December 11, 2010 Clearwater to Bradenton, Florida: Loop Completion. Well this is the big day, and we wake up to fog so heavy that even the birds are grounded. We can't move, because we can't see the other boat traffic or the channel markers. We can only wait and anticipate the final leg of our 5,000+ mile trip. Due to all the plans that have been put into motion to fly to Amarillo we know that at some point a decision has to be made to move out or stay put, there is another cold front coming in tomorrow and the move would be delayed another 3-4 days. At 11:30 am Wayne and I decide that we think it is time to go. As we move out, the fog is dense and travel is slow and cautious. As the day goes on, the conditions improve. We continue on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway through St. Petersberg, the point at which we started our loop adventure. We are looking for those magic numbers: N27 deg 43.426 min W82 deg 42.328 min. We will cross our "Wake" just off Maximo Point. All of a sudden there you are, you have completed an adventure at 2:24 PM, 9 months and 24 days after starting out into the unknown. We pulled into Twin Dolphins Marina with Ruth and Wayne, of High Spirits. We tied up and Ruth took pictures of our new Gold Looper flag. We had arrived at Bradenton, Florida on the night of their winter festival with streets filled with Christmas decorations, games, and a childrens choir. The night finished with the four of us toasting our completion of the loop and eating delivery pizza, watching a lighted boat parade. We will now pack and get ready to fly to Amarillo. What lies ahead? Who Knows.
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