Monday-Friday, November 6-10: Still in Clearwater, Florida

The harbor that Clearwater Beach Marina is in shares slips with small boating companies that offer everything from dolphin tours, to fishing, to even parasailing.  It's a great place because boats are always coming and going; so much fun activity!

From our port side we view a restaurant that overlooks the harbor.  The bottom level claims to have the best breakfast on the beach (which we would agree), the second level has a great bar with fresh Mexican/seafood entrees (as well as margaritas!), and the third level opens up on the weekends with dance music!  Thursday through Sunday there is live music in the late afternoon; what a fun place!

Monday night we ventured to the second level with our looper friends that were still in town; 

such a beautiful restaurant!

One last dinner before everyone departs their separate ways for the holidays.
Such wonderful people, and we look forward to reuniting with everyone in the New Year!

Throughout the week we have gone on many bike rides, a few dinghy rides, visited the local aquarium, and walked the beach.  Here are a few highlights of the week:

Stingray in the ICW by a pier we biked to (on Sand Key); difficult to see, but he's there!

Crossing back over the Gulf Pass from Sand Key to Clearwater Beach. 
We are looking at the ICW and in the far right is the bridge
that was right over Clearwater Harbor City Marina.

This bike ride was to Clearwater City.  Coming back there's a great view of
Clearwater Beach Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico.

One night we visited the rooftop bar, "Jimmy's Crow's Nest", which claims to have the best sunsets on the beach.  At sundown, everyone gets a small rumpunch to cheers with.

Interestingly enough, at this time of year the sun is hidden by the Hyatt!!!😁

Still, what a pretty picture!

From the other direction of the rooftop bar, we overlook the harbor.

Let's play find "Johnson & Johnson"!

 Did you find it?  Zooming in, it's the last boat on the right in the second row!

Someone at this rooftop bar is a Wisconsin fan!

Enjoyed the local aquarium in Clearwater where Winter the dolphin lives.  

She was in the movie Dolphin Tale. 🐬

 This is definitely a much better picture of stingray!

 Our favorite was the sea turtles!

 Feeding time!

 The turtles look for the colored marker to get their food.

 This poor guy, however, is blind, so he gets hand fed!

 And lots of back rubs!

 One day as we were getting the dinghy down from the top of the boat, I spotted this fish!  A local fisherman thinks it's a "snook" and we think he was about five feet long!!!😲

We ventured out the Gulf Pass and . . .

 well look at that, we crossed the WHOLE Gulf in our dinghy!!!😆😉

 While on the Gulf we got a good view of where we've been spending all our time; 

Clearwater Beach.

 As we were coming back through the Gulf Pass, we noticed this interesting pool at this hotel; not sure I would want to go in that!

 Even spotted a dolphin on our return!

Despite the disappointing sunset at "Jimmy's", 

we did view gorgeous sunsets like this many other nights this week.

Last, but not least, enjoyed doing some shopping in this town; 

again, I am reminded what time of year it is! 

We have so enjoyed our time at Clearwater Beach, 

but are excited for Sunday when we will venture southbound!