An Eco Tour!

Lay Day: Cayo Costa State Park MM 25.0 I

Latt: 26 41 18 N

Long: 82 14 26 W

Weather: Variable wind 10 or less; 85, 65; mostly sunny

Comment: Today we participated in an Eco Tour of the park. The tour was led by a volunteer naturalist whose knowledge base is in the ecology of Ohio. She was not particularly comfortable with her expertise of the flora and fauna of this park, even though she has been doing the Eco Tours for six years!

There were four tour participants and we found her to be knowledgable in the basic flora of the island. We learned about a few plants we have seen, but didn’t know much about. Here’s a partial list:

1. Madagascar Periwinkle:

This periwinkle is native to Madagascar. It has escaped cultivation and naturalized in most of the tropical world where it often becomes a rampant weed. It is established in several areas in the southern U.S. Madagascar periwinkle is grown commercially for its medicinal uses in Australia, Africa, India and southern Europe.

Madagascar periwinkle is poisonous if ingested or smoked. It has caused poisoning in grazing animals. Even under a doctor's supervision for cancer treatment, products from Madagascar periwinkle produce undesirable side effects.

2. The Rosary Pea:

One of the most deadly plant toxins, abrin, is produced by rosary pea (Abrus precatorius). Studies have shown that as little as 0.00015% of toxin per body weight will cause fatality in humans (a single seed). Interestingly, birds appear to be unaffected by the deadly toxin as they have been shown to readily disperse rosary pea seed. The Rosary Pea is one of the top ten deadliest plants.

3. Brazilian Pepper:

The family Anacardiaceae contains poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and Schinus terebinthifolius, or Brazilian pepper-tree. People sensitive to poison ivy, oak or sumac may also be allergic to Brazilian pepper tree. 

Native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Brazilian pepper tree was brought into Florida in mid-1800 for use as an ornamental plant. Its bright red berries and brilliant green foliage are used frequently as Christmas decorations. It threatens Florida’s mangroves. In fact, it is believed that the mangroves will succumb to the Brazilian Pepper in our lifetime.

4. he Spanish Stopper:

Smells like a skunk; said to be used medicinally to "stop" diarrhea.

6. Leather Leaf Fern:

12-24 inches long and 5-8 inches wide. Tufted, pinnate fronds are shiny and dark green. Stem is strong and flexible; brown at the base. Leaves are leathery and display distinct veins.

Rosary Pea

Leather Leaf Fern

A String of Shells

Cheryl (tour guide) and Dave (islander)

Brazilian Pepper

Dinner (see the fish?)

Sunset over Cayo Costa

Early Morning Cruising!

From: Lemon Bay Anchorage MM 44.5

To: Cayo Costa State Park, FL MM 25.0

Odometer: 21.8

Latt:         26 41 18 N

Long: 82 14 26 W

Weather: Mosstly sunny, 85, 65; SE 5-10 knots; a most pleasant day

Comment: Not uncommonly, the decks of S/V SUNSHINE were covered with dew. The sun had yet to rise when we ventured out to the cockpit this morning. Dew on the strataglass made everything outside look gray. The anchorage was calm with just a few ripples on the dark gray water. 

There was enough light to see the anchor rode and chain pass through the windlass. A familiar rattle told me the anchor would lay in the roller is a second or two. Pushing the throttles forward caused to engines to hum as we turned toward the waterway and made our was slowly out of the anchorage.

The sky turned a pale blue and moments later, it had an orange glow. As the sun rose, the sky turned yellow. The eastern shoreline showed silhouettes of trees and houses. The sun shone above the western shore so it appeared to be bathed in various shades of gray and black. 

We motored along drinking in the sights that marked the start of another morning.

Sunrise!

Early morning shades of gray

Barge ferries at work

Color on the western shore

From the Quarantine Trail at Cayo Costa SP

Two WHite Ibis feeding near the Dolphin Trail (kayo Costa SP)

From the Cemetery Trail (Cayo Costa SP)

Foiled!

From: Sarasota Bay Abchorage MM 78.4

To:         Lemon Bay Anchorage MM 44.5

Odometer: 46.5

Latt:         27 56 88 N

Long: 82 21 66 W

Weather: Partly sunny; high 80 low 67; E@15 knots, diminishing to 10 knots in the evening

Comment: An early start (haul the anchor and be underway at 0630) was part of today’s plan. Unfortunately, Mr. Murphy (Murphy’s Law) decided to rear his ugly head. The anchor chain jammed in the windlass; it wouldn’t retrieve or pay out the chain. Prodding with the screw driver and a few hacks with the hammer didn’t help. Removing the motor brought quick success. We were underway by 0645!

The next part of the plan was to motor sail out Big Sarasota Pass (the Sarasota Inlet) and sail to Boca Grande Pass (50 miles) and then motor the rest of the way to Cayo Costa. 

