2/15/16  Presidents' Day  Boot Key/Marathon, FL


We stayed on the boat all day today...until dinner w/the Tryons around 5:00 PM (1700, I need to practice). So boat/home improvement projects on this beautiful, warm, breezy day. Apologies to all friends who weren't having a beautiful, warm, breezy day.

Posting/uploading is really slow tonight so I'll be brief...maybe so many people on vacation and using the internet, maybe electro-magnetic field from the radio towers we're under (!).

Home improvements - another rail scraped and sanded (David); a different rail oiled (me); we read aloud from the book Sharyl gave us for Christmas, we can only read it during the day because of the potential for violence in it but a really interesting read; I read from my "own" book, too; we did a project together but for the life of me I don't remember what it was. Vacation mind.
Met our new next door boat neighbors, Fred and Ruth Ann from somewhere in MD are waiting for a Bahamas weather window. So are we but we're waiting so that people will leave and we'll get a mooring.

Amelia has been throwing up undigested food. I'm thinking, no food as soon as we get back from being gone for hours and many small portions. Perhaps the nervousness or excitement causes her to gobble. Disconcerting, though, to have a sick kitty. She behaves fine, doesn't appear to be low energy or ill. Just throws up.

Lovely dinner tonight at a fish place across from marina.

two photos from our most recent trip to Key West that I'd forgot I took. These at the Art and History Museum that we didn't go in (yet) as we were there after hours.

2/14/16    Sunday  VALENTINES' DAY    Boot Key/Marathon, FL   WARM at last


Feeling grateful for love, breathe, warmth, family, friends, water, opportunities, David (for sure!), life, stars, beaches and oceans, comfort,.....etc.

Key West today w/Dick & Nora; Hemingway House tour w/Cody as leader and he was willing to consider pronouns other than "guys"; visit w/Sheila Bellefleur at her home in Key West; great dinner at Hog Fish and easy dinghy ride back to Grace where Amelia welcomed us. Reading, thinking, enjoying, loving.

2/13/16    Saturday     Boot Key/Marathon, FL

A totally delicious day! Warmer sun, windy still but so much warmer even than yesterday (which was also quite a delicious day. I started the day w/15+ minutes of meditation on the aft deck. It was that warm. Coffee w/ David and we decided to take a few hours on the boat for home improvement projects. I went in for sanding and washing some railing, hoping to get to oiling in this beautiful sun and heat. Accomplished the sanding/washing but didn't get to the oiling yet. David took on creating a holder on the dinghy for the required 4' pole for the "all-around white light" for night safety. Accomplished and used tonight coming home from a potluck w/music dinner at the marina.

We met Dick and Nora at the beach (they drove, we dinghy-ed) for a sand sit and swim. Then they came back to Grace via dinghy for wine and snacks. David took them back to the beach and their car and we headed in to the aforementioned potluck.

During our wine/snack on the aft deck we spoke of being retired, travel, obligations, desires. There was a moment of tension when David talked about perhaps not getting back to Maine until June and I insisted on May. David wondered if I would leave him on the boat if we weren't back in May...due to weather or other unforeseen events. I stated, maybe, since "I signed on for 8 months" at sea. Of course I would not leave David stranded. And I expect/trust that he would not purposefully and without negotiation take more time returning to Maine that we'd initially agreed. I'm totally appreciating all these sailing/journeying opportunities and truly loving most (operative word, most) all this adventure w/David. However, that doesn't mean I want to continue this particular sailing adventure into summer. AST, we spoke of the possibility of our renters willingness to continue in our house beyond May. All that is to be carefully considered and negotiated...not assumed.

Meanwhile, we missed the Meridian Flare that was seen last night and tonight, missed by moments tonight, as we were busy tying and unloading the dinghy. Another opportunity will happen in about 10 days we think.  David got a better photo of the anchor light star field. Beauty.

And a tragedy - a dear friend's brother committed suicide this past week. Such a sad thing when dear people, apparently healthy and not very old, feel that death is their best option. So sorry for this loss.

Sending love out all around, to all.

2/12/16     Friday     Boot Key/Marathon, FL

Quick! Before my computer runs out of battery.

