THE 2020 HOLIDAYS

                                                          

                                                                This year's Christmas Tree  

So, we hopped on a plane (a risky maneuver) to head back to Houston for the Holidays expecting to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family. Kristin was planning a mini-family reunion at her home for Thanksgiving with us, Diane's brother John and his family (wife and 2 "kids") from Chicago and San Francisco, Scott and his significant other, Karina, from Alexandria, Virginia and Diane and John's sister Nancy who now lives in our neighborhood. BUT---as the date approached we became increasingly aware of the rapidly rising Covid infection rate. This, along with the fact that a number of us were traveling by air (more on that below) resulted in a decision to just cancel the whole thing and avoid the risk--particularly to us old folks. This decision was met with a great sadness but a recognition that we would all have greater peace of mind if we waited and planned on the get-together some time on down the road.

Needless to say---things have not improved much and, if anything, have gotten worse since Thanksgiving---so---we'll not be spending Christmas with our daughter and the family. We'll take a ride to their home some time in the next week or so and drop off our gifts and wave to each other through the windows. I cannot adequately express our sadness over these developments but know that many, many are experiencing the same feelings of loss and frustration. Who thought back in March and April that we'd still be in the throes of this  situation this far into the year. I'm just hopeful that the end is in sight and we can all get back to what will most likely be a new "normal".

For now---looking forward to getting back to Florida and on the boat. We've got a number of projects ahead of us. The kind of stuff that I truly enjoy:

                    1. We have our new dinghy on our stern davits but will need to get the new 9.9 hp outboard out of its box in the back of my truck and get it up and running so we can do a bit of exploring.

                     2. WE need to trouble shoot our electronics and get our chart plotters all working in sync and  reset our auto-pilot This will require taking the boat out and running it slowly around in circles, as it recalibrates the "fluxgate compass" that is the guiding device for auto-pilot to work. You need calm flat water for this maneuver and this might be hard to find on the ocean side so we may have to do an overnight and head over to the bay side to find flat water.

                     3. Change belts and oil and oil filters on both diesels.

                     4. Check and replace zinc anodes on the engines

                     5.Rig a halyard on the flybridge mast so we can fly various courtesy flags

                     6. I have devised a way to run Navionics (the navigation app) on my phone and transmit (cast) the image to a smart TV. So instead of replacing one of the non-functioning   chart plotters on the fly bridge I'm thinking of mounting a 24 in. smart TV in its place. This will give us a 24 in. screen to look at rather than having to squint, with 73 year old eyes, at a small plotter screen. We'll still use the plotter  as it provides other helpful information. Mounting the TV could prove problematic but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

                      7. Eventually I'd like to replace the aging stereo receiver on the flybridge with a new "radio", one that will accept Bluetooth so we can run our Pandora stations.

                      8. Change out the "hailing port" lettering on the transom.

                      9.  Eventually we want to replace the original carpet in the main salon with some hard-wood looking laminate flooring

                     10. Eventually we want to replace the existing flybridge bimini cover with a new full enclosure like we had on Opus V  

                     11. I need to get in the water and check the condition of the bottom of the boat in re barnacle and other growth . We'll need a new "bottom job" pretty soon. This requires hauling the boat out onto the "hard" for a few days while the old bottom paint is removed and new applied. Fortunately, there is a boat yard not more that a couple hundred yards from our berth and I've gotten good reports on the quality of their work. 

                      12. The metal tray that the generator sits in has some areas showing quite a bit of rust and it will have to be cleaned and painted.

                                                                 😁  

I now all of this sounds like a lot of trouble and work, but it's what has to be done and I truly enjoy these projects. Living on a boat in a beautiful place is not always glamorous. Like anything else it has its ups and downs--its joys and disappointments. We work together pretty well as a team and it is quite satisfying once you've completed a task, a repair, a maintenance item and are able to sit back, have a sundowner and stare off into a beautiful sunset.

Oh yeah-----I said I'd discuss more about air travel----------We flew home out of Ft. Lauderdale Int'l. Airport. When we arrived at the airport all was good--everyone practicing social distancing and wearing masks--not too crowded. But as we approached the carry-on belt and radar detector everyone started crowding together and jockeying for position to where everyone was bumping into everyone else---It was no different than before Covid. On the plane every seat was taken--no empty middle seat---and everyone wore a mask until it was time for them to eat or drink. Pretty soon the whole plane had their masks off. On arrival, it was even worse--everyone, again, jockeying for position in the traditional dance to see who could get off the plane first--bumping and elbowing (despite the staff efforts to create an orderly process--all efforts completely ignored.) Thus---air travel is a risk. Since we flew home, we'll be flying back to Florida and I'm not looking forward to it. Just hoping our luck holds out. 

