Vacation is Almost Over

Well, all good things must come to an end.  Linda and I are spending at least half of our days getting ready to store the boat for the summer here in Florida.  Because we had such a good time this past winter we would like to do it again and commuting 2,700 miles is not the answer. 

We were able to negotiate a reasonable rate at a new faciltiy in a hurricane proof building (QUOTE: features state-of-the-art storage buildings constructed to withstand 140 mph sustained hurricane-force winds UNQUOTE).  It is located well inland, about half way between Fort Meyers and Lake Okeechobee.  One needs to go through 2 locks and into fresh water.  We feel quite confident that the boat is in as safe a place as it can be.

We will take the boat to the River Forest Yachting Center on Monday April 22, rent a vehicle on Tuesday and have the boat hauled out on Wednesday.  Once the vehicle is packed (it will be loaded) we will drop it off at Detroit Metro Airport and be home by the end of the month.  Evidently, the car rental agencies are trying to get their vehicles back up north now that spring break is over.  To rent a standard SUV for a week on a one way rental will cost us less than $300.  Not bad.

Now that y'all are up-to-date I'll sign off with a few photos of a few of our favourite Bars. 

Smokin' Oyster Brewery

Yucatan

Linda and I have acquired a taste for sushi this past winter.

The railing here at Nemos is an almost daily stop.

The Beach Pierside Grill

Lani Kai: they serve on the beach here.

 





The kids like to play volley ball just in front.

The Tiki Bar on 2 for 1 happy hour.

LaOla on the mall.

The Cottage, the lower level bar is the best.









Nervous Nellies



Heading North

Marco Island

(Monday April 1 - Dist: 108.1 mi;  Avg Speed: 14.4 mph;  TTT: 7:40 hrs)

We chose a perfect day to cross Florida Bay and go up the Gulf Coast; the seas were smooth, the sun was out and the crab pots were every where.  You can see a line of them in the above photo between Finally and ourselves.

We spent a single night in the Marina at Factory Bay and had dinner at the Snook Inn, a very popular bar and grill.  The next morning after a short fog delay we headed out for Fort Meyers Beach.

Fort Meyers Beach

(Tuesday April 2 - Dist: 40.6 mi;  Avg Speed: 7.2 mph;  TTT: 5:00 hrs)

The water was not as smooth the following day and we ran into a number of fog banks but visibility was good enough to see and avoid the crab pots.

Just one look at the beach and Linda was hooked:

Our first week here was supposedly the last week of Spring Break but you would never know it as the beach remains busy every day.

Here are a few shots of our friends enjoying the local colour.

Bonita Bills with Finally and Floating Stone

Tiki Hut with Optimystique

 

Takin' easy

Headed for Doc Ford"s Bar

We had a great last night get together at Doc Ford's with the last remaining Dockside Drinkers from Marathon... Unfortunately, while getting into our dinghy we rubbed against a barnacle and put a 3/4 inch hole in the fabric.  As the air was escaping the front tube the four of us, Richard, Jeell, Linda and I made a mad dash across the bay towards our marina.  Richard was holding the deflated front end out of the water and we did make it to the boat.  Whew!  Fortunately, I was able to get the hole fixed and we are now back in business.

Unfortunately, our friends have all headed off for their summer moorings.  Linda and I decided to stay another couple of weeks in order to enjoy this area and to work out the details for storing the boat for the summer.  More to come on that front. 

The 'KEYS' Disease

Alright, alright, ALRIGHT already.

Stop complaining that there are no recent updates to the blog.  There is a much different pace down here in the Keys and we are trying to fit in. 

We have gotten into a routine much like we do back home.  I always make the coffee in the morning and generally do not venture far until the pot is empty.  Linda is going to fitness class, Zumba, three mornings a week with a few of the other boaters. 

Wednesday is still golf day at the par 3 course and the turn out is still strong.  12 - 16 people golf and we usually double that number for Happy Hour at Cabana Breezes, a bar on the ocean.  I'll try to remember to get some photos next week, if I think of it.

New this year is Monday morning golfing on the big course, Sombrero Country Club.  The club is hurting and now allow golfers from the Key Colony club to golf between 8 - 10 AM Mondays for $50.  Roy, our harbormaster here at Dockside, has also made arrangements with the club that allows marina guests to golf most times for $80. More options for our ongoing enjoyment.

APRIL 7, 2013

This post has taken so long to complete that we are no longer in Marathon.  I am just going to quickly finish it because we are off to a water side patio at 4 PM to meet up with 6 other of our Dockside friends who are here with us.

