Winter in the Keys was Not as Planned!

     The previous post was ready and just awaiting the photos to be loaded. . .for the second week in February. Unfortunately, I had 2 visits to the ER at Lower Keys Medical Center.  The first time I was admitted for a very slow heartbeat, closely monitored and diagnosed with a possible heart block. After 48 hours, I was released and scheduled a follow-up with the cardiologist for February 16^th.

     Wednesday evening, 2/15, we had with dinner new friends from the marina, Carol and Richard from SV NYOKA, Spokane, Washington.  We had a wonderful dinner at Hogfish Grille along with great conversations. We dropped them off at their boat, and I planned to pick Carol up at 9 AM in the morning so we could do some provisioning.

      That night I was too uncomfortable to sleep. Around 2:30 AM, the indigestion suddenly became sharp, chest pains. I woke Pete and off we went to the ER in Key West. Within an hour, I was loaded into a medivac helicopter for the hour ride to Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami. Pete to return to the boat for Bailey and “stuff” then drove the 4 hours to Miami. 

     I spent the next 17 days in Kendall.  During that time, I had over 30 sticks in my arms, about 60 adhesive electro pads place and replaced; a cardiac catheterization that reveled my heart attack was enhanced by a deformity in one of my cardiac arteries (the lower portion of the artery decreases from 3cm to 1cm) while no plaque was found in any vessel; 2 days in the CCICU; constant cardiac monitoring that initially displayed every type of arrhythmia (a very artistic, but poorly functioning heart!); and surgical implant of a cardiac pacemaker. I was supposed to be discharged on day 6, the day after the pacemaker implant. Unfortunately, a surprise deflation of my left lung the next morning and the placement of a chest tube to re-inflate that stubborn lung prolonged my visit by another 10 days.

     Pete initially stayed at the hospital around the clock for the first week, only heading out for food, shower and change of clothes. He and Bailey were guest of our friends, Ann and Howie, in Delray Beach. Pete drove the 90 minutes (due to traffic) each way until I was released. After I was discharged, we made a detour to a hair salon for a wash and blow dry (17 days with only dry shampoo for my hair!), before heading “home.”

My early morning walks

     It was wonderful to spend the month with Ann and Howie. The first night "home" we both slept 12 hours straight! It took some time to build up my strength, but by the end of the month I was walking about 2 miles + in the neighborhood.  I even met a number of the neighbors. Ann and I enjoyed some lunches out while the guys joined us for some great dinners. We even got so see a number of movies including Hidden Figures (excellent!), La La Land (unimpressed), Sing (ok kids’ story, but great music), Logan (violent, but really good) and Beauty and the Beast (better than the original animation, which I loved!).

     Tuesday, 3/14, we headed over to the Volkswagen dealership and finally, after 5 months of various paperwork back and forth with VW, we finally turned in our Passat, which was part of the diesel law suit. Considering we really don’t need two cars, the buy-back deal was too sweet a deal to pass up. We brought both cars down to Florida, knowing that the VW would be turned in here in Florida.

Key West Deco

     Wednesday, 3/15, the four of us drove down to Stock Island Marina.  I had stocked up on about a week’s provisions yesterday for Pete’s voyage north.  Once everything was loaded and put away on board, we headed over to Hogfish Grille for a great hogfish, fish and chips lunch. Stock Island is still considered part of Key West.  Some of that “Key West flavor” was very present outside Hogfish in the trucks and the yard decorations.  On the way home, we stopped at Marathon Airport and retrieved the Acura, which Ann and I drove back to Delray Beach.

     Thursday, 3/16, was too windy and rough for Pete to start his trek north. It was a good thing as he received another rush job, which took most of the day.  Sitting in the cockpit late in the afternoon, a 4 year old little girl ran up the dock to meet her dad after work. She was dressed in a Super Girl costume complete with a bright red tutu. Guess what he ordered for our granddaughters?!

Love our Super Girls!

      Friday, 3/17, the winds shifted slightly, but still out of the ENE at 18-22. Pete left at sunrise, hoping to stay in the lea of the Keys on his way to Marathon.  It turned out to be a cold, raw, bumpy, wet, ride.  He was only making 4-5 mph when he was lucky.  Needless to say, he was exhausted when he dropped anchor outside of Marathon.

     Since it is St. Paddy’s day, I brought back the corned beef I had on board and cooked it in the crock pot with potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Our dinner was delicious, while Pete quickly made a sandwich and called it a night.