I wish all that read this (and all that don't) a very Merry Christmas and a hopeful future as the new year approaches and we look forward to the new normal.

WHITE MARLIN MARINA, MARATHON, FLORIDA---VACA KEY

 Here's some pics of our new home for the winter. We arrived last Monday after an uneventful trip down the islands. Marathon is approximately 1/2 way down the Keys with Key Largo about 50 miles to the Northeast and Key West about 50 miles to the Southwest. We'll base here for the winter and spend as much time as possible exploring  the numerous islands.

                                          Entrance to our dock from the parking lot

                                                     The fire pit area

The Tiki Hut gathering area

                                                        M/V Endeavor in her new winter home

 We probably won't be posting again until we return in January after spending Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday as well.

                                                  LIFE IS GOOD

A FEW PIC'S

 Here are a few pic's of the marina where we're "stuck"---and one of our new boat:

                                     The Tech. working on the engine controls in the engine room

                                                Our boat---M/V (motor vessel) Endeavor

😎

                                               Boatworks---- a boat dealer in the marina

                                                            Above----- The Marina

                  I promise I'll be posting some more interesting pic's in the future😁

Side note----The tech just left the boat after completing the installation and calibration of the controls. He says, "I know the controls are good". Still we want to do a sea trial this afternoon. 

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

 Let's begin with the UGLY-----The weather-----It's been raining and windy since we got here. We probably wouldn't have gone out even if all the boat systems were functioning. On Monday after we got here the previous Wednesday a strong gale started blowing with 30 to 40 mph winds. Fortunately this marina is pretty well protected and we didn't really feel the full brunt of the winds--but it was noisy and uncomfortable for the next 3 days. After that the wind continued for several days at around 20 mph. Still noisy and a bit uncomfortable. (We came here expecting perfect weather--perhaps our expectations were a bit optimistic?). Finally the weather has moderated and the breeze is gentle and conditions just right for a departure from this marina---but----

THEN came TROPICA STORM ETA--- This crazy storm went all the way into Panama and Nicaragua then did a 180 and headed for Cuba, then North into the Florida Keys and made landfall about 10 miles south of our boat. We had secured it and left to go to my cousin's in Ft. Lauderdale where we actually encountered worse weather than what hit our boat. Torrential rain for 2 straight days with winds gusting to 40. At the marina the marina remained inside the eye and received very little impact. One of the guys who stayed on his boat said the winds never got over 40 knots---the max sustained winds of the storm were 60 to 65. So this was no more than what we had encountered with the gales that blew through here earlier. My cousin lives on a canal--actually in Plantation, just west of Ft Lauderdale. THe canal, Sunday night, overflowed its banks and was about 1/2 way up her back yard--a bit concerning to say the least but by Monday morning the water was beginning to recede and we felt comfortable leaving her and returning to our boat. The boat suffered extensive damage consisting of one of the windshield wiper blades being blown off. Oh the misery!!!

The BAD------The other day, after installing the new controller at the upper helm (Glendinning Engine Controls) the technician discovered what he believed to be a problem at the control box down in the engine room. After discussion with the manufacturer and with Yachtworks it was decided to send the units to the manufacturer in S. Carolina. This was last Tuesday. So here we have sat since Tuesday with no engine controls and unable to move. (It has been our goal to move out of this marina and get a little farther down the Keys to White Marlin Marina. Our new dinghy is there waiting on us. The new Honda outboard for the dinghy is in the bed of the truck waiting on it's union with the dinghy. We want to get to White Marlin well in advance of Thanksgiving and, hopefully, in enough time to catch a flight back to Houston to celebrate Diane's and Anna's birthdays.). The technician is here as I write this installing the refurbished units and soon we'll test them here at the dock and then go out for a quick sea trial. The plan, if all goes well, is to leave here tomorrow and head west to White Marlin. The weather is supposed to be perfect for the trip of about 50 miles. We'll travel on the Gulf side of the Keys down about 20 miles and then pass under a bridge to head over to the Atlantic side (Either Snake Creek Bascule Bridge or the Channel Five Bridge). Once in the Atlantic we'll head west on down the islands to the north end of the town of Marathon. This is where the Atlantic-side entrance to White Marlin marina is. The marina is actually inland a bit, down a 1/4 mile channel to a little square shaped island which is the marina. We've stayed here on our previous boat (see prior posts from 2016 with description and pictures).

