ComicCon in Clearwater?

Boys checking out Star Wars helmets at ComicCon

   Yes, it sounds odd.  A ComicCon event in Clearwater, FL?!  Well, the table the boys are looking at is the most interesting one there.  Traveling on the Jolly Trolley into downtown Clearwater was a nice experience, as was checking out the downtown library (very nice!!), but the event left a lot to be desired.  Thomas was disappointed.  He had hoped to be able to purchase some items.  The day was supposed to be rainy and stormy, which is what we found when we came out of the library!  We quickly walked a couple blocks and found shelter in Tony's Pizzeria for lunch.  Matthews was thrilled!  When we came it out, it was now pouring!  We ran to the Trolley stop and rode it the long way around back to the marina.  Whew!  Rain storms can sure flood the streets around here!  Unfortunately, the storms prevented friends 1-hr away in Tampa from visiting.  Hopefully, we will have a chance to get together again!  

Wait!  What is that I see?!  Something bright and shiny outside!  I think it is the sun! YEAH!

Clearwater Beach happenings

Thomas picks up some groceries from Publix

   Having a teenager with you as you travel in close quarters, away from all his friends, cooped up with his 8-yr old brother everyday, can be trying for everyone.  Fortunately, he has a way to get away from all of us, even for a little while.  Thomas is really enjoying the bicycle we brought; he can get out and away from everyone with his music for awhile.  Mom & Dad are enjoying the fact that he is always eager to run to the store for us - groceries, dry cleaners, etc.

While many of our friends and family are still freezing in the crazy winter we are having, we have been enjoying warmer weather since we arrived in Clearwater.  This week, however, was not a good week to be vacationing in the Tampa area!  Rain and wind and cool weather have been hanging our here all week and is not expected to pass until Sunday.  So, we have been home a lot - no beach or pool.  Matthew & Mom did venture over to the playground yesterday, though, so he can run off some energy with other boys.

While we are traveling, we subscribe to various websites & blogs for info on where we are going, what we are doing, and try to meet new people.  We were fortunate enough to hook up with another family with 2 kids who has lived and traveled on their boat.  They live in the area here, and we were able to connect with them last weekend.  So great to hear how other families, who also still work & homeschool while they travel, manage their daily lives.  

Hanging out in Clearwater Beach, FL

Jill & boys enjoy surrey around Clearwater Beach

   Staying on the transient dock at Clearwater Beach is interesting, and never dull.  Tourists (lots of kids/families on Spring Break) constantly walking the docks checking out the boats.  Parking is horrible by 11am of people coming down here for an adventure on some kind of charter boats.  Makes for very interesting people watching!  For the most part, our weather has been sunny and in the 70's.  Sunday, however, the winds picked up and we had terrible wind and thunderstorms through Tuesday morning.  The boys & I stayed home and got back into the schoolwork routine, our chores as well.  Our friend Staci from Clearwater came by to visit Tuesday and brought us lunch (nice!) and took Jill to Publix to shop (helpful!).  Today, the boys & Jill rented a surrey (see above) and took turns peddling this interesting bicycle around for an hour.  It was amusing to watch the tourist realize at the last minute they needed to get out of our way.  Obviously, they were hard to hearing, because we kept ringing the bell at them!

Enjoying Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach Marina

   We arrived in Clearwater last Monday and have been getting re-acquainted with this busy tourist area ever since!  There is so much to do here, especially if you like boats and sand.  Lots of tour & charter boats of various kinds.  We have enjoyed watching all this activity going on around our marina.  Meanwhile, we have been enjoying the beach, playground at the beach, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  Kids got to visit with friends from home (here on Spring Break), and we visited with local friends.  There is a wonderful trolley system here that helps us get around the beach area, even stopping directly in front of Publix (groceries)!  We will be here awhile enjoying the sites and visting with friends & family.

(Check out the pictures I have added to our webpage:  

www.family4afloat.com - Photos & Homeschool)

Dolphins playing off bow of boat

Films of dolphins swimming off bow of our boat during Gulf of Mexico crossing

Cross Gulf of Mexico --> to Clearwater Beach, FL!!

Thomas checks out dolphins following us

   Does anyone see a wave out on the Gulf?  If so, please let the Coast Guard know, they have lost sight of all waves.  There is hardly a ripple out on the water and for the next 2 to 3 days, the weather window will be as good as it gets.  By late Tuesday or Wednesday, the Gulf weather will turn dramatically and blow like stink for a few days before returning to nice weather Friday and the weekend.                  Stay Safe,    Tom  (AGLCA weather man)

We have been watching the weather in the Gulf of Mexico for over a week now to see when would be the best time to make the 160 mile crossing from Carrabelle to Clearwater.  We like the seas to be as calm as possible and the wind on our back.  We are members of the Great Loopers Assoc and receive daily e-mails from Tom (see above) who tells boaters what the weather in the Gulf is like each day/night.  He was right on with this weather report for Sunday night!  We left from Carrabelle River at 2pm Sunday and cruised out into the Gulf.  David had set the track into the GPS, and we set our speed for 7 knots, and we were off for our 20 hour journey across this large body of water.  We had some small waves at the beginning, then it settled to an almost dead calm.  

