To wake up 2 morning in a row in a beautiful and quiet anchorage is something I had only hoped for.  We pulled anchor at Long Boat Key and headed south in the ICW early in the morning so we get a few miles under our keel. The ICW has many very nice homes, you have to wonder do they have any kids to fill up all those rooms. Cruising along we came to our first swing bridge, neither of us had ever been through one before and it was really cool..Don't know how old they are but loved watching them open. Next we came upon a Osprey in her nest, I'm sure on the look out for fish. Aha the beauty of nature.The ICW along Venice is also very pretty. The water is so clean and clear you would think you were 4 miles off shore. There was alot going on there. One island with a sign said the Snake Republic and lots of power boats and fun going on there. Many bars and restaurants and looked like a whole lot of fun, wanted to stop by has to get some miles in. Will go there again some time. Saw some jerk was feeding a dolphin. Then came the boring Hatchet Creek, nothing to see there. Then the winds turned west and Carl wanted to put up the sails so I took the helm, while talking on the phone. I was watching Carl and ran us aground. NOT GOOD. Carl didn't even yell at me!Then along came Dan and his family. They were in a Boston Whaler with 2 big 250 hp motors on back and pulled us off. Thanks Dan!!!! As we were motoring along a car fairy crossed the ICW in front of us, pretty unusual .Got the Gasprillia Sound, (just north of Charlotte Harbor) where we anchored & I made dinner. Coctails after dinner and lucky for us someone had fireworks at their home for Cinco De Mayo that we were able to sit in the cockpit and enjoy. What a wonderful trip we are having!!Sunday morning as we pull anchor still no wind. Winds right on our nose as we head across Charlotte Harbor.