HOT! HOT! HOT! (Day 077)

Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL MM1195 Mooring Ball # N-9
LAY DAY

Weather: HOT! High 85, low in the low 70s; mostly sunny; wind NE # 15 knots

Comment: Yes friends, we have finally found the hot weather! We are enjoying temps in the 80’s and, when we go into a store, the air conditioning feels good!

Our first order of business was to find a home for SUNSHINE while we are back in New Jersey. She will stay at the boat yard where “Fodder’s Cat” was on our Catboat Adventure. Their rate, when compared to the Keys Boat Works, where we stayed for a week last year, is much more reasonable. The price swing is funny. Last year, Keys Boat Works was more reasonable by far. This year, it is quite the opposite.

We made an appointment to be hauled at the Keys Boat Works but after getting the price at the other yard, we made arrangements to be hauled there. We’ll cancel out with the Keys Boat Works tomorrow. We also made arrangements for Eric to repair the lifting mechanisms at the Keys Boat Works, so we’ll have to see if he’ll do the work at the Boat Yard. That’ll be a task for tomorrow too.

Would anyone care for a Lobster Ruben at the Keys Fishery? “Sure,” piped Anna Marie. With that, lunch plans were settled. Following lunch, we strolled down US 1 to visit K Mart. We stopped in a few shops along the way but made no purchases.

At around 1600 hours, we returned to SUNSHINE for some R&R. We did a lot of walking today so just relaxing aboard was very enjoyable. Jim and Loretta from Plan Sea stopped by to say hello. They’re on an adjacent mooring ball. They asked why the NJ boats are assigned to outer edges of the mooring field. We laughed. They’re from Laurelton, just outside of Mays Landing. We had a nice chat with them before they rode off to see the sunset at Burdines.

Our day concluded with grilled steaks, the movie Captains Courageous, and a game of gin rummy.