Sunday Feb 27: Flea Market

Up at 6:30 and off on the bikes to the bus stop yesterday morning so we could catch the 8:05 bus. We wanted to get there early as the next bus that goes the 40 miles to Islamarada didn't leave until after 1 pm. The bus was almost filled (lots of boaters going to this nautical flea market) so we were glad we got there early. The place was packed! Plan A for breakfast: have cereal on the boat but the milk went sour on us. Plan B: McD's before getting on the bus but it was packed. Plan C: the Rotary breakfast at the flea marked but they sold out of breakfast! Steve did well though and managed to get some anyway as many people left the line upon hearing there were no more eggs. It was so hot (sorry to say this for those in the north) in the sun that I spent much of the time sitting under a tree but we were still able to score pretty well. We ended up with a 50 amp splitter (which allows us to use our 2 30 amp electric cords at a marina that only has 50 amp), a pressure gauge to replace the one that didn't work, another hose we needed to complete the dive gear, a convex 'rearview' mirror for the flybridge (it's hard to hear a boat coming up from behind and I neglect to look back often enough) and a new bathing suit for Steve. The trip back was a challenge as the bus company does not allow any standees. Steve and I were in line early enough that we were two of the 10 that made it on the 11:45 bus (which arrived at 12:30). Next bus: 3 hours later!!! I felt sorry for the folks that didn't make it on our bus. Breakfast was at the Stuffed Pig this morning where this weekend was decreed a Pig Festival - hence the pig races behind the restaurant. Maybe we'll bike back to see one in action!

Friday Feb 25: Mostly Work Day - And an Anniversary (A Little Late)

This is the view I see in the morning when I look out my little porthole by the bed. It constantly reminds me of how fortunate we are to be able to do what we are doing. Some days I walk around knocking on any piece of wood I can find! Guess a combined 55 years in public education certainly is a part of this but the other part is the wonderful, life-changing gift that was given to me by my brother Tom 26 years ago on Feb 22, 1985: one of his kidneys! I marvel that through that gift I have had a normal life (well, as normal as can be given that we choose to live on a boat :-)) for the last 26 years. So, THANKS TOM!!! And also a big THANKS to my other brother Pat who was also willing to donate one of his (they were the only two of my four brothers that had the right blood type). Just before the surgery, I recall sitting in pre-op with Tom and asking the nurses to be sure that he didn't try to escape :-)

Steve spent part of the day cleaning the textilene screens. A trip was to Daffy Doug's dollar store in search of a small broom to sweep the sand out of the boat that somehow makes it's way inside. While there, Steve spotted a small toaster which he has been wanting. It found a home under the sink as the rule about nothing sitting on the counter is still there!

We finally found out what draws the mallard ducks to the area: their own swimming pool of fresh water on the other side of the dock! Tomorrow: a bus trip to Tavernier to the nautical flea market and hopefully we'll be back early enough to go to the show to see "The King's Speech" which I've been wanting to see.

February 24: Thinking it's About Time to Move On

After John, Daisy and June left, we spent some time doing the normal mundane chores necessary - like laundry and cleaning up the boat. Wednesday was predicted to be nice weather and waves so the plan was to go back to Sombrero Reef.

The day was as predicted so Steve went diving and I snorkeled (there were some issues with some of the equipment we bought two years ago). The water was much clearer than when we went the first time. No pics of the diving/snorkeling but here is a picture of Steve fishing. Caught a few grunts but that was it.

The water was really blue today. Once you are out to a depth of more than 40 feet or so it is really something. Very, very blue. We were both beat by the time we arrived back at the dock at 5:45 - just in time for sunset!

Two gatherings this week of boaters: MTOA (our trawler group) on Tuesday at a marina a short bike ride away and the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruiser Assoc) tonight - right outside our boat! So even though we aren't members, we joined them anyway. Saw some folks both nights that we had first met on our travels down the inland rivers so it's always nice to catch up.

We plan on leaving here next Tuesday for the next phase in our travels. The plan is to be in Tavernier for the month of March but then who knows!!

February 22: Fun With Johnny, Daisy and June

It was a great visit from John (Steve's brother in case it isn't obvious from the pictures!), his wife Daisy and Daisy's sister, June (never having met June, we speculated on her name: the gamete ran from Rose to Petunia! - what a good sport she was :-)) First off, we wanted to see for ourselves the horseshoe tossing form that makes Daisy so good. Even with the poorly maintained "courts" she did not disappoint!

Somehow they always seem to make the news! They spent several days at Terri and Scott's house (in Bradenton) and ended up with their picture in the Sarasota newspaper... not sure who they know ..... but congrats on the wedding anniversary :-) (FYI: the tux is a T-shirt!!)

Since their arrival was late in the day on Sunday, the evening was spent sitting outside the boat visiting, relaxing and waiting for the sunset (pictured is Joe, John and Steve). As usual, it did was great. Dinner on shore by the boat and then goodbye's to Joe and Joy (left for the Bahama's Monday morning). The game of choice of the evening was Dominoes - lots of fun as we hadn't played Mexican Train in a long time. Sleeping quarters for June and Daisy was the front V-berth (complete with private head) and for John - the flybridge. He claims it was very comfortable ......

Up early on Monday with a walk along the old 7 mile bridge (I stayed behind and made sure no one took our seats on the bench :-) ). It's about 2 miles out and then 2 miles back - guess that was the exercise for the day. Of course everyone needed refueling after all of that so we went to Sunset Grill for lunch, then a quick stop at the Turtle Hospital (we actually just went to the main display area that had much information on the turtles that inhabit the Keys waters).

