Bradenton

A few weeks ago we took off for the Manatee River which runs through Bradenton.  The river is 36 miles long beginning in the north eastern corn of Manatee County and flowing south into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of the Tampa Bay.  We anchored out at an area along northeast side of Manatee River opposite DeSoto National Monument near the dingy dock for Emerson Point Preserve.  

After setting the anchor we were ready to take the dogs for a walk.  We decided to head toward the gigantic Cross we could see from the boat.  

This monument is in tribute to Hernando DeSoto, the Spanish and conquistador,  who landed in south Tampa Bay  1539 after he had set sail from Cuba on May 18 with five large and four small vessels.  He brought his army, priests, women, horses, engineers, craftsmen and farmers from Cuba, Europe and Africa.  They landed at Piney Point and made a camp at Uzita,  a native village on the northern shore of the Little Manatee River.  He named the area Espiritu Santo meaning Holy Spirit.  He met Juan Ortiz, a Spanish survivor from an earlier expedition, who had been living as an Indian.  Ortiz proved to be very helpful to De Soto because he could communicate in the native languages of the people. 

After walking the dogs through the park we headed back to to the boat to get cleaned up for an early dinner.  We don't like to ride in the dinghy at night.  

We headed to the Regatta Pointe Marina which advertises itself to be Florida's Premier Liveaboard Marina.  They have many amenities which seem great--but we were only interested in the restaurant named the Riverhouse Reef & Grilll.  I was impressed with the Mission Statement...

....and the food!

 The sun had fallen quite quickly before we could finish our meal so we headed out in the dark.  Thankfully Steve had an app on his phone that showed the charted waters and their depth.  Not just once did I have to adjust our course to avoid the shallows but we made it back safely.  

Joy