This is the new first mate, Heather, reporting from the ICW. Thursday after Mom left the boat we headed out towards Vero Beach and had a minor complication with a clogged engine filter which Dad fixed en route. After reaching Vero Beach about 3:00 we decided to go ahead and get some extra mile behind us and eneded up anchoring out behind a couple of islands somewhere north of Vero. Stormy night that night as the winds whipped the boat totally around, luckliy the anchor held without a problem and we stayed put. Left early the next morning for Daytona and had beautiful weather the entire day with highs around 80 and lots of dolphin passerbyers. Anchored for the night again a few miles south of Daytona where we had a pretty sunset just before the start of the Buckeyes game(which was not as pretty) and dinner. Pulled anchor this morning around 7:30 and had a huge flock of seagulls (picture) follow us out. Today we're headed up to Jacksonville and have already seen about 4 pods of dolphins, coast guard put out a warning for wright whales migrating through Jacksonville but the Captain said the seas are too rough so, I guess I'll have to settle for dolphins and pelicans.

Tuesday March 24, 2010

You gotta blow this picture up to get the full effect. Wow!!!!! This is all we saw as we entered New River into Fort Lauderdale. Mega Yachts that made us feel so tiny. You would not believe the size of the homes and boats here. Do you think any of the people that own these yachts have ever been the pilot of their own boat? We fueled up at Petersons Fuel Delivery when we got here. It is a yellow barge that goes to the boats when you need fuel. He had anchored and was fueling a few other boats when we got to him. You called ahead and they tell you where he was. We traveled the river that is the width of a canal as it gets into the downtown area. There are no words that can describe what is here. If ever you are in Lauderdale, you must go downtown to the city marina and see all the boats tied up and down the canal with the water taxi's and big yachts going by. We are by the drawbridge and the really big boats stop right by our boat to wait for the bridge to rise. Tonight the interior lights were on in most of them and you could see inside. There is a bar/restaurant just 20 steps from our boat. You almost feel rich being here. The weather was wonderful.

Monday March 23, 2010

I know this poor fish is turned the wrong way to see it but it is a Barracuda that was about three feet long. We already have a larger one hanging at the office so this one was donated to the crew to eat or give to some one. Captain Jeff was the one who caught this guy. We headed out in the rain for Key Biscayne today. We took the outside (ocean) up to Ocean Reef where the big yachts and well to do billionaires live. We jumped on to the ICW and dropped anchor for the night at No Name Key. You could see the skyline of Miami in the distance. A hugh city even by water. The place we stayed was behind a break wall. There were about 10 other boats there with us. You took your dingy to shore and put twenty dollars into a blue envelope and put that in the box. This was your slip space for the night. The sun was shinning by the time we got there and the night was calm. Tomorrow we head on north on the ICW to Fort Lauderdale.

March 21, 2010 Sunday

We have had a busy weekend. Friday night we went over to some friends house and shared a meal of fresh fish (yellow tail), shrimp and coconut shrimp, cole slaw, green beans, key lime pie and a strawberry cake. They caught the fish. Well, my two kids have had been very busy playing. They went diving Saturday afternoon and today they went fishing in the morning. When they got back, we jumped in the dingy and went to the Pilot House with two other dingys for a late lunch. There is a bar there with a glass floor and you can feed the fish and watch them. Later the three of us went to Coconuts for one last drink in the keys. This area is great. The weather was great until tonight when a storm moved through late. Laundry is done and the boat is ready to get moving again. Check in tomorrow for a pic of what one of them caught on their fishing trip!

Thursday March 18th, 2010

This is the same channel looking from the far end of it. At this picture we are at what is called "crash corner". A very sharp turn into the connecting channel. Can you guess why it's called this? As you enter this turn, you need to announce that you are close so any other big boats don't meet you there. Today we rented a car to go to Fort Lauderdale to pick up Heather. She will be riding in my place after Wednesday. I need to get back to work before the month end. They will try to get the boat into Georgia by April 1st and put up for a few months. If they can't do this because of weather, they will need to fly home and Captain Jeff will come down sometime next month and finish the trip into Georgia. Today was another overcast day. The temp was warm...about 78. Trip into Lauderdale took about two hours. Trip by water will take two days.

march 17th, 2010

Happy St Patty's day! This is the channel leading out to another channel leading out to the Atlantic Ocean. Make sense? This was taken from the back of our boat in Key Largo where we are for awhile. It is a rainy day. Lots of rain! We just killed part of the day and then met with Bob and Katie (Floating Stone) and our friends John and Jackie Newby for corn beef and cabbage to celebrate the day. We ate at Shakeys and the meal was wonderful. Luck of the Irish to all.

