Catching up with Friends, Key West

   Betty picked me up and we went into the dock to meet up with the Brunelle crew.  Plans were for the ladies to do some shopping and the guys to run errands.  As it turns out, we walked into town past the Conch Harbor Marina, where we will be moving the boats tomorrow. We wanted to check out the place.  It is really nice.  It should be for the $3.50/foot. It is the most reasonable of all the marinas in the area, but this is Key West. We also checked out a few shops, but needed to be at the Conch Republic Seafood Company at 1 to meet up with Sue and Walt Dennison, Glen and Maureen, and the guys for lunch.

Left to Right:    Betty,Jay, Martha, Dan, Kathy, Walt, Sue, and John

      We were able to catch up on lots of things.  Sue and Walt have been coming to the military camp ground for 16 years.  They gave all four boats a “welcome package” with info. Sue offered to drive if we needed transportation anywhere while we were here.  She mentioned lots of eateries here and off island. Glen and Maureen’s update was a little different.  Their transmission could take up to 2 months to arrive.  There are many unknowns at this time so they are unsure of their immediate and long term plans. Currently, their yard’s priority is hauling and securing the race boats for transportation. Hopefully, they should have more information on options next week.

Left to Right: Sue, John, Betty, Glen, Maureen Pegg and Jay's side portrait.

     With a delicious lunch under our belts, we said good-by to the Dennison’s.  The ladies took the car and headed in search of a place where Maureen and Martha might get a haircut and the 3 of us could get more groceries. No success on the haircut, but we found the Publix.  Of course, we bought plenty. While in Publix, the rains came.  When we returned to the dinghy dock, there was no way we could return to the boats with 2 dinghies, I had to call Pete to come for me and my groceries.

    We hosted tonight’s dinner. However, John and Betty graciously agreed to use Andiamo as it has more space in case the weather turns. A comment was made during dinner, “Who need to go out to dinner, when we eat meals like this. . . and they all come with water view!”

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Race Day in Key West

Brunelle in the fog.

     If the fog lifts, we will be watching some of the racing off of Key West. When we awoke this morning, it was almost “Pea Soup.” Fortunately, by 10 AM, we were into heavy haze. Brunelle’s crew went to shower.

     With lunches, snacks and cameras John, Betty and I were ferried over to Brunelle by Pete. He has a meeting in Phili next week so he needed to return to Pekabu to work while we headed out to see if we could find the racing boats.  After tuning into Channel 72 we verified that they were indeed racing. Radar confirmed a group of boats and we set our destination towards that grouping.  Sure enough, we found the start of a number of races off of the southern tip of Key West. According to Martha, Dan, and Jay, the boats we were observing were Meiges 32s and 24s and PHRTs. I just enjoyed the opportunity to photograph the race.

Vying for position for crosing the start
 at the sound of the starting gun.

Across the starting line

The field in pursuit

The excitement and color of racing to the downwind mark

  

Jay & Pegg ~
two of today's observers

Rounding the mark

  

The final leg, down wind

Dan, Betty and John

Pete & Pekabu

      The news on Sevilla is not great. She needs a new transmission. We will keep our fingers crossed. We have also heard from Sue Denison (Foxfire) of CCYC. She and Walt winter here in Key West and would like to get together while we are here. We will see what we can arrange tomorrow.

     When we returned, Andiamo hosted dinner tonight and a great time was had by all as we watched for the rising almost full, but now waning moon.

     Good food, good times, good company, great places. . . .Yep, the adventure continues.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

ICW Mile Marker 1225 and Beyond. . . Key West!

Sunrise

     As we were approaching the docks, the river dolphins were playing in the channel. We all needed to meet the pump-out boats at the Marathon City docks at 8 AM this morning before beginning our travels.  Our mission was a success, but we lost our wash bucket.  Somehow the knot untied after years of service allowing the bucket to immediately sink to the bottom.  In such clear water, we were able to watch it go down far beyond the reach of our boat hooks.  Our next stop was to top of the fuel tanks for the 50 mile trip to Key West. By 9 AM we were on our way in the haze on a very calm sea.

