December 6th Irelands Eye arrives at St Petersburg Yacht Club

Captain Aedan was in his element today crossing Tampa Bay at 15+ knots with lots of spray. Very exciting that the engine is going well - fingers crossed. Finally Nana got a great snap of the Dolphin along the way. Families everywhere frolicking along side IE. Arrived at the beautiful SPYC where we can stay for three nights which means we will be here for Lighting of the Yachts and the boat parade. We are very thankful to John the Dockmaster. A beautiful walk along the Pier with dinner reservations for 7pm. 

A very stern looking Nandad! The inside of the club is beautifully decorated. 

December 7th Friday Nana and Nandad decided to take the Providencetown ferry to Tampa - it did seem a little odd but obviously the ferry comes to St Pete’s for the winter months. It was a great day for a trip across the Tampa Bay. The busiest pier I have every seen with so many barges and tugs. Lots of construction going on in the city so they have made the trolley ride downtown free. It also seemed strange as the ferry dropped you at the Aquarium and many security persons made sure you did not linger at the museum. We spent the day visiting the Henry Plant Museum which is at the Tampa University and used to be called The Tampa Bay Hotel - a very luxurious hotel for the wealthy which took three years to build at a cost of 3 million in 1891. It operated as a hotel for forty years. We had a great lunch at the University Campus which was delicious. A quite evening on the boat with a nice dinner onboard. Lots of sounds from the city where celebrations were taking place for first Friday.

Saturday Dec 8th. Well the early bird catches the worm here at St Pete’s. Before 8am the City Trail is busy with bikers, walkers,& runners. The town swimming pool is jam packed with some regatta taking place. People are working out at the outdoor gym in the park, the tennis courts are full and players are getting ready to play volleyball. After breakfast onboard Nana and Nandad set out for the Chihuly Museum on Central St has a spectacular selection of his glass work and a wonderful video of his ongoing accomplishments around the world. We attend a glass blowing exhibition at the Morean Arts Center which was fascinating- a very complicated and skilled art.

After a wonderful lunch at 400 Beach Club we hopped on the looper which took us on a very fast loop around the city. Once again IE took part in the Lighting of the fleet - thanks to a donation from John - joined in the cocktail hour at the dock and admired the boats that went to a lot of effort to decorate their boats. Nana and Nandad will need to be better prepared for next year. Great dinner at the bar at SPYC where the jazz group were getting ready to entertain. 

Sunday December 9th a very cold, stormy, rainy day so IE will stay at SPYC one more day and head to Clearwater tomorrow. A decision was made to head to indoor activities so a visit to the MFA where we heard a wonderful chorus group and admired their fabulous art displays. After a trip to the Sundial AMC to watch A Star is Born - a box of tissues would definitely help for the end of this movie. Lots of popcorn, soda, and M&M’s left little room for dinner. Oh the advantage of being right downtown.

December 4th Ireland’s Eye is at Longboat Key Club Moorings

Monday December 3rd was a very busy day cleaning the vinyl covers on IE. Nana also happened to catch a yoga class at Pineapple studio which was a geart experience- a lovely Italian instructor from Milan with one on one instruction - the best. The bike ride over the bridge was tough on the way back with the wind! Now Nandad always seems to do great work from the cockpit so when Nana returned he had rented a car and arranged for a diver to come clean the bottom of the boat. We took a wonderful ride to Siesta beach , however the red tide had a strong presence which caused Nandad to cough quite a bit so Nana finished her stroll on the beach which really has this amazing sand that almost feels as soft as putty. Nana forgot to put her smile on at the beach!!Again we had a wonderful dinner at BKYC to finish the evening. 

December 4th Tuesday Ireland’s Eye makes the short cruise to Longboat Key Club Moorings. This is a private club which is reciprocal with the Yachting Club of America so officially our 4th club to visit. There is a 291 slip Marina with a Yacht Club, Golf & Tennis Club, dockside dining, swimming pool, and resort amenities which include The Spa, The Fitness Center and a pristine white - sand beach. You can pick from seven different type restaurants on this compound with a shuttle service to take you back and forth. They also have Firepit Beach Barbecue events, Beach Olympics, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve special celebrations. Enough entertainment to keep you dizzy. A wonderful plunge in the pool followed by a great dinner at Portifino which is directly beside IE. 

Tomorrow IE has reservation at the SPYC so onwards and upwards as we continue to cruise up north.

December 5th a very windy day so Nana and Nandad decide to stay. The shuttle service takes us over to the Longboat Key Resort which is at the Beachside. It is way too windy to attempt a walk along the beach so we have a delicious breakfast. When we return to the boat it is the perfect day to change all the covers on the salon. A nice new look. Lots of walking today with great dinner onboard. 