Tuesday. March 16th, 2010

I was going over some of our pictures from the beginning of our trip and ran across this one. This is a pic of what is left of a house on Kentucky Lake. You could actually see the steps that once lead up to the front door of someones home. Water surrounded the whole foundation. Today was warm as long as you were in the sun. Captain got our leak from the wash down hose fixed (we hope). We broke out the dingy and road around the canals. Bob and Katie (Floating Stone) got theirs launched too and we dreamed about the three-five million dollar homes we saw. Sad part was that there were boats setting in front of these homes that probably cost just as much. We did a lot of drooling and wishing. There was one house that had as very big dog running along the wall barking at boats. We were just hoping he wouldn't jump in the water and take a bite out of our dingys. All four of us set around the pool and visited during happy hour. I set with my feet in the hot tub and had a seagull stand beside me and just look at me. After I told him I had nothing to eat, he just looked at me, walked around the hot tub, got a drink and stood on the other side of me. Told him again I had nothing and he just walked away. Odd bird!

Monday March 15th, 2010

When we got up this morning, we found the winds will continue to blow so we pulled anchor and headed to Key Largo. We pulled anchor around 10:3o and headed to Snake Creek. As soon as we cleared this bridge, we were in the Atlantic Ocean. No more Ohio River, Tenn-Tom, Gulf of Mexico or Florida Bay. We are now in the big waters. We had nice water, with some wave action but not bad. It is about 73 here today but that dag gone wind makes it seem a little cooler. We made it to Marina Del-Mar around 1:45. We have a slip here for the next week and we have some looper friends staying there also. Floating Stone will be there for a month . We had supper with them tonight. We are in a temp slip and will move tomorrow to a bigger slip. All of this tying and untying and retying makes a captain mighty thirsty.

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

We pulled lines and left our little bit of paradise in Marathon today around 10:30 to head to Islamarada. The winds were a bit strong when we left and it took five people to hold us off the dock so we could get away. We arrived in the bay at Islamarada around 3:30. It was a smooth ride with some sun. Saw these birds setting on the sticks that mark the shallows on our way there. Really weird sight.
We dropped the dingy in the water and rode into our favorite restaurant here Lorelil. We met some friends for supper. When we got ready to leave, our dingy front was in the shallows and so we need to push off. First mate needed to get in the back to shift the weight a little. Captain decided to start the motor (pull rope). Got the picture yet? Captains elbow met first mates face. Bloody lip and sore nose. Of course, it was the first mates fault plus she got blood on one of the seats....throw her over board! It was a very wet and rough ten minute ride back to our boat. The winds have picked up and there is very much a chop in the bay tonight.

March 13th, Saturday

Fred was pretending to be an Eagle! No really, he was just drying out his wings. Today was our last day here in Marathon. Six of us rode our bikes to the Sea Food Festival today. Lots of crafts, food and music. We then rode down to the Publix, the deli and Daffy Dougs Dollar Deals. We spent the night trying to get things ready to leave in the morning but I don't think we will get out very early. We still need to pump out, fill up with water, get the dingy loaded on the boat, get the bikes loaded and things inside the boat laid down and put up. Really hate to leave this area. It is so beautiful here and we have made so many new friends. Linda and Dave (Perfect Timing) went down to a resort called Tranquility to see what they would charge for a months stay. $10,000.00! Really nice place but they decided it was a little out of their league. Wow! We will be on an anchor tomorrow night so we hope the winds die down some.

Wednesday Mar 11th

Are you seeing pink flamingos? They were even on the roof and hood of the truck. Close your eyes and try to imagine the person who drives this vehicle! Interesting. We saw a lady who had a (one) dread lock going all the way her back and was about a foot from the ground. The person with her had many tattoos and piercings. She had six silver balls under her lower lip that made a smile. Wouldn't it just be easier to just smile? We hitched a ride to the grocery today to get previsions to leave here. We have decided to go to the seafood festival Saturday with six other loopers and head out Sunday morning. Looks like we might get some storms tomorrow. It is suppose to be 80-88 degrees tomorrow. Finally warm weather.

Tuesday Mar 10th

You buy a new boat and bring it down to your $200,000.00 slip. Oops! You hit the rocks with the lower unit! Now you need to get it out of the water but the boat doesn't run. No fear! Tow Jeff U.S. to the rescue! They tied a line to the trailer and Jeff guided the boat out of the slip and over to the ramp. Of course, the first mate got the blame.Today was just a lazy day in the sun. Captain did get the rest of the boat washed. We took a dingy ride over to the fish market for a late lunch. About two miles from here. Great lunch. I just kept looking forward the whole ride because I made a mistake and looked back at the Captain only to see him bailing water out. Just a little water he said. We did this going and coming back. Yes, there is still a leak in this silly dingy!