The GOOD---- All the other issues have been repaired and are, for now at least, working the way they're supposed to. (But this is a boat---stuff goes wrong all the time--you just wait for the next system to fail. I like projects so this doesn't bother me---I just don't care for the expense part of it).

As I sit here the new controllers are being adjusted---seems like there's a glitch or two but hope they can all be resolved. I'll let you know. They're very sensitive and if the adjustments are off just a smidgen they don't work right---so adjust away Mr. Technician!!!!! We want to get out of here.

"BOAT" SHOULD BE SPELLED--------F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-O-N

 First the good------We took off for FLA on Monday and had perfect weather and light traffic all day, 700 miles to Tallahassee where we spent the night after enjoying delicious fried chicken and broiled rainbow trout for dinner at the infamous Cracker Barrell. Next day, more good weather and light traffic and arrived in Ft. Myers around 3 PM on Tues. Our broker is located there and we needed to meet with him and sign off on a few more papers before we took possession of the boat (located in Tavernier on Key Largo. Diane arranged for us to stay at a beautiful new Marriot property right on the Caloosahatchee River at the City Marina. See below for the view out our window. Next day on to Tavernier.

(Sorry---for some reason couldn't download the picture---I'll figure it out)

Here's where the frustration begins. As we approached Tavernier we called ahead to the boat company that sold us the boat---Yacht Works. I was informed that there were still some issues with the repairs that we had required based on the boat survey tat we did a couple weeks earlier. Namely--they were waiting on delivery of a new raw water pump for the air conditioning system--thus, no staying aboard. And a new volt meter at the upper helm had not yet been installed. All the other systems, we were assured, had been addressed (including the toilet system and the sump pump that drains the shower ((had been draining directly into the bilge)). When we got to the boat we were met by Ryan who went over all the repairs with us to our (then) satisfaction. We booked a room at another Marriott for the night expecting to be able to move onto the boat the next day----NOT---. But, while we were sitting on our patio at the hotel a guy walked by and asked us how long we were planning on staying. Turns out he had his room booked for 3 days but had to head home right away for a family emergency. Marriott wouldn't refund his money and he offered us his room for $100 bucks for the next 2 days. Turns out he's a Circuit Court judge in Kentucky--nice honorable guy---so we took him up on the offer and moved into their room after arranging for new linens. This worked out perfectly as it gave us a couple days to clean the boat and move all our "stuff" in.

Here's where the really bad stuff begins. One of the items on our punch list was the malfunctioning engine control unit on the fly bridge. Ryan assured us it had been fixed--simply a loose wiring connection. We went up to check it out but it didn't work. Ryan called out for his fix-it guy who had "fixed" it previously. While he was messing around with it the boat (at the dock) suddenly went into gear and the engines roared in forward, straining all the dock lines. It took about 30 seconds for them to shut down the engines. Very Scary!!! The next morning a guy from a local diesel repair shop came and determined that the control unit was faulty and Ryan ordered a new unit---still has not been installed but expected to arrive tomorrow. We are cautiously hopeful that this will fix the problem---can't leave the dock until it's fixed.

Meanwhile we're moved onto the boat at the dock and then the following litany begins:

           1. The forward A/C unit quits working---fixed quickly by a boat mechanic that lives on his boat here at the marina.

           2. Yesterday, after using the head (fortunately just a #1) I smelled something fowl and discovered that the pipe from the pumping unit that carries the waste to the holding tank was cracked and the "contents" from the toilet were spewing into the bilge. Immediately shut down the system and called Ryan. Still have not heard back from him but I'm confident he will get it fixed. No toilet use right now so we have to walk to the marina facilities.

           3. After showering, Diane noticed that the carpet in the master stateroom was wet. On inspection, I found that the sump pump for the shower was working only intermittently and the reservoir was filling up and spilling over. On further inspection I found that the drain line from the reservoir was split allowing water to shoot up. Thought that's what was soaking the carpet. Still unsure. Will address this with Ryan when I hear from him.

          4. The anchor light doesn't work. Gotta have it for when we spend nights "on the hook". This was supposedly fixed by them.

          5. Before we got to the boat apparently the generator did not work, resulting in them replacing the charging unit with a new one. Haven't tested this yet but will today while Ryan is here.

          6. Turned on the instruments yesterday and depth at the dock was measuring 32 feet on our depth sounder (the depth at the dock is only about 6-8 feet). Gonna have to check that out. 

           7. That area of wet carpet continues to grow despite not having used the sump pump. I think it's the condensation from the forward A/C--(This is supposed to, also, drain into the sump reservoir and be pumped out overboard) I think the drain hose is either plugged up or not connected (They had to move the A/C unit to do some fiberglass repair in the area where it is located--maybe didn't reconnect the drain?)

