Sunday, January 27, 2013

Day 103-109 Jan 25-31 Sombrero Resort & Marina Marathon

We are learning the ropes of our marina.....back to low tide and high tide and when Miss Saddi can get on and off the boat.  We are on the long wall at Sombrero and can use the aft deck at high tide and starboard middle at low tide.  Platform on....platform off....all for Miss Saddi.  There are lots of four-legged animals here so she is working on being a "Good Dog".

Music, dinner and the sunset.....we are learning "Island Time"

Our Sunset
 
 
Full Moon
 
The Captain is using "Salt Away" as we are covered with sea salt....everything needs attention.  Publix is about a quarter-mile away so I can take my shopping cart (thanks again Coach and Wendy) and get my exercise.

My shopping cart
 
Gerald and Faye arrive on Saturday in their motorcoach and of course Skipper and Connie live here in the winter.....so we will have lots of fun.....As most know we have traveled in our motorcoches with these two couples for years.....

I like Sunsets
 
 
So does someone else
 

 
Dinner Saturday night at LazyDays Restaurant....one of our favorite.  You can take your "Catch" here and they will fix it for you......Tonight we order their fish "LazyDays style"......you will just have to come down and try it....
 
 
LazyDays Sunset
 
 
Gerald, Faye, Skipper, Connie and Rik
 
We are having fun and the days are running together.....but I guess we are on Island Time!!!!!
 
 
Dave & Joy learning the boards
 
 
It is nice to have friends.  Skipper called his local fisherman and bingo "Stone Crabs" for docktails.  Skipper even prepared the dish and all we had to do was crack them and eat them.  Soooo sweet....such a treat
 
Stone Crabs on the Bridge
 
 
Sunset is coming
 
 
Dinner at Sunset Grille & Bar
 
 
The Group on the deck
 
 
Sunset at Sunset Grille
 
 
Dinghy Ride
 
 
The Captain
 
 
Burdine's Chiki Tiki for a Cheeseburger and "their fries"
 
 
Skip and Connie's for Sunset
 
 
Sunset
 
 
 
This was a new experience for us.....The Diesel Truck came to us and filled our tanks.  A boater arranged for the truck (at a VERY good price) and he filled 8-10 boats with fuel.  We are full and ready to go....
 
 

Both tanks please
 
Gerald and Faye came over.....the boys were still working on projects but we did have time for lunch at Fish Tales which was very good.  We took a dinghy ride and looked at all the boats in Boot Key Harbor.
 
Off we Go!!!!
 
We have been seeing Manatees by the boat but could never get a picture.  Rik was washing the boat and since Manatees love a drink of fresh water they came over to the boat to help themselves.
 
 
This was the baby
 
 
This one is bigger
 
 
Thanks for the Drink
 
 
Today is Gerald and Faye's last day in the Keys.  We went over to Skip and Connie's for a steak dinner.  The evening was lovely and dinner was served on the patio.
 
 
This was a treat
 
 
Nice view of the house and pool from the boat dock
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 







Friday, January 25, 2013

Day 102 Jan 24 125 mi Sombrero Resort & Marina Marathon FL

Up early.....checked the weather.....going to try again today....7:30departure....text from Harriet and Mike....have an 8-9 hour window....go fast.....2-3 ft seas....

Sunrise

Good bye again Hamilton Harbor as we head out to Gordon Pass....well it looks better....but we have a problem.....Captain thinks we picked up some sea grass on the props since it is low tide.......reverse....forward....spin around....repeat procedure....much better....off we go again...

Gordon Pass is good today...current is good.....toward our marker...don't cut it short there is some skinny water there....

Nice Water


We head toward Marco Island....Capri Pass will be our first marker....See fishing boats and one BIG boat coming our way.....USCG....well when we get closer we see that USCG is anchored out in the Gulf.....what is he doing....fishing....

USCG
 
Marco Island


We are 3-4 miles off-shore to avoid the shoals of Cape Romano and will stay this way to our next marker.  The shoals are 1-3 ft deep and something to avoid.  Well it is getting rough.....no pictures....hang on....lay down Saddi and dig your toe nails in.....we have beam seas...UG....3-5 ft seas...and no we can't turn around and go back.  We are running 17 to 22 mph depending upon the waves.  We reach the end of Cape Roman and turn toward Little Shark River.  If things don't change this is where we will go and anchor out.