December 2nd Sunday at Bird Key Yacht Club

December 1st while strolling the beautiful neighborhood of Bird Key Nana was reminded of two of her grandsons who are crazy about dinosaurs. Anything goes as yard decoration in Florida - a wonderful red brontosaurus right in your yard. While taking a walk on Lido beach we were exhausted watching the Kite boarders sailing along the waves - their strength and stamina was amazing to watch. Tonite is the Blessing of the fleet followed by the lighting of the boats. The dockhand offered to put lights on IE so we were very happy to oblige. The cannon was fired, the fleet blessed and the lights switched on. This was also a very formal celebration at the SYC where David and Jane invited us back to watch their celebrations which included the boys band, the pipes, Mr & Mrs Clause and many boats to visit with offerings of Procecco, candy, appetizers and of course lots of comraderie.

December 2nd Sunday started with an early morning walk, followed by a bike ride over the bridge to attend Mass  at St Martha’s, a wonderful brunch at the yacht club which overlooks Sarasota’s downtown - the perfect setting- a relaxing few hours up top reading, another bike ride to St Armand’s Square to watch the sunset at the beach. The perfect warm, sunny, windy day. 

November 30th Bird Key Yacht Club

Nana had the perfect afternoon yesterday at the Botanicial Gardens so some pictures are a must. Marie Selby was a lover of nature so when she left this earth she bequeathed her home, that was right on Sarasota Bay and Hudson Bayou, to the community. The Gardens speciality is a display of epiphytes ( plants that grow on other plants ) hence lots of  orchids, a library ( open by appointment ), a children’s design rainforest ( which is lots of fun for adults ), and a wonderful Koi Pond. Nana also learned about a herbarium ( dried and pressed specimens) and spirit collection ( which is specimens preserved in fluid). Always something to learn. Before leaving SYC Nana had to take a picture of the nutcracker with the wonderful white Christmas trees.

Nov 30th Friday and Ireland’s Eye is leaving SYC for Bird Key Yacht Club. The weather has become much warmer so a great day to cross over Sarasota Bay. BKYC is on a small island called Bird Key. The clubhouse is located on the site of the New Edzel Castle , the first mansion built in Sarasota by the Worcester family in 1914. A very welcoming club with lots of amenities including Tennis,Pool,Bocce,Fitness Centre and of course Sailing and Cruising. The club also offers many social activities such as kayaking, biking, yoga, golf,fishing, and indoor events such as Bridge,Mah Jongg, Jave & Books - you get the drift - something for everybody.

Taken at sunset so not the best picture but the club is beautifully decorated for Christmas with lots of preparation for the Lighting of the Fleet tomorrow evening. Nandad is heading off over the bridge for groceries. Nana has promised she will scrub the deck. Ireland’s Eye will stay at BKYC until Tuesday 4th.

November 29th Sarasota Yacht Club

Nov 27th Tuesday evening reservation for dinner at the yacht club was excellent as expected. Attention to detail and personal service are a top priority here and the food is superb. Nana and Nandad enjoyed a wonderful dinner surrounded by a beautifully decorated dining room. The atmosphere was very festive. They take their Christmas decorating very seriously. 

Wednesday 28th Randy was to come today to do a full service on the engine however he had to reschedule at the last minute so true to boating style Nana and Nandad adjusted their schedule. Now the weather is a lot colder today so the electric blanket is back on the bed and the heating turned on!  Dressed appropriately we head off on the bikes to check out the local areas. We also talk with Stephanie regarding membership and were happy to hear that if we choose here for IE we can stay on the boat whenever we are here - this is different from the other two clubs who will not permit living onboard. Nana was successful in booking seats for The Music Man performing at the historic 18th century Asolo Repertory Theatre. This beautiful little theatre was brought over from Venice Italy and rebuilt at its current location. The performance was amazing. The center piece in the photo was as you walk into the theatre - the photo really does not do it justice however it gives an image. 

Nov 29th finds us waiting for Randy to show up!!! The joys of boating means you must be flexible. A beautiful sunny morning so considering Randy will be late, we bike to St Armand’s Circle and have a wonderful breakfast at Madison Avenue cafe. Any morning you wake up on a boat is a good one. Laundry once again can be done, blog written and paper read while watching the blue sky and sunshine spread over the water. The day begins to warm up nicely. Maybe today Nana will visit The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Nana could not resist the picture below - such simplicity but so true.

November 27th Sarasota Yacht Club

November 26th Monday : Nana found the entrance this morning to the Legacy Trail which was a much nicer walk. The Trail is a smooth paved 10.5 miles starting at the Historic Venice Train Depot and ending at the southern outshirts of Sarasota. It is the perfect bike / walk path right along the ICW. The tracks were once used by the Ringling Bros. and P T Barnum ( Conor’s new hero - one of our very cute grandsons ) & Bailey Circus from 1967 to 1991 where they transported all the animals and spent the  winters in Sarasota. Ireland’s Eye left Venice at 11am for the 20 mile cruise to the Sarasota Yacht Club.