Thus---FRUSTRATION---These guys seem honorable enough and I fully expect they will make everything good. It's just awfully frustrating when all of this was to have been taken care of before we even arrived.

I'm hopeful that my next post will be a bit more cheerful. Actually, we're doing just fine despite some inconveniences and we know eventually all these things will be behind us and we can move to our "home marina" by this week-end where we can settle in. More later

PREPARATIONS

 We're getting ready to hit the road to Florida. The picture below is of our "staging area"--our study. It's almost like moving into  another house. We'll need linens, utensils, pots and pans, pillows, tools, office supplies, recreation stuff (fishing poles, golf clubs, etc.), computer, printer, of course clothes, shoes and lastly--food incl. spices and condiments.  (Don't forget beer, wine and vodka) I've been making a list of stuff we need to take with us and so far I'm at number 36. Hope there's enough room in the truck.

 The plan is to drive as far as we can the first day, spend the night in a virus infested hotel and then drive to Ft. Myers where we will meet with the broker and "close" the deal; then on to Key Largo to take possession of the boat and start moving aboard. We hope the sellers have completed all the required repairs and have left the boat clean enough for us to move aboard and spend the night. Hopefully we'll be able to work a deal with the marina where the boat is presently to give us a couple of days to get settled before we move the boat to our "permanent" home at the White Marlin Marina on Fat Deer Key, in the town of Marathon. We spent a month or so at this marina back in 2016 (see prior posts for photos). It's a very nice marina--well located in the middle Keys, very well protected and very well run.

The boat is presently on the Florida Bay side (The Gulf side) and we have never really explored that side. Many cruisers stay on this side as it is protected from the Atlantic swells, but it is rather shallow and one has to pay close attention navigating . The marina we'll be moving to is on the Atlantic side (although a bit inland and protected) so we'll need to travel down the Gulf side Intercoastal waterway to a place where we can cross over through one of the passes--probably 5 Mile Bridge. We'd like to spend a few days in the current location just to get settled in and familiar with the boat before we take her out to transit to White Marlin.

This boat did not come with a tender/dinghy, so we had to buy one, plus outboard and will have to drive up to Ft. Lauderdale to pick them up. Made the deal over the phone so all we have to do is go get them.

Interesting fact---In shopping around for the boat, then the dinghy and outboard we learned that there has been a recent run on all things boating---just like motor homes and, apparently, second homes---all brought on by the pandemic and people's desires to get out of the house into some somewhat protected activity. Our boat broker tells us he has never been busier and good boats last only days on the market. We had a lot of trouble finding the boat we wanted. In shopping for the dinghy and outboard I had quite a bit of trouble finding any available---all the manufacturers are back-ordered and it is taking months to get new equipment. I just got lucky (I actually bought the outboard from a Honda motorcycle dealer as opposed to a marine supplier) and was able to get the last dinghy of my specification from the Avon dealer in FT. Lauderdale. His was the only one in town. The dinghy becomes your "car", enabling you to get from anchored boat to shore and also allows for shallow water exploring of coves and islands---it's a necessity. We're looking forward to a lot of fun dinghying around the islands.

We'll let you know how our "plan" goes in our next post---once we're in and settled. 

Looks Like It's Going To Happen

        Attended the survey of the boat a week or so ago and it went well. As in any 13 year old boat there were a number of items that need to be addressed and the sellers have agreed to make the repairs. Nothing major at all. The yacht surveyor that I hired indicated that the major systems (engines, transmissions, hull integrity, through-hulls, electronics, air conditioners, generator, appliances) all were in excellent working order. For being 13 years old this boat had surprisingly few hours on the engines and generator. That can be good---and that can be bad. If a boat just sits around and doesn't get some regular usage, gaskets, seals etc may "dry out'" All of the "moving parts" checked out just fine despite a rather vigorous sea trial and I learned that the brokerage people that were holding this boat had been using it fairly regularly while waiting on a buyer---that's a good thing. So, it looks like it's going to go through and we will close on the 28th of October, take off for Florida and take possession. We've already reserved a slip at one of our favorite marinas in Marathon--White Marlin Marina--(see earlier posts--early like in 2015) on a month-to-month basis and we will base out of there while we rediscover the Keys.

        But---before we can begin our exploring we need to acquire a new dinghy/yacht tender. Often yachts are sold with their tenders as part of the deal--this one was not, so we'll stop off in Naples or Ft. Lauderdale or Miami to look for a new tender. WOW! have those things gone up in price since we last ventured on the water--and there are very few, if any, used ones available. They have always been a very hot commodity.

