Tarpon Springs

We left Clearwater Beach on Thursday and headed north to Tarpon Springs where we will have the boat hauled out for some work while we fly to Utah and then home for the holiday’s.  We will return on New Years Day. 

Views of some homes coming into Tarpon Springs

Cute tug boat 

We are staying at a very nice facility which has a heated pool and hot tub.  It is away from all the fishing and sponge diving boats yet the sponge docks are just a short walk away.

As were tying up Thursday afternoon, we were hailed by Southern Belle who was going to stop by on their way to Pasadena marina.  They are also having some work done but it won’t be for a few weeks.  We got Kerm in the hot tub and he finally warmed up, he is always complaining about being cold. 

Southern Belle and Passport together again.

Friday we took a long walk to the service yard which is on the other side of the river and toured the sponge docks.Tarpon Springs was once knownas the “Venice of the South”, it is located along the Ancolte River where it intersects with the Gulf of Mexico. Tarpon Springs became an important center for sponge diving when Greek divers came to the area in the 1900”s.. There are many sponge boats still today and many Greek restaurants.  In the afternoon we took the bikes to West Marine for a few items.  On the way back we found a whole other part of the town, which we planned on touring on Saturday.  We had some very good fresh Grouper for dinner that we picked up at the local fish market.

Fish museum in Tarpon Springs

Sponge boats, note the Christmas decorations on the pier

Boat parade

Saturday morning we awoke to a light drizzle.  Southern Belle left for Pasadena just before it started to pour.  After the rain stopped we took the bike around a few of the bayou’s and went into town.  They were having a food festival and had closed the main street.  After dinner we went back to the sponge docks to watch the Christmas Boat parade. Stopped for some Greek pastries after the parade and we both decided that they looked better than they tasted.

Sunday we loaded all of our laundry onto the bikes and went searching for a laundromat.  The one we found on line did not exist so we had to ride a bit further to one we had seen the other day. At least we wore off some of the calories from the not so good Greek pastries from last night.  In the afternoon we launched the dinghy and toured the many  bayou’s and river front. Spring Bayou is suppose to be the winter home to manatees and dolphins .  It is also the site where men dive for the cross during the Epiphany Celebaration in January.   We did not see any on our little trip but will keep looking.  We went to a place named Rusty Bellies for dinner, the name comes from a local fish.  Walked back to the boat and since we have no cable for TV and have finished our books, it was bed time. You can tell we are getting older.

Nesting pelicans 

Rusty Bellies Resturant

Pirate ship getting some work done 

Shrimp boat in Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs 

Ready to fly 

Work in progress

Looking for a job in the circus

Because of the tides we will be leaving the marina Monday afternoon and tying up at the service yard instead of waiting to move over there Tuesday morning.  We are very anxious to leave for Utah and then home and have been packed since yesterday. Our flight is Tuesday afternoon, can’t wait.  Hope to see most of you over the holidays but if we don’t, John and I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.