N.A.S. Boca Chica

     We passed the Naval Air Station where my Dad’s brother, Dick and his family been stationed a number of times during his career with the navy, but we heard the F-16 taking off long before we were in the area.

     While underway, Sevilla reported some possible transmission problems. Andiamo offered to keep pace with them while we traveled. Sevilla couldn’t run at full speed. Her engine temperature slowly keeps creeping up. Towards the end of the day, Glen decided to call a Robbie’s Boat Yard and head into Stock Island instead of continuing in to Key West with the group.

"No man is an island...,"
 but that doesn"t stop him from owning one!

     Lunch on the white bread I made last night was really good. I will have to lay in a supply of the bread mixes “just in case.”

Look hard...Red, yellow and black
is the marker for the Southernmost
point of US land.

     As we were going around Key West, John pointed out the marker for the southern most point of land in the US. Due to the skinny water we could not get any closer for a better picture of the marker.  We continued past a beautiful sandy beach and headed north up the channel into a very strong current, past historic downtown Key West.

One of the ugliest boats we have seen.

     We continued north to the municipal mooring field in Garrison Bright. We had to keep to the channel until we arrived in the field, but it has deep water where the mooring balls are located and are protected from all but the north and northwest winds. Dan took John, Betty and I into the Dock Master’s office. The moorings are very reasonable at $16.91/day including tax. However, the negatives include a 20 minute dingy ride to the heads, showers and laundry; water needs to be portable; can’t bring boat to dock to fill the tanks; have to dingy under the fixed bridge to the dock master’s office.

Brunelle at sunset

     Brunelle had to run back in to pick up Jay and Pegg, who came to catch some of Race Week with all of us. Everyone ate dinner on their respective boats and enjoyed watching the full moon rise.  We did observe a suspicious couple rowing between our boats appearing to check us all out.  They had no running lights on and the engine was off. They travelled up further and sat for a while, then turned on the engine and headed in when the fog rolled in. The fog was so heavy we could not see any of the boats with their mast lights on.  Later in the evening the fog lifted and the stars peaked out between the clouds for a while.

     Seville made it safely to the boat yard.  Hopefully, they will have news in the morning. We made it to Key West!

50 / 1475 Total Statute Miles                                ~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Marathon ICW 1183

Our Fleet leaving Key Largo Harbor

      We had our final breakfast on the patio before departing at 8 this morning. We were first to leave because Pete had an 8 AM conference call, which he started just as soon as we cleared the dock. It was a clear, calm morning with no hint of the storms we had yesterday.  We had no problems clearing Crash Corner nor the entrance to the harbor as it was high tide.

This north-bound sailor
had no problems with
either wind or current!

      We headed south with a light breeze out of the South and a calm sea.  We seemed to be bucking a current most of the day as we had a challenge topping 5.2 knots.  Around midday we hoisted the mainsail, which helped about 2/10 of a knot. Pete was able to put in about 3 hours of helm time while I completed placing the pictures in the blog and brought us into port, following the cruising guide’s suggestion of staying close to the green markers. I was able to take some photos of the crab post that we have been dodging all day as well some other pretty interesting shots.

 

       Dan called the harbor master in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon to arrange for our mooring assignments.  Thankfully, there were still 4 moorings available 

 at 4:30, though not all together (which was still acceptable with us.)  The pump-out boat will be available at 8 tomorrow morning. There was no pump-out facility at Port Largo Harbor. It amazes all of us that in a place that has such stringent rules on its marine environment, we marvel just how hard they make it to comply with the rules.

Boot Key Harbor

     Once on our assigned mooring ball (# U-5), Dan and Martha stopped by to collect our payments so that they could pay for everyone.  Pete decided to check the oil, filters and sea chest as the engine seems to be running a little hot and sounding a little rough.  Sure enough, we were a quart low and the water intake strainer was pretty “mucked up” with sea grasses.  The good news was that the new filtering system is running perfectly clean.  Whatever bad fuel we had received, seems to have been filtered and we are now running clean again. . . and the new system, lets us see that our fuel is clean.  Once Pete did his thing, we checked the engine and she started “purrrrring;” well at least she sounded much better.

