We navigated out of Stump Pass without incidence. Calling to check with Boat U.S. about the pass was a smart thing to do. Being on the Gulf was easy. The boat has stabilizers…and the water was like a small choppy lake, filled with crab pots. But, Kelley decided that he was going to go in the Venice Pass because it is a better entrance to Sarasota than Sarasota’s. We feared the officer would find us. Upon entering the harbor and a water sheriff waved at us to welcome us. Whew!

The trip through Venice was uneventful! Yeah.

Isn’t Sarasota pretty? Once were tied up and nice couple came down and told Kelley how pretty the boat was. Turns out they had had an Ocean Alexander that was a bit smaller and missed it.

Kelley called the tax office and asked if he could bring in boat information and get a Sojourner’s Pass for Florida. Off he went on his bike. He figured if we couldn’t then he would ask for documentation that he had tried. But: SUCCESS! He showed the lady what information we had; she barely looked at it; she charged Kelley $58.00 and handed him a piece of paper and a green sticker that expires on Kelley’s birthday this year.

We are thrilled to be here and look forward to a great dinner at Barnacle Bill’s.

Watch out, Venice, here we come.