Sunset at Gulfport anchorageRelaxing in Gulfport anchorage – lots of boatsTwilight at Tampa Convention Center docksMoon over Tampa General, with lighted windsocks at heliportThanksgiving dinner on the boatWith our friends Ruth and Lewis joining us in their hometownLighted bridges along Tampa RiverwalkTis the season…Friends Ruth and Lewis join Ben at the helmGoing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa BaySarasota bridge supports lit with color-changing lights, adds touch to pink sunrise skyEverybody on the bandwagonBIG art, and lots of it, at the Ringling MuseumBeautiful statue garden at the Ringling MuseumLots of pretty waterfront places on the way south from SarasotaNot a curtain in the whole placeA touch of colorAnchored with a few other boats (a sailboat, out of view) in this small bay, surrounded by $1M+ homes. Not sure they appreciated ‘their’ view being spoiled by us boats, but it’s our water tooDollars at the bar on Cabbage Key – supposedly the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet’s ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’. We dinghied over for lunch; the cheeseburger was only so-so.We added our bill to the wallOsprey nest atop the still functional water tower at Cabbage KeyA remote, but popular anchorage with a few dozen boats anchored with us behind Cayo Costa State Park, including some other Loopers we knewThe eastern sky, lit by the sunset in the west, reflected in glassy water at Pelican BayThe sunset just kept getting better and better…(unretouched photo)Toasting the end of a fine dayBeach of shellsShells, shell fragments, shell grit, shell powderTiny crab on the beach at Cayo CostaHaven’t been to Sanibel yet, but found a few decent shells at other beaches so farDocked at Ft Myers City Yacht Basin – feels like Florida, all right
