Day 159 Saturday, November 26, 2022
Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina
The last 2 days were exhausting -- we had a good night's sleep and were finally up at 9am. Jerry cooked us a nice breakfast. Agenda today was to explore a bit and enjoy our last few days with Grand Wazoo and Arion. Both boats will be moving on ahead of us. Joe and Laura will cross their wake, celebrating the end of their Great Loop adventure when they get home in Stuart Florida. Arlene and Al will move their boat to Bradenton and then drive home for the holidays.
We spent the afternoon discovering the beach, dinner at Marina Cantina and ice cream at Beverly's.
Day 160, Sunday November 27, 2022
We were gifted St. Brendan medals to protect and guide us on our Loop adventure. St. Brendan, the navigator, is the patron saint of sailors. I was presently surprised when my google search for "catholic churches near me" found St. Brendan Catholic Church less than a mile away! It was a sign!! The church is a pleasant 20minute walk across the causeway and right near the grocery store, Publix. It was nice to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent at a church where we will be able to visit a few more times before the holiday.
We hurried back to the marina to join our friends for a field trip. We hopped on the Jolly Trolley with Phil-N-Wild, The Grand Wazoo, and Arion headed north to Tarpon Springs. Tug Bussle is docked in Tarpon and will be our tour guide for the day. Tarpon Springs is known for it's Greek community, sponge divers and sponge industry. Our exploring got cut short by rain.
Lunch at Costa's Greek Restaurant
Sponge boats 
Day 161 Monday, November 28, 2022
We were invited out to breakfast with Laura and Joe. I ordered poached eggs -- looked more like over easy. Waitress said they don't do poached, they do "basted". Who knew?? Everything was tasty.
Time for more fun in the sun. Beach time with Arlene (Al is sick with a cold), Laura, Joe, Danny and Susan. We were a caravan of wagons, beach chairs and coolers. The beach is a short walk from the marina, surrounded by hotels, restaurants and shopping.
It's fun to watch the people and boats in the warm sun while thinking about how cold it is at home. LOL. It has been in the high 70's and low 80's so far. No complaints. Ice cream again (never enough just ask Susan) and then dinner. Last night for Grand Wazoo so their choice. Pizza and wings at Little Anthony's!
Day 162 Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Sad day -- The Grand Wazoo is leaving, headed for home. We all met on the dock to help them shove off -- first stop, the pump out! That job done we said our goodbyes once more. So happy for them. Laura has been missing her grandchildren desperately. Everyone will be stalking them on Nebo as they head south towards the Okeechobee and across Florida to Stuart. They estimate it will take them until Monday. Bon Voyage friends.
Bright spot for the day -- Tug Bussle arrives from Tarpon Springs. Docktails with them, Phil-N-Wild, Arion and Pat and Steve of Calypso. Calypso has crossed their wake and are now readying their boat (Mainship 390) to sell it. They will be heading back to California and their other boat...
Day 163, Wednesday November 30, 2022
Arion's turn to move on.... we met at the pump out to say our goodbyes. We will boat with them again; we have reservations together at the same marina in Key West. They will drive home to Pennsylvania for the holiday.
We spent the morning decorating the boat.
We spent the afternoon with Danny, Susan, Janet and Russ at the beach until we got chased back to the boats by a storm. Pretty impressive weather. Short lived, we had dinner at The Bait House and "porch tails" on the back of Tug Bussle.
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