Back to the boat where John and Steve went kayaking. Nice day for it - some fish were spotted but the biggest fish spotted was a large (2 1/2 foot) barracuda sitting right under our boat! There was also a hammerhead shark (small) seen just off of the end of the dock. Steve saw it but no one else (mmmmmm......)

A short boat outing was in order (why come to visit someone who lives on a boat if you don't go out on the water??!) so we left about 1 1/2 hours before sunset and enjoyed our desert (yes - before dinner) of key lime pie. Steve and John also had stone crab claws as we awaited the sunset over water and hoped for a view of the green blip as the sun set. Unfortunately it was just a bit hazy so we were disappointed (check out youtube for green blip videos if you are a nonbeliever).

Up early again today with a final group shot before breakfast at I-HOP. John, Daisy and June are headed to Orlando today and then back home by the weekend. It was great to see them again - they now hold the record for the number of nights spend staying on our boat with us at 3 nights! Maybe they will be back .....

February 20: Discovering the Keys

Some of the things we have done while on Marathon: riding to the old "7 mile" bridge that was originally a train track and then converted to a car road and finally decommissioned when the new 7 mile bridge was built. It was shallow enough to see a number of spotted eagle rays swimming below. This old bridge runs about 2 1/2 miles to a small island.

When we had a car, we drove to the next key where there is a protected area for the small relative of the whitetail deer: the key deer. At one point there were only 26 left (after WWII) but are now protected and are making a comeback. They look just like the Ohio whitetail only smaller. Nice walking path and Steve spotted an alligator at the Blue Hole.

Steve and Joy went fishing yesterday on a charter boat. The fishing was not great but Joy caught a big snapper (largest catch of the day!) and there was plenty for supper. She stopped and bought a gaff for the BIG fish they will be trying for as they cross the gulf stream!

Sunset always seems to made a crowd gather at the end of our dock - last night was no exception. Joy and Joe were out along with some folks from the hotel here. Most nights lately we've had dinner on our boat (Steve and Joy sharing the cooking duties) and then afterward play euchre. They are leaving for the Bahamas tomorrow - we will definitely miss them!

John, Daisy and Daisy's sister arrive tonight so we look forward to spending a couple of days with them!

February 16: Road Trip to Charleston, WV - Mandy's Wedding!

We left last Friday for a road trip of about 2,000 miles (roundtrip) to Charleston, West Virginia. The occasion? Mandy's wedding! The two 1/2 days of driving went well with overcast skies most of the time. The barren hills and mountains were sure a change from the palm trees I'm looking at outside my window! The tunnels we passed through so many times when driving from Cleveland to the Keys were still fun to go through.

The last 1/2 day we detoured through the New River Gorge area in southern WV. It was a really neat bridge and had a nice visitor center that explained how the bridge (the longest single arch bridge in the western hemisphere) was built. Note the snow on the ground. Brrrr.....

The gorge was really nice - turns out Pat and Becky had white water rafted down it some years ago. We found a great Inn by the river for a valentine lunch and then headed on to Charleston.

We knew we had arrived in Charleston when we spotted the gold-domed capitol building! A visit was attempted but there were no parking places for blocks around it - not sure what was going on but lots of official looking vehicles. Everyone from out of town gathered for dinner Sunday night near the hotels but we had time to explore the riverfront during the afternoon - it was a beautiful but cold day.

Valentine's Day: Warren walked Mandy down the isle, the former state supreme court justice married Mandy and Jason and all celebrated! For more wedding pictures, go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/lfrankooh/MandyAndJasonSWedding?authkey=Gv1sRgCJT1-diWw7aSPA#

Up early Tuesday morning - with a layer of heavy frost on the windshield. Really? We need to be headed south! Overall, a great road trip but we're happy to be home :-)

Play and Work - A Nice Balance

Weather for Sunday was predicted to be light winds and 1 ft seas so we decided to take the boat out to Sombrero Reef - about and hour and a half run to the Atlantic side of Marathon. Joe and Joy joined us in our first outing in the boat since we had arrived in Marathon 2 weeks ago. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day but just a bit windy. The wind and tide combined made for a not really pleasant ride but it's a trawler (by nature rocky/rolly)! This is the Sombrero Light.

Joy and Steve wore dive skins/gloves/fins/mask to snorkel as there are numerous Portuguese man of war floating on the water. The sting from these animals is quite nasty so all precautions possible were taken. Matt: you would be proud of the safety level taken!! The water was pretty cloudy so another trip to this reef may be in order. Joe and I volunteered to stay aboard and be the designated watchers :-)

The Superbowl of course was on the agenda for the evening - great game but we found the commercials for the most part to be disappointing. As for the half time show: we decided we are just too old!

Another nice day on Monday - which was decreed a work day. Time to install the inverter Steve picked up at 70% off at West Marine. First: change the electrical connections on the main electrical panel. Second: totally destroy the inside of the cabin by pulling the floor boards up, the frig out and the freezer out. My job: crawl under the engine compartment to run wires but the best was my wire hooking apparatus made up of a yard stick and a paint roller handle! Worked like a charm!

A new outlet was added to the front cabin that will be powered by the inverter and the outlet for the freezer also to be powered by the inverter. Both are nice to have for when we are traveling or at anchor - and no more running of extension cords through the cabin.

That was all yesterday. We worked from about 10 am until 8 pm to get it done - but we're very happy to at least that much done. Today the final wiring was done and the inverter installation job (inverter on the wall and working!!!) completed :-)