It's hard to believe that another week has come and gone and we are down to our last week here in Marathon. Sometime next weekend or early next week we plan to head up the coast back to the mainland and visit Naples and Charlotte Harbor.
Our Chicago friends, Sunny and Ralph Hernandez headed back to the frigid north a day or so ago but we've connected with some friends we met while back in Herrington who just got here. Dave and Lisa Cooper in their Halberg Rassy "Virginia Dare" arrived in Marathon just a few days ago and we hosted them for happy hour on our boat and then shared dinner. It was great catching up and hearing about their trip down the ICW. They actually left after we did and stayed at some of the same places we did. Catching up is fun.
Saturday night the Club had a Valentine's Day dinner that was sort of pot luck but managed and it turned out great! I know we thought that we ate too much but I don't really think that happened. Today I ran to and out the old 7 mile bridge and then we biked around Boot Key Harbor and stopped at the Tropical Dockside Cafe for refreshments before returning home for happy hour with the Club. The Dockside is a real boater's bar. One comment on Active Captain said about the place, if drunken sailors offend you go someplace else. But we enjoyed it and had fun with other patrons.
Tomorrow begins a work week to finish boat chores in preparation for our continuing journey. There are additional repairs to make. Today I pumped some oil from the engine because I overfilled it when I changed it a couple weeks ago. Sometimes overfilling is not evident until the engine sits a while and the oil all drains down into the sump. Overfilling oil in a diesel is a risk because it could cause the engine to take off and run from the oil. We also need to begin to stock up with supplies for our trip to the Bahamas. Tonight I bought our customs permit so we can reenter the US. The permit allows us to bring our boat back into the US by showing all documents and taxes have been paid.
We're also beginning to make our longer range plans for the Fall and next winter. While we expect to be headed way south we're not sure where we will be for Thanksgiving. So we may or may not travel back because we really need to buy tickets now but don't know where we'll be. One of the challenges of cruising is not to make long range commitments because they may become hard or impossible to keep. For folks wanting to come visit we can either resort to last minute plans or try to make a long distance rendezvous just as we did for our trip here.
We've now been cruising less than 3 months but it seems like we've been doing this for a long time and I mean that in a good way. We are still working through the transition from the land-based routines and the ship-board routines. We will need to improve on them as we head to the Bahamas where we will be on anchor or moorings and less in slips. But we are looking forward to getting over there and enjoying the things the Bahamas have to offer. More travel details to confirm.
So while this past week was a big one with events - especially our big anniversary - next week will be even bigger as we work on our plans for moving forward.
Hopefully we'll have some more pictures we can post to help anyone digging out from under snow that we've heard has pummeled the Northeast again. In a few more weeks spring will be here and things should warm up all around.Well at least let's hope.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Our 20 yr Anniversary and planning our next move
So far this week we enjoyed another day at the beach, did sightseeing around the Keys but Tuesday we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. It is really hard to believe that Linda and I have been married 20 years and for the past 10 we've been boat owners. Given where we were 20 years ago it's amazing how far we've come.
Sunday we enjoyed the nice weather and again biked to Sombrero Beach which is the local gathering place for beach folks. Today we spent biking to do errands but after lunch we biked down to Pigeon Key.
Pigeon Key is about 2 miles down the old 7 mile bridge. The new 7 mile bridge bypasses it and you can see it in the background. Don't know if there was a station at Pigeon Key during the railroad days but here is an old wooden ramp from the Key up to the road that is currently closed for repairs. Now the only way to get there is by water taxi from the end of Marathon. But then I'm always looking for a faster way to get places.
The new bridge was built in the late 70's to replace the old highway built on the foundation of the Flagler built Florida East Coast Railroad the featured a New York to Havana train service. The train ran from Penn Station in NYC to Key West with the station right next to the dock and the trip was completed by steamship from Key West to Havana.
The old bridge is now cut in places after having been shot up in the movie True Lies and we saw the end of the road. The guard rails on the old bridge are railroad rails presumably from the original railroad. The railroad bridge was destroyed in a hurricane.