        Needless to say, Diane and I are extremely excited and ready to renew our affinity for blue waters and white sand beaches. We pray (and ask for yours) that our health and vitality remain good and we can enjoy to the fullest this new stage in our lives. It was our realization, as we sat on that deck in Vail, that we only probably had a few years left to be able to do this, that led to a rather spontaneous (and surprising) decision to go forward. Wish us good luck.

BACK AT IT

                                                  WELL--------We're back at it. A few weeks ago we were sitting around after dinner enjoying a "sundowner" and after I got Diane goofy on a bottle of excellent Sauvignon Blanc I brought up the subject/topic/dream/possibility/ er ah ah ah, "What do you think about getting back on the water? "What do you mean, "back on the water?"" "I mean ---What do you think about buying another boat?" And she replied----"I LOVE THAT IDEA!!!!!!!"

WELL-------You could have kicked me in the head and I wouldn't have felt it. WOW! What a lady. Since then she's been even more excited about it than I am. (And I'm pretty damn excited We immediately started checking daily on YACHTWORLD.com to see what was out there in the Florida/East Coast area---essentially searching for another (or the same) Mainship 40 that we had sold back in January of 2017. There were a few--a very few--- on the market (As we found out later this particular model of boat has become extremely popular with people that want to do what we want to do). We even called our former boat broker to see if the people we sold Opus V to might be interested in returning her to its rightful owners---No dice. But we persisted and believe we have found a replacement. We've made an offer and it has been accepted---same boat but 3 years newer. This Thursday I will fly to Florida for the survey and sea trial and I really hope all will go well. If so---we negotiate a bit more and seal the deal. We hope to take possession around the middle to late October.

I owe you an explanation-----We kind of left you hanging on our last post, back in 2016. We sold Opus V because Diane was having some health issues and we couldn't see how we could continue away from Houston for any extended time. Since then and after several medical interventions (and a flooded house---Thanks Harvey) she has been in fantastic health and feels quite confident that we can do this. Yes, we're a few years older, but we figure we only have a few years (10 or 30) that we should be fit enough to do the boat thing. So---let's do it.

The plan currently is to take possession of the boat in Key Largo and hang around the Keys until the Holidays approach then park her at a marina until we return in January. Then--mess around in the Keys some more, Then--who knows---Up the Florida Coast----Bahamas---Up the East Coast to cooler climes as summer approaches????? We will not be bringing her back to the Houston area. Galveston Bay and environs is great for sailing but it's not good for destinations/pretty water,etc.

Sorry about not posting any photos on this post---It will take me a while to get back into it. I also hope to be able to post some videos of interesting places and activities.

SO---Wish us luck on this venture and for the survey and purchase going well and we'll start communicating more often.

Messin' Around in the Keys

                                                                           

  

Sunset in New Found Harbor

I mentioned in our last post about our aborted snorkel trip to Sombrero Key.

Well! We finally got our snorkels wet at Looe Key several days later. Our friends and we took our boats about 4 hours west to an anchorage at New Found Harbor (about half way from our marina down to Key West) and spent two nights on the hook. We took our boat about an hour out to Looe Key, a protected under water state park and snorkeled in perfect conditions around this huge, totally protected and unspoiled reef. The water was an amazing blue, the fish and coral were some of the best I've ever experienced, including our frequent snorkeling in the Bahamas.

      Bob and Amy aboard their trawler, "Sea Lark" on the way to New Found Hbr.

At anchor in the harbor

                            Bob and Amy Aboard Opus V getting ready for steak dinner

Diane and Amy showing their best sides as they release the mooring ball

We headed back to the marina after our overnights in time for me to catch the Masters tournament and, the spectacular folding of Jordan Speith on the final round.

A few days later, my cousin Jane from Ft. Lauderdale and my cousin Marsha, from Michigan and husband Jim arrived for a mini-cousin's reunion. After they checked into the nearby Holiday Inn we picked them up and brought them to the marina for cocktails aboard Opus V and then a communal lobster and fixin's party at the marina Tiki Hut.

                                    From left to right--Marsha, Jim and Jane

                                                              More Marina Folks

Mine's the big one on the left

 

The next day we all went to Key West and did the tourist thing for the afternoon, including the tour train, touring the "Truman White House", lunch, tee shirt shopping, cruising Duval Street, and then stopped at a very good restaurant for dinner on the way home--"The Square Grouper" (If you don't know what a square grouper is, I'll tell you---Back in the 60's and 70's --and I suppose continuing today--many of the area fishermen turned to a more profitable venture of picking up bales of marijuana from the drug smugglers offshore. They would then deliver the bales inland through the various channels, creeks and rivers---Thus, the name "square grouper", indicating the shape of the bales)

The upstairs portion of the restaurant named after this practice is "The Other Joint".

