After our false start from St. Petersburg the day prior, the Admiral and I were chomping at the bit to head for Sarasota Friday. Sarasota is special to us, because it was there almost a year ago where we first laid eyes on the motor vessel Boundless, which was destined to become the motor vessel Once Around. Sarasota is a beautiful city, but more importantly, we were excited to be reconnected with Tom and Elaine, the former Owner/Captain and his Admiral. We had stayed in touch since purchasing their boat. As former Loopers they have been full of ideas, guidance and support since we departed last May. Mostly, Tom is just pretty much “full of it” 24/7. Talk about a guy who enjoys life! And Elaine is his self-described “perfect pirate wench”.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay
The house of the day
and another house of the day?
We pulled into Marina Jack’s in Sarasota around 2:00 PM with nothing on our mind except a quick once over cleaning of Once Around, a shower and then heading out to dinner with Tom and Elaine. Marina Jack's is right in downtown Sarasota and the views and people watching are great.
A view of Sarasota from our cockpit
Another view from our boat into downtown
We were a little overdue for a waste pump-out and Marina Jack’s has pump-out facilities right at your slip, so no problem…right? Once again, the boating gods decided it was our day to put up with a bunch of their crap…literally.
To make a long and smelly story as short as possible, it was 8:00 PM before Tommy the plumbing guy finished up. God bless him for his superhuman effort (and stomach). We had to cancel our dinner plans with Tom and Elaine as I helped Tommy through the process, but he definitely had the worse end of the job! In the middle of it all, Doug and Judy of Moonstruck (landlubbers for the moment) stopped by for what turned out to be a very short visit. They took one whiff and said, “Another time perhaps!” As boaters, they understood the urgency of the situation. And, to The Pump Out Queen from Jolly Tolly: Jan, it’s good you weren’t around, you’d have had a stroke!
Anyway, afterwards my First Mate and I had a shower, a quick meal at the marina restaurant and even got in a couple of dances in the lounge where a live band was doing a pretty good imitation of some 70’s groups, especially Earth, Wind and Fire. We were too tired to go for too long though.
Finally, Saturday morning Tom and Elaine caught up with us and gave Once Around a thorough going over. I think we passed inspection pretty well. They were pretty nostalgic about their old boat and happy to see her (and us) having such a great loop trip. We enjoyed lunch in town with them, learning that they had brought two cars. They insisted we take Elaine’s car to keep with us while we were in town. They had another great surprise in store for us for the evening. The four of us motored out a few miles in our dinghy to their friend’s (Tom and Tanya) boat, Mister Window II, which was anchored in a beautiful spot across the bay from Marina Jack’s. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails and an excellent barbequed steak and potato dinner. I had tucked in a couple of good bottles of California cabernet which were a hit as well. There was even a full moon to help guide us back from this perfect evening with new friends.
on Mister Window II, left to right: Elaine, Tom, Tanya and Tom
Saturday turned out to be another down day. I had been nursing a cold and the sore throat that I thought was just a symptom of the cold persisted and was worsening. The Admiral ordered me into sick bay, which turned out to be a little express urgent care facility a few miles away. What is it about emergency care that they think they need to keep you there three hours even if they aren’t busy? Anyway, a subsequent trip to Walgreen’s pretty much rounded out our last day at Marina Jack’s. The good news is that the antibiotics started making the throat feel better within hours. The bad news is that the Admiral seems pretty adamant I not have any alcohol for the week or so I am on them…I may have to mutiny!
Monday, before we left Marina Jack’s, Tom and Elaine stopped by to pick up her car. They brought Jack, their dog with them. Now, Jack is no stranger to this boat, as he accompanied them on their Loop trip. He sniffed the boat approvingly from bow to stern, and then proving his familiarity, climbed the ladder to the fly bridge! If you doubt me, check this out:
Jack heads for his old fly bridge
Once Around then left downtown Sarasota on what will probably be the shortest leg or our entire Loop. We went to the Field Club, a distance of 3.4 miles. This gorgeous yacht club was Boundless’s old home port near Tom and Elaine’s home. Tom and Elaine met us on the dock with cameras as we approached. I think I might have seen a tear or two in their eyes as we pulled into their old slip.
The Field Club
Our view from the cockpit of Once Around at the Field Club
Carrie and I spent the afternoon re-provisioning and relaxing. Then the four of us had dinner together at their home. They plan to come by in the morning to bid us farewell as we depart for our next stop at Boca Grande. It will be hard to say goodbye. Carrie and I do not have the words to thank these two great friends for their kindness and generous hospitality. We only hope to cross wakes or paths with them some day in California so we can return the favor.
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