Underway from St Pete

An Anhinga trying to act like an eagle

The weather window has arrived (at least as good as we're gonna get), so we depart Maximo Marina in St Pete on Monday June 10.  Upon checking out, the marina charges us for only one week, rather than two, since we were kept there by the tropical storm.  Even though the marina is in deteriorating condition, the manager compensates nicely.

Instead of following the GICW southbound to parallel the Sunshine Skyway bridge, we decide to go outside in the Gulf via Pass-a-grille inlet.  We will come back in several miles later into Tampa Bay, past Egmont Key.  The weather is beautiful, the seas are only 1', the breeze is enough to keep us cool, and the clear turquoise water is just beautiful.  We make our "three hour tour" across Tampa Bay to the Manatee River next to Bradenton FL.  We drop the hook for the evening among half a dozen other boats, and then go swimming from the boat.  We tie a swim raft to the boat's swim platform & enjoy the water.

Hey Chattanooga Boating Buddies....what two
"things" are missing from this picture??

Just before another glorious sunset, we're sitting on the bow with our drinks, watching the dolphins surface a mere 100 feet away.  Tell me.......would you rather be doing this, or still be stuck at the office at this hour because of some stupid staff meeting all afternoon???  (This is an I.Q. test!!)