Memorial Day Weekend Boat Trip

Yesterday we had our traditional annual boating trip. We picked up our boat from Cannon's Marina on Longboat key just after 8 AM and returned just around 4:30 PM.

We had a great day with perfect weather, very relaxing. Usually we start the morning by doing some sightseeing, just driving around on Sarasota Bay and along the Intracoastal Waterways. Then we cast anchor at our favorite spot, just off of Beer Can Island, in the little bay between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.

There is a natural sand bank area where many boats anchor in sort of a ring around it. Perfect for wading and snorkeling, lots of interesting marine life.

Around 1:30 PM we crusie3d over to Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, which is just a short distance away from our fave spot. Here you can dock your boat and eat right off the dock in their fabulous garden area. We had a yummy Pina Colada to cool off before lunch, perfect!

Then back for some more snorkeling and some sightseeing before the day was up. Such a nice day!

Here are some pics and videos:

Sarah is excited as we pull out of the marina

 

It was a bit windy on the bay in the morning and Sarah found a good spot to get away from the sea spray

 I was perfectly fine behind the windshield

 A nice day on the bay, still early in the morning

 Some pelicans hanging out under the Cortez bridge

 Lots of nice houses along the intracoastal waterway

 Windy!

 Sarah having some fun...

 Colorful toenails

 An eagle hanging out, looked very young

 Sarah found a baby Sanddollar

 We just docked, here is Beer Can Island behind me

 Our home for the day, Ken relaxing

 Snack time!

 A snack for daddy too

 Sarah found a nice, small Spider Crab

..and here she got a Hermit Crab

 

 

 

Sarah found a Spider Crab eating a Venus Sun Ray shell