Starting location: Caladesi Island State Park, FL
Weather: low 50s am, low 60s pm, mostly sunny – Tuesday 1/2. High 40s am, mid 60s pm, mostly sunny – Wednesday 1/3. Low 50s am, low 60s pm, rain overnight, overcast, windy, sunbreaks by evening – Thursday 1/4. High 40s am, low 70s pm, sunny – Friday 1/5.
Ending location: St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, St. Petersburg, FL
Statue miles: 42
General summary: Originally planned just a two night stay at Caladesi Island State Park but wanted to stay a little longer here to experience all the peace and nature this place had to offer. Definitely need a high tide to get in and out, so a longer stay made more sense considering this timing and also the weather forecast for wind. It was full of boats when we arrived, but nearly empty by the first evening as locals returned home with the holidays ending.
Hiked a nature walk each day. Saw palms, pines, Saw Palmetto, and paddle shaped cactuses. Visited the ruins of the old homestead of Henry Scharrer, a Swiss immigrant (and “self-taught naturalist”) who cared for this island for most of his life. His daughter, Myrtle Scharrer Betz, wrote “Yesterday, I Lived in Paradise” about growing up here. I will be reading it, as I enjoy a good pioneer story. Chased for a surprisingly long time by an annoyed armadillo. Fortunately did not run into any rattlesnakes that live here.
Paddled our dinghy through a mangrove water trail.
A tourist ferry goes back and forth from Honeymoon Island just North. Last service around 4pm, so quiet at night.
Saw gopher turtles, a protected species, milling about. The park service put metal rectangles around their excavated holes to let you know to keep away from their homes. There were many birds including ibis, herons, pelicans, and Cormorants sunning their wings. A pair of dolphins entered the cove each evening to herd mullet fish into a corner for an evening meal.
The parks service performs prescribed (planned and controlled) burns for several reasons (like returning nutrients to the soil without damaging the marina) and there was evidence of a recent one.
Checked out the beach on the Gulf side. Too cold to swim.
Attended a small docktales with two other couples. One couple is here for two months as volunteers, helping pick up trash and keep the facilities clean. They have done the loop before and are living full-time on their boat. There are apparently opportunities to volunteer at various state parks like this. Not a bad way to spend time.
Sunny departure with decreasing wind as we left near high tide in the morning.
Boater information: Caladesi Island State Park Marina has mooring for many boats. Well protected from wake and weather. Four docking piers (A, B, C, D) with slips for about 20 boats each (fewer on D dock as this is for larger boats). Can reserve on A and C via park web site or phone call. Only $1 per foot, plus $7 a day for power. Need a relatively small draft (3 feet or less, but could come in at very high tide with larger). Floating docks, power, water, bathrooms. There is a cafe open while the ferry runs (closes before last one) that serves hamburgers, fries, smoothies, etc. Small store (T-shirts and beach stuff). No gas, laundry, or pump out. Waterways says there is a shower, but they are only cold-water rinse-off from the beach open-air types. Lovely place to spend a few days.
The Great Loop in a C Dory 25 
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