Around 6pm, when the bread maker was done baking a fresh loaf of french bread for us, we sat down in the pilothouse to eat dinner.  We didn't realize it was going to be a dinner + show!  All of a sudden, David realizes we are surrounded by 20+ dolphins!  they swam and played and jumped all around us for about 15 minutes. Amazing!
As the night passed, we each took turns at driving the boat through the beautiful moon lit night.  Thomas & Matthew took the 10p - 2am shift while Mom & Dad dozed on and off.  Then they were sent to bed, so Mom & Dad could finish the trip.  About 30 miles out of Clearwater Pass, we sped up to 19 knots to clean out the diesel engines.  As we approached the Pass, we were on close look-out for crab pots, as they often are all over the place and it is no fun to get one wrapped around your prop.  We arrived safely at the Pass and docked at Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina by 10am.  Whew! Tired, but a great crossing!

Total miles today:  160nm

Total miles traveled:  1,160 nm

Total cruising days: 18

Thomas & Matthew driving at night

Moorings @ Carrabelle, FL

Fathom's Bar & Grill - raw oysters, shrimp tacos, shrimp quesedillas

  Today we cruised as far east on the Florida Panhandle as we are going to go - Carrabelle, FL.  We planned on leaving yesterday from Port St Joe, but the weather and winds were not nice!  Boaters say King Neptune was having a bad day!  We woke up this morning to overcast skies, but calmer winds and waters.  The first half of our trip was thru a canal-like section of the ICW, then we cruised into Apalachicola Bay.  Waters got a little choppy, but the weather was nice, so all in all, a decent cruising day. We had good cell hone/internet most of the journey, so David was able to work while Jill (& Thomas) drove the boat. We arrived at the Carrabelle River by mid-afternoon.  We stayed here on the last trip, so it was a welcome sight.  We now await some beautiful, calm seas in the Gulf of Mexico so we can cross to Clearwater.  That should happen in the next few days.

Total miles today:  53nm

Total miles traveled:  1,099 nm

Total cruising days: 16

Port St Joe - visitors

Sunset at Port St Joe Marina

   Today started out nice and fairly warm.  After getting schoolwork done, Matthew & Mom rode to a cool "pirate-shaped" playground down the beach path.  The weather had gotten colder and there was no one to play with, so we rode back to the marina.  We had been waiting through the day for Jill's Cousin Judy and son Eric to arrive from Tallahassee.  We all had a wonderful visit.  They toured the boat, the ladies talked (a lot!), then we walked down to Beachcomers III Diner for dinner (good sandwiches & salad).

Port St Joe - chore day

Thomas riding home from store with groceries (& Matthew)

   Since the rain decided not to come today after all and the weather was nice and sunny, after we got our schoolwork done, the boys and mom gave the outside of the boat a really good washing.  Now that we are in salt water, we need to wash/rinse the boat more to keep it in good condition.  Afterward, we borrowed the 3-wheel bicycles from the marina and rode over to Piggly Wiggly to get some groceries.  Matthew in the back of Thomas' bicycle loaded down with groceries is quite a site (see above)!

Port St Joe, FL

Entrance to Port St Joe Marina

  Today was a beautiful cruising day (65 - 70 degrees)!  We left Panama City and cruised east on the ICW for 32 nm (nautical miles) until we reached the Port St Joe canal and turned right/south toward the Gulf of Mexico.  The canal puts you into St Joseph Bay (entrance to Gulf).  The Bay makes you feel like you have entered the Gulf.  The water got a little choppy and the wind picked up, but very shortly, after turning east, we saw the entrance to Port St Joe Marina.  This marina came highly recommended by cruising friends.  After getting tied up at the transient dock, we walked up to the marina office to check-in.  As we left, we passed the Dockside Oyster Bar.  David & Jill could not resist, so they stopped for a drink and oysters, while bored children went to the boat.  Later, Jill & the kids explored the town a little (lot closed on Sunday).  Lots of stuff is very close (including Piggly Wiggly & McDonalds) and many sidewalks and walking paths.  We will enjoy staying here a few days.

Total miles today:  40nm

Total miles traveled:  1,046 nm

Total cruising days: 15