2/8/16   Monday    Boot Key, FL


8:18 PM and I'm straining to stay awake. What a lovely, long day of fun. Yoga this morning. I dinghy-ed in with Lori, my next-boat neighbor. Good yoga class. We met Dick & Nora around 11:30 this morning, lunched, went to the beach, checked out Crane Point for a visit tomorrow (then I can talk about what Crane Point. I know that the Bird Recovery Center I might volunteer for is there but no idea what else is. The Tryons and we talked about renting a paddle board for the day for the four of us to share. Sounds like a good plan to me. That way none of us is out a lot of money if we don't enjoy or can't manage the activity. Took a short ride - whoa, riding in a car at 35 mph is exciting after months of water travel at max 8 mph/knots - to their campground and had a light dinner before they brought us back to the food store and our marina. A very full, very fun day. Looking forward to more adventures w/them tomorrow. AND the wind dropped off today so it was much more pleasant to be outside. We left kitty alone all day. She came out on the deck this morning while David and I were having coffee there.

So, pet the cat and get me to bed!

2/7/16    Sunday - Super Bowl Day  Boot Key, FL


Not good sleeping last night with high winds and rain and checking the docking (to the mangrove) lines and anchor lines (notice the plural of lines!). So a slow beginning to the day with David napping for several hours late morning/early afternoon. I did some cooking...not very successful corn muffins but sweet and tolerant David said they would be good w/butter tomorrow morning. I'm suspicious, not of him but of his taste in muffins.

I was feeling discontent and a little "I need to get off the boat". Thought to take the dinghy into the marina but was not comfortable with the wind gusting up there into 20 knots. Sigh. The boat is small when I can't get outside on it. It was great that David was sleeping so that I, at least, had some alone time in our small space.

In the afternoon we repaired the aft port lights!!!! Hurrah! We now have four opening, ventilating port lights in the aft cabin. The opportunity to expire from bad air while sleeping is greatly diminished! Repaired rather than replaced. A mere $10 or so rather than who knows how much to replace even if we could find replacement windows which was VERY iffy. David, my hero, and I helped...and I scrapped more varnish off the rails.

Friends from boat next door came over for a visit and Lori got to pet Amelia. Lori is missing her cats that are boarding in their own home in Maryland. I'm hoping Lori and Clint don't leave for long this week. I'm enjoying their company next boat. She and I have a yoga date tomorrow morning.

Then the Super Bowl game on David's i-Pad. There went the boat battery but, hey, it was the super bowl. I was routing for the Panthers but was happy for Peyton Manning that the Broncos won. What a generous and skillful quarterback he is.

Dick and Nora arrived at their campground and we'll see them tomorrow for lunch...after yoga.

2/6/16     Saturday     Boot Key, FL


A lovely day in the neighborhood. Off the boat by 9:30 so I could get to yoga. Good class. Chatted with a couple from WI after class. They are quite younger than we, not the retired set but have jobs that allow them to take 2 months in the winter.

Went to the Pigeon Key Art Festival which is a fund raising event for??? Lots of music. We had some more Greek food, saw a bunch of art and talked to several folks in various non-profit environmental and animal rescue organizations. I think I'll volunteer a couple afternoons for the wild bird organization...scooping pelican poop. I can do that. I have experience cleaning feline cages at the spay/neuter clinic. The Fl Keys Community College had a tank of tiny Clown fish, think Nemo. They raise them so that the wild catch can survive...not be over-fished. They raise them then have them available for adoption for $5.00. It was a terrifically fun day and if the wind isn't blowing too much, I'll go back in and spend money...earrings and some beautiful clothing. Wind, save me from myself.

We met this lady or gent on the way in, at the shrubbery surrounding the park.

Happy Iguana about 18" long

And this blue creature is a Man a War jellyfish I mentioned a post or two previously.

washed up on the beach, about 6" long

We left the Festival which was much like a small version of the Maine Festivals of old. Some activities for children, information about environment and lots of music...no theater or dancing.

Back at the Marina for showers and to charge my computer, I spent some time with some pre-teen boys learning/watching them practice their video game skills. They were delighted to have an audience, an grey haired woman to teach. Lovely kids. David and I filled our water jugs and made it back to the boat about 2 minutes AFTER the bottom of the clouds fell out. We and both boats were pretty wet around 3:30 today. The boats are still wet but we are dry and warm. Kitty was down right annoyed that we'd been gone so long. She's hanging close and expressing her annoyance with lots of voice tonight.

