There are plenty of "rules" on a boat. You must monitor the weather. You must check the engine. You must keep an accurate log of your trip. You must wear your life preserver and keep the kill switch in your hand while in your dinghy, etc, etc - you get the point. However, there is no greater rule than "Happy wife - happy life." We were first introduced to the number one rule of cruising by friends in 2013 while we were on Sanderling cruising south on the Intracoastal Waterway and it has since been enshrined. We were basically told that if you don't follow the first rule none of the others will matter, because you won't be cruising.
We are pleased to report that the wife is happy. The 140-mile crossing from Carabelle to Tarpon Springs was a bit of a stressor, but since arriving on the West Coast of Florida we've enjoyed some spectacular cruising. We've had a really nice balance of anchoring and marinas. Chrisy overheard a gentleman in the laundry room talk about the possibility of an upcoming storm - cancel the plans to anchor out and head into a marina- happy wife!
After St. Petersburg, we anchored at Longboat Key for two nights before heading to Sarasota. The trip was a little sketchy as there was a fair amount of fog. We each had our tablets out running charting software and the radar was working overtime. Fortunately, the fog kept the speedboats in their slips, and there was very little boat traffic. We visited the Marie Shelby Botanical Garden and the Ringling Museum. The man was actually quite the art collector. It's a must-stop if you're in the area. And Chrisy was able to reunite with a high school classmate she has not seen since our last cruise in Florida in 2014...and we enjoyed. awonderful eveing with some Jamestown friends on St. Armonds Cay at the Columbia restaurant. Great times!
After some rain while we were in Sarasota, our weather has been spectacular. Highs in the 70s - lows in the high 50s and very little wind - perfect for a motorboat. And perfecrt for keeping the wife happy. We stopped in Englewood and Don Pedro State Park before arriving in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island. Boca Grande is the winter playground for the rich and famous, but that didn't spare it from the ravages of Hurricane Ian. There was extensive damage to most of the homes and several were total losses. We arrived 3.5 months after the hurricane and the recovery effort was in full swing. Fortunately for us, the marina and most of the restaurants were open. We stayed two nights and had lots of walks, bike rides, and a visit with Jamestown friends.
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