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Marathon - Boot Key
December 8, 2010
We have had a busy two weeks visiting friends; Francie driving to Sarasota; and Mike flying to Chicago and bringing back our car. Francie saw her son Jon and met her parents as they arrived at Long Boat Key. Mike had the opportunity to see his parents in Lansing Michigan and visit with both sons, Pat and Jim.
We enjoyed visiting with friends Ken and Steve. They took us to several delicious restaurants and showed us around town. Kathy had just returned from Spain and Ireland. We saw her in Oak Park just before she moved to Plantation a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. It was great to see her new home and share a scrumptious meal.
Upon arriving back to the boat after being gone a week, we were immediately struck by the compactness of our living space. The feeling dissipated quickly because it is home and brings comfort and stability to our nomadic way of life.
This is the longest we have stayed anywhere and we both felt a reluctance to leave and begin traveling again. After the first few miles, that wandering spirit emerged, and we were ready to do it again. Although, we admitted to each other that we are looking forward to spending a month or two in Sarasota.
Mike apparently brought something from the north with him. We are in the midst of the first of two Florida cold snaps. (For our friends in the north, it is hardly a cold snap!) Since we only have heat when we are docked, 40–60 degrees outside is also 40-60 degrees inside! However, mos tof the time even when it is chilly, the sun is out. Sun was a rarity back home.
Thank you to those of you who dropped us a note. It is always good to hear from you.
December 9, 2010
We made the 7:30 bridge and were making our way out Port Everglade when the Navy announced that they were having maneuvers right in the middle of our planned route. To emphasis that point a navy boat came racing toward us explaining we needed to go out a mile or two before turning south.
We altered course. The wind is behind us and we had a good sail until the wind softened. We are motor sailing and making good speed. The place we planned to anchor ended up being too close so we are going to push on and hopefully be there before dark. It feels goof to be on the water. The water is a magnificent shade of blue. The waves are picking us up and pushing us along. It is comfortable and fast. The sky looks like the Midwest – gray and cloudy. Off in the distance it looks like the haze is lifting. We know that it is going to be chilly tonight but no different than in New York.
We were planning to do this trip in two days but the weather was near perfect and we were making great speed. We are going to anchor tonight behind Rodriguez Key.
Francie just announced a dolphin alert! Six dolphin were swimming in the bow wake. The water is so clear that there maneuvers were perfectly visible. They swam back and forth under the bow. At one point there were four on one side of the bow and two on the other. Then they would switch. Fun to watch – of course by the time the camera came out they were gone.
As the sun was down as we tried to set the anchor. We couldn’t get it to hold after several try’s so we switch to the secondary anchor and that dug in right away. The night was a little bumpy because of waves, but the anchor held.
December 11, 2010
We are on a mooring ball in Marathon on Boot Key, about 45 miles north of Key West. We are on the outside of the mooring field about a half mile from the dinghy dock, showers and a boater’s lounge. Today is cool but the sun is shining.
While getting fuel we learned that the bar above the fuel station was having live music that evening. Best of all it was from 6PM to 9PM. Those are our kind of hours! We took the dinghy to the club which is about ¾ of a mile away. The musicians were about our age, maybe that is why they perform from 6 to 9. They were really good. Everyone was bundled up in warm clothes since it was like a fall night in Chicago.
The ride back was interesting with the sliver of the moon and stars to guide us back to the boat. Nights like this make the trip memorable.
We have come to realize after consulting the weather multiple times that we are going to be here for several days. The wind is growing stronger and the seas are going to be too rough for us to leave. We are now going to be heading north and that is the direction of the wind. Maybe it will be better on Wednesday or Thursday.
This afternoon we loaded the dinghy with our bikes so we could explore Marathon. Our muscles complained since it had been so long since we have ridden them. In our quest for exercise, we decided to ride the old seven mile bridge. After two miles, the bridge abruptly ends and a ramp goes down to an island. We heard music and found the Pigeon Key music festival. The whole thing was somewhat surreal for us newby snowbirds. We are wearing light jackes, listening two guys performing on the porch of a house, with a backdrop of sparkling blue water. We thought of Decembers in the past, smiled, and the warmth of the sun felt just a bit warmer.