Wind is picking up. Supposed to be a big blow overnight and tomorrow all day, thus, I might not make it to spend money on clothes or earrings tomorrow. I DO want to figure out how/when to volunteer and to find the library which is only a couple of blocks away. Route #1 is just out the parking lot of the marina but trying to cross that highway is treacherous. Cars whiz by and I've not yet seen a traffic light. One is reported to be about 3/4 mile north of the marina. But crossing the other day to go to a restaurant was a bit scary...and we waited a bit for traffic to sort of clear...clear as it gets.

Neighbor/friend Kelly's funeral was today. Sigh. Such a loss...to me, to our Lavers Pond community, to her son Landon and her husband Mike. What a difficult life her last 5-8 years have been. Hope her spirit is resting/recovering, getting ready to soar again.

All is well....enough. We are/I am love, loved, loving. Grateful for all that is.

2/4 and 5/16   Thursday and Friday     Boot Key, FL

Thursday

Aaahh, the beach. I love the beach and swimming in the ocean or the bay. The Sombrero Park Beach is not very big and there is a pretty quick drop from water's edge to waist deep water...and there were Man a War jellyfish  of various sizes on the beach...and it was beautiful and the water was delicious ...but no waves for body surfing. We got there, a short dinghy ride in the opposite direction from the marina, around 9:30 AM, walked briefly then settled in the sand. Didn't bring our books, not wanting to stay out in the sun more than a couple of hours.

Seaweed washed up on shore of dead coral. Atlantic ocean beyond

Spot the Killdeer on the seaweed. Actually there are about 5 in this photo
They were eating and scouting out food in the holes in the coral.

Looking the other way. "The wind is blowing",... but snow's not snowing.

a beach glory - morning glory-looking blossom with more succulent leaves

We went into the marina later in the early afternoon. Bought a few things from new boating friends...some LED lights and a new kitty litter box. Met a writer who is doing two articles for Points East, a publication we read when we're in Maine. He's doing one article on cruising w/cats. Maybe Amelia will become famous. On into the marina for a quick shower and some ice since we're not regularly running the engine to keep the ice box cold.

Back on the boat we started a "repair the port lights in the aft cabin" project. With only two or four opening portholes it can get really stuffy in our "bedroom." So we took one with the broken hinge out. There was a great breeze through that open space last night.

Then went next door...next boat...to have cocktails with those folks whose names I simply did not get. I thought I had both (Morna and Glen???but then heard him called Clinton???) but don't; and a couple from about 4 boats away....Steve and Judy (easy since another Steve and Judy are dear friends in Freeport). We're all in the creek (not up the creek) awaiting moorings in the harbor. Steve and Judy will probably move next week. Glen and Morna??? don't think they'll get a mooring since they are planning to leave next week to continue their cruise. And we'll be here waiting.

Friday

A domestic day on the boat. Writing checks, paying bills, checking email. David cleaned out the refrigerator, a smelly job, then tackled the refrigeration drain which was inappropriate in that the draining fluid had a difficult time getting into the bilge so was causing a water stain on the floor in front of the ice box. He took off around 1 PM to go to Home Depot for tubing and rivets.

cleaning tools, used them all and some elbow grease

I made phone calls, volunteered for Freeport Players (I'm sorry to miss Funny for FebFest on February 11, comedy showcase, really funny pros, Karen and Zach), cleaned the head. Yuck! When David returned we installed the new 'frig drain hose/tube and made dinner. A thoroughly domestic day and I didn't leave the boat.

Hoping to get the Pigeon Island Arts Festival and yoga tomorrow morning. Wind be damned.

2/3/16   Wednesday   Boot Key, FL


Windy tonight as it has been all day but beautiful sun and temperate temperatures. Day #2 of vacation!

I thought I was going ashore by myself this morning but David decided to go into the marina, too. Out of here by 9:30 after a delicious sleep. Yoga in the City Park which is just beside the marina. Class on the band shell, 30 people, men and women, middle aged and oldsters like me. Good class with some new things for me. I'll go again on Friday. I'd hoped to get to the beach this afternoon but....