I don't know for sure, but suspect that the owner made the money to start the restaurant from the drug business--thus, the name. (Makes sense to me)

The next day, at the request of the cousins we took the boat out for a quick boat ride to Coffins Patch Reef, about 3 miles out, tied up to a mooring ball at the reef and enjoyed a relaxing hour or so of conversation and just marveling at the colour's of the water. Then back to the marina and farewells. (Because of our many trips to Florida over the last several years we have been able to spend more time with cousin Jane than we had over the last 40 years. Jim and Marsha have been coming to Siesta Key, outside of Sarasota for several years, so we have been able to see them as well--in fact took them and their daughter and her family sailing aboard Assisted Living in Charlotte Harbor several years ago. It's wonderful to be able to catch up with family that you've not been able to see much over all those busy years of living life and raising family.

Now, it's back to the real world. WE departed our marina and the fabulous Keys 2 days ago and are currently at a marina in Marco Island on the west coast headed for Legacy Harbor Marina in Ft Myers where we bought the boat a year and a half ago. We are sorry to leave this beautiful area but feel like we did a good job of seeing the sights and enjoying new friends and especially family in this fabulous area.

So we left the White Marlin Marina on Vaca Key (Marathon) and headed down a few miles and under the 7 Mile Bridge into the Gulf of Mexico, and north, northwest about 40 miles for our stop for the night at the Little Shark River in the Everglades. (I now know from what it gets its name---while in the dinghy messing around with a stuborn outboard a small shark showed its fin several times around the big boat) Diane refused to get in the dinghy, but I took it for a trip up the river several miles. A beautiful, remote, wide and deep river. I'm not sure where it goes to but it goes deep into the Glades.)

Knowing that bugs can be a big problem here (past experience) we buttoned up and ran the A/C off the generator for a couple of hours before retiring. Got up early the next morning to get an early start on our 70 mile trek to Marco Island and were met by hundreds (thousands?) of No-see-Ums. Here's a picture of one:

Can you see it?? (That's why they call them No-See-Ums)

They are smaller than a gnat and have a sharp, not painful sting--but the sting is annoying. I have no residual effect from the bites, but Diane gets small itchy bumps and right now she has hundreds of such bites all over her arms, chest and legs and neck. They itch her. It's like a small mosquito bite. They got into the flybridge overnight and wouldn't leave, and stayed with us the whole 7 hour trip to Marco--such that Diane spent most of the trip inside the salon. Still, whenever she did come out on deck they swarmed her. So far no one I know of has come up with a repellant that works although we've heard of numerous "home remedies"---(they don't work) We understand the Indians that lived here figured it out, but they're not sharing their wisdom with us---maybe getting even for stealing their land??

We arrived in Marco at the Factory Bay Marina at around 2 PM on Friday the 15th. As we rounded the corner headed toward the marina some guy up on the 6th floor of a condo looking over the marina started shouting and waving. It was Bob (ne Bobbie) one of my closest friends from high school whom I've not seen in many years. (Best Man in our wedding in Adrian, Michigan 47 years ago)(Actually, we knew he and his partner Jan were here. We had communicated by phone earlier. They have been staying in the condo for the last couple of months and we've been trying to figure out how to get together) So this worked out perfectly----we got together on the boat for cocktails and horses duvers and then went out to dinner--got reacquainted and had a great time. Tonight, Saturday, we go to see Bob's older sister and her husband. Marsha (Bob's sister) lives here in Marco. (Marsha was always a beauty and I had a crush on her in my younger years--can't wait to see her--it's only been about 50 years)

That's it for now---will post again with a bunch of photos in a few days.

Life is really good when you can do what we're doing and be able also to see relatives and old friends--and make new friends. This really is a very special time in our lives and we love it!!!

Life in the Keys

It has been a quiet although somewhat busy couple of weeks in the Keys. We have an activity planned each day---side trip to Key West, beach combing, dinghy rides around the area, a trip in the big boat, with friends, to one of the snorkel reefs,  grocery shopping, boat maintenance, repairs, laundry, driving around and site seeing, exploring state parks---but just about each evening we gather at the Tiki Hut here at the marina for "sundowners" and conversation:
                                                                

                                 The marina group gathered at the Tiki Hut


Key West---You either love or hate Key West (or, as in my case, both). It can be ridiculously crowded because a couple of cruise ships are in town and the "Amateurs" are ashore noisily crowding the bars, restaurants and shops. But after the ships depart it becomes quite tolerable. For the second time we hopped on one of the tour trolleys that travels all around "Old" Key West and the driver points out the sites, architecture, museums, etc and gives a history lesson as you ride around town.

