January 2^nd – Gulfport Anchorage to Whale Key

 

Awoke to dense fog, told Colletta to roll over and sleep in.   Fog slowly lifted and we were underway by 1130.  Followed charts to Tampa Bay, fog lifting as we went.  Turned south at 1230 and went parallel to Sunshine Parkway Bridge across the Bay.  There was no large ship traffic because they were fogged in, or should we say out as in out in the Gulf. 

Very shallow just out of the channel. you had better stay between the navigational buoys

a little foggy but much better then earlier this morning

 

 The Tampa Bay pilot office called Greeks Folly to ask us for visibility report of the bay so they could begin large ship traffic for the day.  We reported we could see both ends of the bridge so they could resume bringing  the big ships into the Bay.  Greeks Folly gives the OK and saves the day.  We cross the bay and continue on and just off Longboat Key we dropped the anchor just south of Whale Key at 1545.  Tom did captain “stuff” while Colletta washed a lure and tempted the fish.  Enjoyed leftover chicken for dinner and a nice quiet evening.  We anchored at this location because the wind was forecast to be out of the west.  However the wind shifted out of the east and we had a constant slap on the bow which did not affect our sleeping.