A visit to the Marathon Yacht Club

Weather: Mostly sunny; North wind 18 – 22 knots and gusty (third consecutive day); Temp range 65 – 80 degrees

Comment: The day started off with cereal, coffee/tea and the cruisers’ net.
We performed more routine chores today. they included:

• Clean the vent hose for the holding tank;
• Replace hose and fittings for refrigeration cooling water pump. We finally have a permanent installation;
• Dinghy to West Marine for parts for the refrigeration cooling water pump installation;
• Walk to Keys Fishery – purchase Mahi Mahi for “cook your own meat” dinner at the Marathon Yacht Club; then walked to the Marathon YC. The folks were most hospitable. We had long conversations with Commodore Tom Smith and his wife. They live aboard their boat. There were about 70 people in attendance for this evening’s event. We were to be seated with two couples from the Fort Lauderdale YC, but they didn’t show. Too bad.
  
  MYC has about 400 members. The facilities are on the small side, although their dining room holds more people than upstairs at SCYC, if one were to take both SCYC rooms into account, the facilities would be around the same size. Their grounds are much smaller as is the marina, but the slips are for much larger boats. It appears that most members keep their boats at other marinas in Marathon. The grounds and marina are well manicured and well maintained.
  
  In 2005, the building sustained significant damage from Hurricane Wilma. Members came together, pitched in and rebuilt the marina and redid the entire interior of the building. Through their efforts, the cost of the repairs was relatively small. The insurance settlement was significantly more than the repairs due to the fact that the members did all of the work.
  
  Following dinner, we had a nice, dry dinghy ride back to the boat where we read, relaxed and played a few games.

Key West with Pat and Ray

Weather: It’s only been one day and already we’re missing the 80 degree weather! Temp range 60 – 65 Blustery wind all day. Full sunshine, no clouds

Comment: It's another Key West Day! We rode the dinghy to “Reflection,” where we met Pat and Ray for the walk to Key West Bus Stop.

The bus ride to Key West was uneventful - no characters on board! No stories to tell!! Most unusual!!!

While doing the Duval Crawl we visited the Butterfly Museum. In a word, it was "Spectacular." It is a Key West must see. In addition to a nice variety of btterflies, the atmosphere was most relaxing. It is a great place to spend some time.

We purchased Conch Shell (Horn) from the Shell Warehouse. Now we’ll be able to “salute” the sunset with fellow boaters. The crew from "Reflection" bought one too. I'm expecting a conch horn sound-off in the not to distant future.

We enjoyed lunch at the El Mason De Pepe (Cuban Restaurant) at Malory Square. It was very enjoyable. It's common for Key West eateries to have chickens (and cats) roaming freely. See odd to me.

After viewing the sunset (and the Cat Guy) from Mallory Square, we went to catch the bus at the stop near Kelly’s Caribbean Bar and Grill. Since we had about 40 minutes, we asked if they had any 'quick" entrees. The hostess, waiter and cooks were very accomodating. We enjoyed the fare they presented to us. The food was very good... above average I'd say, but the service was spectacular. This establishment has earned the honor of being our Key West restaurant of choice. We'll be back everytime we get to Key West!

As luck would have it, our efforts to make the bus were thwarted. Even though we left the restaurant with ten minutes to spare, as we exited the establishment, Anna Marie saw the tail end of the bus turning the corner. It was ten minutes early! Impossible... but true! Of course, we missed it! We had to cab it back to Searstown to catch the Marathon bus.

The return trip to Marathon was also uneventful! This has never happened before. no characters on board - in either direction! No stories to tell! – on any of the busses!

Another Cold Front Moves Through!

Weather: The predicted cold front is moving through! Quick moving storm cells moved through bringing thunder, lightening and wind. Because we were sealed up with all of the hatches shut, we didn’t feel the temperature drop! It is 73 degrees as I write this at 0730 hours. Another cell just passed. We clocked the wind at 20 knots. 73 degrees is the predicted high for today, the predicted low is 55 degrees. (NOTE: the average February high for this area is 71 degrees. We've experienced significantly higher temps this month.)

Comment: Good News: All of our window repairs paid off as none of the windows we calked showed any signs of leaking.

Bad News: We found four new leaks, including the chain plate for the baby stay. That’ll take some time and work to re-calk. We’ll get to that later this week, perhaps after another trip to Key West that is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow.

After lunch, Anna Marie couldn’t get any hot water. The water heater didn’t work as it normally does yesterday and today, it doesn’t work at all. After troubleshooting as per the manual, I couldn’t find any obvious problems. We’ll make a call to the service center in the next day or two. The distributor is located in Miami.

Another Day in Paradise

Weather: It remains perfectly calm in the harbor. Wake up temperature was 79 degrees although it was only 75 degrees when we hit the sack. There are no clouds to be seen and the winds are light and variable.

Comment: Looks like we’re going to have another day in paradise! Could these daily "Paradise" reports are “becoming such a bore,” as Jimmy Buffett might say.

We started the day with the generator, breakfast, the cruisers’ net and the pumpout boat.

Chore for the Day – We are going to calk four windows that have developed minor leaks since Marje, Ed, Anna Marie and I replaced the windows last August. We’re expecting a cold front tomorrow it’s supposed to bring rain and cooler temperatures. A low of 55 degrees is predicted for tomorrow night and a high of 65 degrees is predicted for Wednesday. WOW.. that'll be some change!

We also filled up the solar shower and added 12 gallons of water to the fresh water tanks. We were third in a line of six boats at the water hose. I waited our turn while Anna Marie purchased a couple bags of ice.

Brian (“Midori” – PDQ 32) stopped by to introduce himself and say hello. He and wife Linda are from Northern Manitoba. They purchased the boat last summer in Virginia. They began their voyage on November 20, 2007. In a week or two, they hope to head to the Bahamas.

Anna Marie invited them over for cocktails. We enjoyed their company very much and plan to get together again before they leave.

Still in Boot Key Harbor

Weather: Yikes! It’s gonna be another hot one! Last night’s temp dipped to a low of 79 degrees and that reading didn’t come until 0500 this morning. It was 80 degrees most of the night. We both slept, but it was light sleeping for me. There isn’t a wisp of wind in the harbor. The surface is glassy and boats are pointing every which way. There isn’t a cloud in the sky as I write this at 0800 hours.

Comment: Generator on! Breakfast and harbor watching are in order this hour! We listened to the Cruisers’ Net while having a bowl of Corn Chex.

Generator off – the sun is shinning and there is a gentle breeze blowing. Although bright and sunny in the cockpit (shade is the order of the day), we enjoy the harbor scenes. I took the opportunity to lower the engines and fire them up. They started easily. As usual, the starboard engine was not “pissing” anything near the volume of water “pissing” out of the port engine. I pulled of all of the hoses and found not restriction in flow from any of the four fittings. This lead me to believe that there was a restriction either in the “piss hole” itself or the hose that attaches to it. A wood skewer made the perfect ramrod. Low and behold, I forced out a piece of the mangled “T” fitting that I discovered in Cape May, on the delivery trip from Bodkin Creek to home last August. I can report that the starboard engine is “pissing” just fine now!
1000 The Marathon Harbor Master pulled over a fishing boat that motored through the mooring field and headed toward Sisters Creek. Apparently the fishing boat was making a wake. The net was abuzz this morning with talk of a minimum $250.00 fine for exceeding the 5 mph harbor speed limit.

