Clearwater to Maximo Pt.

Date: Dec 16, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1325 ET                     

Location:  Maximo Pt., Fl.

Weather:  77/65, Clear  

Sea State:  ICW calm

Destination Tomorrow:  South                

Engine Hours:  1556                                                                        

Crew:  Bryce      

Comments: 

After 180 nautical miles of trolling across bays and the Gulf, Bryce jumped into the dinghy at Clearwater Harbor and five minutes later had a beautiful redfish.  We’ll have to keep him around to feed us.  By the way, as I write this he is out in the dinghy working on dinner. 

What a beautiful day!  I finally listened to what Ruth has been telling me all alone, “slow down and enjoy yourself.”  We left Clearwater Harbor at 1000.  That’s right Art, 1000.  I explained to Bryce that by 1000 Art and I usually had 25 miles behind us.  My sincere apologies Art, but what are big brothers for.  We intentionally kept our speed to about 4 knots all day winding south down the ICW, amazed at the beauty.  The entire 22 nautical miles covered today were elegant houses, 1^st class marinas, restaurants, bars, dolphins, mangroves and just pure beauty.  We went through 4 bascule bridges in which the bridge tenders were first class.  We hardly had to slow down.  They know how to do it right.  We anchored around 1525, between Maximo Point and Indian Key, near ICW mile 135 and took the dinghy to a nearby marina for diesel and water.  Tomorrow, Tampa Bay, then southbound to a secure anchorage as a northerly will arrive tomorrow night.