                                                          Hwy 1 Mile 0

Several of hundreds of chickens that roam free around town

                       "Casa Marina"  a Flagler Hotel, now a Waldorf Astoria

(Stealing the Show)

On the way to Key West we stopped and spent a couple of hours at Bahia Honda State Park---beautiful beaches, nature trails, picnic and camping areas. Our friends here at the marina have gotten Diane  (and consequently me) into combing the beaches for "Sea Beans". These are large bean husks that have been carried from the Amazon rainforest northward to the beaches of North America (we understand they are in profusion along the Texas beaches this year). You find them mixed in with the sea grass that comes ashore on the tides. They look, when cleaned up, like giant buckeyes  

Cocoa Plumb Beach at high tide

While the flora is not yet quite in bloom we found a few beauties on our nature walks:

Diane is reading a book loaned to her by one of our new marina friends. It's titled "Tales of Old Florida" and consists of a collection of writings by turn-of-the-century authors describing what they found in south Florida and the Keys on their visits here (eg. Miami--6000 people and 2 hotels, relations with the Indians, traveling the natural waterways by boat). It is a very interesting collection and falls right into our goal of exploring "old" Florida on this trip.

Henry Flagler was a very wealthy (Original investor in Standard Oil) entrepenure

 who came to Florida, built hotels and a railroad and developed St Augustine, Palm Beach, Miami and dreamed of extending his railroad to Key West to pick up on the soon to be coming ocean trade from through the Panama Canal, Cuba and S. America. He financed it himself and completed it (for 50 million dollars). (It was later destroyed by a hurricane and not rebuilt but in the meantime accomplished Flagler's goals of trade and tourism.) It's a fascinating history and Flagler is a fascinating man of great vision, energy and absence of fear of risk. He will be the subject of my next biographical read.

One of our trips was out to Pigeon Key, a State Park on a small island right off of the foot of 7 Mile Bridge--west of Marathon. This was where Flagler staged the railroad construction--dormitories for the imported workers, supplies, etc. It has been well preserved and makes for a very nice tour.

Yesterday we (Diane and me; Bruce and Rhonda from Sarasota and Terry and Dale from Niagara Canada) went out on our boat to do some snorkeling at Sombrero Key, about 8 miles out. We fought some rough seas on the way out and although were successful tying up to a mooring ball at the reef we never got off the boat---too rough--4 and 5 foot rollers. The wind was not high so I figure the rough seas had been stirred up by something going on off shore someplace. Needless to say we were very disappointed that we didn't get to snorkel this highly touted reef, but there will be another day!

We returned to the marina, had lunch and then lounged around on floaties of various kinds, off the back of our boat, for the balance of the afternoon, until it was time to move the party to the Tiki Hut. 

Tomorrow it's back to civilization for a few days. We fly back to Houston and I, on to Albuqurque for the almost annual Dormer Cup golf tournament and Diane on to some decadent spa in the Texas Hill Country with her girl-friends. We'll return to the boat in a week

Life is good and fun in the Keys

In the Keys !!!

At long last we have finally made it to the Florida keys after a trip of (roughly) 370 miles. We departed Palm Coast, on to New Smyrna, on to Cocoa, then to Vero Beach, then to Lake Peck (just north of North Palm beach), then on to Ft. Lauderdale, to Key Biscayne (outside of Miami) then to Rodriguez Key (just off Key Largo) and then, finally, the last leg, from Rodriguez on to Vaca Key and the White Marlin Marina.