We took a dinghy ride to Sombrero Beach for a cooling swim and R & R. Met Pat and Ray (Reflection) and had a really nice afternoon. There was a gentle sea breeze at the beach. It felt cooler than in the harbor. Of course the being in the water helped to cool us off as well. We had a nice picnic lunch and had a wonderful afternoon.

After a very quick shower, we were off first in the dinghy and then the bikes for an evening trip to the Community Movie Theater. “No Country for Old Men” (Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harelson, and some other dude whose name ecapes us). It was a good movie with a different (strange) ending.

By 2100, we were back aboard for a quiet evening. We watched Part II of the Jimmy Buffett concert in Wrigley Field and then hit the sack.

Wastin' Away!

Weather: Mostly sunny; temp range 77 – 84 degrees; south wind @ 10 – 15 knots; calm in the harbor

Comment: Up at 0700 this morning after a warm night (81.7 degrees overnight, dropped to 77 degrees at wake up time). Toasted bagel for breakfast and laze around in the cockpit and fired up the generator.

We listened to the net and then Margaritaville Radio until lunchtime, afterwhich we mounted the flat screen TV and re-cleaned the grill orifices with “canned air.” we watched a neighbor clean his fish and feed the remains to the pelicans. An egret wanted some, but not being able to swim, it landed on the guy's boat and begged for some. Of course, other boaters were not amused as feeding the birds is a major breech of etiquette.

In the afternoon, we went ashore for a walk in the park and noticed that the Overseas is CLOSED!

We went back to the boat for more R&R which included playing the guitar and reading and just trying to keep cool.On our return, we found that we have a new neighbor, "PIG PEN." We finished the day with some shots of the sunset.

The Very Last of the Overseas

Weather: Partly sunny; Temp range 76 – 88 degrees; S wind 15 knots diminishing to <10

Comment: Cleaned the orifices in the grill’s gas valve. While barbequing dinner last night, it blew out a couple of dozen times before the meal was cooked. As a result of today’s effort, the grill stayed light while BBQing the steaks, but it still wasn’t 100% right. I’ll have a go at it again in a day or two.

Anna Marie spent several fun hours in the laundry facility at the City Marina.


During the Cruiser’s Net, Bev announced that today would most likely be the last day for lunch at the Overseas. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches or Cheese Quesadas were the only thing on the menu. When we arrived, the grill was gone! The buyer apparently came after the net to pick it up. IT appears that today will be the last day for the Overseas! We had some cokes and used their wireless internet before leaving.

Pat and Ray and John and Honey came over for Happy Hour.

How Do You Applaud Over a VHF Radio?

Weather: The day dawned overcast. Showers ensued from 0800 to 0930. Following the showers, it remained cloudy. The predicted 15 knot winds east winds have not materialized as of mid morning. The temp range was 74 – 80 degrees.

Comment: This morning, the net was abuzz with applause for Roy and Bev and the wonderful tribute they were given at last night’s meet and greet. (NOTE: applause consists of “clicks” of the VHF microphones.) Dave Johnson who lives aboard his Tartan 27 “Chicone” (also of Open Mike Night Fame) provided the entertainment. The SomrgasBoat ferried his sound system to the marina since it was too heavy for his little dinghy.

In an effort to give thanks to the harbor, Roy and Bev, have made arrangements with Chris (SmorgasBoat) to pick up the tab for all rides on the SmorgasBoat today!

We passed up the opportunity for free rides on the SmorgasBoat. Instead, we ferried 12 gallons of water to SUNSHINE. We filled up the solar shower too. We lunched on board and did some reading. At 1530, we rode to the dinghy dock and pedaled to the Keys Fishery for Shrimp Cocktail and a beverage. The day has cleared nicely and the view from the “Upper Deck” at the Fishery was magnificent.

Our brief respite was followed be a bike ride to the Publix where we purchased some provisions and headed back to the dinghy. Our provisions fit into two backpacks, an insulated pac for the milk and refrigerated stuff and one other small bag that hung from Anna Marie’s handle bar.

On the way back, we happened upon a car with the following sign,”Greenwood Tree Service, West Creek, NJ.” There weren’t any people nearby; so no one to say "Hi” to. Still, it is a small world (but I wouldn’t want to paint it!).

Dinner consisted of grilled hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob. Life is grand!

A "Meet and Greet" to Say Goodbye!

Weather: What’s this, after a partly sunny morning, the sky became overcast. Rain showers persisted from 1700 until 2100 hours. The wind was out of the ENE @ 15+ until late afternoon when it dropped to 10 – 15 knots.

Comment: We were late risers this morning. Although we were awake at 0800, we didn’t get out of bed until a few minutes after 0900. I’m into Elliot’s “Admiral of the Ocean Sea” and spent the hour reading.

After the cruisers net, we went ashore. We don’t ride the SmorgasBoat any more since we got the new dinghy. The ride to shore was a bit wet as we were plowing into 18 knot headwinds.

Once ashore, we boarded the rust buckets for the four mile ride to Pigeon Key. We were on a downwind run with spinnakers flying! We made it all the way to the work camp and turned around. The ride back was not so easy. There was a 15 knot headwind and on the bridge, there is nothing to shield one from the force of the wind. At times it felt like we were blowing backwards! Stopping often, at least every quarter mile, we finally made it back to the parking lot. There was still a quarter mile of unprotected path to pedal. Once we made it to the mangroves, the force of the headwind was blocked a bit by the trees and the pedaling got a bit easier.

We stopped for real BBQ sandwiches at Porky’s. The Cuban pork marinade was tasty and the pork was lean. We enjoyed the respite and were off.

As we were passing 33rd street, Anna Marie mentioned that the Marathon Yacht Club was just down the end of the street. We turned left, found the club, went in and asked, “Can two thirsty sailors out of the Surf City Yacht Club wet their whistles in this establishment?” Fleet Captain Bill Porter and his wife Joy whisked us down the hall to the club manager where we were give a two week reciprocal pass to the club. We moseyed over to the bar and had a couple of cold drinks, thanked our hosts, toured the grounds and marina before boarding the rust buckets for the final slog home.

Bill and Joy invited us back for the Friday night cookout. One can bring something to grill, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow boaters, and dance to live music. They also offer free hotdogs on Sundays.

After locking the rust buckets to the bike rack, we rode the dinghy back to SUNSHINE were Anna Marie prepared something for the “Meet and Greet” at the City Marina. During the festivities, the boaters planned a tribute to Roy and Bev (proprietors of the Overseas).

Dave Johnson showed up with his guitar and sound equipment to entertain the crowd. At the appropriate time, the guy who bought Roy’s cannon showed up to fire a salute to Roy and Bev. The cannon shots were followed by a chorus from the boaters who brought their Conch shells to the party. The blowing of the conch shell is the traditional Keys (and Bahamian) way to say goodbye to the sun as it wets for the evening. Tonight’s “blowing of the shells” was the boaters’ way of saying goodbye to Roy and Bev. It seemed most appropriate.

