Gulfport

 It was only 19 miles from Clearwater to Gulfport but that's 19 miles less to cover offshore.  We're still feeling a bit snakebit about offshore so we'll take it.  Plus, we could pick up a mooring ball and use the marina facilities and get to one of our favorite towns to visit even if only for a short time.  

This stretch of water has many opening bridges.  I never get tired of watching the process.  You call the bridge tender and request an opening, it opens and you pass through then you thank them.  It can be stressful if you have currents pushing you too fast towards a not quite open bridge but easy peasy today.

They open one side at a time.

The gears are massive as you can imagine.  They have to lift tons of roadway several times a day, every day.

The underside of the roadway.

Almost ready to let us through. 

The Gulfport Casino.  No, it's not a gambling spot.  The original definition of a casino is a community gathering place. The city dinghy docks are just behind it.

Somebody sure has a sense of humor naming this rundown place a resort!

The main street of Gulfport.

A snowy egret too busy hunting to notice us.

I love this sculpture but I couldn't get close enough for a better picture.  It is a flock of pelicans.

Our dinghy is now our mode of transportation from Blue Moon to shore or other boats.

David checking that the lines are secure.  It would really ruin our day only to see our dinghy drifting away in the wind.

The mooring field.  It's not huge compared to other's we've been to but 

it was a welcome spot for a night.

This is an art work in the shape of a rowing dinghy with a mural on the back and a quote carved into the side.  It wouldn't photograph well so you'll just have to visit and see for yourselves.

Mr Gecko skateboarding and listening to his tunes.

We have these headset which are awesome.  We tried several other, less expensive, options but there are worth every penny.  In a wind. we can talk to each other from one end of the boat to the other giving and taking clear instructions on where the boat needs to be maneuvered.  They're not billed as marriage savers for nothing!