Tuesday we enjoyed a very nice dinner at the Barracuda Grill in Marathon to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We shared the event with Sunny and Ralph Hernandez who are enjoying a brief respite from the northern Illinois winter with a 2 week vacation here. We've hung out together for most of the past 2 weeks. We'll miss them when they leave Friday.
But the major event we started this week (along with continuing to do boat chores) is planning for our trip in a little over a week up the southwest coast of Florida to Naples and Charlotte Harbor. I've been studying the charts and Active Captain notes to determine where we want to go. Naples will be a 2-3 day port call with a chance to reprovision at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. In Charlotte Harbor I have a college classmate and we have 2 friends from HHSA who are there for the winter. So we will have a great time when we get there. Maybe we'll even get to see Jim Morris at the Navagator.
We have generally concluded that we will do an overnight passage to Naples. It is about 95 nm from here to there which is about 13-14 hrs. So if we leave about 3 in the afternoon we should get there around dawn the next day. That way we can go through the channels in daylight. Still need to check the tide data but in either location tide isn't too critical as it is in some locations. As we get closer we can also focus in more on the weather to pick a departure date because it is still too early to identify that. When we leave Charlotte Harbor we plan to go straight to the Bahamas so I will engage a weather router and probably use the Clarks since we will be in the Gulfstream as we go east along the Keys until we get to the Bahama Bank.
To learn about new destinations I engage numerous sources to gain familiarity to avoid showing up and not knowing anything. The first thing I do is go to Google Earth and take a look at everything. Usually the satellite view will provide a good overview of the layout and where things may be. Also at a high enough resolution you can see marks and physical details of marinas. Next I look at maps and google information to see where things like West Marine or grocery stores are that may not be apparent in the satellite pictures. I then look at Active Captain to see what general information I can get as well as highly rated marinas or anchorages and then see where they are in relation to destinations we may need to visit.
While I'm doing this we will be looking at guide books and asking on email lists for any information or comments from others that may have been there.
In the case of Charlotte Harbor I got a lot of information from my friends there. In fact we may be able to stay at a yacht club through their auspices.
Once we have fairly well established our destination and gotten a good overview of the environment I use the charts to plan a route and then develop a route plan with waypoints and relevant climate data. From that point it becomes a simple issue of selecting the best weather window for departure. Because of the sailing characteristics of our boat we can be more flexible in selecting weather conditions than someone with a less comfortable vessel. While we don't want to be stupid or sail out ahead of a storm, big wind and seas in the right direction will make for a good trip while others might pass waiting for a calmer time. What we need to avoid is big wind and seas on the nose or no wind as we've already had a lot of. The big paradox in waiting for weather is the right one may not come so as I've written before, it comes down to waiting for Mr Right or looking for Mr Right now. So there is a fine line between taking some risk and being stupid. We're willing to take risk but try to avoid being stupid.
So the boat chores and planning continue.
Sunday we enjoyed the nice weather and again biked to Sombrero Beach which is the local gathering place for beach folks. Today we spent biking to do errands but after lunch we biked down to Pigeon Key.
Pigeon Key is about 2 miles down the old 7 mile bridge. The new 7 mile bridge bypasses it and you can see it in the background. Don't know if there was a station at Pigeon Key during the railroad days but here is an old wooden ramp from the Key up to the road that is currently closed for repairs. Now the only way to get there is by water taxi from the end of Marathon. But then I'm always looking for a faster way to get places.
The new bridge was built in the late 70's to replace the old highway built on the foundation of the Flagler built Florida East Coast Railroad the featured a New York to Havana train service. The train ran from Penn Station in NYC to Key West with the station right next to the dock and the trip was completed by steamship from Key West to Havana.
The old bridge is now cut in places after having been shot up in the movie True Lies and we saw the end of the road. The guard rails on the old bridge are railroad rails presumably from the original railroad. The railroad bridge was destroyed in a hurricane.
Tuesday we enjoyed a very nice dinner at the Barracuda Grill in Marathon to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We shared the event with Sunny and Ralph Hernandez who are enjoying a brief respite from the northern Illinois winter with a 2 week vacation here. We've hung out together for most of the past 2 weeks. We'll miss them when they leave Friday.