The showers squelched our plan to bike to Crane Point for the lunar eclipse festivities. The cloud cover will effectively block our viewing of the event.

Another Cold Front Moves Through

Weather: A cold front moved through this morning. It brought thunder, rain and wind. The thunder and rain lasted for 30 minutes or so. The wind picked up from a dead calm to 15 + knots for the rest of the day. After the rain, the sky was mostly sunny; the temp range was 70 to 80 degrees although the overnight temperature never went below 77 degrees.

Comment: Our day started off in a routine fashion, with a breakfast of mini-wheat followed by the cruiser’s net. By the time the net started, the sky was mostly sunny so we let the solar panel do its thing and did not run the generator. We’ll run the generator between 2000 and 2100 hours.

We went to shore after lunch to run a couple of errands (Inflatable boats to pick up dinghy parts, Home Depot and Boater’s World). The wind was blowing at a steady 15 knots making for a wet ride. We took our purchases back to the boat and then went back To meet John and Honey. We were going to do cocktails on our boat, but they would have had a long, wet ride from Marathon Marina which is clear past the bridge and on the other end of the harbor. Plan B was for them to drive us to Sparky’s for the $0.25 wings and shrimp. The shrimp and wings were good and we enjoyed exchanging experiences about our journeys.

It’s 2200 hours. We’re back on the boat. After working on the logs, we’ll watch a movie and then hit the sack. The cold front has moved through, leaving a clear, moonlit night (almost a full moon). The night time temperature is in the low 70’s and may drop into the high 60’s overnight. It’ll be much better sleeping than last night!

An Easy Day

Weather: Mostly sunny; temp range 75 – 83 degrees; East wind <10>

Comment: We did it again – started the day off listening to the Cruisers’ Net this morning. Well we almost started the day that way. I got up early and while Anna Marie slept, to work on the wiring for the wind instrument. As I finished making the appropriate temporary connections, Anna Marie arose and flipped the switch on her way past the electric panel. Goodnesss gracious… I got a reading of 5 knots! According to my observations, 5 knots was about correct. I checked it with the handheld wind instrument. We’ll work on calibration of the wind direction when we get underway. I made more permanent connections and cleaned up while Anna Marie prepared breakfast (mini wheat).

We remembered to eat the leftovers from the Key Colony Inn for lunch! The meal was almost as good as it was yesterday!

John Funston stopped by for a brief visit. He was chugging through the harbor testing his dinghy motor.

In the evening, we took a ride around the harbor in the dinghy and got a couple of pictures of an iguana in a mangrove tree and a marathon. We then motored over to "Reflection" for a game of Balderdash. We got reacquainted with Dick and Libby (Tarwathie), Danny and Chris (Facilte) and William.

The Last Supper!

Weather: The day dawned bright and sunny. How about that… another day in paradise! Temp range 70 – 83 degrees; East wind @ 15 knots; calm in the harbor

Comment: Out of bed at 0730; enjoy a leisurely breakfast (mini-wheats)

Fire up the generator – yesterday was a record setting day for the solar panel. It exceeded 6.3 amps and provided over 20 amp hours to the batts! That marks the highest amp reading and the highest amp hours in a 24 - hour period!

The cruisers’ net participants were very reserved today. Roy announced that this would be the last day for the free buffet and they are planning a big one! He also announced that it would be their last day on the cruiser’s net. The end has come quickly for the Overseas Sports Grill and Lounge! The life sized pirate was sold, loaded into a car and taken away the other day. The entire harbor is in morning and Bev and Roy, the proprietors are trying to keep a stiff upper lip, but they lapse into sobs on occasion.

The harbor donated in excess of $900.00 as a token of thanks to Roy and Bev for everything they have done to help boaters and make the harbor a comfortable place to visit. John K (Open Night Mike with John K) told us that he and his wife were offered jobs from May through Labor Day at Lake Winnipesauke in New Hampshire. They’re hoping some of their friends stop by.

Before the last free buffet, we made a water run, filling our two six gallon jugs at the city marina and transporting them back to the mother ship where we added the contents to our fresh water tank. This addition brought our tanks above one-half full. Not bad for two weeks of usage, including showers aboard (are you paying attention Eddie A?).

The Last Supper! We made it to the Overseas for the final free buffet. The place was filled. Roy asked non-boaters to raise their hands. There were two. He jokingly told them to leave! Bev said they love the boaters and it’s been a great 8 years, but after struggling with the situation for a couple of years, they had to realize that it “wasn’t to be.” It was an emotional time for her and Roy.

We left the Overseas and, while on the way back to the boat, decided to go on a dinghy cruise. We made it all the way to the end of the harbor where we visited with long time friends John and Honey. They just came back to their boat for President’s week. John is still working but he’s somehow managed to finagle enough time to sail south for the winter with periodic visits to his job up north.

We made plans to go to the Key Colony Club for dinner. The Key Colony Club is where Peter (Catalina 27 “Manx Cat”) plays the jazz piano. He hosts the Cruisers’ Net on Thursdays. His distinctive style sounds like a character from the old TV show “Lost in Space.”

The meal was excellent! Anna Marie and I both had the Seafood Italiano (scallops and shrimp with a hint of marinara over linguini) Unfortunately, Peter went to a wedding in Michigan and won;t return until tomorrow.

The Last OMN

Weather: Bright and sunny temp range 70 – 83 degrees; North winds @ 15 knots, light chop in the harbor.

Comment: The day started as usual except for the 0800 call to the HP Help Center. My compuyer crashedvlast night. After following the technician directions, the screen remained blank. He advised that it is a motherboard problem. We’ll have to send the computer in for service. The good news is that it is still under warranty (about 2 weeks left) so the repairs will be free.

As usual in the morning, I fired up the generator to charge the batteries. We listened to another edition of the cruisers’ net and then, being out of Breakfast food, we moseyed over to the Keys Fisheries for a muffin and cup of “joe.”

We found out that John and Honey (Hielan' Lass II) are back in Marathon. They like the warm weather so much, they signed up for another month at the Marathon Marina. They’ll probably start heading home around Easter.

Anna Marie put the numbers and name on the dinghy and we chilled for a couple of hours, enjoying the breeze in the cockpit and the delightful weather we are having.

Pat and Ray (“Reflection”) joined us for a quick drink. We all piled into our dinghy, rode to the marina and went to the Upper Crust for Pizza. The “deluxe” had all sorts of toppings. One pie was enough for the four of us.

The real reason for our sojourn was “Open Mike Night with John K.” Pat and Ray have never been. They were not disappointed. The evening started with subdued atmosphere. We believed we were witnessing the last ever Open Mike Night at the Overseas!

Broiler Pan Man (BPM) was electric… literally! John K. introduced Hurricane Dave, invited him on stage (he usually gets to stand next to the stage) and put a mike up to his broiler pan! The usual cast of character was in attendance: BPM (aka Hurricane Dave), Popeye, frizzy-hair gal tambourine player (FHG), closed eyes guy tambourine player (CEG - plays the tambourine with his eyes shut), a new guy named Tim (electric guitar guy), the cabbie drummer and another drummer guy, and John K, the MC and Host!

