Sarasota

Saturday, 17 January                                                                                    18.1 SM

“Well, you can go in ‘34’ if ya want,” states Bill-the-Dockmaster, “But I wouldn’t want to try it.  Not with this wind blowin’!”

This expert advice is offered as Steadfast stands-off the fuel dock at Marina Jack, pending confirmation of a slip assignment. Bill is assured that Steadfast will go wherever he wants her to be for a couple of nights. If he doesn’t think ‘34’s a good idea, just say where.

This momentary confusion cleared up, she slides with room to spare into a slip just down from The Portside Patio. Dockage includes “live” entertainment from the Patio stage. But then, it’s been an entertaining day from the start.

Just another cute cottage along Sarasota Bay.

After a quick stop at the Crow’s Nest fuel dock, Steadfast is back heading north on the Gulf Waterway. Up the Casey Thorofare flanked by handsome homes on both sides. Venice looks like an interesting spot, simple mid-century single-stories standing their ground amid mushrooming McMansions that seem to grab more and more of the Florida waterfront.

Up Blackburn Bay past Casey Key, then Little Sarasota Bay where the channel bends slightly around Bird Keys before running the length of world-famous Siesta Key where the Gulf-side beach is rated (by some authority) the country’s best.

Hey, look! It’s like a real city!

Most of this stretch is designated manatee protection zone so powerboats pass at a civilized pace for the most part. Manatees are shy, seldom seen, but their presence is much appreciated. It’s not ‘til the waterway winds into Sarasota Bay that the trip again becomes a slalom to cross a three-foot wake on one side, a four-foot on the other.

Once traffic stops at Bay Island and the bascule bridge opens, it’s easy to find Marina Jack. It’s at the east end of the Ringling Bridge, tucked up behind the curl of Golden Gate Point and just about the only game in town. Yes, that means Jack charges top dollar but the electric heater will be needed again tonight and, it appears, for several nights to come.

Palms on Island Park silhouetted by the setting sun.

Much like the city of Sarasota, Marina Jack has a lot going for it, though. For one, it is right smack downtown. You can’t park a boat much closer, say, to Selby Botanical Garden, Church of the Redeemer, Whole Foods, fun places to eat or the art show this weekend. And The Portside Patio proves to be the perfect spot for lunch with friends and former colleagues Nancy and Harry who provide a great deal of “local knowledge.”

In other words, Sarasota is quite entertaining.

Not unlike our buddy Bill-the-Dockmaster.

Steadfast out.