Instead I hung out in the marina "lounge" to plug into the electricity and charge my computer, investigated the lay of the land then walked to a local cafe/bar for lunch w/ David. Met Keith/Stitch who is a sailmaker and has two machines in another part of the building here in the marina. Apparently there is another sewing machine, maybe a loaner, that I can use to hem a new curtain...but maybe not. Yet to be discovered.

The marina building is a warehouse of sorts with an office and a reception desk in one corner. Mailboxes and storage are on that short end of the building. A large...LARGE open space has 8 or so rectangle tables perpendicular to a long wall (mostly used for computing and charging phones, etc)  and maybe 12 round tables in the center of the space for other activities - solo or group (today a group of women were making round rugs at one table with a leader/teacher, at another table two children were building w/Legos). Along the other long wall is a line of tables where USP-type packages are "delivered" and can be retrieved. Against that same wall (behind the line of tables) are all the books, somewhat organized by author's name, that are available for loan or give away/exchange. The other short end of this section of the building is divided into two "screening rooms" (without doors but with half dozen theater seats and t.v. screens, maybe DVD or VHS players but I didn't pay that much attention, and a toy/bulletin board area.

Out this big "lounge" room and into another section of the warehouse is the sewing room, rows of LARGE (3' x 5' ??) lockers you can rent to store stuff. Beyond this "room" is another "bay" with a workshop where you can repair...your dinghy or your table or ...whatever you have to repair that takes space. You have to provide your own tools, of course, and materials. Behind this end of the warehouse are gardens. Don't know whose gardens but there seem to be tomatoes in one plot and some squash-looking plants in another and another plot that needs love. One of the long sides of the warehouse fronts a canal with maybe 8 boats tied to each side...the high rent district w/electricity and water (maybe). The other long side is a parking lot with all the recycling bins and delivery entrances.

One short end of the warehouse fronts the harbor and has a yard and a "tikki" hut with several picnic tables. Captain Jack's 94th birthday party was there today. Cap' Jack is spry, has white hair, wrap around sunglasses, has lived here since 1951 someone told me, pushes a grocery cart with some of his stuff in it (probably for balance and support, too) and lives on his boat at the far end of the marina!

Beyond the warehouse is the bath house and laundry room...about 8 shower rooms for women and on the other side same number for men. Looked as if there are about 6 washers and dryers. Haven't needed them yet so didn't pay that much attention.

A pretty well equipped and well run place with more than 250 mooring balls. We're #37 on the waiting list. Should take 10-14 days, depending upon the weather and how quickly people can leave for the Bahamas. Meanwhile, we've paid for a month of services...use of all facilities...and are anchored "up the creek" in Sister Creek with a bunch of other late arrivers. The dinghy ride into the marina is 15 minutes. I'm thinking the ride to the beach in the dinghy is about the same time in the other direction from our boat.

Got back to the boat around 4:00 PM and took a nap. Up around 6 to do some house-keeping chores, dinner and reading. Looking forward to another good sleep and the beach tomorrow morning.

2/2/16   Tuesday     Sister Creek, Boot Key, FL


Welcome Imbolc. Hello, ground Hog Day.

Having arrived in the Keys and decided to stay for awhile just where we are.....let the vacation begin!

Our new neighborhood in Boot Key/Marathon, FL

I stayed on the boat ALL DAY - talked to some friends on the phone, read my book (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie). Finished it tonight after the Freeport Players Board meeting.

We saw two manatees!!!! Swimming just beside and behind the boat. They looked like large overstuffed pillows with heads. Stunning and wonderful. Nibbling their way along the mangroves. At last, manatees!! And I saw a tiny jelly fish about the size of a silver dollar, black and cream, puffing its way along some grass that was floating by...also eating, I think.

David went ashore to do some shopping and getting the lay of the land...and the sea...so to speak. Brought back food and some goodies for the boat. I'll do that exploring tomorrow after yoga in the park at 10 AM. It takes about 10 minutes to motor/dinghy into the dock. David's bike is there and I'll probably take mine in tomorrow. However, I WANT to go to the beach tomorrow! So, yoga then the beach.

Sounds like vacation........at last.

1/31/15 AND 2/1/16   on my!  Sunday and Monday  Shark River and Marathon/Boot Key, FL

Okay. I'm over my snit.Thank goodness. Not sure where it went or when it went but am relieved to be in good humor (most of the time) again.