During the show, Roy Owner of the Overseas) announced that this was the last Open Night Mike. He and John had lots of negative things to say about lawyers, and Roy expressed his displeasure with the town fathers who refused to work with him. All in all, it was a bittersweet night. To be sure, it was an emotional evening for the regulars.

We stayed until almost midnight – a record for us! Usually we are out of OMN by 2200 hours.

Happy Valentine's Day

Weather: Cooler weather prevails! Today’s temp range 67 – 75 degrees. 15 knot wind out of the SE; mostly sunny

Comment: Happy Valentine’s Day!

We had a loose plan to celebrate. After the net, we rode the SmorgasBoat into the marina and walked to Inflatable Boats of the Florida Keys. Eric recommended a 9’6” Achilles to us. The boat weighs 115lbs. and had a load carrying capacity or 1300. It has a wood floor system and is very solid underfoot. The boat is very stable; one can stand upright to board and disembark. It might even be possible to stand up while underway.

Eric put the boat together in his shop. It looked huge to us, although he said it was about the same size as our old boat. We were concerned about the lifting points. A new boat would have to fit on our existing davits. Eric offered to deliver it to the marina and let us try it out for the day. We accepted his offer.

On the way back to the boat, we stopped for a Valentine’s lunch at the Keys Fishery. Anna Marie had a crab cake sandwich and said it wasn’t very good. I had a blackened Tuna sandwich which was very good.

We got back to the marina in time to see Eric put the boat in the water. We rode the SmorgasBoat out to SUNSHINE to pick up the outboard. Once back at the marina, we affixed said outboard to the transom of the new boat and tooled around the harbor a bit. Anna Marie really liked the stability of the boat. We still needed to see if it fit on the davits. It was big, but after some trial and error, we found a way to raise the boat on the davits. To do it permanently, we’ll need to position two “D” rings bout 10” behind the existing lifting ring. Still, the boat was snug between the hulls of SUNSHINE. The rear tube would constantly rub on the hull. The area is reinforced so chafe wasn’t a concern.

We rode the rust buckets to inflatable boats to seal the deal only to find that Eric had inadvertently assembled and gave us a more expensive 10’ 4” boat to try. He would let us have that boat or we could get the 9’ 6” boat. We opted for the shorter boat because we felt it would fit on the davits better. It was near the close of business before everything got straightened out. Eric asked if we’d mind finishing up the paperwork and exchanging the boats tomorrow. No problem for us!

After a brief break back on SUNSHINE, we rode the dinghy back to the dock. We were off on the rust buckets to the local cinema where we would catch the 1900 showing of “The Bucket List.” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman were excellent!

We arrived back aboard SUNSHINE at 2100 hours. We worked on the logs and then chilled for a bit before we hit the sack.

We ran the generator for an hour this morning. It’s been cloudy for a couple of days, so the solar panel hasn’t contributed a lot to the battery banks. Today was a different story. At 1700, both batteries were clean and green. The solar panel alone had them fully charged. The panel does a great job when it is pointed in the right direction and the sun shines brightly!

A Mixed Bag O' Nuts

Weather: Last night’s sky was ablaze with flashes and bolts of lightening that was accompanied by roars of thunder. It continues to be windy (20+ knots) and the night time temp was 76 degrees. The morning dawned bright and sunny with winds subsiding to about 18 knots from the east. By 1230 hours, the sky had darkened and we were in for some serious weather. Radar showed several cells of thunderstorms accompanied by high (gale force) winds. The first storm hit at 1200 hours. It brought twenty minutes of high wind, torrential downpours, lightening and thunder. Another cell of similar strength and duration came by an hour or so later. After the storms, showers were the order of business for the rest of the evening.

Comment: After arising at 0750, I started the generator. It is one of the first things I do in the morning. I try to do the logs while the jenny is running. In addition to the batteries, it charges the computers, cell phones and the other rechargeable batteries (C, AA, AAA, blender and drill) that we use. We try to run it for at least one hour in the morning and another in the evening. I’m told the batteries charge up to 85 to 90% in an hour but it takes significantly longer to get them any higher than that. So far, between the generator and the solar panel, we’ve been having a pretty easy time keeping the batteries topped off.

Today is chore day. Our list includes:

• Take the dinghy in for repair;
• Do the laundry;
• Wire the wind gauge, and;
• Clean the BBQ grill.

We decided to have the dinghy professionally repaired by Eric at Inflatable Boats of the Florida Keys (ifbkeys.com). It’ll be a ride on the SmorgasBoat and then a Taxi ride to his place of business. Since the boat weighs 60+ pounds, walking the mile or so to his store is not an option.

While I take care of that detail, Anna Marie will do the laundry. It’s been 12 days – the longest stretch we have gone between clothes washings. We just about out of clean clothes!

Eric said he could repair the dinghy so that the Admiral could be confident that it won’t spring a leak. I forgot to get an estimate, so I called him back. The estimate (about 40% of the value of the boat) was high enough for us to question whether or not the boat was worth the investment. The boat is the least expensive one I could find. I got it from E-Bay for a better price than I could have from West Marine. It is a PVC (as opposed to Hypalon) unit that is susceptible to UV deterioration. We’re going to talk to Eric tomorrow about some ideas for a new boat.

We didn’t get back to the boat before the thunderstorms hit. We waited for an hour at the marina. It was interesting to see the weather roll in and we watched in amazement as the harbor became a frothy, foamy white. When the wind diminished, the froth and foam disappeared almost immediately.

During a break in the action, we took a cab to the Dockside for lunch. We humped the laundry and several bottles of spirits (40% off at the Overseas) to the cab and then to the Dockside. The SmorgasBoat picked us up at about 1515.

Back on the boat, we cleaned up the BBQ grill and ran the generator and worked on the logs.

Pat and Ray ran their dinghy out to our mooring so we could go to the comedy (2100 hours) show at the Dockside with them. Ray Fogg (rayfogg.net) held court for a couple of hours singing bawdy songs and telling bawdy stories. Some of his groupies were in attendance but most of the crowd was boaters from the harbor. Before Ray’s show, Tommy Tunes was entertaining assembled throng. Many of those in the audience were pretty far gone before Ray took the stage. Several tables were boisterous but Ray played through the noise. At times he was funny but we all thought he was repetitious.

We were all pretty tired, so we left before the show was over. Ray ferried us back to the boat. We were ready to hit the sack.

Haircuts on a Boat

Weather: Today is the third consecutive day of 20+ knot wind (ENE @ 20+), this time accompanied by thunder showers; temp range 73 – 80 degrees; some chop in the harbor; SUNSHINE and all the other boats in the harbor are swinging in wide arch’s around their respective mooring balls.

Comment: After the cruisers’ net, we contacted “Lo Que Se A” to cancel our haircut appointments. After hearing of our dinghy woes, Gene and Judy, being the nice folks that they are, offered to provide dinghy service to their Great Harbor 37. Having a haircut aboard someone else’s boat was a new experience for us. We were both more than satisfied with the service and tonsorial skills that Judy displayed.

While aboard, we glanced around their boat. It is magnificent! Instead of ladders, they have a real staircase to get from each of the levels. The cabinets are built in have superior joinery, and appeared to be cherry wood. The kitchen (no it really is a kitchen) has a 23 cubic foot side by side refrigerator/freezer. The bedroom was exquisite!