But the major event we started this week (along with continuing to do boat chores) is planning for our trip in a little over a week up the southwest coast of Florida to Naples and Charlotte Harbor. I've been studying the charts and Active Captain notes to determine where we want to go. Naples will be a 2-3 day port call with a chance to reprovision at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. In Charlotte Harbor I have a college classmate and we have 2 friends from HHSA who are there for the winter. So we will have a great time when we get there. Maybe we'll even get to see Jim Morris at the Navagator.
We have generally concluded that we will do an overnight passage to Naples. It is about 95 nm from here to there which is about 13-14 hrs. So if we leave about 3 in the afternoon we should get there around dawn the next day. That way we can go through the channels in daylight. Still need to check the tide data but in either location tide isn't too critical as it is in some locations. As we get closer we can also focus in more on the weather to pick a departure date because it is still too early to identify that. When we leave Charlotte Harbor we plan to go straight to the Bahamas so I will engage a weather router and probably use the Clarks since we will be in the Gulfstream as we go east along the Keys until we get to the Bahama Bank.
To learn about new destinations I engage numerous sources to gain familiarity to avoid showing up and not knowing anything. The first thing I do is go to Google Earth and take a look at everything. Usually the satellite view will provide a good overview of the layout and where things may be. Also at a high enough resolution you can see marks and physical details of marinas. Next I look at maps and google information to see where things like West Marine or grocery stores are that may not be apparent in the satellite pictures. I then look at Active Captain to see what general information I can get as well as highly rated marinas or anchorages and then see where they are in relation to destinations we may need to visit.
While I'm doing this we will be looking at guide books and asking on email lists for any information or comments from others that may have been there.
In the case of Charlotte Harbor I got a lot of information from my friends there. In fact we may be able to stay at a yacht club through their auspices.
Once we have fairly well established our destination and gotten a good overview of the environment I use the charts to plan a route and then develop a route plan with waypoints and relevant climate data. From that point it becomes a simple issue of selecting the best weather window for departure. Because of the sailing characteristics of our boat we can be more flexible in selecting weather conditions than someone with a less comfortable vessel. While we don't want to be stupid or sail out ahead of a storm, big wind and seas in the right direction will make for a good trip while others might pass waiting for a calmer time. What we need to avoid is big wind and seas on the nose or no wind as we've already had a lot of. The big paradox in waiting for weather is the right one may not come so as I've written before, it comes down to waiting for Mr Right or looking for Mr Right now. So there is a fine line between taking some risk and being stupid. We're willing to take risk but try to avoid being stupid.
So the boat chores and planning continue.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
The name is officially committed to the deep
Today turned out to be a beautiful day. Very breezy but that was good for our wind generation although very sunny and warm. Starting out I got up and went for a run in spite of the wind and then came back and did boat chores.
This evening after months of avoiding the deed we did the name changing ceremony to purge the previous name from the records of the deep and then pray that the gods of wind and seas will protect us in our voyages. Not being superstitious it all seems like just fun escapades but given the issues we have had maybe there is something to it.
So with about a dozen witnesses watching we asked that the name of Windreams of Newton, IA be purged from the memory of the deep by casting pieces of biodegradable toilet tissue with the name on it into the water for destruction for all times. Next, we asked for the sea gods and wind gods to grant us protection and safe passage and recognize the name of Amekaya as we sail forth upon the waters of the world.
We toasted and offered the Gods champagne so that they would be appeased and take us into their bosom for our future sailing endeavors.
Let's hope this is the end of our surprises and its all fair winds and following seas from here.
Huzzahh!!! Huzzahh!!! Huzzahh!!!
This evening after months of avoiding the deed we did the name changing ceremony to purge the previous name from the records of the deep and then pray that the gods of wind and seas will protect us in our voyages. Not being superstitious it all seems like just fun escapades but given the issues we have had maybe there is something to it.
So with about a dozen witnesses watching we asked that the name of Windreams of Newton, IA be purged from the memory of the deep by casting pieces of biodegradable toilet tissue with the name on it into the water for destruction for all times. Next, we asked for the sea gods and wind gods to grant us protection and safe passage and recognize the name of Amekaya as we sail forth upon the waters of the world.
We toasted and offered the Gods champagne so that they would be appeased and take us into their bosom for our future sailing endeavors.
Let's hope this is the end of our surprises and its all fair winds and following seas from here.