     Saturday, 3/18, Pete was up before the skies lightened and underway a soon as he felt comfortable with the increasing amount of light. The winds were still present, but the angle and intensity were more favorable.  He was able to do 6mph and use the main for a bit more speed.  He was passed by a number of sailboats having a great sail heading south.  After  a number of calculations, Pete figured that if he was a Key Largo by 4pm, he could make Biscayne Bay, south of the Rickenbacker Bridge by around 1AM.  The wind gods were kind and he was able to drop anchor by midnight.

     Sunday, 3/19, after only a few hours sleep, the skies began lightening and Pete once again hoisted the anchor, heading out the Miami Inlet heading up to Fort Lauderdale inlet. Once again, he had to call a number of marinas to find a slip.  The crew at Riviera City Marina remembered us, and though they had no slips, they put Pete in contact with Palm Beach Gardens Marina, which is also a Loggerhead managed marina.  They had space.  Knowing that Pete would not be in before 5, they told him to dock overnight at the gas dock and they would help him into his slip in the morning.  We picked him up around 6:30 and headed over to Lulu’s Deli, which makes an outrageous Lobster Roll dinner.  Since he needs to be ready to move the boat when they open in the morning, we took Pete back to the boat for the night, then headed “home.”

      Monday, 3/20, Ann and I were running errands close to West Palm Beach.  Since we were in the area, we told Pete we would pick him up once we were done.

Very low tide at
Palm Beach Gardens Marina

     As it turns out, Pete wasn’t moved into his slip until sometime after 11.  Since he was waiting, he had to put aside work until he returned to Delray.  Since he was docked at the gas dock facing East, and his slip was further West, all the way down an alley, Pete opted to simply back his way through the marina and into his slip.  The dock crew was so impressed, they told him they would save the video (since everything is videoed in the marina) to show proper docking techniques to those how have no clue.  He managed to hose down the boat, removing most of the salt and literally, throw some things together to take back “home,” along with his work stuff.

     He barely made it to 9PM and slept until 9 the next morning.

     Tuesday, 4/28, we headed back to Miami for my follow-up with the cardiologist. I was so fortunate to get assigned to Dr. Altamirano.  He is a gifted teacher and knowledgeable physician.  He spent over an hour discussing various medical options and the reasoning to follow a certain in a specific order. He also made sure I had the hospital notes that were important should I need medical care while traveling home. Pete and I are discussing the possibility of a road trip to Miami in July, when I need my next follow-up.

     Wednesday, 4/29. We did laundry and said our thanks and good-by to Ann and Howie.  By 5pm, we were back onboard, finding homes for all the “stuff” we had at the house. We also did our provisioning after grabbing dinner at Panera.
    Thursday, 4/30, we picked up the rental car not far from the marina.  Pete drove the rental while I had the Acura and we headed down to the Miami Airport area. Pete found a reasonably priced, long-term parking where we could leave the Acura for a few weeks and come back for it once we were home on the Chesapeake.

Jupiter Lighthouse

     Friday, 4/31, was clear, calm, cool and slightly humid. I was able to get in my 2 miles before we left the dock at 8:15. As we exited the marina, we passed the Kennedy’s Presidential Yacht, The Honey Fritz. She is still in beautiful condition with all her bright work highly polished.

     Before we exited the marina, we called to the Donald Ross Bridge tender for passage at 8:30. We cleared all the bridges on time with no problems along with another sailboat, with the exception of the 707 bridge in Jupiter. The openings are on demand for this bridge due to the substantial current. A south bound sport fish requested the opening.  We, and the sailboat in front of us, had requested passage north, but I don’t think she heard us. The sailboat had cleared the bridge as we were about a hundred feet on our approach to the bridge, traveling with the strong current, when the bridge started to close. Pete immediately started to circle us back, when the bridge tender told us to continue and reversed the bridge back to opening. Talk about scary!

     While traveling, we had heard another boat call out to Red Head, THE Jeff and Karen from Active Captain. It seems that anyone who spots this unique boat, hails them to say “thanks!”  I think it is pretty cool.

Residents of Red 84

     The winds increased from the NNE during the day, making the 85 degrees very comfortable, but not sailable for our traveling north.  We had no problems going across the Port St. Lucie Inlet and on to the Fort Pierce City Marina, where we have dockage for the night.

Fishy Residents of Ft. Pierce Marina

      Since our friends, Kay and Frank, live not too far away, we made arrangements for them to meet us for dinner.  They gave us a brief tour of the Fort Pierce across the ICW and we stopped at the Manatee Grille for a delicious dinner. Special friends, good conversation, great food and a super view of the inlet with all its strong current made for a delightful evening.

     Saturday, 4/1.  While heading out for my walk, I met again the young couple from Colorado who moved onto a 30 foot Catalina and are doing contract nursing here in Fort Pierce. They had just arrived at the marina the day we arrive on our journey south in November.  It was fun to catch up and see how they are making it work.  They are still planning to head over to the Bahamas in May. 

Fort Pierce Carnival & Saturday's Farmers' Market

     The Saturday morning Farmers' Market was in full swing at 9AM. Had we remembered, we might have stayed an extra day and explored the hundred or more stalls of veggies, prepared foods, cooked foods, plants, crafts, art, music, drinks, clothing, etc.  Since the fair area was set up with rides, there were many more tents set up in that area as well. 

Pete with RED HEAD
approaching

MV RED HEAD, home of
Jeff, Karen &the "kids" of Active Captain

     Instead, we left on slack tide and  headed north.  Around 11, Red Head came up behind us.  Following tradition, Pete hailed them to say hello and thanks.  The Florida Costal Cruiser is rather a unique and rather rare boat; very distinctive and recognizable profile.

Sunday's peacefulness on the ICW

     Traveling through Sebatian was fascinating.  The spoil islands were a magnet for all sorts of small boats.  They had fire pits, BBQs, tents, fishing poles, kayaks, little people, big people, and a few tiny bathing suits.  As per Active Captain, close to the inlet intersection with the ICW, the water got very skinny.  Keeping close and a little outside the red, we went through with no less than 3.5 feet under the keel.

Family time on the Island

Air Force THUNDERBIRDS

The further north we got to Melborne, the more frequent we heard the roar of military jet engines.  It turns out that the Thunderbirds were performing at a air show in Melborne.  The closer we got the more we could see, but we were still about 5 miles away.  They completed their performance before we got there.  There were other planes in the air. I did photograph a B-26 Bomber that sure made a lot of noise.  Another noisy aircraft was a single-seater, home-built craft that looked as if it flew a fast as I usually walk.  There was also a stunt plan that put o a brief show.  It was fun to watch.

     It was close to 5:30 when we dropped anchor just south of the bridge with the boat ramp.  We had stayed here on our way south.  We still could not get closer than about a mile, so the dinghy ride was very interesting after dark.  Thankfully, this time Pete took the hand-held GPS with both the boat and the ramp marked.

     Sunset was once again spectacular.

Sunset over Melborne

     Sunday, 4/2. While Pete took Bailey in for her morning walk, I cooked eggs and hash browns. Yum. After cleaning up, we hoisted anchor and joined about 6 other boats heading north. Of course there were a lot of boats heading south, probably for day 2 of the air show.

     The winds picked up again from the SSW to about 15.  It was great to hoist the main and get another mile of speed.  We like cruising at 8+ mph.  We made Titusville Municipal Marina around 4:15. After a pump out, we headed into our slip.  We will stay 2 nights so that Pete can wrap up some work and I can continue my walking.

    There are some storms in the area so there was not much of a sunset.

Titusville's Space Park

     Monday, 4/3, I completed another 2.2 miles this morning. Titusville is still trying to make a comeback.  There is a revitalized county park along the water and a fairly new Space Park with sculptures, along with etched granite pillars listings the astronauts, their flights, and many of their signatures and hand prints captured in cement within the memorial.  There is some new life on the main road, but also a lot of empty store fronts.  Some coffee chops, bars, dance studios, as well as medical offices have located here.

     Once back I had some medical insurance stuff to catch up with, of course the blog, and finally defrosted the refrigerator, which was previously defrosted the beginning of February! Despite the heavy icing on the cold plate, the interior of the refridge is staying cool.  This was my first opportunity to tackle it.  It is best to do when the AC is on so that the food doesn’t warm up in the soft coolers.

     Tuesday, 4/4, was a bit warmer and more humid than yesterday.  I got in my 2.3 miles, but was drenched in sweat by my return at 9:30 AM. I emptied the freezer and began the defrosting process before I jumped into the shower.  Then I started to work on the photos for the blog.  With any luck, I will be able to post the blog tonight before we leave Titusville in the morning.

      Shortly after lunch, the wind kicked up to about 25-30 from the East, just as a 42-foot sailboat came in. They got in, but with the wind, the crew on the dock had to really muscle the boat until lines were in place. I am constantly amazed at how many people wait to the last minute to place the dock lines as they are docking. Pete has trained me well. Before approaching the marina, all 6 lines are ready and remove those we don’t need once we are secure in the dock.

      A couple of hours later, a brief, but intense thunderstorm passed through. It looks like a couple more waves of storms will pass though overnight. Weather should be good in the morning for us to head up to Daytona. 

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P