Egmont Key- Tampa Bay

4/21/10

 Sunrist Egmont Key s/v Rumba Line

We left Clearwater Marina this morning at 0925 heading to an offshore sail to Egmont Key.  This Key is the westernmost boundary of Tampa Bay.  We decided to do this short run offshore so as to stay out of the Intracoastal.  There are several bridges which do not open on request but rather a schedule and while we know that sooner or later we will have to deal with bridges on schedules, we like offshore far more.  The only thing that distracts somewhat in this area is the crab pot situation.  One cannot just activate the autopilot and ignore it.  We are told that sailboats are somewhat less susceptible to them since we have a keel to help protect the prop.  Then again who would not want to deal with them unless necessary.  We plan to spend two nights in this place so as to allow us to dink ashore and explore this historic Key.  I did notice that there were two large gun batteries guarding the approach to Tampa Bay.   Gee, might they be part of the Third System?  Old Bligh will definitely explore them tomorrow. 

We were relieved today when we spoke to our friends on Lagniappe with whom we have not spoken for several days (or is it weeks?).  They are fine and are approaching Titusville, Florida today.  They have made good progress since our last conversation. 

4/22/10

 Battery Mallory, Fort Dade

Bear doing what Bear does while I explore old military forts

First thing today, we launched the dink and after Bear made the sandwiches for a walk ashore, she felt the ocean swell and had a wee bit of mal de mer.  She elected to stay aboard and run my rump off so at not to bugg her.  I made a bee line to the old Fort Dade and the lighthouse that has protected the Tampa Bay approach since the late 1800’s.  It was a treat,  I must admit , to be walking in an old military post long ago built to protect this area during the Spanish American war and later to deploy mines to protect Tampa Bay during WWII.  What a wonderful place for a history freak.  The paved roads that once connected the garrison with the shore batteries is still there.   Most of the batteries are there too.   I spent about an hour ashore and returned to Why Knot to find Bear back to sparring strength.  We managed some long naps before boarding the tender and returning to the lighthouse area.  This is Bear’s first approach to any landmass aboard our dink.  We just took it easy so as not to chip any teeth in the rolling waters approaching Fort Dade.  Two historical things about this place:  a lighthouse that is still in service after 150 years and the old Fort.  She was not impressed much with the idea of walking the old batteries but was impressed with the beaches and the tortoises running amuck near the light house. I was impressed at the National Cemetery on the Key.  This is a place of great history and a real treat for us.  Tomorrow, we sail on the tide for Venice for a day or two, thence to Fort Meyer.  That will be our jumping off point to Key West.  The overall plan is to spend a week in Key West and then the milestone is to turn up the Atlantic Coast.  There are many stops we can make here on the west coast of Florida, we have a bit of a drive to get to the Atlantic.

 Why Knot tugging at the anchor