Saturday February 28: Trip Day 3

It was a nice sunset Monday night at Newfound Harbor - waters were very calm.

We were surprised to get up and find ourselves in a fog bank! This is very unusual for the Keys - probably that darn northern weather again :-)

So we enjoyed the morning and waited for the fog to lift.

The plan was to leave the harbor, head due south and spend the morning at Looe Key reef. We had been to this reef only one time many years ago and even though we heard it was really nice, the experience diving there was not great.

The water was very cloudy and it didn't seem like there was much to see. We were definitely looking for a better experience this time around!

I Think I Can .... with a very shallow draft of 2 feet led us over the shallow area leading back to the ocean. Nice as it saved us a mile or so of backtracking through the channel route we took in.

Once out in the deeper water, it didn't take long for Steve to get the trolling rods out and into the water. Surely he would catch something today??

But no. Empty hooked again. In fact the only strike he had the whole time out was day 1. Something huge was pulling out the line like crazy - sadly whatever it was came off before Steve could get it near the boat. Probably a barracuda but it would have been nice to see for sure.

Plus they fight like crazy!

It wasn't long and we were on the reef. The water was so incredibly blue, calm and clear.What a perfect day to snorkel!!

Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... picked up a mooring buoy and into the water everyone went.

Yes - even I went in :-) (Granted, I didn't go in at first but was convinced that it was a not to be missed day.) Tons of fish around and the water so incredibly clear.

Cindy and Randy's underwater camera gave George an opportunity to take some great pictures at the reef!

Two really great sightings: first was the turtle that Steve and George tried to herd toward the boat where Nancy and I were.

We were able to see it in the water but the picture George got of the turtle and Steve was great!

The other really fun thing? The Goliath Grouper that was hanging out underneath our boat!

Steve heard there was one that lives on this reef and is fed by the snorkel boats (not sure that is true) so he headed off - swimming around the

reef in search of the giant grouper. I had tired of swimming and headed back to the boat.

Imagine my surprise when I looked under the boat and there was the grouper! George took a number of pictures but it's really hard to get a perspective on the size of the crazy thing.

I outlined our prop in red in the picture right to give some idea of the size of this giant fish. Estimated at 3 1/2 to 4 feet long and 300 pounds?? Just not sure.

Fortunately it hung around until Steve finally returned to the boat :-)

Time to head to our previously selected anchorage near Big Pine Key. Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... took the direct route - we followed the reef line about 5 miles offshore. Longer route for sure - we'll catch up at the anchorage.


It actually turned out ok though as there were already some boats anchored where we were going to go. Change of plans and we ended up just west of Little Pine Key. Very nice!


Because of the change, we were actually anchored before the others arrived. Talk about flat water ....

It was getting late so no dingy exploring but everyone joined us in a combined dinner on the flybridge.

Great evening, great company .....

And another great sunset!! (well this is actually from the night before but was such a great picture :-) )

Thanks again to Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... for sharing photos - especially the underwater pics!

Friday February 27: Having Fun - Day 2

Thanks to Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... for sharing their photos!

Steve was up early enough Monday morning to catch the sunrise.

The weather forecast was finally just what was predicted! After a quick breakfast it was time to head out of the marina and on to Newfound Harbor.

We carefully headed out of the marina with Steve on the bow to watch for the deepest water. This channel is pretty shallow - even for our 3.8' draft. Success! No scraping of the bottom of the keel :-)

Our route from Banana Bay yesterday is in red on the chart left. Today we would retrace our path back out to the ocean side - heading southwest to the entrance to Newfound Harbor (in yellow).





I Think I Can ... was in the lead as we headed out from Bahia Honda.

We were next and Jenna Star followed behind.

The ocean side was much calmer than yesterday so it was a very pleasant hour and a half trip to Newfound harbor. We were in and anchored by noon or so.

Time to do some relaxing :-) Maybe a good book on the flybridge?? What a gorgeous day.

Just one little project: getting the Bose noise canceling headphones working. One of Becky's Christmas gifts were Bose's new noise canceling ear buds so what was she to do with her "old" headphones?

Sure - we'd take them!! Just needed to clean the battery connection a bit. Special tool needed - a dremel bit taped to the end of an awl. Maybe Steve should patent that :-)

Now he can enjoy peace and quiet as we travel. The engine noise in the cabin is - well, let's just say the headphones will be a nice addition! Thanks, Becky!!

 It wasn't too long until the dinghies came down. There were several islands around that we wanted to check out.


In particular, one called Picnic Island. Once we were a bit closer, we discovered why it was called that! A perfect place place for a picnic - like a miniature Big Chief near Orillia on the Trent.

Sandy bottom, relatively shallow. Clearly a gathering place for the locals.

On one of the nearby islands, we found half a dozen frigatebirds resting in the mangroves. First time we've ever seen them up close. For more info on the frigatebird, click here.

Usually we are looking for them flying as they are often an indication there are fish around! So the instructions to me when we're trolling are always: look for sea grass lines and look for frigatebirds. When spotted - head that direction :-)

It was surprisingly warm in the sun (remember the cold from the north actually extends down this far ... just sayin ...). Not a problem for Cricket though. Cindy just uses Cricket's life jacket as a handle and dunks her feet in the water.

We may turn them in to the SPCA.

Meanwhile, Gidget found her spot for the ride around. Never fell in the water either!

