Finally feels like Florida

It finally feels like we are in Florida.  Another long day as today we traveled from 8 am to 5 pm and covered roughly 77 miles from Tarpon Springs to Sarasota Bay.  Much of the day was in the ICWW and we passed many huge, expensive homes on the way.  There were lots of boats around, including tourist pirate boats.  Temperature was 79 degrees today and we've been in shorts the last two days.  The color of the water has changed too, to the Florida greenish color.  Hilary's anxiety meter that was 10+ a couple days ago is about a 2 today.  What an improvement.  Crossing Tampa Bay was tense with 4 foot waves but that was short lived for only an hour.  One Christmas ornament broken but everything else "ok" even though for a bit it did feel like our home was coming apart.

Hat tipped to block the rising sun.  An Indiana Jones look.

Pirate Ship #1

Pirate Ship #2

Tonight we are trying something new, a mooring ball.   For those not familiar with boating, a mooring ball is similar to being "on the hook" or anchored, but instead of dropping your own anchor, you run a line to a permanent cement block with a floating ball.  The mooring balls are equally spaced and a mooring field allows for many more boats to be in the same space in a bay without actually anchoring.  There is also no worry of dragging anchor during the night while you are sleeping.  You still have to pay, but it is cheaper than a marina.  For example, tonight the mooring ball is $25 but a slip in the marina in Sarasota is $2.75 per foot plus 7% tax.   We are 36'.   A more typical rate for a transient boater for one night is $1 per foot and that is what we've paid most places since we left Biloxi.  For the real boat geeks, cash price for diesel was $2.14 / gallon.  

The mooring field is a relaxed place and all windows are open for the night to cool the boat.   No generator needed and no air conditioning required.  The mooring field is tranquil, especially considering the Sarasota skyline is so close it feels like you could reach out and grab it.

So as mentioned, a mooring ball is a new experience and something this team has not attempted before.  To prepare Hilary on what to do, last night several YouTube videos were viewed on the correct way to approach a mooring ball along with some more comical videos on how not to approach a mooring ball.   It should be no surprise that the approach by the Captain was perfect.   The ball is hooked by someone on the front of the boat (Hilary) using a boat hook.  Then a line is run through the eye of the mooring line and secured to the boat.   Viola!  If executed correctly, you are all secured for the night.  The mooring line was unexpectedly heavy, but Hilary hooked it on the first try and pulled it up, ran the line through the eye and cleated the line.  All was done just in time to see the sunset over Sarasota Bay.  Now this is what the cruising lifestyle is supposed to be like.   We are sitting nicely in 10' of water as well.  What a comfort after a couple days of some pretty skinny water.

Secured to mooring ball

Mooring Field

Crazy blue V during sunset

Portion of Sarasota skyline