Sarasota and Bradenton

We pulled anchor out of Pelican Bay at 7:30 Friday morning.  It was a long uneventful 53 miles to Sarasota, which was farther than originally planned, but Ray feels more secure on a mooring ball and he promised a dinner out since Thursday night's plan didn't work out. We hooked up to mooring ball number three, got the dinghy down, and checked in at Marina Jack, where we learned that only three mooring balls are for transients. We walked into town where a couple caught up to us that Ray met last year in Marathon. We proceeded in to town to eat at Mattison's City Grille, where we both had an excellent meal.
This morning after eating Ray's left over pizza for breakfast we untied from the mooring ball at 7:45.  Another uneventful day, but shorter than yesterday.  Once we got into Tampa Bay we headed up the Manatee River to Bradenton, which we have never done before.  We made arrangements to meet up with a couple we met last year in Marathon.  We were supposed to stop by and see them on our way down this past fall, but that was when Ray was under the weather.  We timed it right now though as their boat is up on the hard for a couple weeks, so they graciously offered us the use of their boat slip.  We plan to stay here for the weekend to also visit with another couple we met in Marathon this year.  They are just caddie corner across the river.