After snacks and docktails on the aft deck of I Think I Can ... it was time to follow George and Nancy as they headed back toward Picnic Island.

From there it was possible to see the sun setting over water. Was it going to be our luck to see the green flash???







Sadly not but it was a great sunset anyway.

 Funniest thing spotted today? George and Nancy found this little crab sitting on a leaf - paddling his way to ???

Thursday February 26: It's Tiring Having Fun - Day 1

Thank you to Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... for the generous sharing of their pictures!!

Finally - the weather Steve was waiting for - came. Three days of little or no winds - perfect for the cruise to nowhere and back :-)

Sunday the seas were a bit higher than predicted though (often the case) so we opted to return to Bahia Honda State Park and then continue on to Newfound Harbor on Monday - assuming the weather predicted was just a bit late in coming.

Randy and Cindy in I Think I Can ... and George and Nancy in Jenna Star had traveled down the bay side but we didn't fit under the new highway bridge so we traveled outside. Pretty rolly so it suited us to stop after a couple of hours.

Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... were anchored nicely outside the entrance to the marina. Steve and I opted for the marina itself. After all it was Sunday night and Downton Abbey was on. How lame is that ......

Regardless, it was a good base for a gathering at the picnic table for a group dinner.












Cindy and Nancy were in charge of the steaks on the grill - Steve added the vegetarian chili and green beans. This was dinner after snacks of course :-)

There were some walks to the old bridge and a stop at the ice cream shop (I won't name names here but they live on a red American Tug :-) )

The view from the bridge overlooking the harbor and the new highway bridge is always pretty - today was no exception.

Cricket was getting cold so out came my Brown's blanket - she loves to be covered up!

The shore line is a nice view as well. Normally the beach has a lot more sea grass but I guess the north winds had blown much of it off shore.

It's the lines of sea grass that Steve is always looking for when we're out trolling for dolphin fish. The small fish hide under the sea grass so the big fish go to the sea grass to find lunch :-)













Dinghies are the transportation of choice. Nancy and George were returning to Jenna Star before coming back for dinner.

A perfect ending to the day: gorgeous sunset .......

Monday? On to Newfound Harbor.

Sunday February 22: Happy Kidney Day!!

As it does every year, February 22nd has rolled around again. 30 times this day had rolled around since 1985.

30 times I have called my brother to see how his remaining kidney is doing :-)

30 times we have formally celebrated one more year of a successful transplant.

In year 10, we had a party. I was somewhat leary of having an actual celebration - you know - jinxing and all of that stuff.

So now we just continue to be grateful to my brother Tom for his gift. And we both continue to monitor the health of my other brothers. Just kidding - although they all seem to be holding in there quite well!

Tom retired recently. This is what my brother Pat posted on Facebook:

After 37 years as a surgeon on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona, my brother, Tom, has retired.

What began as a two-year stint turned into a life of service to the Navajo and Hopi. A comment by a cohort to a photo post of Tom as a much younger man earlier last year presented a good summation of his work:

"Who would have guessed on that day that Tom would someday be a legendary surgeon, known among other surgeons as "The Master"? That he would work tirelessly for years, taking call every other night or every third night for years, and do so cheerfully and with humor? That he would follow two legendary surgeons, and surpass them? That he would have been a superstar in any venue, but he found his home on the Navajo (reservation)? That he would retire as a CAPT in the US Public Health Service? That he would recognize a hereditary bowel cancer in Navajos and call in the experts from the CDC, a significant scientific contribution? I have a dear friend, a Harvard-trained surgeon, double-boarded in Anesthesia and Surgery, who thinks Tom Drouhard WALKS ON WATER. . . and there are a whole lotta people who feel and think that way about him."

Just count Steve and me as two more who feel and think that way about him.....

Wednesday February 18: John and Daisy

We spent an enjoyable few days with Steve's brother John and his wife Daisy.

They arrived early evening Saturday and after a quick dinner, we settled into what became our nightly game of chicken foot dominoes.

I always keep score and somehow they haven't picked up on why it is that the scorekeeper always wins .....

Actually that's not true but I did manage to win the second game :-)

The weather was sunny but cool. Still way warmer than what's going on up north in Ohio!

A walk on Big Pine Key to the Blue Hole produced a look at a rather large alligator (hard to see in the picture left) and an up close and personal look at the small key deer which are native to this area.

For more info on the key deer, click here.

John was ready for the sunny day on the trip Monday to the Dolphin Research Center with his Hart of Dixie Rammer Jammer ball cap - thanks Becky!!





It was a nice trip to see the dolphins. One thing we rarely see on the bay side by the marina here are dolphins. Not sure if it's too shallow (mostly about 5 feet or so) or not enough water moving through. Whatever the reason, going to the dolphin center was a sure fire way for them to see dolphins!

As you can see, it's really hard to miss the place :-)







It was still a bit windy but not so bad on the bay side so it was voted to go to lunch by boat.

The Island Grill is a nice 45 minute ride on the bay side. It was a bit crowded (President's Day) but no problem with docking space.

John finished off the trip yesterday morning at breakfast with Key Lime Stuffed French Toast at Porky's. I mean where else can you get that but in the Keys, right?

He said it was very good and there wasn't any left on the plate so I guess it was!

After breakfast, they headed off to Miami to fly back to Ohio.

Sure hope they packed some of the sunshine from down here .....