Seas change....maybe the weather forcast was right.....down to 2 ft seas....we can live with this....change our course and head for Bullard Bank, our marker to lead us under the Seven-Mile Bridge.  This is about 11:30AM......Saddi moves to her couch and we can even open the refrigerator for a bottle of water.  Oh yes....we were going to have breakfast on the bridge this morning....Boudin  and a hard-boiled egg......but it didn't happen....

Love the color of the water
 
 
The Gulf
 
 
3050 rpm
 
 
The "Boat" Dog
 
We reach Bullard Banks which is 3 feet deep.....find our markers that will lead us under the Seven-Mile Bridge.  Watch the markers Captain there are lots of banks/shoals out here....

Seven-Mile Bridge
 
 
Moser Channel
 
 
As we go under the bridge we have a good view of the "old" bridge and it brings back memories....Our parents took Fred and I, plus our dog Chief to live in Key West and we  drove across this old bridge.  Parents took a year off from running the grocery store in Western Kansas, loaded the kids and dog up in the Ford one summer and headed to Grand Lake CO.  We stayed there until Christmas break, fished for trout and learned to ski that winter.  We left in December and drove to Key West and finished the school term.  They even took us to Havana Cuba.  The next summer we drove up the East coast to New York City, across Canada and back to Kansas.  I remember we started school the next day....That's my story Fred!

Old Bridge
 
 
Old Bridge
 
 
Well, back on track.....under the bridge and to the marker....turn and follow Boot Key channel to our entrance.  The water is beautiful.....some wind.....this is so exciting coming in by water.....The Boot Key Bascul Bridge is gone so you do not have to call the bridge.


 
Boot Key Entrance
 
 
Yes there is skinny water
 
Pancho Fuel Dock...best price
 
Old Boot Key Bascule Bridge
 
226 Moorings in Boot Key Harbor
 
First Come/Weekly Pump-out
 
 
We are in Boot Key Harbor which we follow to our marina Sombrero Resort and Marina.  We have the last slip they have available until end of February.  Skip and Connie found this slip for us.  We had been on waiting lists for other marina and found out the Marathon Yacht Club would have taken us but we were already booked by that time.


Sombrero Marines (there are two)


Kerry, dock master handled the lines.....Good job Captain......Great Boat dog Saddi.....we are in Marathon/Vaca Key for the month.  6 hours on the water!

We left Green Turtle Bay Marina on October 15th, have been gone 102 days and have traveled 1585 miles according to the Captain.

Our First Sunset
 
 
We are on the wall Starboard side for Saddi
 


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Day 100 -101 Jan 22 -23 Hamilton Harbor Marina Naples

Plan on leaving today at first light.......we are headed to Marathon....departure at sunrise 7:12AM
We follow our bread crumbs back out to Gordon Pass.  All is well!!!!

Red Skies in the morning Sailors take warning
Saddi's area
 
Sunrise 7:12AM
 
First Light
 
Here comes the Sun
 
Saddi is Ready to Go

BUT when we get to Gordon Pass we are faced with seas that are making us feel like we are in a bathtub...
We head on out to our marker and turn east toward Marco Island......has to get better that's what the weather app said....

Well this is horrible.....stuff is going everywhere....what are we doing here....YES go back....we don't need this....Captain gets the boat turned around.....back thru Gordon Pass.....down the channel....to Hamilton Harbor Marina...
Boat is docked....where is the booze......No pictures I was holding on to Saddi!

Lunch at the Yacht Club....Captain works on the chartplotter......Nancy studies the weather and Saddi does her usual....

Now I like this life
 
 
Dinner on the boat as this marina is remote and the Yacht Club is not open during the week for dinner.  The wind is up....weather says stay in port Wednesday and you may have a window Thursday but a better shot Friday.
 
Quiet day....ready to leave for the Keys....Talked with Marathon and our slip is ready....and we are ready.
 
Lunch on the Deck
 
Sunset and calm waters
 
Very nice
 
Nanseann in Naples