This evening’s entertainment was elaborately decorated boats in a Christmas Parade on water. The boats all featured Santa and an abundance of sparkling lights. We blew our horn and waved. It was the end to a wonderfully relaxing day.
December 12, 2010
We are preparing for a storm that is supposed to last for several days. Chances are we will not be able to get off the boat so this morning we started doing our chores after taking a long bike ride. We stopped to do our grocery shopping, then filled up our gas can for the generator. We need to recharge our batteries each day to keep the refrigerator and lights. We have been filling water jugs to replace what we have used.
In the meantime it is absolutely gorgeous. The sun is shimmering on the water and there is not a cloud in the sky. It is hard to believe the 71 degrees is going to drop into the 50’s. Remember no heat – we are sucking up as much heat as we can.
We are really enjoying life here in marathon and hate to leave. It is a place that we are certainly going to return. The people are friendly and we can get everywhere we want to go with bicycles. Most of all it is reasonably priced. The morning starts with us listening on the VHF radio to the cruisers’ net at 9AM. Each day a different volunteer hosts the program. People who have just arrived are greeted and those leaving are wished safe voyage. Next are announcements of events that are happening that day or in the near future. Then people are asked if they need help with anything. The next part of the program is for anyone who has something to sell or people looking for certain items for their boat. The last section of the program is trivia. People are asked if they have a trivia question that would stump the marina. Those with the answer call on the radio to see if they are correct. The purpose is to help form a community of boaters. Some people stay the entire winter here.
December 14, 2010
We spent yesterday on the boat. The wind made it almost impossible for us to go to shore. Francie baked and we cooked meals to warm up the boat. We also spend time charging the electrical system. And people thought we would just be drinking exotic while basking in the sun, actually we thought the same thing!
It is colder today, but the wind is supposed to lessen in the afternoon so we may be able to get to shore. We don’t have cabin fever yet, but given a few more days…. We did mention that we missed the Christmas spirit created in the residence previously known as home. We have a few decorations on the boat and of course an evergreen scented candle!
We have had a busy two weeks visiting friends; Francie driving to Sarasota; and Mike flying to Chicago and bringing back our car. Francie saw her son Jon and met her parents as they arrived at Long Boat Key. Mike had the opportunity to see his parents in Lansing Michigan and visit with both sons, Pat and Jim.
We enjoyed visiting with friends Ken and Steve. They took us to several delicious restaurants and showed us around town. Kathy had just returned from Spain and Ireland. We saw her in Oak Park just before she moved to Plantation a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. It was great to see her new home and share a scrumptious meal.
Upon arriving back to the boat after being gone a week, we were immediately struck by the compactness of our living space. The feeling dissipated quickly because it is home and brings comfort and stability to our nomadic way of life.
This is the longest we have stayed anywhere and we both felt a reluctance to leave and begin traveling again. After the first few miles, that wandering spirit emerged, and we were ready to do it again. Although, we admitted to each other that we are looking forward to spending a month or two in Sarasota.
Mike apparently brought something from the north with him. We are in the midst of the first of two Florida cold snaps. (For our friends in the north, it is hardly a cold snap!) Since we only have heat when we are docked, 40–60 degrees outside is also 40-60 degrees inside! However, mos tof the time even when it is chilly, the sun is out. Sun was a rarity back home.
Thank you to those of you who dropped us a note. It is always good to hear from you.
December 9, 2010
We made the 7:30 bridge and were making our way out Port Everglade when the Navy announced that they were having maneuvers right in the middle of our planned route. To emphasis that point a navy boat came racing toward us explaining we needed to go out a mile or two before turning south.
We altered course. The wind is behind us and we had a good sail until the wind softened. We are motor sailing and making good speed. The place we planned to anchor ended up being too close so we are going to push on and hopefully be there before dark. It feels goof to be on the water. The water is a magnificent shade of blue. The waves are picking us up and pushing us along. It is comfortable and fast. The sky looks like the Midwest – gray and cloudy. Off in the distance it looks like the haze is lifting. We know that it is going to be chilly tonight but no different than in New York.
