For the past 6 weeks or thereabouts we have lived tied on to some pilings and endured gales, monsoonal rainfalls, relatively cool temperatures, big chop but some absolutely gorgeous winter weather like today. I think that for the most part this winter up north has been mild with some notable exceptions and likewise the weather here in the Florida Keys has been pleasant although the high winds and frequent chop make getting work done challenging if not unlikely. So the nice days get busy with the work that can get done in those days.
But also competing with work on the nice days is meeting friends and enjoying time with them in pleasant surroundings. For most of our lives to this point we had been focused on work, work related stuff, kids and trying to get in a little R&R. Now we can take time to enjoy being with friends we have known both long and not as long as we enjoy life in the Florida Keys.
An evening pot luck with a presentation by 2 Club members about their recent trip to Cuba.
We have managed to achieve several notable boat projects. I have been able to completely restore our solar arch from before our accident at Crandon Park in Miami, I was able to do all of the work myself
except for having a shop straighten the rails. Before the accident I never really knew how the system was constructed. I took it apart and put it back together again. Secondly, we worked through restoring our dinghy by finding, sealing and patching several holes. We also cleaned it to make it look great! As I look at it now it has held air for about a week and today we successfully took it on an excursion running our spare engine and exercising that. Additionally, we are working through cleaning projects and finalizing our inventory management in preparation for long-distance cruising. We also had an opportunity to tune the rig. Last summer we had to replace some shackles and was not able to get the rig to factory specs. Our good friend and IP dealer Norm Pierce was in town and he and his wife Mary drove over one day to help us get the rig back to factory spec.
A visit by a former college friend Mike Jarboe. Great to catch up after 43 years.
From a work perspective on the boat we are finally getting to where we have worked through everything at least once and focus on maintenance and repair instead of renovate. The only area left to master is security. Before heading on we need to install a security framework that we are beginning to refine. One fact that is continually highlighted in reports that I read is that most events happen to unsecured boats. Most of the violations are to unsecured dinghys, motors or open boats so by hardening that target we can reduce the probability of loss and deter all but a heavily armed attack. A good defense is a good defense when you don't need an offense.
A gorgeous sunset from the Tiki Hut.
Many many years ago through education I learned that the more you know, the more you don't know and the same is true with working on the boat. It's not just the knowing but as you do more work there is more work that you find you need to do because more things become apparent.
But with the time we're spending here it is hard to know which predominates; work time or friend time. It seems that everyday we spend many hours with friends from here in the marina or friends elsewhere that we know from before or even in a previous life.
Lunching with our visiting friends Ralph and Sunny Hernandez after a dinghy ride around the island.
With our marina friends we have had numerous parties and happy hours everyday. We have had movie nights, holiday parties, dinghy excursions, painkiller parties and other good times too numerous to mention. Interspersed with that we ave met other friends here in Marathon, in Key West and some friends who came here. Last week an old college friend, Mike Jarboe, came to visit while he was vacationing in FL. We also got to see some friends from our stay in Boca Chica last year, John and Renee Siewers as they passed through and prepare to visit Cuba.
Local entertainer Eric Stone performing at the celebration of life for local entertainer Rocketman who passed recently.
Another great surprise a week or so ago was when we ran into Bahama Bob at the Hurricane Hole on Stock Island when we stopped for dinner one night. Bob is an international rum judge extraordinaire who used to tend the Rum Bar in Key West.
Even though the water has gotten cooler I swim around the boat to check for growth and ensure there is nothing growing underwater that will present an issue. So far our bottom paint is holding well but with the cloudy water it is hard to get a good visual. The chop has kept sediment stirred up so visibility is only a few feet making inspections very difficult.
But, here we are working most days and partying every night. Can Margaritaville be any better?
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