Judy is a writer for Power Cruiser Magazine (I think that’s the name of the publication). Her current article documents the trials, tribulations and solutions to the problem of having pumped 30 gallons of diesel fuel into their fresh water tank. It should be a great article although humbling for Gene.

We rolled up the dinghy and called for the SmorgasBoat to take us to the marina where we would summon a cab to take us to the Inflatable Boats of the Florida Keys store. After a forty-five minute wait, the SmorgasBoat arrived. We had already started another project so we passed on the ride. We’ll try again tomorrow.

Our other project was to connect the wind instrument cable to the wind instrument. We made a temporary connection to see if everything was working and found that the wind direction function worked properly. We weren’t so lucky with the wind speed function. Instead of the wind speed, four dashes were the only symbols that were displayed. We tried recalibrating the unit, checked all the electrical connections and jiggled the wires, to no avail. We couldn’t get any wind speed reading.

I’ll play with it again tomorrow.

Pat and Ray, “Reflection,” came by for a little get together. It was great to hear what they’ve been up to. We’re planning to go to Open Mic Night at the Overseas this Saturday. They’ve never been! If we can get a ride, we may meet them at the Dockside tomorrow evening. An “adult” material comedian is performing at 2100 hours.

Goodbye Gary and Jim & The Overseas Lounge

Weather: Another windy day – NNE @ 20 gusts to 25; mostly sunny, cooler, temp range 71 – 75 degrees; light chop in the harbor

Comment: It was early to rise for all hands today. Skipping breakfast, for the time being at least, we hailed the SmorgasBoat (VHF channel 17) for a ride to shore. We were underway in Jim’s car at about 0730. The plan is for Jim to drop us off in Homestead (we need to take care of some business and go to WalMart) and drop Gary off at Miami International Airport, where he will fly back to the frigid cold (10 degrees this AM) NJ winter. Jim is heading over to the west coast of Florida for to meet friends and go kayaking.

We bid a fond goodbye and watched Jim and Gary drive off. For the first time since we returned to the boat in January, we were without guests! This realization didn’t hit us until much later, when we had dinner aboard. Cooking for two drove the point home.

We enjoyed having our guests.

We arrived back at the City Marina, boarded the SmorgasBoat, and were back aboard SUNSHINE at 1600 hours. We worked on our logs and planned our next couple of days. We need to repair the dinghy and make the electrical connections for the wind gauge. We have appointments for haircuts, aboard “Lo Que Se A,” but without a dinghy, we probably will not be able to keep them.

We also researched our options if the dinghy can’t be repaired.

Anna Marie prepared pork chops and sauerkraut in the pressure cooker. We sat down to a great meal and reminisced about the fun we had with Marje and Ed and Gary and Jim.

We also talked about the sad news that the Overseas Sports Bar and Grill is going to close down in a couple of weeks. We wonder where the cast of characters will end up.

The following is a reprint from the local newspaper:

End is Near for a Keys Landmark

By Ryan McCarthy Posted-Friday, February 8, 2008 6:55 PM EST

Loan's called in, Overseas Lounge likely to closeMarathon's oldest watering hole and a Middle Keys landmark, the Overseas Liquor & Lounge, is closing its doors for the last time by the end of February.A dispute with the estate of property owner Joseph Ardolino has left business owners Roy and Beverly Dickens no choice but to shut down.Roy said the bar has been open as Overseas Liquor & Lounge for 59 years.

“When we came in, we bought the business, the equipment and the liquor license. We have a balloon on the liquor license [due] March 1, [meaning] you would have a payoff or renegotiate,” Beverly said. The couple owes $143,000 on what was a private loan from Ardolino totaling $275,000.Beverly said the estate has requested the loan be paid in full by March 1 and the couple then go on a month-to-month lease paying an additional $1,100 per month rent.Now, Roy said, the Dickens' stand to lose everything if the $143,000 is not paid by March 1.

They've been unable to secure a loan on the license to pay the estate. An option to renew for 10 years was in the original lease.“Then I had it sold in Key Largo and the county won't let us move it. They said it takes three months; I said, ‘I don't have three months' and he said ‘I'm sorry,'” Roy said. He said he was told Friday morning he would have to appear before the county Planning Commission to try to get the liquor license moved to the Upper Keys.Beverly said the estate sent her a letter saying nothing can be removed from the property - including furniture in their upstairs apartment and some $347,000 worth of equipment the Dickens' have put into the bar.

The Overseas began as a fishermen's bar, Beverly said, and has long been a hangout for residents of Boot Key Harbor. The bar even offers WiFi so boaters can bring computers in and have access to the Internet.“They keep asking every day is anything changing and I keep saying ‘No, we don't have that lease straightened out,'” Beverly said. “I have good days and bad days; today is kind of a bad day after [Roy] went to the county. That was our last resort, to move the license so we don't lose everything.”Roy said he felt he was being “shafted” after eight years giving back to the community.

“We've done anything for this community. We've fed people for seven years in this town who didn't have a place to eat and I've always paid for everything,” he said. The Dickens' have for years offered a free buffet Sunday mornings. The Overseas also serves as an unofficial hurricane shelter for Boot Key Harbor liveaboards when hurricanes rock their boats beyond the point of being able to stay on them.Beverly said she does not know what the estate has in store for the building, but said she has reiterated to the estate the license will be void when the Overseas closes.“I wrote them a letter and said ‘Do you not understand? You're calling our bluff, but I'm
telling you when this building is out of business, this license is done,' ” she said.

POST SCRIPT: The 2/11/08 cruiser’s net was abuzz with chatter about how the boating community could help. Needless to say, the boaters couldn’t come up with the amount due, but they did take up a collection… to buy as many lottery tickets as they can with the donations. The tickets will be given to Roy and Beverly with the hope that they “hit it big!

You might also be interested to know that the Overseas is selling their packaged goods at a discount of 40% off to the boaters!

The MAN!

Weather: Windy – NE 20 knots gusts to 25; Sunny to cloudy with appearance of rain that never materialized, to partly sunny; temp range 75 – 78 degrees.

Comment: We were up at 0800 and ready to head out for Key West. The only thing standing in our way was a small boat project that Jim volunteered to undertake. SUNSHINE’s wind instrument (anemometer and vane) hasn’t worked since we purchased the boat. We had the instrument head and transducer serviced and after reinstallation found that the gauge was still inoperative. After further searching, we found the cable was severed. We ordered a new cable with mast head fitting, but haven’t met the right person to climb to the top of the mast.

Jim offered that he was in fact, the MAN! He spent last evening planning his strategy that included a make shift harness (made out of a dock line) and a foot hold. Gary and I hoisted him with the main halyard attached to the harness and the spinnaker halyard attached to the foot strap. With Gary at the port winch and me at the starboard, we winched Jim up about 49 feet over the water. For the better part of what must have semed like a week, Jim sat (in the harness), stood (in the foot hold) while his “boys” were getting real familiar with each other and the dock line which threatened to crush, sever or send them packing (depending on Jim's various positions in the makeshift harness). Okay, so it wasn’t really a week (more like an hour or two) but when the "boys" are slowly and methodically being squeezed, hours can quickly turn into weeks.

