We're in Tarpon Springs, FL after stopping yesterday in Crystal River. We did have a bit of heart pounding excitement before we left Steinhatchee. We had to change marinas in Steinhatchee Thursday because the little marina we started at didn't even have cleats on their docks, just boards nailed to the docks to tie up to. When a 30 MPH wind came up, one of the boards broke and the sternof Nonchalance was free to get pushed out into the river by the strong wind. Luckily, I happened to be on the dock when it happened and jumped to our boarding ladder before it was too far out. Since the bow and spring lines were still tied to the dock, the stern went far out and the bow was getting pushed far around the front of the little dock and right towards another boat docked there. I yelled for Kathy and fired up the engines quickly and threw the starboard engine hard into reverse, just in time to pull back, missing the other boat by inches.... also just in time to back over the 3/4 inch thick dock line that ripped free from the dock and was now trailing in the water still tied to a board from the dock. Luckily, I had installed PropSpurs on our propshafts and props,, which cut the line before it could get wrapped up and stop us. Then, the power cord and water hose were still connected and we were far out from the dock. I manuvered closer and Kathy jumped to the dock to untie the dock lines and I unhooked and I threw her the power and water lines. WHEW! The marina across the river had stronger docks with cleats and good shore power.

Yesterday, we went to Crystal River, which is a "Big Bend" Florida type of place. It's slower, non-touristy and shallow in many spots. I wanted to go see the manatees that stay there in winter due to the clear, constant 70 to 72 degree water, owing to a huge natural spring that feeds the river. We stayed at a marina 2 miles from the bay where the manatees are most plentiful because of shallow spots farther up the river. We took our dinghy the 2 miles or so up river this morning to the headwaters and spring.

The marina we stayed at could hardly hold a 53 ft boat and it was silted in and shallow such that the boats all become mired in silt when the tide is low and can't move. The silt is so soft and thick that the boats all stay upright and even, just no water under them. It's kind of like there is no bottom... it just keeps getting thicker as you go farther down. Our dock was open to a deeper part of the little bay so at least our running gear didn't settle into the silt much, but out bow and the front half of Nonchalance was totally in silt at low tide. Then the tide comes in and floats all the boats again. We had to wait until noon to leave when the tide was high enough to go. This picture is another marina we passed at mid-low tide. These docks won't have water until almost high tide. Our marina wasn't this bad. Most of the boats at the marina had water on the deeper end of the boat at low tide.

We did have a nice sunset though.














The manatees were a real ho-hum. We saw for or five of them passing our aft deck near sundown when we got in on Saturday. This is all you see... just a snout coming up to blow and breathe, or a big swirl in the water as they dive down again.




This morning, we took the dinghy up to the headwaters and big spring area, which is a National Wildlife Refuge, and encountered lots of boats, including tour boats, kayakers, scuba divers, snorkelers, etc. They have cordoned off the manatees favorite area close to shore and the spring to keep everybody out, but the manatees do come out among the boats frequently. However, all you see is the same swirls, snouts and the occasional huge fan shaped tail breaking the surface as they dive.

However, as we were getting the dinghy down at the marina, we saw a large river otter foraging in the river behind our boat. It would come up for air and then go down and stir up the bottom of the river looking for clams or something. It was an extremely lithe and graceful swimmer, totally at home looking for brunch on the bottom. It was fascinating, as neither of us have ever seen a river otter in the wild, and this one was right at our boat.

There is no ICW here, so travel is by going out into the gulf. Yesterday, coming from Steinhatchee to Crystal River the wave forecast was for 1 to 3 ft. and it was solid 3 ft. waves with the occasional 4 footer thrown in. Today from Crystal River to Tarpon Springs the forecast was for 2 to 4 ft, followed by 1 to 3 ft. closer to Tarpon Springs, but today it was completely calm in the gulf. I don't think there was a wave bigger than six inches. I didn't even have to wash the salt off of my boat when we came in! The water down this far is more clear and a nice green-blue color.

It's also full of crab traps and fish traps, with floats and lines, just waiting to get caught on your props (unless you have PropSpurs). You can see a white one off to starboard here and a black one in front of the bow (Kathy's driving). We probably passed one or two thousand floats and had to steer to avoid about a hundred or so.

Tomorrow, we're going to Sarasota, where we plan to stay for 3 weeks or so at Marina Jacks Marina. There is ICW from here to Sarasota, so we won't go out in the gulf tomorrow.