February 3, 2014, Monday Madeira Beach, Florida

Some fog in the morning but cleared up nicely, made one last run into town, stopped at Hellas for a Greek Cannoli to go.  Back to the boat, ready to go, quite a line of people leaving the marina this morning.  We got in line and out the channel we went.  Can't believe how many boats coming and going, pleasure boats, fishing boats, BAB (big ass boats) swamping us as they go by and not looking back to see whether they sunk us.  After an hour getting to the ICW marker we headed south into the fog, again..really????.  This time weather was warm, wind 5-10 kts, late morning or almost noon.  We can do this!  Started slimming down on the boats, pretty soon they had all pasted us, well almost more coming up behind.  One smaller boat came by so quickly from behind and severely rocked us in his wake, a nonbreakable glass came flying out of the holder and fell on the floor cracking.  A little while longer, one of the bigger motor trollers hailed him on the radio and said "boat just passing Sun Gypsy, you've got 6 ft water just about all around, don't ever pass me that close again".  Another hour down the coastal waterway and I was just about as irritated, how rude are some small boat drivers are.  They tell us this is only the beginning, don't go out on weekends.  Anyway other than that, having a nice trip down the ICW, getting thru the bridges, them opening the draw bridges almost immediately when we got there, lots of bridges.  Started going thru the narrows in the ICW, everyone must slow down going thru this narrow part of the ICW, was really nice, big boaters had to slow also.  We came upon fog around 4-4:30pm, just kept getting thicker and thicker to the point we couldn't see more than 50 ft.  Listened for motors again and got out the fog horn.  Curt finally "got to toot his horn", one long blast every two minutes.  Got to two markers away from the bridge and called the bridge tender to raise it.  He said he couldn't raise it till we got within his vision and he could only see 50 ft. at times, we knew there was a marina or anchorage close.  He warned us of two other boats who had dropped anchor just outside of the  ICW a little north of the bridge.  He also suggested we go into a marina just before the bridge because it was too dangerous to cont. on.  We agreed, slowly creeping along we saw one big sail boat just outside the ICW markers anchored.  About that time someone hailed us on the marina, said it was worse north of the bridge and we could come into the marina where he was at and tie up to the dock till the fog disappeared, probably in the morning.  Between the bridge tender and the captain from Morning Star, we inched our way into the marina.  I went up on the bow with the spot light, Curt sounding the fog horn so anyone in the way would know we're there.  Finally saw the bridge and the marina to the port side.  Edged our way over to the marina and saw the captain waiting for us to grab a rope and help us dock.  Bridge Tender said just go over there carefully.  Truly another one of God's angels directing us to safety.  Another sail boater captain, they're a different breed of kindness.  It was 5:30, we didn't make it to our planned anchorage spot but found a better one here.  After having a wonderful visit with him for a half an hour, finding out all the places to anchor, eat, visit down the ICW we went over to the McDonald's dock to tie up to for the night because it was a floating dock and Dan said the Tides were extreme.  We could also walk up to McDonalds for a Fudge Sundae and BREAKFAST AT MCDONALD'S in the morning.  Curt and I both at the same time said we can have McDonald's for breakfast.  Not that we eat there much but not something we haven't come across in the last 5 months of our adventure.  I keep thinking about Captain Ron-just pull over an ask for directions if you get lost.  So we pulled over ending up in the water parking lot of McDonalds.:), :).  Captain Dan had told us about a book he had read about doing the Great Loop.  They had been taking an 85 year old lady who had a stroke to church every Sunday, after visiting with her she told them her Dad was Captain Ransom and had done the Great Loop in the late 1800's in a Yawl, (was then a bridge tender just down the waterway) and someone had taken his journal and wrote a book.  Dan read the original manuscript, was so excited he ordered the book.  He said we just had to read it and Curt was really excited when he said he would bring us the book later.  So later after getting french fries(super large order) we went back to the boat, got on the McDonald's internet.  A knock on the boat and it was Dan and his wife.  He said here's something for you and your bride.  A lovely bottle of Merlot, we offered to share with them but they had to go visit their granddaughter who just got braces today.  I gave his wife a piece of tatting I just had made up the design and tatted.  The bigger one I couldn't find soon enough.  She said her grandmother did tatting and she has two pieces framed in her house.  So she knew how special they are and how much work it takes to get one done, especially a beginner like me.  That was quick from the thought of giving them away to our guardian angels and special people we meet to actually having it happen.  We have been blessed by so many kind people.  What a nice end to the day.  Had chicken on the grill and potatoes with lettuce salad, went up to McDonalds to watch the Dirtest Jobs on Neflix about Tarpon Spring Sponge divers.  Pretty cool, still super foggy when we went to bed.

 Can't decided which shirt I should get.  Any ideas?  I think one of each especially the one below after the fog today.

 Brown pelicans sitting on top of each pole waiting for the fishermen to come in.

 The little turtle pond at our marina, Turtle Cove Marina

 This is my favorite house along the coastal waterway, just looked inviting and homey

 Heading into the calm waters of the ICW and the fog for about an hour

 Not so calm with the big boaters.

 The McDonald's flag isn't even moving, just dripping in the fog.

 Tide did go way down, hope we don't get stuck in the mud as it goes down.

You can see the marina across and behind our boat, tomorrow we'll take a picture without the fog.