Kim Jo IV

Friday, December 17, 2010

Friday, December 17,2010

Outside Treasure Island Marina

Treasure Island pool

We finally got relief from the wind and were able to leave Clearwater on Wednesday, December 15, 2010; we were ready to leave after 12 days. It was a beautiful sunny warm day without a cloud in the sky. We had a smooth ride down the GIWW, through the narrows and into Boca Ciega Bay and then into Treasure Island. The Club at Treasure Island Marina is a very nice place; it has a tennis court, work out room and a large heated pool with propane fireplaces at the tables around the pool as well as a Tiki Bar out by the pool. We have been spending quit a bit of time there enjoying the warm weather. We walked to the grocery store on Thursday and then I went to Walmart in the afternoon; got some Christmas decorations. We are all decorated (at least a little) and we are trying real hard to get into the Christmas spirit. It's hard with no snow. They have 2 courtesy cars available here but they drive you instead of us driving.

N27 46.144
W82 45.406

CO's comments: Unlike the Mississippi and the Tenn-Tom, the intracoastal waterway is very narrow and very shallow in many places. I don't believe the government is mandated to keep a certain depth since there are no commercial barges.

Leaving Clearwater Beach-
Clearwater Pass

Sunset at The Club Treasure Island Marina

Coming back to the boat

after buying groceries

Treasure Island pool

The Club at Treasure Island Marina

The Tiki Bar

GIWW from top of Treasure Island Causeway bridge

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Fog down south

Record snow fall in Wisconsin

22" of snow

Snow up north-my sister Susie

Fog can be beautiful at times
if you don't have to travel in in

More fog

We are still at Clearwater Municipal Marina. The wind these past few days has been horrific. We have had gale force winds of 36 knots, gusting to 40 with seas above 15 feet. It is a good time to stay put. Looks like tomorrow will be good enough to go the next 17 miles to Treasure Island.

We are just thankful we are not up north. They have had record breaking snowfall and that's a lot of shoveling!

CO's comments: Time to wash the boat. After all the high winds, the boat is covered from top to bottom with a film of salt.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Doug and Joanie

Kim Jo III at Clearwater Marina

The all day fishing boat with a
big catch-Clearwater

Half day fishing boat-Clearwater

Cleaning the fish with the
Pelican looking for a handout

All but 3 Looper boats that we came in with last weekend left yesterday with 2 more that left today. We plan on leaving tomorrow if the weather permits.

We went out on the half day fishing boat yesterday afternoon and had a good time. It was a little chilly out there with waves up to 4 feet. high but there was a lot of fish caught. We caught 16 "Gray Snapper". Keith caught most of them. I spent the afternoon feeding the fish. I lost count how many baited hooks came up empty. I had 2 to 3 large fish on my line but I lost them all; one even took my hook. I caught what I thought was a large Grouper but had to throw it back as it was too small. Enough with the fish stories; we had fun and our freezer is full with fillets.

Today Joanie and Doug Tjomsland drove over to see us. We had a wonderful visit and talked a lot about doing the loop and exchanged experiences. We went for a walk on the beach and had lunch. It's amazing the similarities between Doug and Keith! It was a good day.

CO's comments: For those of you out there who do not know who Doug and Joanie are, I will tell you. In 2005 they got married, sold everything thing they owned; including their cars, bought a boat (I think it was a 25' Rinker and named it after Doug's uncle), and started the loop. After they finished the loop they settled in Florida and they have been following our blog. They started their loop from Bill's Bay Marina in Red Wing, MN, just like we did.