Back to Twin Dolphin Marina, Bradenton 1-12 though 2-3-2015

Monday, January 12 through Feb 3

With a fond farewell to Frank, Fonda, and Buster the dog, we headed back to Bradenton.  The winds and the current were with us.  Once we cleared the Sunshine Skyway Bridge we became a true sailboat for the first time since we left Minnesota.  It was fun to feel the wind in the sails, and we are certain that Sea Fever enjoyed doing what she does best…sail.

We docked at our same slip at Twin Dolphin Marina. And enjoyed being in a familiar place for a few weeks. Twin Dolphin is high on our hit parade of favorite marinas.  Great service, a nice restaurant, and good facilities...as well as being close to friends.

The marina building which houses the laundry, showers and bathrooms, and the main office.

The restaurant, Pier 22, has great food, and affords a view of the Manatee River, and all of its boat traffic. Every month, the marina hosts a breakfast there for any of the marina tenants who would like to attend.  It is a good meet and greet opportunity for both old and new.  And hey, the free mimosas or bloody marys help keep the conversation flowing! 

The restaurant, Pier 22 at sunset.  Photo taken from Sea Fever

Our pace has slowed down quite a bit, as the destinations are all “want to” as opposed to “need to”. While there are still some long days traveling from location to location, staying put a little longer seems to suit us just fine. 

Twin Dolphin Marina is one of those places where our stay was longer than expected.  It was nice to have friends close by, and be in familiar territory. All in all, we will have stayed here about 5 weeks. We know that we will miss our friends, the Finneys and their extended family.  We hope that they didn’t think we were the company that never went away! As many friends as we have made on this trip, the old friends are the best. Every time someone new comes into our lives, they get the short version of our life, as we get their short version as well.  Old friends know the long version, and it is fun to catch up when they folks from home, it isn’t the same. 

So enough of waxing eloquent…and to the blog.

We decided not to make the $900 rental car mistake we had made renting a car from Enterprise for a week over Christmas, and vowed that taxis and walking would be our means of travel.  Kathy took the taxi to Publix, just a few miles away.  After her shopping, she sat on the bench in the entry of Publix Grocery store, next to the store sponsored hover-rounds, waiting for a taxi to return her and the groceries to Sea Fever. She recalled shopping for groceries in St. Paul, and wondering what kinds of folks took taxis to and from the grocery story.  Now she knows!

We caught up with our friends on Brisa, and met new folks, Mark and Becky, on Mara Beel.  Our stalwart friends, the Finneys met us for dinner several times, and as always, it was great fun.

Toward the end of our stay in Bradenton, Kathy went to Massachusetts to help transition her sister from her care facility to her home.  As only Jackie Finney could do, she showed up at our marina with her Minnesota Thinsulate Eddie Bauer coat and two carry on pieces of luggage so that Kathy didn’t have to buy stuff to go to the northern tundra. After 15 years of being a Floridian, Jackie still keeps the coat, and loans it to wayward folks heading north.  It was a welcome loaner, to be sure.

Kathy flew into Bradley airport in Connecticut on Friday, January 12, was picked up by sister-in-law Audrey, and headed to their home in Amherst.  The LL Bean coat and gloves were put into immediate use.

The trip was successful, sister Karen was settled.  While Massachusetts had a lot of snow on the ground, more snow was promised for Monday, so Kathy left Karen earlier than she had hoped, to make it back across the state to Audrey and Gregg's house. Karen, Gregg and Audrey all suggested that she make the drive during the Super Bowl game.  And boy, were they right.  There was nary a car on road! And she got "home" before the end of the game, when the Patriot fans would be spilling into the streets.  Great advice!!!

Sure enough, the snow started falling around midnight.  Both Gregg and Audrey had a snow day on Monday.  More than a foot of snow fell.  As the snowfall waned, and getting about was easier, Gregg and Audrey headed for the gym.  Being good hosts, they invited Kathy along.  With no regrets, Kathy declined, thinking that sitting quietly in a big house with just Jazz the dog to keep her company had some appeal.  A very enjoyable couple of hours was had by all!

Tuesday, as she was waiting for the shuttle to take her to the airport, she snapped a couple of pictures of Gregg and Audrey's front walk.



Jazz enjoying the snow more than anyone else.













26+ inches of snow blanketed the yards around Gregg and Audrey's house in Amherst, MA.

The ride to the airport and the flights to Tampa were without problems.  Tim picked up Kathy at the airport and they headed for Marina Jack's Marina in Sarasota, our new home for the week.