Longboat Key to Boca Grande

Knowing this would likely be our "last cruise" on Endless Summer, our departure from Longboat Key was filled with both excitement and melancholy. It is always fun to prepare, plan and provision for a trip on the boat, but this time felt different. It all seemed so final and that made saying farewell all the more difficult. None the less, we have made wonderful life long memories at Longboat Key and will always treasure the time we had there.

Now, it's time to move on!

We left the dock at a very reasonable 8:30 am and worked our way out to Sarasota Bay. The winds were out of the east at 8-12 mph so while there was a little "chop" it wasn't bad at all. Since it appeared the offshore winds were favorable we opted to do the first part of the day outside in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the constant shifting sands, Big Pass can be a tricky inlet to navigate. Fortunately, I have relatively good "local knowledge" of the Pass and with the sun at our backs, able to see the narrow but safe water path out.

Once out in the Gulf, however, the seas were surprisingly rougher than forecast (that's just the way it is sometimes). So after an hour or so of moderate pounding, we decided to go back "inside" at Venice Inlet for the balance of the trip to Boca Grande. After all, we weren't in any hurry and that's where the Admiral prefers it!

We arrived at the Boca Grande Marina around 12:30 and after a good wash down from all the sea spray, settled in for the next few days. As luck would have it, my "big brother" Ray and wife are also on a boat trip aboard their Swift 50 Trawler "Someday Is Today". We connected in Boca Grande for a delightful dinner that night and bid them farewell as the departed early the next morning.

Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island) has a rich history back to 1870's when this was a small but prolific fishing village. To this day, it remains one of the best fishing designations in Florida and is considered the Tarpon Capital of the world. We spent the next day exploring the island from one end to the other in a slow but trusty rented golf cart. From beach bungalows, to mega mansions, to fish camps, to world class accommodations, Boca Grande is a microcosm of contrast that is Florida.

We concluded our visit with a delightful breakfast at the Inlet at The Outlet before getting underway for our short run to Ft. Myers Beach for the day.