Sunday, December 23, 2007

greetings

Greetings from Our Villa,
We are now in Punta Gorda, but not at our marina. A friend from Wisconsin has a beautiful home here in Florida, and they have kindly let us stay aboard our boat in their canal. What a gorgeous area. We miss not having snow for Christmas, but we hear that you all are being dumped on with snow. We do not miss that.
We did not send out Christmas cards this year, so we would like to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas and a happy new year. Will be back on track next year.
Arvilla & Joe

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Venice,FL To Punta Gorda,FL

Departed Venice at 0710. Had some current and bridge delay. Sunny and 82 degs. 1440 arrived at a friends house and dock in Punta Gorda. Very choppy on Charlotte Harbor with 3 to 4 foot waves on the starboard side on our easterly course. I forgot to tell Arvilla to put on a patch so it was very uncomfortable for her.
Joe and Arvilla

Friday, December 14, 2007

Gulfport,FL To Venice,FL

Departed Gulfport anchorage at 0700. Arrived at the Venice,FL City Dock at 1400. 51 miles, mostly cloudy and 77 degs for a high temp and light rain in the afternoon.
Joe and Arvilla

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Tarpon Springs To Gulfport,FL

Had to wait for half tide so departed Tarpon Springs at 1125. Arrived Gulfport,FL at 1712 after a 42 mile cruise. We are anchored a few hundred feet off the Intercoastal Waterway channel near the Bayway Bridge. 79 degs and sunny today.
Joe and Arvilla

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Anclote River Anchorage To Tarpon Springs Marina

Departed the Anclote River anchorage at 1100 and went two miles up the Anclote River to The Landings Marina at Tarpon Springs. Arvilla went shopping near the sponge docks and Joe visited with a friend who spends the winter in New Port Richey. We will be at this marina for two nights. 82 degs and mostly sunny.
Joe and Arvilla

Monday, December 10, 2007

Cedar Key To Tarpon Springs,FL

0655 Departed Cedar Key south west via the Main Ship Channel. The gulf was very choppy for the first few hours. Arvilla said a rosary and the rest of the day was a light chop. 75 degs and sunny all day. 1540 arrived at our anchorage on the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs.
Joe and Arvilla

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Steinhatchee,FL To Cedar Key,FL

Departed Steinhatchee at 0730 and had a very pleasant cruise to Cedar Key. Arvilla was able to be in the wheel house for the entire day. The gulf was almost calm. The last two days we have been dodging crab pot markers. They are about 200 feet apart and are everywhere. Some have more line than is needed and it floats just below the surface for 10 or 20 feet. The water is 70 degs so to cold for me to go under the boat and cut the line from the propeller so we make sure to give them a wide berth. 75
degs at 1500 and sunny all day. The channel into Cedar Key is long and took us over an hour to get to our anchorage. There are no docks or marinas here.
Joe and Arvilla

Video of Our Villa on the St. Croix River