March 9th Tuesday

This will give you an idea of the beautiful view we have here in Marathon. This has been our slip since we got here. Everyone here owns their slip. We could buy one for about $200,000.00. This also gives you the right to use the club house and the apartment they have above it for guest. Half of our rent money for the time we are here goes to the owner. His boat is pulled at the time. Today was another beautiful day. Little on the windy side. We are starting to get things ready to move again on Saturday for Islamarada. Anytime we are somewhere for a few days, we get things out or we are a little lax on getting things up just right so they don't fall over. So,I needed to straighten up the cupboards. We went to Burdines for a Ruben and we had a huge basket of fries that everyone said were the best. They were good but not sure if the best is quite right. It should be 81 here by Friday. All the locals can't believe how cold it has been.

Someone run down to Lighthouse Marina and see if Endless Summer is still there. We think it looks like someone brought it down here. Really, this boat is on the dock beside us in Marathon Florida. Looks like they could be twins.
Today was a true Florida Keys day. The temp was in the seventies, very little wind and not much to do but soak up some rays! The captain did fix the dingy brackets that got broke during the last high winds, he washed some of the boat and ran down to West Marine looking for a water softener for the first mate but other than that, it was just a lazy day. Happy hour around here is 5:00 so you need to be done with any projects and have beer or what ever in hand to visit with the locals. Most of the loopers are now gone. I think there are four of us left. One will leave tomorrow and the other two around April 9th. We will be here until next Monday and then we will be heading back north to Islamarada and Key Largo. Yep, we are as far south as we will be going.

March 7th Sunday

These ducks sleeping in a tree. There are two. Can you see them? The tree is right along the water. Today we went to the 7 Mile Grill for breakfast. I had a croissant that was as big as a dinner plate with the sweetest watermelon. Then three of us caught a cab to Key Colony beach day. They had junk vendors, food and music. When we got back, Second Star and Monks Vineyard were gone. The winds finally died down enough for them to get out of the marina. Today was the first day that it seemed like the Keys. The sun was shinning and it was nice and warm.

March 6th Saturday

Sunset from the pilothouse of our boat. Every night is a beautiful sunset from our boat. Today we rode our bikes down to the seven mile bridge to Pigeon Key. Captain was hungry so we stopped at Fat Booys restaurant. It was their grand opening so beers were one dollar. Their specials were Elk or Rabbit/Rattlesnake brats and buffalo sliders. Captain had the rabbit/rattlesnake with a slider on the side. I had a glass of water! I just couldn't bring myself to eat anything there. When they said they had dogs, I was afraid it was a real dog and not just a plain old hotdog. We went down to the Sunset Grill with 6 other loopers. We walked down (about a mile) around 4:00, had a few drinks and appetizers, finally supper and walked back in the very very dark. The night air was a little cool but the sunset was beautiful. No clouds in the sky. Captain finally got the spare cabin all out back together and we hope all leaks are now a thing of the past. One of our hatches was not closed really tight on the run over and the bed got salt water all over it so...back to the laundry with all the bedding on the spare bed. I am so tired of washing that comforter. This is about the fifth time! At least laundry here is only seventy five cents.

March 5th, 2010. Friday

This is just a small section of the Seven Mile Bridge that connects Marathon to Bahia Honda Key. We are at mile marker 46.5. Key West is mile zero. This is an awesome bridge to go over unless there is a wreck on it and then you could be on it for hours. This is also the bridge we went under to get to Boot Key and than back into the Florida Bay when we changed marinas. We had to go thru the center span that reached 68 feet into the air. Today we acted like we were on vacation. After several phone calls that revolved around work, I read a book (one whole book in a day) that was hard to put down and Captain did little repairs and piddled the day away.

Thursday March 4th

Low Tide at Boot Key Channel. Yep, these boats are high and dry. Our guess is that they are live aboards and the smaller boat to the right is their dingy. This is a very large boat and a sail boat tied together. We has our dessert party at 3:30 this afternoon. m Sally Ann and Andrew for Freedom made a cat litter cake complete with little cat turds. we were assured that Tut, their cat, had nothing to do with it. White cake crumbled, vanilla pudding, crumbled cookies and tootsie rolls for the turds. Interesting! I just made plain old oat meal and raisin cookies. They at them all so they couldn't have been to plain. We ate supper at a Mexican/seafood restaurant. Ok food but we've had better. Again the waters are slapping the boat. The price you pay for a few days of paradise!

March 3rd, 2010 Wednesday

This is Fred and yes I was almost this close to him. I was standing on the bow of the boat. He sets on one of the pilings in front of our boat. So far, no bird droppings. We rode our bikes to the grocery, Home Depot (to try to find something to fix the dingy brackets that broke during the high winds yesterday), to West Marine, the Stuffed Pig (lunch) and a T-shirt place. All in all, about 7 miles. We ran into someone with the same last name at the shirt place. She and I got to talking and found we had something in common. They miss pronounce it or we do. We couldn't decide who was.
The waters are slapping the boat over and over again and really makes for bad sleeping for me. Captain can sleep no matter what. The waves come at us straight into the bow. We really don't rock much or I have gotten use to it. We are having a dessert party tomorrow night as a going away party for two of the looper boats, Second Star and Naplis Vineyard. The weather here is warm in the day (not hot) but there are freeze warnings out for tonight. It is suppose to get down to 39 here in Marathon.
Well, another day on paradise has come and gone.