A Strange Visitor

Frequent Visits for the best Pizza in the Keys

Sunset Grill

St. Patrick's Day

Our Good Friend Karen now has a pool.



Back from an Old Ladies Day outing.



Dockside's Last Gathering



At least six boats left on April 1, 5 headed north and 1 off to the Bahamas.

I'll try to get a couple more posts out in the next few days so that you know what is happin'.

Until then....

Merry Christmas from Marathon

Merry Christmas

to one and all.

Linda and I went all out this year; 2 Christmas trees fully decorated.  Well more or less.  The trees were donated by Candy and Phred and the lights were given to us by Terese and Rick. 

Today 12 boaters are getting together for a turkey feast here on the dock.  Weather will not be a problem, 81 F and sun.  It is the only way to celebrate.

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the very best for the New Year.  Thank you all for your e-cards and emails this Holiday Season.

The Keys Way of Life

(Dec 8 to Dec 16)

It has been hot down here and very humid for most of the week so "dingh'n and drink'n" was on the menu.  Six dinghies and 14 people made it out on this run to Sombrero Beach on the ocean and when the beer ran out we ended up at Castaways for a few more.  Since nobody had time to prepare any food a bunch of us ended up at the Keys Fishery for dinner.  'Twas a tough day, especially after the day before.

I ordered a bunch of stuff early in the week and it was all delivered by Friday.  Can't beat online shopping.  Even my 2013 decal from the US government arrived on time.

We even got a round of golf in at the par 3 course.  Bob, who had not golfed since last winter was the first to get a birdie; Linda won the wet t-shirt contest (I did say it was humid) and I, of course, got low score.  Sparky's was as good as ever: a couple of pitchers of beer and some wings got us home in time and in shape for Happy Hour.  Linda had three, (3), dark and stormy drinks after the round; it must have been hot and humid.

We have been knocking off some of the projects that we had put off until Marathon.  Trying at least to get 1 or 2 done each day.  I am getting some bicycle riding in but not as far or as fast as I would like.  It takes some time to build up some stamina... and callouses on my butt.

Yesterday a bunch of us went to Key West to view the festival boat parade.  There were other things to see as well, especially since everyone is in the Christmas spirit.

It was a long, tiring, very fun day.  We got back just after midnight this morning and now we are ready to send Terese home for the holidays and celebrate Bob and Stephanie's Anniversary.  There is always something.

Home at Last

(Saturday Dec 8 - Dist: 118.3 mi; Avg Speed: 17 mph; TTT: 7:50 hrs)

We have arrived at our home for the winter.  Slip B 34 as seen above.  The Dockside Bar and Grill is in the bottom left hand corner and the Sombrero Golf and Country Club is across the street.  The trip was good although Linda was quite stressed when it started to rain and we had some difficulty in seeing the hundreds and hundreds of crab pots.  We did not fool around on this crossing, we stayed on plane as much as possible and arrived in good time.

No photos yet, but we had an excellent start to our vacation.  There were about a dozen friends waiting at the dock for us and then the party began.  It was almost Happy Hours anyway but the parade of lights was scheduled for later that night so we had a good excuse for an extended dock party.  There were not many boats but they were decorated quite well. 

It was so great to see the Marathon gang once again.

Tonight, we visit the Keys Fishery for fresh crab claws and oysters.  We are already in the Keys groove.  I try to keep in touch once and awhile but for now just know that the forecast calls for a high of 82 F and a low of 73 F for the next five days.  Darn that is nice.

Venice then Naples FL

(Wednesday Dec 5 - Dist: 58.2 mi; TTT: 7:05 hrs)

Because of the delay in crossing the Gulf we decided to pick up the pace so that we would not miss our reservation in Marathon too badly.  When planning the trip we figured on spending a whole month on the Gulf coast of Florida but since we did not arrive until the 22 nd, we were far off schedule.

Our welcoming committee in Venice.

The MarineMax Marina was nothing much but the fuel was reasonable, relatively speaking, and the dockage rate was good so we stayed for the night and left early in the morning for Naples.

Pelicans roosting in the mangroves.

(Wednesday Dec 6 - Dist: 88.6 mi; TTT: 8 hrs)

You know when you are in Naples when:

Yes there is lots of money everywhere in this town.  We met with our friends Roger and Judy from Windsor and had a great time seeing the sights and catching up on the happenings in Windsor.  They have a very nice condo ans seem to really enjoy the snowbird life style.

Two nights was too short a visit but there was a good travelling window for the south east gulf and Florida Bay so we headed out early Saturday morning.