Big Sarasota Pass frequently shoals. The channel marks are uncharted. They are spread out far enough that finding them was a challenge. We did make it to the Gulf and had one more sand bar to cross. Before trying to find the final set of marks, we noticed that the wind was blowing at about 15 knots out of the SE, just the direction we were heading. If we have to motor, we might as well do it on the inside. So, we motored sailed back to the bay... more time wasted!

We missed the opening for the first bridge by seconds. Our luck was not to change for the entire day!

The day was unusual in other ways too. A power boat, throwing a large wake, passed us with all hands vigorously waving hello. We don’t wave back at boaters who throw  huge wakes. Anna Marie made a motion suggesting that the skipper slow his craft. Apparently he was insulted as he flipped the bird at us! To date, no west coast boater had offered a courteous “slow pass.” Is courtesy on the water and “east coast” thing?

  

By 1530, we had the hook down in Lemon Bay. We covered 44.5 miles in 8 3/4 hours. 

Goodbye IRB!

From: Indian Rocks Beach, FL MM 129.0

To: Sarasota Bay Anchorage, MM 78.4

Start Hours: 444.2

End Hours: 453.5

Odometer: 46.5

Latt: 27 23 28 N

Long: 82 34 27 W

Weather: Mostly sunny; high 80 low 67; E@15-20 knots, but 5-10 knots in the evening

Comment: Departing a port usually brings about feelings of melancholy. We felt that in spades today as we bid goodbye to Lucille and Willis and Indian Rocks Beach. I can’’t begin to describe how great it was to visit them. Every day brought a new adventure and special activities. It was a busy time and we had great fun!

But it is time to push on, so we slipped our lines from their dock at 0905 and headed south, hoping to anchor in Sarasota Bay, almost 50 miles distant. 20 knot easterly winds shouldn’t be too bad on the waterway. We might even get to motor ail a bit, or so we hoped. The wind veered a bit south of east and the waterway turned a bit east of south. We didn’t even try to unfurl the jib.

The wind really blew up in Boca Ciega Bay. It made us think that crossing Tampa Bay would be rough, especially with frequent 30 knot gusts. As luck would have it, things calmed a bit as we passed Boca Ciega Bay and by the time we reached Tampa Bay, the sustained wind was around ten knots. It increased back to 15 knots, but not before we had already crossed Tampa Bay.

We anchored on the east side of North Sarasota Bay, about 3 miles north of center city Sarasota and the Longboat Key Bridge. 

Goodbye Lucille and Willis!

One of Willis' Blue Bills!

The Tampa Skyway Bridge in the distance.

Sunset over Sarasota Bay.

Prepping for departure!

Weather: Windy! E@20knots, gust to 30; mostly sunny; 80, 68

Comment: Besides helping Willis with a project, we spent time getting ready for tomorrow’s planned departure from IRB. 

Just after arriving at IRB, I serviced the port throttle/transmission cable. It had been sticky and wouldn’t fully shift into reverse. I was able to confirm that it is working fine since the recent service. We filled up the fresh water tanks, scrubbed the boat and did laundry.

The four of us had a terrific meal at a local Italian eatery (The Pizza Shack). We enjoyed it immensely.

Our visit to IRB is just about over, but what a great time we had. Willis and Lucille opened their home to us and greeted us with open arms. The activities and meals, whether at home or in a restaurant, were great. 

We’ve been invited back and plan to visit again at the end of the month, but this time without the boat, which will be in Titusville.  

The Phillies beat the Yanks 9-3 in a Spring Training Game!

Weather: Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky; high about 70. low 63; light wind A perfect day for baseball!

Comment: The window guys showed up at around 1000, to install the Gray’s new windows. Willis and I “supervised” their work and Anna Marie and Lucille went shopping. 

In the afternoon, we went the Bright House Field to watch the Phillies play a spring training game against the Yankees. The Phillies won by a score of 9-3. Jimmy Rollins and Joe Blanton looked good. Jim Thome, the DH, had a couple on hits. One just missed being a home run to deep center field, right near our lawn seats.

The Star Spangled Banner

The Yankees are up!

A Phillies phan!

The Bullpen at Bright House Field

The lawn seats

The view from right center field

Brunch at the Clearwater Yacht CLub!

Sunday, March 4, 2012 Brunch at the Clearwater Yacht CLub!

Lay Day: Indian Rocks Beach, FL

Comment: After a quick cup of coffee, we were off to brunch at the Clearwater Yacht Club. I hate brunches; so much food... so little time! Depicted in the photos are various scenes of the yacht club.

A fine yacht at the Clearwater Yacht Club

Clearwater YC marina

The mark set boats are still in the harbor

The Clearwater YC has its own Coconut Telegraph!

The water temp was 74 degrees in the Clearwater YC pool!