We fished the new cable through with no difficulty. The final procedure way at the top of the mast was for Jim to remove the old fitting, mount the new fitting and reattach the anemometer and vane. A problem arose in the attaching. The old fitting was much thicker than the new therefore the “old” screws were too long! To Jim, failure is not an option (it was certainly acceptable for us). He came down the mast with a little (very little) assistance from Gary and me. He sat down to let the “boys” separate a bit while Anna Marie and I searched the spare parts bins for appropriate sized screws. Once found, it was back up the mast for Jim. He took to the heights armed with the necessary tools, screws and calk. The screws fit just fine and he returned to the deck in just about ½ hour. The installation was complete.

It was now about noon, so we lunched before heading ashore. Much to Gary’s chagrin, we forgot all about the free buffet at the Overseas. It was too late for Key West. The SmorgasBoat stops running at about 1845 hours and we needed to ride it (or we wouldn’t be able to get back to the boat) because, if you recall, our inflatable dinghy lost a bout with a sharp underwater object yesterday.

We tried West Marine for a PVC dinghy patch (no luck) and a five pole fitting for the wind instrument cable (no luck finding the fitting, but I found a 6 pole bus bar that should work). We’ll wire it up next week sometime.

Our treat for the day was a trip to the Dolphin Research Center located on Grassy Key. The center dates back to the 50’s. There are 19 dolphins that live at the center and are the subjects of various research projects. I had a conversation wit one of the trainers. When I asked about training and background, he replied: “None, only what I’ve learned here.” I offered that there must be hundreds if not thousands of marine biologists who would love to work at the center. He countered that marine biology might be too broad for work at the center and that Psychology would be more appropriate to the kind of work he does with the dolphins. They way he described it, the males act like typical 8th grade boys (they have a tussle and forget it) while the females acted like typical 8th grade girls (they go to separate corners and don’t interact with each other for hours or longer)!

We were all awestruck by the words on a banner (and “T” shirt) of Baja Diumbe which are as follows:

“We can only conserve the things we LOVE;
We can only love the things we UNDERSTAND;
And we can only understand the things we are TAUGHT!”

Our trip to the center was capped off nicely by dinner at the Island Fishery, a place we discovered with Marje and Ed a few weeks ago.

After being dropped off by the SmorgasBoat, we were back on board by 1800 hours.

Holed!

Weather: Heavy rain and thunder storms are predicted as a cold front moves through. The morning offered light winds and bright sunshine and a temp in the mid 70’s.

Comment: Anna Marie and I began the day at the nautical flea market held right here at the city marina. We purchased a swivel block ($5.00), teak mirror ($3.00) and a chart book holder ($10.00).

We enjoyed breakfast sandwiches at the Stuffed Pig (expensive at $4.00 a pop) then rode the dinghy back to the boat for some R&R. Gary stayed aboard, foraged for breakfast and made reservations for three of the crew to go snorkeling. Anna Marie is going to forego snorkeling in favor of some shore side activity. Marlin Bay is having an open house and the Pigeon Key Art Show is at the Community Park. She may attend either or both.

We rode the dinghy back to the boat for some R&R, ran the generator for 1 ½ hours and with Gary, we took the dinghy back to the dock. Anna was off to do her own thing and Gary, Jim and I were off for a snorkel adventure. We boarded the Sunset Catamaran (just past Porky’s) and went with five other customers to Sombrero Reef. We swam around for almost two hours before heading back. While on the reef we saw a plethora of fish, including barracuda, parrot fish, tile fish among many unidentified others (we needed a fish identification guide!).

On the way in, Captain Steve stopped the boat so we could watch a pod of dolphin working the area. There were many including several very little ones, Apparently the “fishing” was good!

Jim, Anna Marie and I took the dinghy back to SUNSHINE, while Gary waited for one of us to come back to get him. We were chugging away nicely on our way to the mothership when the OB started to run sluggishly, as if it were running out of gas; funny, because it should have a pretty full tank. Before knowing what happened, we heard a loud Pfffft. The starboard chamber deflated and we started taking on water. SUNSHINE was about 250 yards away, and it looked as though we might loose the OB before we arrived. Fortunately, the port tube kept us afloat although there was eight inches of water in the boat. We made it to SUNSHINE, hurriedly removed the OB, pulled the dinghy to the bow of SUNSHINE, and muscled the water filled piece of PVC to the deck. A quick inspection revealed about a 12 inch hole in the bottom.

This didn’t dampen our spirits because Jim still needed to experience Boiler Pan Man (BPM). Our plans changed from dinner aboard to dinner out! We had no way of getting Gary, so we all taxied ashore on the SmorgasBoat. Gary, who almost boarded a dinghy skippered by a couple from Barnegat Bay, heard our tail of woe as we walked to the Keys Fishery for Lobster Rubens. After a fine meal, we trudged back to the Overseas for Open Mic Night (OMN). Sadly, we had to leave at 2130 to catch the last SmorgasBoat for the evening. Jim did get to see BPR-man and his instrument, but we had to leave before he took the stage. Sorry you didn’t get to experience that piece of Marathon culture, Jim.

Potpourri

Weather: Another glorious day in paradise! Temp range 75 – 90 degrees; S wind < 10 knots; brilliant sunshine all day

Comment: Potpourri! Today was a potpourri kind of day. Gary was in desperate need of some exercise so he set out on a walk about. He was gone from 1000 to 1700 hours, walking to the Boot Key Harbor Bridge. Bridge Captain Harold told him that the bridge was closed to both foot and vehicular traffic. After some pleasant conversation during which Harold said he was from Point Pleasant, Gary did an about face, retraced his steps to the moat and turned south toward Pigeon Key. Along the way he stopped for a beverage, found a quiet spot bayside and enjoyed a nap with his feet dangling in the water. His nap was cut short and he was rudely awakened as a passing power boat threw up a wake that gave him a good soaking.

Gary proceeded to the old RR Bridge and walked to the entrance to Pigeon Key, where he turned around and headed back. He probably walked about 10 or 12 miles.

At about the time Gary left on his walk about, Jim left on a kayak adventure. He paddled out to Pigeon Key, but did not land as the fee of $11.00 was a bit much). He paddled under the bridge, found a shallow area to snorkel and then paddled along the bridge for a bit. He saw some rays in the shallow water paralleling the bridge. Jim returned to Sunshine in the early afternoon.

The Admiral and Skipper set for a bike ride; picked up a bucket of compound from Bobby Hardy (the fiberglass guy), returned to the dink to pick up the gas tank, then walked to the gas station for a gallon of gas. We then hopped into the dinghy for a tour of the harbor. We especially wanted to see the iguanas that suned themselves on the branches of the mangrove trees. We saw two large ones, but didn’t get any good photos. The iguana’s camouflage was perfect except for a bright orange belly that didn’t show up well in the photograph. We’ll try for a photo at another time.

We returned to “SUNSHINE” before the others and chilled for a couple of hours. I used the time to finish Michner’s “Caribbean.” Anna Marie read some magazines about Marathon and environs.