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

This is the view from the front of our boat. Perfect! There was a storm brewing when we took this picture. Winds were suppose to be to gail force along with rain. Everyone here helped us tie and retie the boat so we didn't hit the dock or pilings. Got a little rain, lots of wind but no storm. It went around us. Yeah!!!!! There was a pitch in dinner in the club house tonight. One looper couple, Freedom, is making the fish. They were right beside us at Joe Wheeler State park. Great fish, side dishes and company. There are about 6 other looper boats here and all were at the rendezvous at Joe Wheeler. Small world out here on the water. Captain Jeff is in seventh heaven. He is where he always wanted to be. In the keys on his boat! We are getting lots of information to help us out on the east coast. Three of these boats will complete the loop by August. Then there are us "working" folks who will complete it two years. Oh well. At east we will be seeing things instead of just flying by and wishing we did but didn't. Captain is fixing the little things that are starting to rust because of the salt water. Boy does it eat at things in a hurry

Monday March 1st, 2010

Pulled anchor at 6:45 and heading to Marathon Florida in the sunny ( we hope) Keys! This part of the run was all on the outside. Water was smooth and there was some sun. By 10:00 we had Marathon in sight. Arrived at Boot Key (ocean side) at 11:00 trying to fine a slip for the night. We were going to stay at Burdine's in the channel. Even paid the $108.00 for the night until a fellow looper put us on to Harbour Cay Club right across the street but in the Florida Bay. So...we hopped on our bikes and rode them across the street and found a little piece of heaven. We went back to our boat and they were nice enough to let us fuel up and apply the $108.00 to the fuel since we were not staying there. So...back under the seven mile bridge and into our slip at the club. We are facing the bay with nothing in our view but beautiful waters and a few small islands. What a view. The people here treat you like family and it is only $300.00 for a week. Better price! We ate supper at the restaurant next door, Porkeys. We had beer butt chicken with mashed potatoes, corn bread stuffing, great green beans and cranberry sauce. Beer butt chicken is where they cook the chicken setting on a can of beer (use your imagination where the can of beer is placed). Very moist and good but a lot of food for $26.00. We took chicken home to eat tomorrow. This is a picture of Boot Key Channel. Lots and lots of boats. Someone called it the white trash village. Wasn't for us!

Feb 28th, Sunday

Sunset at Little Shark River. We left Naples at 8:05 and arrived at our anchorage at 3:30 Again, we were on the outside. Not sure there is an ICW from this point on to the Keys. Got ready to fix supper and the generator would not start. We borrowed a set of jumpers from another boater and later found that a fuse had blown. The weather is cool and after the sun went down, the waters was calm. There are two loopers here with us that are going north. We have the trialing winds with us and they will be fighting the waves tomorrow. Glad we are heading south!

Feb 27th, Saturday

Just wanted to share this with you. These Pelicans take over the dingy dock when you aren't watching. Looks like they are trying to decide who is going to be the motor on the one and the other little guy is looking for passengers. Maybe they are just the watch dogs so no one steals your dingy!

Feb 27th

This is an Eagle that watched us come in to Naples yesterday. We saw about 6 of them once we went back into the ICW. Today we rode to Tin City. An old fishing village that has been turned into a tourist area. Mainly little shops. It was interesting to see all the buildings and imagine them as a fish market. Big buildings and had to be lots of fish once upon a time. We rode around and went back as the winds picked-up. The rain and winds were not as bad as they thought it might be but there were some strong gusts. That night we rode our bikes into town and had supper at an Italian restaurant called Campiello, in the open patio with rain drops falling on us once in awhile. Excellent meal. We are getting things ready to leave in the morning for Little Shark. This is an inlet where we will anchor for the night. Getting closer to the Florida Keys!

Feb 26th Friday

This is Paradise Preserve Marina. Annie Lee is the second boat on the left on the wall. The people on that big boat are Swiss and have left for a short while because their green card is about to expire. They had ten feet added to the middle of this boat. We finally left here today for Naples. Yesterday there were small craft advisories and today is just a light chop. We traveled today in the Gulf (the outside). The weather is still not warm but at least the sun is shinning. We left Ft Myers at 10:45 and arrived at Naples City Dock at 3:45. It takes an additional hour to get all the lines ties off just right for the tides and the winds. We rode our bikes down to "The Pier" to watch the sunset along with at least 100 other people. Had a good supper at a local pub and just rode around the town. We have decided to stay tomorrow because there are high winds and rain due in the area.