Photos from yesterday at the Dolphin Research Center:

walking on its tail

lizard or iguana? whatever, impressive basking in the sun

New to me yoga teacher this morning did more stretching than strengthening. Since strength is what I'm likely to lose I'll probably not attend many of her classes. Met Dick and Nora to have lunch w/one of Dick's fraternity brothers who lives a couple of Keys farther toward Key West. Interesting man, way more conservative than anyone I think I know. He will vote for Trump even though he thinks he (Trump) is crazy. I thing he (Dick's frat bro) is crazy but kept that comment to myself during lunch. And he (frat bro) thinks cutting off immigration would be fine until.... Oh woe! And he (frat bro) is such a delight to spend time with.

After lunch Nora and I were dropped off at their camp site where Nora painted and I read...our first down time since we usually are doing something. David and Dick went shopping. Nora and I went to the camp site beach which was delightful. We also watched the pelicans beg from the folks who were cleaning fish at the dock.

David and Dick returned just as Nora and I returned and opened a bottle of wine. Perfect timing. A light dinner with them and we returned to the boat around 7:30. Calm breeze. Warm temperatures.
Gentle day.

I've described before the star field of anchor lights in the Marathon City Harbor. The photo doesn't come close to doing this view justice. It is soooooooo beautiful. But here is what my phone can record. Put the intensity of that ban of spots in the entire photo field and you might come close to the view in your imagination.

Kitty has forgiven me being gone since 9:30 this morning. She snoozes at my side.

2/11/16     Thursday       Boot Key/Marathon, FL

On my! Such a full day!  The sunrise was delicious.

Sunrise on Sisters Creek

Said bon voyage to our neighbor friends and I immediately felt "left" and my heart hurt from watching them leave.

neighbors gone

But then morning on the boat...on the boat...on the boat. A welcome and necessary change to all the early morning jump in the dinghy and go syndrome. Early, mind you, is around 9:00 AM, not to be confused with the olden days when I taught at USM and early was jump in the car and go at 6:45 AM. Apologies to all who are still doing EARLY.

A new blanket for our bed, one that doesn't hold as much of kitty hair as the fuzzy sleeping bags we've been enjoying.  

Of course that meant changing the sheets and why not get another load of laundry together? I did some cooking (brownies) that turned out better than last baking adventure (corn bread muffins - toss!). David did a boat project. And kitty got lots of attention assuaging my guilt of too many long days away from her.

We met Dick & Nora for an adventure and decided to go to the Dolphin Research Center about 12 miles north of our marina. Dick drove. We rode at that amazing speed of 45 mph. Yikes! Still. An amazing visit. All the dolphins are in lagoons/pens where they are separated for various reasons: no sex so males and females are separate, there may be some age separation as a couple of dolphins are old (30 - 55, Molly being the elder stateswoman at 55), some are learning new skills/tricks/signals, there is the maternity ward. Excellent narrated "performances" during which 2 or 3 trainers showed us the skills the dolphin had learned w/trainers using hand signals and sign language to cue them.

I find it curious and wonderful that the dolphin have learned so much of "our" language/hand signals and we've not yet learned their language. Causes me to wonder what they're saying about how stupid humans are and how they have to humor us. Wondering if they've allowed themselves to participate in the research projects/facilities so they can do their own research on humans, dolphin being of the superior intelligence and wanting to know more about lowly homo sapiens. Possible sci fi essay.

Anyway, I learned so much and saw awed by the animals, and by the obvious love  and respect they and the trainers appeared to have for each other. We talked to two of the narrators (different from the trainers) about their work and their schooling (there is an intense 1 year training program there). I got Tiffany to consider changing her addressing the audience as "guys" when much of her audience was female. We had a long chat with the medical director about birth control, health, disease that humans can transmit (Mercer). So much information gathered. Truly worth so much more than the admission price. I might want to go to school there.

back flip, note the flippers in the air

duet aerial

dolphin twirled the hope on her nose

dolphins are allowing the humans to have the title of "trainer"

dolphin wanna bes

Home before dark and a delicious evening on the boat. Light wind. Bugs. but who cares.

note the white bottoms of the mangroves

Blessings

2/10/16    Wednesday      Boot Key/Marathon, FL

Stumbled out of bed and off the boat this morning without a clear pathway into the day. Yoga was the first but what then...shower? back to boat for lunch w/Nora? wait for Lori to shower and dinghy her back? opps, forgot my computer? Ended up having great chats with yoga buddies, one from Asheville, NC another from Brunswick, ME. As friend, Lori, says, it just takes time to meet people and then it's time to leave. Bummer! And Lori and Clint are leaving tomorrow. Sigh.