                     The approach down the channel to the White Marlin Marina

                                       Opus V at rest at White Marlin Marina
The trip from F L was quite fun and exciting. The weather was perfect with light winds and calm waters. After leaving the marina in F L we motored down the ICW through the opulence--mega yachts and mega  waterway homes -- of downtown Ft. Lauderdale, finally emerging into the outlet to the Atlantic at Port Everglades and the cruise ships, tankers and freighters. We opted to pass the outlet and continue "inside" in the ICW. BUT---about 2 miles south of the outlet we came to the Dania Point Bridge at 25 ft above water--plenty of room for our 17 feet to pass under. The problem, however, was that the bridge was under repair and they required a 4 hour notice for permission to pass through (I learned this by contacting the bridge tender on our VHF radio, channel 9, when a boat moved out into the middle of the channel to block our passage). Not to worry! we did a 180 and headed back to Port Everglades outlet and "went to sea" . (You can see this reversal of fortune on our SPOT tracker--upper left hand margin of this page--just click on it and it will show our "track")
Fortunately, our first venture off shore in this boat was met with the calmest of conditions possible. We turned south after leaving the jetties and although there was a slight side to side roll the seas were only, at most, 2 feet high and the ride was quite comfortable about 2 miles off shore. We arrived at the lighthouse at Key Biscayne/ No Name Harbor around 3 PM, anchored in this small "lake" surrounded by State Park along with about half a dozen boats. (This is a very popular daytime and, especially week-end anchorage for all the boating crowd out of Miami. One time aboard Assisted Living we tried to find space on a Sunday afternoon with probably close to 50 boats in the harbor---what a mess--we moved outside and then moved in again later after all the daytrippers and the cacophony of Latin Music left for home). But this time it was quite peaceful, although the harbor started filling up toward evening--to around 20 boats by nightfall.
                                                             

The Lighthouse on the south end of Key Biscayne (Looking East toward the Atlantic)

We left the following morning with the destination of Rodriguez Key just off Key Largo. Again--very benign conditions in the Hawk Channel (The Hawk Channel is a somewhat protected waterway a couple of miles wide with the Key Islands on the west and north and a long coral protective reef on the outside. We've been through this channel several times previously and this was the most gentle ride we've ever experienced.) The water got bluer and bluer the farther south, then west, we traveled. We arrived at our overnight anchorage at Rodriguez Key around 2:30 in the afternoon, set the hook, dropped the dinghy, put on our snorkel gear and had fun--the first time we had been in the water since we left Palm Coast---watched a beautiful sunset and a number of other boats arrive and drop anchor--early to bed--in anticipation of our last leg tomorrow.
                                                           

                                                    Sunset at Rodriguez Key


An early departure for Vaca key the next morning---again--- very quiet conditions, although the water started getting just a little bit rolly the farther down we traveled as the boat traffic, especially sport fishermen, that stirred up even this large body of water. We made excellent time and arrived at the entrance to our marina channel around 1:00 PM.
                                                             

Approaching the entrance channel into Vaca Key--White Marlin Marina

After getting the boat berthed and secured and our traditional celebratory Corona Light with a lime we set about cleaning the boat--me on the outside and Diane inside. Then, it was all about exploring the marina and meeting some of the current occupants.

We had chosen wisely. The marina facilities are immaculate and the people, very friendly and welcoming. The marina is a square peninsula in a small "lake" surrounded by homes and other marinas. We tied up to the north face dock (all berths are face docks, meaning you merely just sidle up to the dock and tie up--no backing into a slip. But the entire lake is a "No Wake/ Idle Speed" waterway and wakes and roll have not been a problem.

                                             Opus V shaded by the Mangroves

                                      The Marina Tiki Hut (gathering place)

The next day we rented from Enterprise at the marathon airport and went back to F L  to retrieve our car---all day on the road, but a delightful lunch with cousin Jane in F L.

The plan is to experience "Old Florida Keys" by visiting some of the state parks and museums and basically basing out of this marina for the next month as we take day (or 2) trips to various anchorages to snorkel and just enjoy the Keys and the water.

So---more later as we begin our Keys experience (but first--laundry)

A brief note about the weather:

 Naturally the weather has been getting warmer and more humid as we travel south. Overall, it has been perfect. Temps now are in the mid-eighties and with soft breezes. The nights are cool but we sleep with the a/c on just to keep the night air dry. We open the boat up during the days but we enjoy our complete comfort at night. A cold front is expected shortly--it's Sunday morning, the 20th of March. This will bring strong northerly winds for a couple days with temps in the 60's, but warming up again shortly thereafter. So far, no problem with bugs--a few mosquitos, but no "No Seeums"

Life is Good in the Florida Keys!

The Boat---Opus V

I had a little time to kill before Diane takes me "shopping", so I thought I'd post some pic's of our boat for those who may not have previously made her acquaintance :
                                                                 

                                         View of main cabin from the back
                                    (Fridge and entertainment center on near right)


                                                                 

Galley

"Downstairs" steering station (helm)

"Living room" and dinette

     Master Bedroom

   

                                                 Guest room/office/closet


                                                                

                                                         Head and Shower


                                                                

                                                    The Fly Bridge  (Upstairs)

                                       Rear Fly Bridge and Outdoor Kitchen

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