Clearwater Beach, FL to Pelican Bay, FL

Nov. 20- Nov. 26

Our weather continued to stay cold and windy for several days as we moved farther south. While traveling across Tampa Bay to reach an anchorage in Manatee River we had 2-4 ft. waves pushing us. This anchorage was by the DeSoto National Memorial Park near Bradenton FL. This park is dedicated to Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer who came here in 1539 looking for gold.

 

 Sunshine Bridge, Tampa Bay FL.

 

 De Soto Memorial Park.

 

Our next stop was in Sarasota. While there we got together with a Canadian couple we met last spring in Waterford NY. They took us out for breakfast and then we walked through town and a really nice farmers market.

Sarasota, FL.

 

Next stop was by Don Pedro State Park. This park is right on the Gulf and has a great beach where we found sharks teeth. Not sure why with the size of the Gulf that sharks decide to die here so there teeth wash ashore in this area. We stayed a couple of days then moved on to Pelican Bay. Cayo Costa State Park is located in this bay where there is another great beach for shelling and nature paths for hiking. Our first day here we took the dinghies to a neighboring Island, Cabbage Key (made famous by Jimmy Buffet’s song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”) for lunch and of course had a cheeseburger.

Dozens of pelicans perched in the trees along the way.

 

 Cabbage Key.

 

 Cheeseburger anyone? Sharon, Jim, & Randy.