Huzzahh!!! Huzzahh!!! Huzzahh!!!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
It isn't all sunshine and blue skies...
It's raining today for the first time since Daytona Beach. Kind of nice hearing the rhythm of the rain on the deck with the gentle rocking in the breeze. Kind of limits outside activity so time to catch up on the blog. We've had night time showers from time to time but this is the first rain day in a few weeks.
After our exciting day at Mile 0 we spent most of the weekend working around the boat doing some routine chores. Monday I was able to get 2 big mechanical issues hopefully resolved for good. Keep knocking projects off the list but some of my more tedious things are yet to come. They aren't urgent so no hurry on them.
Tuesday after doing all the hard work Monday we took a bike ride to Sombrero Beach and it was actually warm enough to get in the water although the water was on the chilly side.
Despite their location, the Keys don't have beaches like Daytona. For the most part they're small, natural kept and have grass or rock in the water. The water however is very clear. Here is our cruise director enjoying the weather with the iconic beach palm tree behind her.
Yesterday we had a treat when one of our dock neighbors called us there was a manatee swimming by our boats. Seems there is a pod of them hanging out around here from time to time. We caught him or her nibbling on some grass along the dock.
After our exciting day at Mile 0 we spent most of the weekend working around the boat doing some routine chores. Monday I was able to get 2 big mechanical issues hopefully resolved for good. Keep knocking projects off the list but some of my more tedious things are yet to come. They aren't urgent so no hurry on them.
Tuesday after doing all the hard work Monday we took a bike ride to Sombrero Beach and it was actually warm enough to get in the water although the water was on the chilly side.
Despite their location, the Keys don't have beaches like Daytona. For the most part they're small, natural kept and have grass or rock in the water. The water however is very clear. Here is our cruise director enjoying the weather with the iconic beach palm tree behind her.
Yesterday we had a treat when one of our dock neighbors called us there was a manatee swimming by our boats. Seems there is a pod of them hanging out around here from time to time. We caught him or her nibbling on some grass along the dock.
What a beautiful creature. I've seen them in many settings before but this one in the wild so up close and active was very exciting. Hopefully they'll come back before we leave. Fun to watch them swimming around and eating.
This past weekend some friends from Chicago came down to enjoy a respite from the brutal weather up north in their Marathon timeshare. We've been hanging out with them pretty much since they got here and yesterday we did some sight seeing around the Keys. Here is a picture of us by a point on Fat Deer Key snapped by someone biking by who stopped to chat.
So today is a quiet inside day waiting for the rain to pass.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Down at Mile 0 in the Florida Keys where it's always Saturday night
After the week of work we had on the boat we decided to take the bus to Key West yesterday (I think it was Friday). Key West Transit runs a lower keys shuttle between Key West and Marathon about 8 times a day for the 50 mile trip. The neat things is that as a bona fide senior citizen the fare is only $1.50 per person. So we walked a couple blocks up the highway to the nearest bus stop and waited for our ride to Margaritaville.
The bus appeared almost on schedule and we boarded. There was another couple aboard who were cruisers from North Carolina on a mooring ball over in Boot Key Harbor. So we chatted about sailing and living aboard.
The bus appeared almost on schedule and we boarded. There was another couple aboard who were cruisers from North Carolina on a mooring ball over in Boot Key Harbor. So we chatted about sailing and living aboard.
Leaving Marathon we crossed over the 7 mile bridge. The longest span over water in the Keys. It is also one of only 2 bridges with openings high enough for most sailboats at 65'. The other is Channel 5 that we came through last weekend. Above is a picture of the old bridge that was part of the original railroad bridge built by Henry Flagler when trains running to Key West was the primary transportation. During a hurricane in the 30's part of the 7 mile bridge was destroyed when the railroad was bankrupt so the state took it over and built the Overseas Highway to replace the Overseas Railroad.The highway crosses a series of bridges and islands before making its way to Key West.
One of the many islets on the way. The bus was a mix of locals and tourists all heading west for one reason or another.
We rolled into Key West right about noon and made our way to the terminus by Duval and Caroline Street.
