cart for a ride to check out all the beautiful homes and ended up at the Library. I have never been to a library that had an outdoor reading room.

Back to IE for lunch then Nandad drove the golf cart to the Southlight - a sprained ankle - and Nana rode her bike. A wonderful walk along the beach where we collected several shells. Dinner reservations at The Pink Elephant for 6.15 pm was simply delicious with wonderful service and excellent freshly made  berry juice cocktail. Yummy

January 19th Ireland’s Eye arrived at The Crows Nest Marina which is right beside Casey’s Pass into the Gulf about one and a half miles from the downtown of Historic Venice. Nandad immediately remembered that he was here before when he did his cruise to the dry Torgos over 20 years ago! After a bike ride downtown we wrapped up to watch the sunset from the beach. Tomorrow we will head fro Sarasota to dock at Jacks Marina.

January 17th IE in Boca Grande Marina on Gasparilla Island

January 16th was the perfect lay day on Captiva at the South Seas. The weather was perfect for a Kayak tour in the morning, lunch at the beach followed by a two mile stroll along the white sand. A new moon meditation at South beach while the sun was setting - a little windy and cold but well worth it. The trolly takes you back and forth to the resort so we returned and had a very nice dinner at the Harborside Hotel - simply delicious.

 

January 17th and Nana and Nandad are at Boca Grande Marina and what a beautiful spot on Gasparilla Island, just when you think you have seen it all you find there is even more luxurious places for the wealthy to play. Once you enter the front porch you can see why this facility is a National Historic Landmark. For 104 years it has welcomed guests with attention to detail. Nandad had to take a conference call so we decided to pull up in the golf cart and take advantage of the beautiful Inn. They were serving afternoon tea so Nana had the most delicious tea and cookies in absolute luxury.

The Inn’s seven miles of pristine white beaches, beach club,pool,tennis,spa and 18 hole golf course just screams for you to finally switch into relaxation mood and unwind. The photo is of the fireplace right as you walk into the Inn. Naturally the dining room is an award winning culinary delight.

 

The Marina is beautifully maintained with wonderful deck hand service and a great restaurant called Eagle Grille. They rent golf carts which is essential if you want to see the islands unique character of landscape, homes and state park. While picking up some wine at the liquor store we were told that President George Bush and family have a home on the island and often frequent the restaurant Temptations. We will stay another day to soak in this wonderful oasis and tomorrow Nana will visit the yoga studio , bike the seven mile community bike path and we will have dinner at The Pink Elephant.

Adventures of 2018 On Ireland’s Eye Jan 10th

While waiting at the terminal at Logan Airport to head back to Ireland’s Eye Nana suddenly heard the voices of her children and grandchildren. Happy 60th birthday Nana could be heard coming from little voices carrying birthday banners and favors. There right in front of her was strollers, toddlers and at least seven of her ten grandchildren all ready to board the plane. Well we did it one of the daughters said - we are going to The Pink Shell Resort to celebrate your birthday. Poor Nana was dumb struck and just could not believe that they had made this happen. Nandad did a great job of keeping it a  secret as indeed did all the grandchildren four of which were never on a plane before and all under three - wow what a plane ride. We had the best time at the pool, on the beach and even had a sunset dinner at Bongo’s which was a little chaos - apologies to anybody there for a quite romantic dinner! 

January 13th Nana and Nandad said goodbye to all the family after packing them into the limo that had six car seats, a booster seat and of course enough seats for the adults. One could sense a little apprehension about the flight ahead as this time Nana would not be onboard. Nandad was very quick in making sure nobody was missing or left behind - we really did feel a little like the movie Home Alone! 

Nana and Nandad returned to IE at Cape Coral exhausted and ready for a nap. In the afternoon Nandad took out his e-bike donned his back pack ( a gift from his secret Santa ) and headed for the grocery store. Nana was very impressed when he returned - this bike might be the best thing.

January 15th Ireland’s Eye after filling with diesel at the Landing Marina headed for South Seas Captiva. A very pleasant passage in the sunshine and wind. After a wonderful bike ride to the Santiva General Store and a well deserved ice cream Nana sat by the ocean and read her book while the sunset. Nothing better - what a life.