On our way home

We left Miami a day late and many dollars short after it took an additional day to obtain, by overnight shipment, the parts needed for the engine repair. We thought we had it completed around noon on Tuesday but discovered that the entire water pump needed to be replaced after we had replaced the impeller and cleaned up all the fittings. It had to be ordered from somewhere in Florida (It's difficult to believe that it wasn't available at a Miami Westerbeke dealer, but such is the nature of marine engines). It did arrive on schedule, Wed. morning and Terry came right over and installed it. After some anxious moments when the thermostat stuck and the engine started to overheat, we figured out the problem, spit on it, kicked it and it finally opened up and the engine cooled perfectly. After letting the engine run for about an hour as we prepared to depart Dinner Key Marina, we finally left around 2ish and motored over to our earlier anchorage off of Key Biscayne, near No Name Harbor. After a beautiful evening and a great nights sleep we set out early Thursday for Rodriguez Key, about half of the way to Marathon---around 45 miles. Once again, the wind was on our nose (what there was of it) and we motored all the way to Rodriguez where we anchored just off the north end of the island in its lea. Another restful night until around 2 AM when the wind shifted and picked up to a steady 13 knots. We were no longer in the lea of the island and the boat commenced the rocking and swaying motion that makes staying below at anchor somewhat uncomfortable. Still, we got a fair nights sleep and the wind changes meant that we would probably be able to get some sailing in the next day. We were right. We had one of our best sails without the noise of the engine, all day, and 45 miles to Marathon. The wind was pretty much on our port beam, out of the south southeast all day, blowing between 13 and 17 knots-----Perfect!! We made excellent time, averaging around 6 knots, and arrived in Marathon at around 4PM. We proceeded to our mooring, put L'il Liv in the water, dinghied over to the office, checked in, paid "da money" and proceeded directly to a cold and super refreshing shower. Life is good!!!! We returned to the boat for a cocktail before setting out in the dinghy for the Dockside Restaurant on the east end of the mooring field. They had a 2 man band playing--pretty darn good---and real good food. I had the mahi mahi with habanera cream sauce and Diane had an excellent cheeseburger--and a couple of beers-----Life IS good!! Today, Saturday the 16th, we cleaned the boat up a bit and walked to the Publix for our last reprovisioning before the long trek back north to Charlotte Harbor. We leave tomorrow morning and will most likely retrace our track coming down--about 150 nautical miles---Little Shark River tomorrow night; Everglades City, Monday night: perhaps Naples Tuesday night and home on Wed. I heard from cousin Jane in Ft Lauderdale and she is going to come over again and join us for Easter weekend--hopefully with her son Todd and his new bride. I almost hate to spell out the planned schedule as it never goes according to plan, as you've seen from our experience recorded in this site--but that's the plan. We hope to pick up our rent car right after we get in and plan to drive back to Houston with the car loaded down with stuff we need to take off the boat. I've got to make a business stop in Destin and we're going to try to return through Apalachacola just so we can enjoy the oysters once more. We should be back in Kingwood, if all goes according to plan, around the week-end of the 1st of May. Wish us luck and fair wind--we soooo enjoy sailing over the sound of a diesel engine throbbing beneath us.

Miami

Or as Uncle Bob says it, " Miama".

WE've been here two days longer than we wanted. I obtained the name of a highly regarded diesel mechanic but he couldn't get here till Tuesday, so we've made the most of our time here in this very pretty place.

We have strolled through the Coconut Grove area---very nice--lots of bars, restauraants, shops, etc in a very picturesque setting. Walked the other way--toward Miama----and checked out the mansions and parks of this part of what I believe is referred to as northeast Boca Raton.

We had a wonderful time with Anne Sheldon and Randy and Judy McKeen. We had dinner together on Sunday evening. Anne seems to be doing quite well despite the circumstances and we had a great time catching up and reminiscing about Marvin. (I used to be a very good speller)

I'm sure Anne benefits from just getting out with people and trying to be " normal". We truly had a wonderful time with her and look fiorward to seeing her and the McKeens again this summer in Vail.

Last night we walked to the Grove and caught a taxi from there to a fabulous Cuban restaurant--Habana Vieja-- where Diane had the classic flank streak, I had a lamb shank osso buco type dish, with plenty of sangria , fried plantains and Cuban coffee. It was incredible --and cheap!!

The mechanic is working as I write and we're hopeful we'll be able to get underway this afternoon and get at least part way down the coast. (If it wasn't so expensive in this marina I could stay a few more days just to enjoy the area) We're thinking about just anchoring off of Key Biscayne tonight and then sailing down to Rodriguez Key tomorrow with arrival into Marathon on Thursday. That would put us underway up the west coast by Friday and into Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor by early next week.