We all met at the dinghy dock at 1730 for the walk over to the Overseas. It’s Friday, wing (and slider) night! Gary and Jim left before the “Geckos” (a cover band) began its first set. Anna Marie and I stayed for two sets. They took the SmorgasBoat back to SUNSHINE, leaving the dinghy for Anna Marie and me.

To the Stream!

Weather: After some morning clouds, it was a brilliantly sunny day; temp range 73 – 85 degrees; Wind S@10 knots; 1-2’ seas

Comment: “Alright gang, lets be flexible,” said the Captain. Our original plan, to sail to Newfound Harbor, was up for discussion because the weather forecast for Friday, the day we’d be heading back to Boot Key Harbor, was dicey. Plan B, as offered by the Captain, was to “stick our beaks" out to the Gulf Stream, reportedly only 8 miles off the coast of Marathon. We’d sail in the stream for a bit, and then head back to the harbor.

We put up with the tapping of an in-the-mast halyard last night caused by the “lumpy” anchorage. The crew was up at 0700. After breakfast, we pulled up the anchor at about 0845. We motored through the old railroad bridge and bid farewell to Paradise. Anna Marie and I said a silent prayer for our friend Richard who passed away suddenly a few months ago. He and wife Judy were to be camping at Bahia Honda this January and we were going to sail over to meet them. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.

In Hawk Channel, we navigated the 2’ chop making between 5.5 and 7.0 mph. We were on a starboard tack for all but about five minutes. We estimate that we reached the edge of the stream at around 1255 hours. In Hawk Channel, inside the reef, we sailed in about 40 feet of water. The water was turquoise and very clear. As we approached the reef, we could clearly see the bottom. We crossed the reef in 25’ and once on the other side, the depth dropped off dramatically. We passed the 100’ contour, then the 200, 300 and 400’ contours in quick succession. We turned around at the 526’ mark. The water temperature reached 79.6 degrees. The water was still clear, but it was now more of an indigo color. As we entered the deep water, there was a significant odor. It was at once smoky and sweet. “Ganja?” queried the Captain! No, not possible! How about burning sugar cane? The wind is coming from the general direction of Cuba (about 115 miles away). Could it be?

While sailing, Gary and Jim set up the Cuban hand line and dragged a lure. By day’s end, all we had to show for their efforts were two lost lures (probably stuck of some fisherman’s stone crab trap lines).

After making the turn to head back to Boot Key Harbor, Gary and Jim raised the red, white and blue spinnaker. This is the first time it’s been up since we purchased the boat. We flew it for about two hours. It seems small as spinnakers go, but it’s a very light material the stays full in light wind better than the jib.

As we approached Sisters Creek, we doused the sails and motored back to our mooring. Gary took the dinghy ashore for a shower and a quick glance at the newspaper and Jim went to get his kayak. He paddled through the harbor, down some lagoons and out the Sombrero Beach before returning.
Jim and Gary made a huge salad for dinner. After clean up, Gary booked his flight home and we planned a trip to Key West on Sunday and perhaps kayaking tomorrow.

Bahia Honda Bound!

Weather: South wind@ 18knots; mostly sunny, temp range 73 to 85 degrees; seas 2–4 feet

Comment: We are heading out on a mini cruise today. We slipped our mooring ball at 1250 hours after preparing the boat for travel. Jim and Gary took care of some shore side business that included shopping for beer. Anna Marie and I stayed aboard to await the pumpout boat.

After slipping our lines, we motored out Sisters Creek and were greeted by 18 knots wind, white caps and lumpy seas. After an hour of bouncing around, the Captain assured the Admiral that we would only circumnavigate Boot Key and head back in. Before making the turn for the approach to the western end of Boot key, conditions moderated some and, after consulting the crew, the Captain decided to stay the course and head for our original destination, the anchorage at Bahia Honda State Park. For those of you not familiar with Bahia Honda, it can best be described as Paradise!

Moderation in the weather did not materialize so it was a lumpy two hours under jib sail alone. The engines were off, the main remained in its cover, yet we were making over 7 mph. At 1555, the anchor was down and the motors, used to pass through the old railroad bridge, we silenced. We were rolling in the swells, but glad to be in out of the 2-4 foot seas. Jim and Gary immediately donned wetsuits and went off snorkeling. Anna Marie and I just lay back, drinking in the beauty of the anchorage and park.

Jim made delicious Quesadas for dinner. We all pigged out! Following dinner, we sat around the campfire (actually a battery operated candle) and shared stories about adventures past. We eventually hit the sack with visions of tomorrow’s adventure swirling in our heads.

SPLASH!!

Weather: Sunny, temp range mid 70’s to mid 80’s; wind E @ 12 knots

Comment: It’s launch day! Before we got up, George (the Jamaican bottom painter) stopped by to paint the transom areas that Bobby Hardy was working on. Our appointed time, 0930 – 1000 for splashing, was delayed until 1300 hours. We found other things on which to busy ourselves. Anna Marie and I took the bikes to the city marina. Jim and Gary ran some last minute errands.

Al (marina worker) came by at 1245 to tell us to unhook the electric, move the car and make ready for splashing. The travel lift arrived at 1330. At the launch area, George painted the spots made inaccessible by the jack stand pads. After “SUNSHINE” was splashed, Al reconnected the backstays and the topping lift. They had been disconnected to allow the travel lift to lift the boat when we arrived last week..

It was difficult to start the starboard engine and a might tedious to get out of the harbor using only the port engine. Once out, I checked the engine to find that Eric, after replacing the plugs, did not put a wire back on one of the plugs. Once the spark plug wire was connected, we started the engine and it ran strong. Engine vibration seems to be reduced, perhaps because we tightened mounting bolts.

It was a windy downwind run to Moser Channel. We unrolled the jib and hit 7.8 mph. We rolled up the sail at the seven mile bridge, went through under power and were greeted by a lumpy Atlantic Ocean. We continued to motor into boot Key Harbor where we sallied, nice as you please, up to our mooring ball.

We enjoyed a great mesquite rubbed pork loin and corn-on-the-cob dinner. After dinner, we planned a three day trip to Bahia Honda (anchorage) then on the Newfound Harbor and back to Boot Key Harbor on Friday.

Final Boat Projects

Weather: Sunny, temp range 74 – 90 degrees, wind E @ 10 – 12 knots

Comment: Wake up! It’s another workday!! Bobby Hardy (the fiberglass guy arrived at 0900 to glass in the transoms (below the waterline). We had to drain some water that was in the hulls first. Gary and Jim devised a two man system for pumping the bilges. They pumped several gallons out of the starboard hull.

Waxing was our next task, but the results were unimpressive, so I called off that work detail. Bobby Hardy showed us how to do it and what materials to use. He thinks we’ll be able to bring the luster back. That’ll be our job when we get home.

We enjoyed great sandwiches for lunch. They were followed by naps all around (except for Jim who used the time to finish waxing his kayak). It should be noted that the nap time not only interfered with our planned kayaking, it effectively canceled it!

In the afternoon, Bobby Hardy was working on a boat (not ours). He had a board perched on two saw horses about 6 feet in the air. The board broke and Bobby came tumbling down, hitting his right rib cage on a jack stand. He was in considerable pain when he drove by to tell us he wasn’t able to finish sanding the boat today. Gary, Jim and I pitched in and sanded the fresh glass on the transom.