Along the way we cruise the Blackburn Bay and Little Sarasota Bay passing wonderful homes and many little islands where the birds camouflage perfectly among the vegetation. A perfect day for driving IE from the top deck with the magnificent view of Casey Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key to our final destination Bird Key. 

The Sarasota Yacht Club is our second yacht club stopover using our reciprocal ( Newport Yacht Club RI ) through Yachting Club of America. We will stay until Thursday. We arrived the day the club is being decorated for Christmas so officially the club is closed but we were provided with our keys which gave us access to the pool area, the gym and shower facilities. It is a beautiful club right inside the Big Pass which takes you into the city of Sarasota one way and all along Longboat Key right up to Anna Marie Island. It has 110 slips, a magnificent dining room ( which we hope to make a reservation for tomorrow night). A wonderful stroll into St Armand Circle followed by Dinner onboard while listening to the heavy rainfall and watching the boats that are already decorated for the Christmas parade that will take place December 1st.

November 27th Tuesday morning and the weather is a little colder so we wrap up and take a stroll across the bridge and onto Bird Key. Now as mentioned previously Nana and Nandad are on a mission this time round to find a home base for IE so naturally we go check out Bird Key Yacht Club. We were introduced to the Vice Commodore,Curt , who very graciously introduced us to Alyssa - the club was closed as a whole group of very busy volunteers were putting up decorations. We made a reservation for IE to stay for the weekend so we can celebrate the Christmas Parade of lights right there at Bird Key Yacht Club which accepts our Yachting Club of America - so that will be our third club.

Afternoon bike ride to Lido Beach which is this very long stretch of beautiful white sand. Posted as you come onto the beach is the sign explaining the Florida Red tide which has sadly had a terrible effect on Florida’s fish, Manatee,Dolphin and tourist industry. Nandad is well wrapped up due to the wind but a wonderful stroll was well worth it. Lunch at Cafe L’ Europe was simply delicious which is another historical building related to the Ringling family. The picture beside it is taken from the causeway leading from Lido Key to Longboat Key looking over at Sarasota. This is really a very beautiful area. Nana is trying to keep up with Nandad who by the way rides an electric bike!!

November 24th Nana & Nandad return to Ireland’s Eye

After a very early start - 3am- Nana and Nandad arrive at Fisherman’s Wharf in Venice at 1.15pm. Lots of time to have lunch at the Dockside Grille , check on the boat, provision, and start the prep for the next few weeks of adventure. Ireland’s Eye looks great. It makes all the difference when you leave a boat nice and clean and properly maintained. Also this is a great Marina - thanks to Dylan and Kya both very busy dockhands. 

Having the rental car for the extra day also helps in the event we need extra supplies. Now the holiday parade is a big deal in Venice and we arrived just in time for the 6pm starting point. Fisherman’s Wharf is literally a ten minute walk over the bridge to downtown which despite all the construction is decorated for the holidays with lots of festive lighting. People are everywhere and the place is jam packed with chairs, picnic tables, rugs , children, dogs all dressed for the occasion. The parade lasted at least 90 minutes and included angels on horse back, lots of The Grinch, brass bands, dance academy drills, antique cas and fire trucks and of course The Harley Motorcycle club, the Corvette club - there was something for young, middle age and old.

Sunday November 25th. 

A slow start this morning but we finally got ourselves into gear. Nana missed her beach walk as Fisherman’s Wharf is further up from the Crows Nest so had to make do with walking the local neighborhood which was not the same but still quite pleasant. The homes are small but right on the ICW and each with its own slip. We attended mass at Epithany Cathedral once again. It really is a beautiful church with a fantastic choir. Afterwards Nandad dropped Nana off at the laundromat ( no laundry at the Marina which meant Nana did not get a chance to do it before she left) while he returned to IE.

 There are always tasks on a boat that nobody wants to do so together we tackled cleaning the dingy. The gas tank had leaked so the petrol was floating around the bottom and as you can imagine a not to pleasant odor. Donned rubber gloves, soaked up the gas with those filter pads, cleaned with bilge cleaner and two hours later we are ready for a dingy ride. Sunset is at 5.30pm and the moon is a Waning Gibbous at about 90% so still very bright. A fabulous dinner at Cassariano,an Italian Eatery downtown, with a wonderful Quintet playing great Jazz. 

Tomorrow we will leave Venice and maybe anchor heading towards Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Sarasota. The weather so far is perfect with warm days in the 70s cooling down a little at night.