Catrina flew along at 9-12 mph for a few hours as we dodged crab trap buoys. Crabbers were busy removing the traps as the Blue Crab season is over. We dodged them also. Before we reached Tarpon Springs the wind had dropped, waves were up to 2 feet, the wind was abeam (we rolled alot on the waves) and we had hooked two crab traps. Tom removed both, one with our boat hook and the other with a fish knife. No one fell off the boat. It was great to be sailing with both sails up and no motor!
About 1 p.m. we approached Tarpon Springs and headed for Caladesi Island State Park, located 4 miles north of Clearwater. Loopers Ted and Sarah aboard Manatee stayed there a few days ago and we decided to take their recommendation. Occasionally, waves were 3 feet high which really rolled our boat. We left the Gulf for the Inland Waterway ICW and more gentle seas. The Dunedin Causeway Bridge saw us 3 miles away and acknowleged that when the Catamaran got to the bridge it would be up! That's about when the Port Jack got wrapped around the side stay and the battons in the main got stuck on the stay. We passed under the raised bridge with the main half up or down depending on which side you were on. Debbie was hiding behind the sail!
Never put the sail down even if the Captain tells you to when you are NOT headed into the wind!
After reading the directions of how to find the secluded Island Park at least a mile off the ICW in three different sources, we ventured into the heart of the Island along narrow, shallow, winding channels. Our depth finder read 4 feet most of the time. It was high tide. That means it was beeping continuously. After a few questionnable turns, we found the Marina. We became the fourth boat in residence tonight. A larger sailboat than Catrina caught our lines and pointed out the features of this State Park: 108-slip marina, kayaking on the 3 mile mangrove trail, sunbathing, swimming and collecting shells on the pristine white sandy gulf beach, hiking on the nature trail (watch out for rattlesnakes), fishing, birding, as well as a picnic area, children's playground and Cafe Caladesi (not open). As Florida Senior Citizens it cost us $10! That's one third of our previous lowest overnight rate!
After 11 hours (65 miles) in Catrina, we decided to explore the island before a well earned dinner of beef stew, salad and Jimmy and Sue's oranges for dessert. The wind howled outside our water home as we caught up on e-mails, watched TV and snuggled in for a cold night in our secluded island hideway. We promised each other to bring our kayaks next time and explore the mangroves!