Being hungry from the long ride we headed to Schooner's Wharf which is of course right on the dock by all the touristy schooners but is the place the marina rats like us like to hang out. So we grabbed a table on the roof in the sun and ordered up some beer and oysters for starters.
Aqui es mi esposa Linda with some of the ships in the background. The place was packed with people off a cruise ship when we got there. Fortunately they were leaving to get back to there ship.
We wandered around to famous Mallory Square. We avoided going there at sunset when all the tourists are there. We see enough sunsets. Although some of the folks here saw the green flash last night. We missed it.
Of course we had to see the iconic:
And the legendary:
But since we don't usually do tourist places we needed to get serious and we found the Rum Bar. The Rum Bar is our kind of place. Small, quaint and packed with 300 kinds of rum. The bartender Bahama Bob
http://bahamabobsrumstyles.blogspot.com/ is a real rum aficionado and international rum judge. He makes his drinks with real stuff, not mixes like most bars. Linda enjoyed a Pusser's Painkiller just like I make them and Bob offered me 2 very good rums. The first one was Don Pancho but I don't recall the second one which was really good. I just asked Bob to surprise me. I didn't want to drink something I had at home.
After a great time at the Rum Bar, a place we will definitely visit again, we went by Willy T's for dinner. There were lots of tables available because all the tourists were at Mallory Square photographing the sunset over the water. As we were finishing the place filed up. Most of the restaurants and bars have live entertainment so there's always a party going on someplace.
We found our way to the bus stop only to find that the keeper of the schedule misread it and was looking at AM times. Since there was no bus when we thought we went to Margaritaville to sit at the bar and watch the Miami Heat game. The Band started just as we were getting ready to leave. No JB tonight. Ironically it was just last Friday that we were there at the Heat game talking about here.
Well we managed to get the bus back and stumbled into the boat tired and worn from our day at Mile 0. I think next time we take the 5 PM bus to KW and the 6 AM bus back. Nothing starts until 9 and it all goes until 0400.
Today was more boat chores and I got up and did a run first thing. Tomorrow, our friends from Chicago will be here and I'm making painkillers. Yumm!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Establishing the New Normal
The last couple days we have been trying to get about to a routine but we have a ways to go. This morning I got up and ran for the first time since St Augustine. Of course I haven't worked out regularly since we got this boat. Want to get back to it. Since I can't run everyday I'm hoping for 2x a week. Only ran about 4 miles this morning. Maybe I can run Saturday and get up to 6 miles.
Came back and made my Saturday breakfast, Mexican Eggs. I chop fresh jalapeno and habanero peppers and throw them in some eggs with mexicheese, salsa, cilantro, cholula sauce, oregano and chipotle. Eat them with a tortilla. Gets digestion going for the whole day.
Today we got on with boat chores. Did a pump out actually right after I got back from my run and then got on with changing the engine oil and fuel filters. When I actually checked the hours theyw ere less than I thought but I went ahead because the next time might not be so convenient. Since our initial bout with fuel filter issues we haven't had any and when I changed the filters I noticed they weren't real dirty so I'm hoping we are over the engine choking dirt coming from the tank. Always best to keep ahead of things like that.
After finishing the engine service got cleaned up. During the day Linda made a flaxseed meal bread from scratch and played in her elimination shuffleboard competition. Fortunately she lost so we can go to Key West tomorrow.
We then walked across the street to a Yanmar repair shop and bought some replacement fuel and oil filters on our way to Burdines where we were the other day. Today enjoyed an early hour of beer and french fries. We then walked back to the HCC happy hour. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing on this side the island so everyone was ready to head in early.
Weather has been blustery and hopefully it will come down in the next few days. Also looking for warm-up as it has only been in the 60's and low 70's. Way below average for this time of year. At Burdine's they had the Weather Channel on and noticed more snow coming to the northeast.
Sorry guys. We have an extra room for anyone wants to visit. We have lived in snow country, enjoyed it, but hopefully never again.
Since we've been so busy all week tomorrow we plan to take the bus into Key West tomorrow and spending Saturday again working on the boat.
We're still working tasks that should have been done before we left along with recurring maintenance issues. Once we get through these we will be able to get to the days of rum and kicking back. Hopefully it will be warmer then.