We were planning to do this trip in two days but the weather was near perfect and we were making great speed. We are going to anchor tonight behind Rodriguez Key.
Francie just announced a dolphin alert! Six dolphin were swimming in the bow wake. The water is so clear that there maneuvers were perfectly visible. They swam back and forth under the bow. At one point there were four on one side of the bow and two on the other. Then they would switch. Fun to watch – of course by the time the camera came out they were gone.
As the sun was down as we tried to set the anchor. We couldn’t get it to hold after several try’s so we switch to the secondary anchor and that dug in right away. The night was a little bumpy because of waves, but the anchor held.
December 11, 2010
We are on a mooring ball in Marathon on Boot Key, about 45 miles north of Key West. We are on the outside of the mooring field about a half mile from the dinghy dock, showers and a boater’s lounge. Today is cool but the sun is shining.
While getting fuel we learned that the bar above the fuel station was having live music that evening. Best of all it was from 6PM to 9PM. Those are our kind of hours! We took the dinghy to the club which is about ¾ of a mile away. The musicians were about our age, maybe that is why they perform from 6 to 9. They were really good. Everyone was bundled up in warm clothes since it was like a fall night in Chicago.
The ride back was interesting with the sliver of the moon and stars to guide us back to the boat. Nights like this make the trip memorable.
We have come to realize after consulting the weather multiple times that we are going to be here for several days. The wind is growing stronger and the seas are going to be too rough for us to leave. We are now going to be heading north and that is the direction of the wind. Maybe it will be better on Wednesday or Thursday.
This afternoon we loaded the dinghy with our bikes so we could explore Marathon. Our muscles complained since it had been so long since we have ridden them. In our quest for exercise, we decided to ride the old seven mile bridge. After two miles, the bridge abruptly ends and a ramp goes down to an island. We heard music and found the Pigeon Key music festival. The whole thing was somewhat surreal for us newby snowbirds. We are wearing light jackes, listening two guys performing on the porch of a house, with a backdrop of sparkling blue water. We thought of Decembers in the past, smiled, and the warmth of the sun felt just a bit warmer.
This evening’s entertainment was elaborately decorated boats in a Christmas Parade on water. The boats all featured Santa and an abundance of sparkling lights. We blew our horn and waved. It was the end to a wonderfully relaxing day.
December 12, 2010
We are preparing for a storm that is supposed to last for several days. Chances are we will not be able to get off the boat so this morning we started doing our chores after taking a long bike ride. We stopped to do our grocery shopping, then filled up our gas can for the generator. We need to recharge our batteries each day to keep the refrigerator and lights. We have been filling water jugs to replace what we have used.
In the meantime it is absolutely gorgeous. The sun is shimmering on the water and there is not a cloud in the sky. It is hard to believe the 71 degrees is going to drop into the 50’s. Remember no heat – we are sucking up as much heat as we can.
We are really enjoying life here in marathon and hate to leave. It is a place that we are certainly going to return. The people are friendly and we can get everywhere we want to go with bicycles. Most of all it is reasonably priced. The morning starts with us listening on the VHF radio to the cruisers’ net at 9AM. Each day a different volunteer hosts the program. People who have just arrived are greeted and those leaving are wished safe voyage. Next are announcements of events that are happening that day or in the near future. Then people are asked if they need help with anything. The next part of the program is for anyone who has something to sell or people looking for certain items for their boat. The last section of the program is trivia. People are asked if they have a trivia question that would stump the marina. Those with the answer call on the radio to see if they are correct. The purpose is to help form a community of boaters. Some people stay the entire winter here.
December 14, 2010
We spent yesterday on the boat. The wind made it almost impossible for us to go to shore. Francie baked and we cooked meals to warm up the boat. We also spend time charging the electrical system. And people thought we would just be drinking exotic while basking in the sun, actually we thought the same thing!
It is colder today, but the wind is supposed to lessen in the afternoon so we may be able to get to shore. We don’t have cabin fever yet, but given a few more days…. We did mention that we missed the Christmas spirit created in the residence previously known as home. We have a few decorations on the boat and of course an evergreen scented candle!