April 14th to April 18th Nana and Nandads last few days on IE

April 14th is the twins 4th birthday so we had to start the day with the Gleeson birthday 🎂 song. Official birthday celebration 🎉 will take place once we get back to Franklin. The Doneski’s first full day and of course we had to start with the Mote Aquarium which is really a wonderful place. We had a wonderful brunch at SYC and afterwards Cillian and Liam played under the shade area quite happily. Late afternoon we went down to the South Park where lots of Boats 🚣‍♀️ and jet shi’s were on the 🏝 with families enjoying the wonderful weather and a variety of music playing. Lots of fun.

April 15th and today we celebrate Chris 🎁- lots happening in April. Aideen and Chris went kayaking and Nana and Nandad took Cillian and Liam over to the Bird Key Park where they could scoop up the sand with their buckets and ♠️ Rivers and holes were built and somehow continued to fill back up again with water from the bay. We went for a short boat ride and were able to see the dolphin from a distance. A great hamburger dinner and a wonderful 🌅 stroll along North Lido Park where we saw and listened to a pair of bald 🦅. What a treat.

April 16th - no birthday to celebrate today. Nana accompanied The Doneski’s to the Myakka River State Park where we took a pontoon ride and saw the most amazing 🐊. Here you can hike a 39 mile hiking 🥾 loop, several miles of bike trails, 🎣, kayaking, tram rides, 🐦 viewing, 🐎 Trails and ⛺️. Certainly if you want to spend the day or night away from the craziness of life this is the place to come. The Pink Gator Cafe really did have the best grilled 🧀 much enjoyed by Cillian. The canopy walk with the 74 foot tower and swing bridge was quite the treat. Late afternoon Nana, Nandad, Cillian and Liam spent some time on Lido Beach once again building and destroying sand castles, making sand 👼 and simply kavorting on the tide and gentle 🌊. 

April 17th Nana and Nandad spent the day preparing IE for our departure and closure of our 4th season , while the Doneski’s went to visit The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Santuary. Lots of laundry 🧺, vacuum packing clothes, filling with diesel, pumping out, filling water tanks, folding and storing bicycles 🚲, cleaning 🧹 out any food closets, defrosting and emptying the refrigerator, and removing any items that might likely explode!! Covering the dingy is always a challenge but at least it got us to take a dingy ride which is always fun. A great dinner on the Circle ⭕️ at VENEZIA outdoor dining followed by scrumptious 🍦 at Kilwins. One last 🌞 at Lido Beach before heading back to IE.

April 18th will find Nana and Nandad heading to the airport leaving IE behind and hoping to resume our adventures once again in the fall. We have had a wonderful time and feel that SYC is a very good home for IE and also Sarasota now feels like our winter home. We look forward to returning and reconnecting with our new friends and continuing to explore the Florida coast. Maybe next year we will actually cruise to Naples and Tarpon Springs. We are blessed to be returning to family and friends and are excited to spend time in Newport RI Sailing onboard Lambay. 

For those of you who do not know Ireland’s Eye 👁 and Lambay are islands off the coast of Howth Co Dublin Ireland. 

April 7th to April 13th IE heads to the The Field Club

Sunday April 7th is a big day at SYC when The Blessing of the Fleet takes place. Ireland’s Eye and 38 other boats 🛥 left the marina all decorated and festive looking, for the parade, blessing and salute. A fun 🎊 afterwards with lots of mixing and connecting with new friends. 

Monday morning Nana and Nandad decided they would take a long bike ride along Longboat Key with the final destination being Mar Vista Dockside dining.  A long 7.5 mile ride but well worth it and made much easier with those electric 🚲. The restaurant is right on the bay side with a small beach area so you can dine right on the water. We will take IE some day and either dock or anchor. 