Full moonrise over Boot Key Harbor

     While I was preparing dinner, I figured I would try one of the prepackaged bread mixes I have on board since we are low on bread for lunches tomorrow. . . See if we like it.  Right now the boat really smells great, even with my cold.  I will let you know how it tastes tomorrow.

The full moon rises as the sun sets . . . here at Marathon.

63/1424 Total Statute Miles                                ~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Severe Thunderstorms and Tornado Watches . . . Oh my!

     As is made my way in shore this morning, the clouds were dark to the west, but there we miniscule patches of blue to the east. I guess one of them permitted just enough light for the double rainbow above Brunelle.  Pete reported a more ominous observation of green clouds to the northwest a short time later. Thankfully, that blew out as well.

     Around 8 AM, we all gathered along with Carol and Joy for breakfast on the deck.  It “spritzed” momentarily, but for the most part the rains held off until after 10.  Maureen offered to do dinner at 5:30 so that we can watch the movie “Key Largo” with some of the other cruisers at 7 PM on the patio.

     Today was a workday for Pete and I worked on the blog and pictures. Apparently, Dan had fishing tackle and rods disassembled all over the boat so a decision was made to head to the Tiki bar over at the Holiday Inn for lunch and the invitation was extended to the rest of us.  The clouds parted and we enjoyed the sun along with a great lunch. 

Maureen, Glen, John and Betty awaiting drinks and lunch at our Tiki Bar.

The original "African Queen"
resides here in Key Largo Harbor

Unfortunately, she is in need of
 a lot of  TLC

There was even time for Dan and Glen to get to the store and back before the second wave of storms hit. Pete’s day was very productive. While I was successful in making my 1^st ever on a boat, apple cheese torte for dinner, I was not as successful with the blog.  I had loaded most of the pictures onto the web page for the blog at least 5 times when I lost the connection and needed to start the process all over again.  Needless to say, it was a bit frustrating.  I had posted the wording, but not the pictures, to 4 postings.  I have been trying to complete them for 3 days and finally completed 2 of them!

     Maureen invited us to join them for dinner on the patio for pasta and sausage at 5:30.  We all contributed to round out the dinner. However, before we made it to dessert, the light show began in the skies to the west.  Betty and John took dessert back to Andiamo as it is on the other side of the harbor.  We cleaned up everything and moved the TV and DVD player into the hotel lobby just as the heavens opened up, the winds kicked up and the lighting and thunder were upon us. 

     There were about 15 cruisers who came to watch the movie. As it turns out, we had “activision” production of “Key Largo.”  During the hurricane scenes, we were experiencing our own lightning, thunder and wind. There is a reason some movies are considered classics. We all enjoyed it.

      Oh yea, the decision to stay put today was wise. . . very wise!

Key Largo ~ Day 2

View from the breakfast patio. Brunelle is to the left.

     We all met on the hotel deck that overlooks our boats and the harbor for our continental breakfast, which is part of our docking fees.  It was really cool to sit and look over the harbor at such a tropical view.  It really put our trip in perspective. Candi stopped by to remind us that the Flee Market is still running on Sunday mornings, which is only a few block walk from here.  There is also a CVS and Walgreens right next door.  Guess where we ladies headed off to?!

View from the other end of the harbor towards our boats.

     In typical Flee Market fashion there was the glass jewelry that is the current fad, as well as the knock off purses, glasses and clothing.  There was also produce and a variation on the Christmas lights in the bottle, only now there are stickers on the outside of the bottles with some sort of frosting.  There was also the Girl Scout Cookie stand. However, there was no child in sight, so I didn’t feel obligated to purchase.

     Pete had asked me to try to find ratchet straps and o-rings for the hose. As we headed over to CVS, I saw the Napa Auto Parts store.  Since we need the fuel filters, I tried to call him for the part number.  Unfortunately, he didn’t have the phone on him. Four phone calls and a text message later, he called back.  This was a real unusual turn of events for Pete. I am usually the one who forgets to turn the ringer on or forgets my phone.  Pete had changed into work shorts to scrub the boat before doing business work and forgot to grab his phone from his good jeans—hence no phone. I was only 2 blocks away from Napa, so I was able to return for the filters and straps before fully returning to the boat.

