#22 - March 7th - April 22nd

I know, I know!it has been more than a month since I posted anything. Quite honestly, I don't know where the time has gone! What have we been doing you ask? Well, getting used to the island life, don't you know!

We arrived at Boat House Marina, a first class place as you can see above. Our home for more than a month. We took a look around that first day familiarizing ourselves with the lay of  the place; and promptly invited to a dock party that same evening.

That's Donny on the guitar, Dan and his wife on base and harmonica and a fellow on banjo at side. See Bill moving around?
Lots of the folks from the other boats sitting around on their chairs and boats, clapping, singing. It was a pot-luck and fun was had by all!

We spent the next few days just cleaning and waxing cleaning and vacuuming, re-provisioning, laundry, settling in the new routine.  Our bikes came off the boat and we explored the area. Rode 3 miles to grocery getting a taxi with a bike rack back to marina. Catholic church right around the corner. Restaurants galore. Everyone we met a treat! and every day Beautiful!

Yep, another party on the dock three days later. More folks showed up this time from the condos nearby so we moved it to under the fish hut.

Manatee in the harbor, they love fresh water. 

Speaking of Condos; This is the front elevation.  two story, 3 BR, 2 Bath

Back elevation on the canal with a slip for each. Notice, water and electric pedestals.

First class pool, bath house and laundry

and there is Simpatico in the Marina! What's not to like?

We met Curt and Marilyn Smith from S.Dakota on a 26 ft sailboat with outboard motor, Jeff and Judy on Just Faken it! (Jeff legally blind, just had stem cell implantation in eyes) Sal and Ina on Salina from Picton, Ontario, Phil and Maggie (they didn't name their boat yet) met on internet, Jay who lives on his catamaran, rents berths through Internet for weeks at a time; just had shoulder surgery but took us around the area at other condo/slip sites. The list goes on and on. All are interesting, helpful and loving the life!
Restaurants abound all around but the next two pictures are of our favorite. a fish market/restaurant complete with a leaky roof  a German flair.  Called Fish Tales and Bill's favorite was a German fish sandwich.  Their display case is filled with the freshest of fish caught that day by local fisherman. Tuna, stone crab claws, Grouper, Snapper, and more.

 

we went down the way to Sombrero Beach where the Turtle Hospital was releasing a turtle that had been in their care for more than 6 months from flipper injury and tumor removal. What an event that was. There were hundreds of people there lining up both sides of a path that the handlers used to carry the tub to the water. A great cheer went up when the turtle swam free and away

Bill, Phil, Maggie, Marilyn, Curt and Me. Dinner on our boat at the first if two anchorages (above) on the way to the Dry Tortugas. Weather and seas predicted to be calm for more than a week so we decided to take advantage and head out. Around 130 miles to Fort Jefferson, the largest Fort ever built by the US. in the middle of the Gulf, 90 miles from Cuba. It covered almost the entire 13 acre Garden Key.

this is the view as we approached - about 3 miles out

At anchor, the fort is behind us. Looks like there is no protection but there is a reef and low lying bars. 90 miles away is Cuba.

We went ashore to watch the spectacular sunsets from the little beach. There is great snorkeling right around the Fort and if you venture another 3 miles to Loggerhead Key you can snorkel a wreck.

Plane arriving right across the fairway into the anchorage, quite a sight.

Leaving. The trip from Key West (70 miles ) is made twice a day.

The Ferry arrives once a day bringing day visitors and campers who stay for days. About 200 people, it was nice and quiet when they left.

These pictures show the foundations inside where officers and families and barracks were housed. Also above the reconstructed Forge. There is no  fresh water on this island, not on any of the Keys for that matter.  As for the fort, tiles were laid in the sand roof of the structure all around to gather rain water which was channeled down to the cisterns through the arched columns of the building.  Some 250,000 gallons. It is a fascinating place.  Dr. Mudd was incarcerated here. He is the Dr. who treated John Wilkes Booth's broken leg after Booth shot President Lincoln. He probably didn't even know at the time that Booth shot the President.  Bad Luck!  Anyway, another fascinating story.

Before

After! Just a Horatio update.  He is happy, we are happy!

John and Shannon brought Conor and Aidan down on Palm Sunday weekend to spend some time with us. On a Saturday we drove out to Key West.  Couldn't believe it! Folks buying and drinking beer and cocktails right on the street. When in Rome . . . . . At lunch that day after walking everywhere, we asked the boys what they thought of Key West. Without hesitation, Aidan says, "Two words, Over Rated"! Aha, ha!

No self respecting tourist would miss getting their picture with the famous Bouy! in Key West.

We got a ride back to our car with this character. 

The time we had with the boys we went snorkeling, fishing, swimming, boating and playing cards of an evening.  We snorkeled Sombrero Reef and another day Coffin Patch. A steam ship loaded with coffins sank here in the 1800's. 

Conor is quite the fisherman. Each day he would rinse his equipment with fresh water - very responsible.

Brothers! Gosh we missed them when they left.  We were pleased they wanted to spend time with us.

Horatio missed them when they left also!

We left Marathon to head north and drop the Boys at Stuart where John came to pick them up. Our first stop was Tavernier Bay where Don and April Gordon, their guests Bill and Dee Thompson, came out to meet us.  We anchored and they rafte up. We shucked (Don Shucked) oysters, sipped rum, munched snacks and had great conversation. I think Don is my biggest fan of my boring blog - and it was great to see Bill and Dee again. It was a fun couple of hours. We then parted ways to get a few more miles in before dark. Buttonwood Sound just off  Key Largo was pleasant and quiet. Conor and Aidan did most of the piloting and watching for crab pots. Tomorrow . . .

OOOH WOW! Miami.

High Rises!

Cruise Ships!

Ugly Over-the-top power boats!

Saturday afternoon on the sand bar! Bar!

Coming through Miami was a ZOO! of course, we didn't follow prudent advice about not traveling through large populated areas on a weekend. There were boats everywhere, every direction, every description, every size, shape and color. At one point we were under a bridge, Big boy in front of us decides to stop! to wait for a boat to pass so he could turn left, there is a current, there is a boat behind us, Bill's on the horn, our boats in reverse, forward, reverse - - - it was hairy for a moment! No worries, all is well, take a deep breath and get the H---- out of there!

We pushed on, trying to find a dock to make it easier for us to get to Church for Easter. No luck so we found an anchorage just off Hollywood Marina.  Had just enough time to shower, walk to supper at Taverna Opa! with their resident belly dancer!!! We didn't know this going in.  After she finished dancing on a few tables, she wandered around the other tables showing off her 'stuff'. Oh dear, I thought Conor would choke.  Don't tell your Mom! And all this before we get the taxi to church. Well I found a church that was doing a "tri-lingual" Mass. OOps!  All prayers, Gospel, Sermon was in 3 languages. English, Spanish, and Creole! And it was Easter Vigil, Saturday evening. At least 20 folks were baptized into the faith. . . the ceremony started at 8:15 pm - at 10 pm they had not even taken up collection or brought up the gifts. only half over.  Unfortunately we could not stay through the entire ceremony, would probably have ended somewhere around midnight. I'm sure the Good Lord gave us extra credit for the effort we made getting there.

Easter Sunday morn found us on our way out the Port Everglades Inlet to take the Ocean to the Lake Worth Inlet at  Palm Beach, by passing Fort Lauderdale and about 8 bridges that we would have had to wait for due to low clearance. Not to mention all the Boat traffic that would be swooping around. It was a grand 54 mile run in 6 hours with help from the Gulf Stream. Conor and Aidan seemed to enjoy the ocean passage.

Monday, April 6 we arrived at Stuart, Sailfish Marina. Not 15 minutes from John's work so he came to pick up the boys at the fuel dock. They were ready to head home and looking forward to getting back to school on Thursday. We, hated to see them go but we would soon be in Vero and spend more time with them at their home.

We met up with old friends on Greeks Folly at Hoggs' cove anchorage, traveled back South to Palm Beach to visit the Henry Flagler Museum. He was really the founding father of Florida by building hotels all down the East coast and a railroad from Jacksonville to Miami and eventually all the way to Key West. A daunting feat.  You MUST read about his accomplishments.  Then we traveled back North to Jupiter and visited with old neighbors and friends Mike and Kathy Ferrera. What a wonderful reunion we had.

Next stop - Vero Beach. We just hung out with John Shannon and family for 3 days. It was just comfortable sharing their home  with them.  John lent us his truck to run some errands and get back and forth to the boat. Their dog, Guiness had a great deal of patience with Horation, but did as you can see like to tease him a bit.

on the 14th we arrived in Port Canavarel, at Cape Marina and met up with other friends for earlier days, Tim and Pam Christianson.  We were just in time to walk over to the observation platform and see a rocket launch at 4:10pm. It was taking a load of supplies to the space station. What a spectacular sight.

We took a slip here for a month since we are going to fly home for a couple weeks on the 23rd April. So we have been again cleaning, fueling, doing filters and general maintenance on the boat.  Also, Bill's friend and Partner Dave Rivard and his wife, Jan live here and we have visited with them. We have also been looking at all the areas we have stopped at. Looking for that right spot to visit 3 to 6 months out of the year when we are not traveling on the boat.

Our first meal of Stone Crab Claws! at a outside restaurant watching the cruise ships leave Port Canavarel.

Disney "Dream", one of 4 that left as we dined.

Momma awaiting the birth of her offspring at Dave's Condo complex.

View from Dave and Jan's beautiful Condo

 You know, seems everyday is ABD! Another Beautiful Day! We are seriously considering relocating to the Southern climes at least for part of the year that we are not boating. Been on the boat for almost 9 months and haven't tired of it yet. Been wondering if we need that big house and land, and all that "stuff'" we have accumulated that we can't imagine anyone would want.  Hmm!

Dave Rivard, Mike Hacker, Bill and Dave Leffler
These guys were visiting Dave Rivard. They were Sales Reps for Adaptive Technologies when we were in the business.
What a great time we, they especially had reminiscing old times.

We are all having a good time!

So, that's where we have been. So far. We will be back to the boat again on the 7th of May to start heading North again as we pursue our Great Loop!