Tuesday another layday , morning yoga, relaxing and reading while once again the engine gets attention - you can get the sense that this is a bit of a habit!Nandad rented a mini van once again and we went scouting to find a yard that will haul IE for painting the bottom. We found a good spot Cortez Cove Marina where there is also a wonderful canvas & upholstery spot called Coatal Marina. They repaired the canvas cover and made two canvas covers for the flag poles. Nandad took out his drill and made the perfect 👌 spot at the bow for our SYC burgee. We decided to try the Irish Pub 32 and had delicious Shepard’s pie and bangers and mash ☘️ 

Wednesday a great morning walk over the Sarasota bridge followed by a fun afternoon at the GEM’s fashion show. Dinner 🥘 onboard IE and a wonderful stretch of the legs down St Armand’s Circle to watch the Sunset 🌅 at Lido Beach. A beautiful night.

Thursday morning a great yoga 🧘‍♀️ class, followed by a short bike ride and a wonderful evening at Susan and Jim’s 🏠 Nana and Nandad hosted for the Blessing of the Fleet so they very nicely invited us to their home which is right on the water 💦 with beautiful views. Susan has done an amazing job on creating a beautiful home and Jim made the most delicious meal. Wonderful new friendships begin.

Friday Nana and Nandad decided to take a short cruise 🚢 over to The Field Club where we spent a very quite afternoon by the pool and a great dinner on their patio. It is really a very unique spot.

Saturday April 13th so excited 😆 to have The Doneski’s for the next few days. Today is Liam’s 3rd 🎂 so we will celebrate when they arrive. Early afternoon and The Doneski’s arrive and checked into their VBO home which is the perfect fit for their family. All fenced in both front, side and back patio where the pool 🏊 is. Cilian is like a fish 🐠 right away. 

March 31 st to April 6th Boca Grande and Venice

Sunday March 31st started the day with a FaceTime and birthday song to our daughter Aideen. One of the minuses of cruising is missing some birthdays but FaceTime offers a nice visual. Mass at St Martha’s and provisions on the bikes before MJ and Dave arrive. A beautiful light breezy day and wonderful to eat outside at SYC. 

Monday April fools day and MJ has traditionally fooled her family so this year was no different. She fooled them all into believeing that IE had ran aground but without major damage. Now thankfully We knew that that was not correct. Nana and Nandad took MJ and Dave kayaking along Otter Key and although we did not see a manatee we did see lots of 🦅 Ospreys, American Egrits, and Pelicans. A wonderful stroll along south Lido Beach. We then took the bike to St Armand’s Circle for lunch at the Venezia. Later that evening we had dinner at the Red Classico and wonderful cocktails on the rooftop at The Westin. Quite the complex.

Tuesday was the perfect layday as once again the engine gets some attention. 🌅 sunset dinner at The Beach House restaurant which is right on the beach. 

Wednesday finally we get to cruise 🚢 and IE leaves for Boca Grande on Gasparilla. A wonderful cruise with the perfect 🐬 sighting for MJ and Dave. MJ also spotted a group of Manatees in the distance but too far to photograph. When we arrived at Gasperilla we rented a golf 🚗 and took our visitors for a delicious cocktail 🍹 at the Inn. What a special place. A great ride to the lighthouse, the state park, and the perfect ☀️ sunset while sitting on the wall at the end of 4th street. Of course we had to finish our evening with patio dining at The Pink Elephant. How lucky are we.

Thursday April 4th IE is headed for Venice. A great breakfast at The Outlet before leaving . A little rough ride with high winds to begin with then calmer once we got into the narrow section of the GIWW. IE stayed at the Venice Yacht club and attended their under the stars jazz evening in the company of members Frank and his lovely wife The Bev. Lots of healthy laughter.

Friday IE heads back to SYC for the Sundown Ceremony and Remberance Ceremony which was truest a very moving ceremony. Dinner at the club with live entertainment.

Saturday April 6th MJ and Dave’s last day onboard. A wonderful brunch at Boaters breakfast 🥞 followed by the perfect stroll down St Armand’s to get one more glance at the ocean before they return to the cooler temperatures in Franklin MA. Of course we had to have lunch 🥗 at the Cafe L’Europe. A wonderful stay with great company, lots of good food and drinks, and sharing many of Nana and Nandads favorite places with our special friends.