1/31 - Sunday - no cell or internet service

A very long day, 8 hours which is much more than we generally do in a day...dodging crab pots...not unlike lobster pots. They're in link so if you see one off to the side, changes are that you'll see one in front of you soon. Miss it! Otherwise there is the possibility of wrapping our prop and bringing us to a stand still in the water. NOT a good idea. We did some paper chart navigating, the first time in a while, rather than only electronic. We had to avoid shallow water over large spans of water. No small task. David got to exercise his brain and his paper/pencil/parallel navigating skills. I was helms person watching out for those crab pots.

10:30 AM No Land Ho, Land didn't return until 12:30 PM. a small line of darker blue
Gulf of Mexico. Yikes, I couldn't possibly swim to land

We saw some diving birds that weren't pelicans. They would plunge from about 20', fluting their outstretched wings as they dove - splat, sort of, but a clean dive into the water. I assume they were fishing...successfully. But what were they seeing? A school of fish? Surely not a single fish from that height. And when did they open their mouths to take in the fist? Not as they hit the water, surely. They'd drown.

We made our way to Little Shark River and a lovely anchorage....except that the mosquitoes were fierce after dark....and ALL night. I ended up wrapping myself in the bed sheet, over my head with just my nose sticking out to breathe. It was NOT a restful night. However, before dark David and I set on the foredeck and listened to the birds, watched for shark (and I think I saw the fins of one a couple times) and whatever other wildlife we could see or conjure. It was quiet and beautiful. The color of blue water/green vegetation/grey sky was delicious. Saturated colors! Even Amelia came out for several turns around the foredeck. There were three other boats in our area of the anchorage and a couple more up river a bit but within view.

Photo doesn't do justice to the color - but, check out the dinosaur at the left of photo

I'm not sure where my snit went but I totally enjoyed traveling today, and stopping and thinking about traveling and arriving tomorrow. Something in my thinking shifted and I don't feel the need/ desire to settle into a place and know that I'm going to be there for some amount of time.

2/1/16   Monday  arr ivied in Boot Key - GOAL!  THE KEYS!!!

David's bucket list wish accomplished?!? Travel down the ICW to the Keys. Wow. So what have we done? We'll get to that later...maybe really later.  But acknowledging it here...we've arrived at a destination. Arriving is to be noted - celebrated. Then we'll consider, now what???

Leaving Shark River in the fog and rain...mysterious views. Quiet delight and gratitude. It is so beautiful to be on the bow of the boat, wrapping the lines, hoisting the anchor each morning. It is just so very delicious to see the foam of the water as the bow of the boat cuts through it...feeling the bounce from the current, wind in your face..all the stereotype images are real...holding onto the rigging, hearing the wind....

Little Shark River, morning mist

Another Little Shark River view

carnage - but the photo does NOT do justice - mosquitoes, dead with out blood on the window

It was another long day of avoiding crab pots, eyes glazing with rain which made horizons disappear and crab pots, too, (disappear!). David did his magic with parallel rulers and charts and brains. Two dolphin escorted us out of the river. Later in the day a pod was frolicking in front of us. Twice a dolphin jumped clearly out of the water. WHOA!!! What a thrill to see them just playing...or practicing...or running away from a predator...terrific, whatever they were doing. To me, such joy! We were not in sight of land for much of the day. I note that this is a new "relaxed" for me...to not be in sight of land. Must be the idea of being tethered to a line of crab pots that gives me confidence...and the months of sailing on Grace...with Captain David Webster.

And We've arrived! For whatever it is worth. We've arrived. We've completed a portion of David's bucket list adventure - travel the ICW from Maine to the Keys. We've more to do, yes. And we'll continue to visit and explore both here and on the return trip. But, We're arrived!!! Hallelujah and praise all the gods and ancestors and protector angels.

Came through the 7 Mile Bridge from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean
turned left (to port) and made our way to Boot Key Harbor
found a place to anchor in Sister Creek and got on the waiting list
lor a mooring for a month

tied up to a mangrove next to these kind folks who helped us

Captain and Cat take a break...yesterday

Now we're not turning on lights so that the mosquitoes don't find us...and so we can sleep early tonight. Maybe yoga on the beach tomorrow morning. Life does go on, even if goals have been reached.