2014-9-12 to 9/18 - Sarasota to Palmetto

9/12 We left the dock at 1000, went off shore through Stump Pass . Nasty clouds surrounded us & it rained off & on. I didn't troll. Three & a half hours later, & right before another storm, we entered the Venice Inlet to the ICW & a few hours later, anchored at Sarasota. They now have mooring balls - cost $25+tax!! for a ball in water & bay bottom they don't even own - we anchored outside the field.

Big bucks on the bay

Downtown Sarasota

People ask us, "what the hell do you do all day when anchored?" Actually? not much, but then again, a lot. For me, it gave me some  quiet time to finish my blog from our 2005 cruise on the freighter, AMAZING GRACE. We do pamper the pups - hey! they're our kids.
We didn't even put the dinghy in. I was pleasantly surprised to see Dancing with the Stars began its new season on Monday night.

Jack during dinner - he doesn't move an inch, he just watches

Scupper, on the other hand, puts on quite a show

12/16; We pulled anchor at 1145 heading north on the ICW towards Palmetto. We passed by the Ringling museum & Ca d'Zan, home of John & Mable Ringling.

"The Ringlings had been traveling throughout Europe for nearly 25 years, acquiring circus acts and art. They both greatly admired the architectural style of Venice’s Ducal Palace, Ca’ d’Oro and the Grunwald Hotel. When they decided to build a home in Sarasota, Florida, where they had been winter residents for a number of years, The Ringlings took these palazzi as their inspiration – and Sarasota Bay as their Grand Canal...One of America’s wealthiest couples, the Ringlings started building Ca’ d’Zan in 1924 and completed it shortly before Christmas in 1926 at the then princely sum of $1.5 million. Sadly, their happiness there was not to last, for only three years after its completion, Mable died from Addison’s disease and the complications of diabetes...When John Ringling died in December of 1936 he bequeathed his estate to the people of Florida, but legal wrangling with his creditors went on for a decade until the property finally passed unencumbered to the state. During this time Ca’ d’Zan remained closed. Finally, in 1946 it was reopened to the public...But the care that older buildings require was neglected due to a lack of funds, and by the late 90’s, Ca’ d’Zan was in such a state of disrepair it was used as the location for Miss Havisham’s decrepit mansion in the 1996 Hollywood remake of Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations...Resturation begins...
Finally completed in 2002, at a cost of $15 million, ten times that of the original house, Ca’ d’Zan was happily returned to its former glory and reopened as the grandest mansion on Florida’s Suncoast. Today it stands as one of America’s architectural treasures."

Ringling Museum

                    We anchored at DeSota National Memorial park at 3:30.

We planned to take the dogs to the beach but there were many warnings, even from the Coast Guard, that a dangerous storm, with wind up to 40 mph, was about to arrive. Serious clouds surrounded us - but no storm. 
 "In May 1539, Hernando deSoto and an army of over 600 soldiers landed in the Tampa Bay area. They arrived in nine ships laden with supplies: two hundred and twenty horses, a herd of pigs, war dogs, cannon, matchlock muskets, armor, tools, and rations. They were executing the order of King Charles V to sail to La Florida and "conquer, populate, and pacify" the land.
The expedition did not yield the gold and treasure these men sought. Instead, they marched from one village to the next, taking food and enslaving the native peoples to use as guides and porters. Hundreds of lives were lost on this calamitous four year, 4,000 miles (6,400 km) journey. The deSoto expedition would change the face of the American Southeast forever, and cause Spain to reevaluate her role in the New World. Ultimately, it was the first hand accounts of survivors, describing the native cultures and the richness of the land, which became the journey's enduring legacy."

I was preparing dinner & heard voices outside...looked out to see Tom & Susan's Tour boat, the River Skipper,  with a bunch of guests all singing & having a great time.  More TV info. I've watched America's got Talent all season & Tuesday & Wednesday were the finals.

We got the rain in the early hours the next morning & continued to the next day. We hunkered down in place - sorry kids, no beach today either.
 9/18  The magician won last night!!! He's the one I picked.

Onward... & down the Manatee River to Regatta Point Marina

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