We settled our account with the marina, Bobby stopped by with his bill, saying that he’ll finish first thing in the morning. We are to be launched between 0930 and 1000 hours. To say we’re ready to be floating is an understatement!

After completing our tasks, we freshened up for a road trip to “Sparky’s.” Recall that we heard about Sparky’s from the bartender at the Hammocks Tiki Bar. She advised us that Sparky’s served 25 cent wings and shrimp each Monday from 1600 to 1800 hours. Since this establishment is not within walking distance, we piled into Jim’s car. Sparky’s is about 5 miles away. The four of us packed away five dozen shrimp and three dozen wings. Combine that with $1.00 drafts and sodas, and we spent around $38.00 including the tip. Gary picked up the tab. Thanks, Gary!

Super Bowl Sunday & Welcome Jim!

Weather: Mostly sunny, temp range 72 – 82 degrees, E winds 5 – 10 knots.

Comment: It’s Super Bowl Sunday, but boat chores were the order of the day! The lock down mechanisms were lubricated, worked and re-lubricated. When we were finished, both port and starboard lockdown mechanisms were working flawlessly.

While working on the lockdowns, I noticed that several of the motor mounting bolts were loose. Gary and I tightened them up in short order. Anna Marie washed the topsides. Gary hoofed it to the West Marine to buy a couple of boat parts which we installed when he returned.

Jim Merritt arrived in the afternoon, just in time for a cold one and some down time before the Super Bowl. Jim drove us to Castaways where we had a Super Bowl dinner. We watched the first half and cheered the commercials. The food was average at best, and pricey compared to our standards. Jim picked up the tab… Thanks, Jim!

When we returned to the boat, we listened to the second half of the game while conducting a meeting of the planning committee. We may go kayaking after completing our chores.

The only boat project left is waxing. We’ll decide if we want to do that tomorrow.

Another Saturday, Another Open Mic Night

Weather: Mostly sunny, temp range 73 – 82 degrees, Wind E @ 10 -12 knots

Comment: We listened to the cruiser’s net this morning for the first time in a few days. Anna Marie was the first to be recognized for the Overseas Trivia question, “What is a young goat called?” After “buzzing in,” she quickly said, : a young goat is a kid.” Whoop De Doo, we won a free lunch at the Overseas. (She had the Ruben, Gary and I each had the “Big Ass Fish Sandwich (BAFS).” Anna Marie really liked the Ruben. The BAFS (frozen Haddock deep fried to a crispy brown) was big, but I would all it average at best.

The fiberglass guy (Bobby Hardy) was back at it this afternoon. While he was doing his thing, our task involved adding another layer of fiberglass and resin to the port lazarette. This will allow me to put the engine lifting cleat back where it belongs. While I did that, Gary filled in some chips and gouges on the hull with Marine Tex. We took turns wet sanding with 400 grit paper to make a nice smooth finish. I used the Marine Tex to fill in a few voids in the cockpit near where I laid the glass. After they were dry, those areas were sanded too.

Ever since Ed joined our crew, the water pump would “burp” on occasion. Even though Ed broke a few things during his visit (not bones… boat parts), I’m not suggesting that he had anything to do with causing the “burps” (it is however interesting to note that nothing has broken since he left). I’m sure the burps were just coincidental to his visit. Over the past week or so, Anna Marie and I have looked for leaks and tightened up the clamps (there are dozens) on all the fresh water hoses. After each, we hoped the “burping” would stop, but no, it continued. This afternoon, Anna Marie noticed a leak at one of the fittings for the hot water heater. I tightened the clamp, but the water continued to leak. I then removed the fitting to find that the Teflon tape was bunched around the first thread of the pipe. “This could be the culprit,” I thought. I removed the old Teflon tape and covered the threads with a new layer of tape. I reinstalled the fitting, retightened the hose clamp; no more leak! We haven’t heard a “burp” since!

Bobby Hardy completed his work, but he did not glass in the transoms below the waterline. He was under the impression that I wanted the correct the cosmetic issues with the transoms. Not so, I want them to be permanently water tight. I don’t want to worry about a mid-stream failure of the calk that prevents the sea water from entering the hull. He’ll return Monday to finish the job. This means we won’t be splashed until at least Tuesday.

The big story of the day… it’s “Open Mic Night (OMN).” We arrived about 2055 hours. OMN Host John K. had just finished setting up and was about to play his first number. There wasn’t much of a crowd (only seven people at the tables and maybe ten at the bar). Most of the usual suspects were there with two glaring exceptions! Broiler Pan Man and Conga Drum Guy (CDG)were missing. Anna Marie and I thought (in unison), “We might as well go home now!” About fifteen minutes later, BPM showed up looking rather … sober! SOBER? Indeed!

He ordered a couple of drinks, talked to some of the other “musicians,” and waited until he was called up to the stage. He began to pound away at the broiler pan rack; Gary had a look of incredulity on his face, Could this guy be serious? BPM can keep the beat and he hits the broiler pan rack with some flair. As the night wore on, it became clear to Gary that these guys seem to live for Saturday night and Open Mic Night! We can only imagine that it is the highlight of their week.

We learned an interesting tidbit tonight… BPM's stage name is “Hurricane Dave.”

Following this revelation, we made the short walk back to the boat and turned in for the night.

A Work Day

Weather: Light wind < 10 knots; mostly sunny, temp range 73 to 81 degrees

Comment: We’re still on the hard! We were scheduled to be splashed yesterday, but Bobby Hardy, the fiberglass guy still has some work to do. We’re hoping for a splash on Monday.

Today was a significant workday. Here’s the list of tasks that were accomplished:

• Laundry
• Provisioning
• Change oil in Nissan
• Replace gear oil in Nissan
• Clean generator air filters
• Change oil in generator
• Remove brown stains from hulls
• Wash hulls
• Clean and lubricate steering quadrants
• Clean hydraulic box and hose fittings, evaluate leakage
• Return rental car

Gary was up first, but Bobby Hardy, the fiberglass guy, was already at work. Gary, in need of a news fix, walked to US 1 and found a box from which he purchased the Miami Herald. Along the way, he found an unopened bottle of Beck’s Beer. He cleaned it up and put it in the cooler. It will make a nice treat later in the day.

Before attending to the chores listed above, we breakfasted at the Keys Fisheries. It was a delightful morning and the breakfast sandwiches were very good.

We attended to our chores in an orderly fashion, and by about 1800 hours, all of our tasks were completed. We are only waiting on the fiberglass guy to finish. If there is a hydraulic leak it is very minor. After cleaning the fittings, the leak did not resurface, or if it did, it wasn’t visible yet. We’ll keep an eye on it tomorrow.

Gary is working pretty hard to convince Anna Marie to sail to the Bahamas. She is still very reluctant. I believe she was determined to go until we took Jeffrey sailing on that blustery day a couple of weeks ago. She got spooked. We’ll keep talking about it, but I’m certainly not going to force her to go!

We had wings at the Overseas for dinner. The Hoochie Koochie Man was setting up (see earlier reports) but we were bushed. We headed back for the boat and called it an early night.