Keaton Beach to Port Tarpon

June 13, 2002 Thursday Day Two Departure Point: Keaton Beach Marina Arrival Point: Port Tarpon Marina Start time: 0725 End time: 1645 Total time: 9 hrs 20 minutes Distance Traveled: 140 miles We left Keaton Beach at 0725 after we stow away the gear, flushed out the engine, got fuel, ice and took the dogs out. The dogs are so funny tiring to walk on solid ground after being on the water.

The channel going out of Keaton Beach Marina The channel stays close to the pier on the left of the photo. At 0800, we had to go out further in the bay because of the grass that was collecting on the propeller. Some of the grass looks like the needle fish I use to catch when I was young girl by the jetties. The grass is on the left of this photo. NOTE: We keep the marine radio on to listen out for the weather reports in the Gulf, when I just heard a report from the USCG that a boat named “Bahama Mama” was stolen and to be on the look out for it, also of a report that maybe someone in the water off the Suwannee Point. If you are not careful around boats and the water you can get hurt. We are carrying extra fuel with us on this trip, because it is a long ways between a fuel stop. Gary put two 5 gal cans into the 12 gal tank that we carry with us plus the 30 gal tank that came with the boat. NOTE: It seems that we have seen more dolphins in the past two days then any other times. 1220; we passed by the # 8 buoy that puts us 25 miles West of Crystal River. Next buoy will be # 5. Deanna and I fixed sandwiches for our lunch and we eat them on the way. It’s a little hard to pull up and stop the boat when you are out so far from the shoreline. NOTE: Correction, we are on our way to buoy # 4 which is near Tarpon Springs. Just after lunch (1235) the wind has increase along with the cloud cover, so it looks like we may get some showers. NOTE: The shade and wind is a welcome relief today after the temp. hit 92 plus yesterday. 1300, we have gone about 75 miles now from Keaton Beach, it sure seems longer. At 1400 we came in sight with two cruise ships that make our boat look like a toy. They are too far off to see the names on them, but they probably came out of Tampa Bay. We stop at a place called Duke’s Marina around 1615 to refuel. Two of the guys that work there Traver and Jake help with the gas, docking, and pushing us off when we were ready to shove off. Entrance to Duke’s Marina

The marina we are going to stop at for the night is Port Tarpon. We made it to the marina around 1645.

Port Tarpon Marina

Pelican who didn’t want his picture taken.

One of the seagulls

A Great Blue Heron

I was feeding next to our boat.

This was the marina where the birds came right up to the guys that were cleaning their fish and take the fish from them. As we were fueling and making arrangements for the night one of the Pelicans swoop down and took a fish right off the table were the guys were cleaning them. It was funny to us but not to the guy who had the fish. There were also a lot of other birds that would visit with you.

BHW First Mate