WE have the usual mixed feelings right now. We're sad the trip is essentially over, or at least days away from being over, but we're anxious to get back to our home and friends in Kingwood and, hopefully, to our loved ones in Colorado soon. We have decided to leave the boat in Punta Gorda until we have time to come fetch her and take her home to Kemah. It may be that it will stay temporarily until we return to go exploring again next winter, but I can't see living in Houston without her on any permanent basis. Meantime--Charlotte Harbor is a pretty nice place to have her stuck.

Pics of Chub Cay

OOPS !!

Main Street

WOW!!!!

Diane and Assisted Living at Chub Cay Marina

Back in the US, Back in the US, Back in the US of A

We made the crossing from Bimini back to the USA at Biscayne Bay on Friday, the 8th after a very nice several days in Bimini. This time we crossed with a "buddy boat"--Jerel and Tammy Roe of Kokomo, Ind. aboard their center cockpit, Pearson 385, "Osprey". Again, we crossed on advice from the weather guru, Chris Parker, and encountered very benign conditions. Thanks Chris!!!

We had departed Chub Cay on Sat, April 2nd and motored, with a very light following wind, westward, across the Bahama Banks, toward Bimini, again, spending the night on the hook about 25 miles east of Bimini. This time we bounced and rolled all night long--very uncomfortable ---and couldn't wait to get back underway Sun. morning. We pulled up the anchor at 5 AM Sunday and continued on to Bimini, arriving at the Bimini Blue Water Marina at around 11 AM--tied up--turned on the A/C, took a nap and spent the afternoon watching Phil win the Houston Open (We could pick up the three networks out of Miami on our powered TV antenna at the top of our mast----And Diane calls this "roughing it"??) Once again we were waiting in port for a good crossing weather pattern so we ended up staying 5 nights in Bimini. This time we really enjoyed this quiet and quaint island. We met other cruising couples--Gerald and Tammy, from Indiana; Bob and Sally from St Augustine Florida and others including a young couple on a sail cat who have been out for the past 10 years. We enjoyed a $10 seafood platter dinner at a little local dive run by Aaron, a bimini native and enjoyed the company of other locals who kept us entertained with their descriptions of all the celebrities that frequent the island (including Tiger Woods, who the locals do not like at all because of his arrogance.) Of course, the $10 per person dinner turned into a $50 dinner for Diane and me after partaking of several ice cold Kalik's. We dined another night at the Bimini Big Game Club where the photo of the 6 of us was taken. After dinner, we walked over to the beach side to watch yet another sunset (and enjoy some more ice cold Kalik). I guess the difference this time is that we enjoyed what this island has to offer in the company of some very nice and fun people. We're learning to "come out of our shells" more and more on this trip and opening ourselves to new acquaintances even when we know that the relationship will probably be short lived--although it's our plan to keep in touch in the hope that we'll link up some time on a future trip

. Oh yeah!!!! Finally!!! I found the d%^##%% fluxgate compass while in Bimini and was able to recalibrate it so that we had the aid of our auto pilot on the way back across the stream. What a difference!!! But then---we sprung a raw water (cooling system) leak in the engine on the way over. A small leak that didn't effect operation--no overheating at all--but it has to be repaired and I've called in a mechanic to make sure it's done right. Considering that we've motored over 200 engine hours on this trip and about 75% of the miles we don't want to take a chance that the engine might fail at some critical juncture.

We arrived at Biscayne Bay and anchored off of Key Biscayne at around 4 PM on Friday and spent the night at anchor in a beautiful lee with a view of the Key and the Miami skyline beyond---BUT--Saturday we motored across to the Dinner Key Marina where we could plug in and watch the Masters in A/C'd comfort. It is finally starting to get hot here, and a bit humid, so we'll take our pleasures where we can, while we can. This marina is in the Coconut Grove section of Miami and is a huge municipal marina with 500+ slips and a 250 boat mooring field. I called cousin Jane who is home sick with a cold and couldn't make it down to see us again--perhaps back in Punta Gorda---but we also arrived to some terrible news about a very good and dear friend

Our friend and Vail neighbor, who lived here in Coral Gables, died unexpectedly and very quickly after a cancer diagnosis. Marvin and Anne Sheldon were our duplex neighbors in Vail with whom we have maintained a very close friendship. Marvin apparently had experienced some symptoms in his throat and medical attention resulted in a thyroid cancer diagnosis. 7 days later, before any meaningfull treatment had started, he passed away at the age of 76. We hope to see Anne while we are here. Marvin was one of my favorite people. I am not alone as he had a huge circle of good friends because he is just one of those people that you can't help but love. I know his family is devastated as he was truly a good and loving patriarch. Diane and I, needless to say, were completely floored by the news. I really hate to end this post on this note but felt it needed to be mentioned here.