Dick and David did errands and laundry (well, David forgot to put it in but...it got done) and worked on the electricity in the van/bus/camper. Nora and I set ourselves with our computers in the cruisers lounge...that large warehouse room...and did some homework - Nora worked on the UMA Journal and I cleaned up my email and desktop (organizing, the triple capricorn's delight) and looked at some info about grant applications and language for Freeport Players.

Our men re-joined us and we took off to their campsite to...put the laundry in and have dinner at this lovely Sunset Grill just at the end of Vaca Key. Reasonable prices. Great view though the sunsetting was hidden by clouds, great company, good music. The Grill has a warmed swimming pool for customers to drink/eat and swim. If only it would get warm enough to swim!

Home to the boat without incident of needing to be towed tonight. Stars brilliant. And did I mention the star field made by all the anchor lights on boats in the harbor? It is stunningly beautiful. So sorry a photo isn't available. Doubt I could get one that would do the view justice.

2/9/16    Tuesday    FAT TUESDAY   Boot Key and Key West, FL

An adventure day w/Dick and Nora Tryon. Our planned trip to Crane Point was cancelled. The Trolley driver called in sick. It looked to be a not too pleasant day for the beach so we decided to take a trip to Key West. Off like a herd of turtles around noon, pre-lunch but who cares. A road trip.

WhoooooWhoa! David haven't been in too many cars lately...traveling at the extreme rate of 55 mph...with LOTS of traffic.....quite different from our slow 8 mph pace with maybe four other vehicles in sight. Yikes!! We stopped in Bahai Honda Key which is mostly, maybe totally, a state park/campground. Some beauty here. A gorgeous deserted beach on the Atlantic side and these Ibis on the Gulf side. I watched them drink by turning their heads to the side so their long beaks lay in the water. Very odd and adaptive!

Continuing on our way to Key West and into the CROWDS of people and traffic. Intense! Again, David and I have been mostly alone (on the boat) or with a few people at a time. Crowded sidewalks and loud people and music competing for air time and attention. Phew! People as obstacles to get around. Reminding me of why I left NYC all those years ago. We walked and walked but were too late in the day to do much museum-type activities so we'll have to go back. Also didn't get to see my friend Shelia who lives on a quieter end...not Duval St. We had to have lunch in Margaretaville, of course. And then just walked and walked, looked and looked.

Reportedly a Hemingway haunt

decorated pick up truck

Not the Rockland Strand    

Roosters and chickens everywhere and the guys announced themselves frequently

just pretty

We stayed to see the sunset along the wharf, a beautiful park, at Mallory Square. Lots of street performers, one duo (the Red Trousers) we watched their entire 20-30 minute act. They were wonderful, young neo-vaudevilians ..... from NH - David and Tobin. Great audience interaction and really skilled balancing and acrobatics as well as jugglers.

Key West (and life) travel buddies, Nora and Dick Tryon

I called our next door boat neighbor and asked her to check in on Amelia since we were going to be back late. She agreed and petted and fed Amelia. David and I arrived back at the marina around 8:30, got ourselves in the dinghy, left one dock to arrive at another dock to fill our water jugs. Yep got water and the dinghy engine would not start...wouldn't even turn over. Oh merde!

David took engine somewhat apart to check spark plugs. Tried again and again to start. Nada. I was surprised at how calm and relaxed I was...assuming David would be able to fix the engine...or someone would come to help us...or we'd curl up in the dinghy and be cold but safe overnight.

Someone was leaving the dock and asked if we were okay. "No. We need a tow." So he towed us all the way out to our boat in the creek, quite a distance from the harbor on a dark and windy night with the current running against us. Turning out of the harbor and into the creek we slowed way down. Our rescuer's engine was not very powerful. So....David and I paddled to help us all along. Rescuer would turn his cyclopes headlamp around to ask, "Straight ahead?" Yep, straight ahead. "Left up here?" Yep left around the bend.

As we came to our boat rescuer said, "Hey, we know each other. You rafted up with me in Vero Beach." "Mike, is that you?  We wondered what had happened to you. How's your shoulder? Wow, you are really our hero tonight." etc.

So many sweet coincidences, and wonderful re-joinings. Makes me smile and my heart expand. He is here for he doesn't know how long. He'd taken a fall the day we met and really wrenched his shoulder which is not healing quickly because he can't quit using it. He lives on a boat. We'll see him again in the daylight, I hope.

Aside from the guilt of ignoring Amelia and leaving her alone all day, the day was delicious.