     The afternoon was spent going through the pictures editing and deleting.  It is the one bad thing with digital: there is no limit to the amount you can take; hence the ruthless deleting process.   I have been able to take some great pictures of the other boats, I hope someone has some great ones of us. I just need to finish editing and downsizing the pictures for the blog so that I can post them. I currently have the posting for the past 4 days up without pictures.  The decision has been made to stay an additional day here at Kay Largo as there is at 70% chance of rain and storms predicted for tomorrow. I should be all caught up provided that the thunderstorms stay away.

These guys facinate me.

     Martha cooked pork and sauerkraut in the Crockpot for dinner.  I had the shrimp, crab and lobster dip but couldn’t find a cracker on board. Pete finished the last of the crackers when he experienced the sea sickness the other day. All my crackers must have been bought for the holidays back home! Thanks, Martha, for coming to my rescue!  Maureen made a wonderful string bean salad and Betty made the Oreo cookie dessert.  Needless to say, we all had a wonderful time.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Here’s Looking at You. . . Miami, Hawk Channel and Key Largo! Mile 1138

     I came out to the cockpit in preparation for lifting anchor shortly before 8 AM and looked around… I was surprised to find another sailboat joined us late last night off to our port. However, when I glanced over to starboard the view above Brunelle and Sevilla was spectacular. The sunlight was streaming through the clouds. I was hoping I had enough time to grab the camera before it changed. I did!

Seville and the clouds.

Andiamo & Miami's skyline

     We headed south to the Biscayne Channel.  The breeze freshened a little so we hoisted the main.  Dan warned us that it might get tricky further out in the channel as the water outside the channel is extremely skinny.  The channel starts east then heads north then northeast through the remains of Stiltsville.  There are only 7 houses remaining from the considerable number houses that used to be here on the Biscayne flats. They were built by folks who didn’t want to pay taxes and thought they could buck the establishment. It kind of worked until the hurricanes came. The current homes are boarded up, with one having a boat tied to it; perhaps someone is trying to start remodeling it or just using it for fishing. 

     Once we cleared the Biscayne Channel we turned south, hoisted the jib and cut the engine. It was amazing to be doing 7 knots in shirt sleeves, in blue/green waters and in January!  We traveled the Hawk Channel as it is considerably deeper on the ocean side rather than the ICW on the inside of the Keys. We did not want to face a few more bridges; some that are fixed and not tall enough for our mast and waters that are not deep enough for our 5 foot plus keels. We all hoped to see a lot of sea life.  Betty saw a sea turtle, we saw a large sunfish on the surface, and Martha saw a few flying fish, but we were all very disappointed in our limited viewing of marine life.  With the water so clear and blue we thought and wished we had seen more.

Looking east towards Brunelle
while exiting the Biscayne Channel

     The 36 ocean miles took us 6 hours.  We were not in a rush as we wanted to make sure we arrived at high tide. The entrance to the Port Largo Harbor has a shallow spot so it can be tricky at low tide. We were the test boat going in. It is a rather amazing place.  The canals are very narrow, probably only 50 foot wide as we head north to “Crash Corner.” Pete calls out a “Security. Pekabu approaching Crash corner inbound!” as we boat approach the corner because there is not room for two and there is no visibility around the corner!  After making the 90 degree turn to the left we continued another ¼ mile and made another 30 degree turn to the left where our docks at Marina Del Mar were located, but the canal makes another 90 degree turn to the right, where the tour and dive boats are docked.  This entire area must have 6 or 7 canals off of the main canal. The canals have been carved out of the coral and limestone. This place could never be created today with all the environmental concerns!     Candi is our dock master.  She was here when Brunelle was here 2 years ago and definitely makes a point of trying to remember everyone who comes to visit.

     We all went to dinner down at Sharkey’s Bar and watched the end of the quarterfinals for the NFL where Pittsburg defeated the Ravens in the last few moments. The intent was to have a hamburger, but we all had everything but. . .instead it was lobster tails, seafood platters, ribs, and fish.  Even with a mix-up with the itemized charges per couple everyone had a loud and smoky, good time. Smoking is still permitted in open air bars.

     We all returned back to our boats still amazed we are docked in this little bit of paradise.

56 /1361 Total Statute Miles                                ~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete