We've begun to see eagle rays, or manta rays fly into the air, dive then fly again. It's an amazing thing to watch, and almost impossible to catch on film because you never know when it will happen.
We are familiar with this area. In 1981, Dave, along with his brother and two friends, left Minnesota aboard our 23 foot Coronado, s/v Keewatin. They headed out the Great Lakes, through the Erie Canal, down the Hudson River, then turned south. By the time they got to Norfolk, Virginia where I met him, everyone had left. Dave was alone. I joined him at Norfolk, traveling to Cocoa Beach during the winter of 1982 into the spring of 1983. Dave continued, alone, to Little Gasparilla Island. Passing through the Boca Grande Bridge is a huge milestone. Technically Dave crossed his wake today, completing the Great Loop! He accomplished this in two half-way journeys, one clockwise, one counterclockwise, in two boats, 36 years apart! As we passed through the railroad bridge channel, I congratulated him. We smiled at each other and Dave commented, "Yeah, I guess I HAVE completed the Loop. Anti-climactic, but it feels kinda cool!"
Dave's Notes from 1983
We arrived at Pelican Bay right around 6:30 and rafted up to Life's TraVails. We had dinner with Paula and Tom, a celebratory pot luck joining of meals! The Vails made a fabulous grilled salmon and I made quinoa salad. We are still surrounded by storms and get hit by squalls repeatedly. There are no complaints about the rain! If it continues, there is a good chance we will be able to cross Lake Okeechobee to get to Indiantown Marina.
The mosquitos arrived at sunset, suddenly and in large numbers. We quickly cleared the table, put screens in all our hatches then went below to play a game of Qwirkle (a cross between dominoes and rummy), with the Vails. For the record, Tom won!
Our lovely evening ended quite late. Dave and I took tylenol and drank an Emergen-C before bed. Our ears hurt from the diving and cleaning this morning. In spite of this, it was a GREAT day that we won't soon forget!
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| Boca Grande Swing Bridge |
Railroad Bridge
We are familiar with this area. In 1981, Dave, along with his brother and two friends, left Minnesota aboard our 23 foot Coronado, s/v Keewatin. They headed out the Great Lakes, through the Erie Canal, down the Hudson River, then turned south. By the time they got to Norfolk, Virginia where I met him, everyone had left. Dave was alone. I joined him at Norfolk, traveling to Cocoa Beach during the winter of 1982 into the spring of 1983. Dave continued, alone, to Little Gasparilla Island. Passing through the Boca Grande Bridge is a huge milestone. Technically Dave crossed his wake today, completing the Great Loop! He accomplished this in two half-way journeys, one clockwise, one counterclockwise, in two boats, 36 years apart! As we passed through the railroad bridge channel, I congratulated him. We smiled at each other and Dave commented, "Yeah, I guess I HAVE completed the Loop. Anti-climactic, but it feels kinda cool!"
Dave's Notes from 1983
He made it to Little Gasparilla on February 18th
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| Dave after realizing he Crossed his Wake Boca Grande, Florida |
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| Beth passing Little Gasparilla |
We arrived at Pelican Bay right around 6:30 and rafted up to Life's TraVails. We had dinner with Paula and Tom, a celebratory pot luck joining of meals! The Vails made a fabulous grilled salmon and I made quinoa salad. We are still surrounded by storms and get hit by squalls repeatedly. There are no complaints about the rain! If it continues, there is a good chance we will be able to cross Lake Okeechobee to get to Indiantown Marina.
The mosquitos arrived at sunset, suddenly and in large numbers. We quickly cleared the table, put screens in all our hatches then went below to play a game of Qwirkle (a cross between dominoes and rummy), with the Vails. For the record, Tom won!
Our lovely evening ended quite late. Dave and I took tylenol and drank an Emergen-C before bed. Our ears hurt from the diving and cleaning this morning. In spite of this, it was a GREAT day that we won't soon forget!
Only took how many years to complete the Loop? LOL Worth the wait and worth the trip, though. Hugs!
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