Came back and made my Saturday breakfast, Mexican Eggs. I chop fresh jalapeno and habanero peppers and throw them in some eggs with mexicheese, salsa, cilantro, cholula sauce, oregano and chipotle. Eat them with a tortilla. Gets digestion going for the whole day.
Today we got on with boat chores. Did a pump out actually right after I got back from my run and then got on with changing the engine oil and fuel filters. When I actually checked the hours theyw ere less than I thought but I went ahead because the next time might not be so convenient. Since our initial bout with fuel filter issues we haven't had any and when I changed the filters I noticed they weren't real dirty so I'm hoping we are over the engine choking dirt coming from the tank. Always best to keep ahead of things like that.
After finishing the engine service got cleaned up. During the day Linda made a flaxseed meal bread from scratch and played in her elimination shuffleboard competition. Fortunately she lost so we can go to Key West tomorrow.
We then walked across the street to a Yanmar repair shop and bought some replacement fuel and oil filters on our way to Burdines where we were the other day. Today enjoyed an early hour of beer and french fries. We then walked back to the HCC happy hour. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing on this side the island so everyone was ready to head in early.
Weather has been blustery and hopefully it will come down in the next few days. Also looking for warm-up as it has only been in the 60's and low 70's. Way below average for this time of year. At Burdine's they had the Weather Channel on and noticed more snow coming to the northeast.
Sorry guys. We have an extra room for anyone wants to visit. We have lived in snow country, enjoyed it, but hopefully never again.
Since we've been so busy all week tomorrow we plan to take the bus into Key West tomorrow and spending Saturday again working on the boat.
We're still working tasks that should have been done before we left along with recurring maintenance issues. Once we get through these we will be able to get to the days of rum and kicking back. Hopefully it will be warmer then.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
This is our real life
As we noted we got here to Marathon on Sunday and spent yesterday doing some exploring and getting about our sojourn on the Island. We started out slowly because it was our first day in weeks with no pressing agenda and enjoyed our usual Sunday morning breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Hmmm, Sunday was the day we got here. Yesterday the wind was blowing in the 20's most of the day. Was great to have our wind generator pump out amps for us. Pretty much since we've been here the boats been rocking very comfortably.
Today we got down to work and the number one project was to replace the long hose that runs from our aft head to the holding tank. About Christmas we discovered that the hose was blocked even though we hadn't used it. So today we got down to it and replaced the hose. It was a major project and a big relief to have it done. So tonight we went out to celebrate our getting here and getting this project done.
This afternoon the Manager of the Association here came by and we met at the tiki hut for happy hour and sundowners as people here do everyday. This week in leading up to the Superbowl there is a shuffleboard tournament and tomorrow we get our chance to be eliminated.
Tonight while visiting at the Tiki Hut I was asked what I did in real life and I replied this is our real life. Each day is a new adventure and the name of the day is unimportant except to know what specials are being offered for happy hour. There are no Mondays and every night is Saturday night. For months we worked to beat the calendar to get the boat south before winter and stay ahead of the cold. We did that and with any luck will have no reason to see cold weather anytime soon. The chill here is cold enough for us. The good news is in a few days it will be warm again.
Tomorrow, more projects, shopping and shuffleboard.
Today we got down to work and the number one project was to replace the long hose that runs from our aft head to the holding tank. About Christmas we discovered that the hose was blocked even though we hadn't used it. So today we got down to it and replaced the hose. It was a major project and a big relief to have it done. So tonight we went out to celebrate our getting here and getting this project done.
This afternoon the Manager of the Association here came by and we met at the tiki hut for happy hour and sundowners as people here do everyday. This week in leading up to the Superbowl there is a shuffleboard tournament and tomorrow we get our chance to be eliminated.
Tonight while visiting at the Tiki Hut I was asked what I did in real life and I replied this is our real life. Each day is a new adventure and the name of the day is unimportant except to know what specials are being offered for happy hour. There are no Mondays and every night is Saturday night. For months we worked to beat the calendar to get the boat south before winter and stay ahead of the cold. We did that and with any luck will have no reason to see cold weather anytime soon. The chill here is cold enough for us. The good news is in a few days it will be warm again.
Tomorrow, more projects, shopping and shuffleboard.
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