Unexpected Reunion With Life's TraVails

We left our funny little anchorage in Bradenton Beach right at high tide. Eight am sharp, we made our way out toward the Cortez Bridge through the reds and greens! Mystic is still moving slower than normal but our patience is growing! We remind each other that we are not in a hurry!

We passed under 10 bridges today. The Blackburn Point Bridge is a one lane swing bridge only nine feet off the water. The bridge tender has to walk out to the middle to swing the bridge open. It was really cool passing by this historic landmark! We chatted with the Bridge Tender as we passed. He told us that it was built in Wilmington, Ohio in 1925 and transported down to Florida where it was installed and opened in 1926.

The Blackburn Point Swing Bridge

We travelled down two canals today which allowed us to see beautiful homes up close. Dave commented that the rich guy on the west side of the canal gets to look at the rich guy on the east of the canal. That's what money will get ya!

Our first Roseate Spoonbill Sighting

Ready for summer

Beautiful Garden

Royal Poinciana ~ Simply Beautiful

Magnificent home along the GICW near Sarasota
We could see right through it!

Boatyard Seafood Restaurant

Cool Side Canal Village

We crossed Sarasota Bay which was just as calm as Tampa Bay. Thunder storms danced around us all day but we saw no rain and little wind. As we passed under the Albee bridge, our last bridge of the day, we heard Mystic being hailed on the radio. Our friends Tom and Paula Vail, aboard their trawler, Life's Travails had heard us call the bridge tender. We thought they were far ahead of us, already in Ft. Myers, settling their boat for the summer. Turns out, we caught them and passed them before they left Sarasota to deliver Life's Travails. We chatted on the VHF and agreed to meet them in Englewood at Lemon Bay.

Tom & Paula on Life's Travails

Life's Travails arriving at Lemon Bay under one engine

Life's Travails was moving even slower than Mystic due to an overheated engine. Running on only one engine made it difficult for them to raft up to us in Lemon Bay so we let them anchor then rafted up to them. We sat aboard Life's Travails all evening, catching up and catching our breath while we drank lots of water. 

Dehydration is a big issue out here. I've been struggling with swollen feet. Tom tells me he thinks I need more water and he offers me two electrolyte drinks, which he makes sure I finish. I have to admit that I felt better afterward! We returned to Mystic for dinner but Paula, as she is known to do, called us back for dessert! Tonight it was key lime pie ice cream, YUM!!! When we returned their clean cups, I placed a fish cloth in each as a symbol of our appreciation and our friendship!

A school of my dish cloth fish

Fish in a cup

We turned in late; we both plan to go for a swim in Lemon Bay in the morning. Tom wants to look at his water intake and prop and we need to work on our barnacle infestation. We slept well tucked under the port shadow of Life's Travails. It's always a good day to meet up with looper friends!