Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Florida

Just as I finished editing a friend's article on "The freeze of 2010," which details her experience living aboard her boat in East Tennessee, another winter storm (snow, ice, freezing rain) is sweeping across that region. I feel for them. Boats are not insulated like houses, so it can get mighty cold. Friends who live on their houseboat in Spring City were iced in for more than a week. They reported that a 52-foot steel boat sunk in their marina!

In Tampa, our forecast is for a high of uppers 60s, a 70 percent chance of rain and Southwest winds of 10-15 mph. Not great weather conditions for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival today, but the storms will not prevent the pirates from invading Tampa. The annual Gasparilla is one of Tampa's biggest party, not unlike Mardi Gras, complete with a parade, floats, entertainment, beads, and party-goers.

Here's a video clip of the festival from two years ago. Enjoy!

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