2018 Cruise - Week 7

Week 7

February 17 - 23, 2018   

Entertainment/ Fun - another week, another Royal Reds Party! That’s right; we had another party featuring Royal Reds and Camaraderie. Rave reviews again!

Tom’s last supper featured roasted Lobster Tails, Corn on the Cob and Key Lime Pie. In attendance were The Towers, the Waters, the Martins, the Kramer’s, The Favors and Tom. Delicious food and great camaraderie again!

Never ones to pass up a gastronomic delight, the Nomadders took a trip to Burdines this week. Everyone enjoyed their meal, especially the fries!

Weather - hey it’s windy again! Highs reached 90 a couple days but we’re mostly in the low to mid 80s. Lows were in the low 70s. 

Friends/Acquaintances - Diane, Sandy and Denny held a memorial party for Al Deshevsky, Diane’s husband, who passed last month. Anna Marie represented us both. About 30 folks participated. Mike and Bev (Queequeg) and Rich and Mary (Dark Star) were there. Music was provided by  a steel drum band.

I’ve been exchanging emails with David Serlin on the birth of his first grandchild, a girl named Isabella Sylvie. We’re so happy for David and Susan!

Got to meet Dee’s brothers Jack and Don and their wives Liz and Marion. Shared some stories and laughed a bit.

On Friday, February 23, Jim and Lisa Favor arrived aboard the new Kismet, a beautiful Ranger Tug.

Sick Bay II - Under the weather! I’ve been suffering with a runny nose, cough, headache, sinus and general aches. I decided to forego activity and socialization in lieu of staying on the boat and resting for 24 hours. I’ve even resorted to taking naps on two consecutive days. It seems this bug is traveling up and down the docks.

The Stars of the Show - Royal Reds!

Tom's last dinner of the season

Nomadders enjoying lunch at Burdine's

Jim & Lisa's new Kismet

Four Nomads at Blackfin (left to right - Slo Poke, Waters Toy, SUNSHINE, Loafs and Fishes)

2018 Cruise - Week 6

Week 6

February 10 - 16, 2018

Entertainment/ Fun - the party atmosphere we’ve experienced last week continued into this week. We hosted a Dock Party and everyone who is anyone showed up. It was nice to sit back and talk with our dock mates. I’m sure there are more dock parties in our future.

Joe Mama and Friends Pickin’ & Grinnin’ on the back porch at the Hurricane on Sunday afternoons. Always enjoyable!    

Four Sheets to the Wind performed at the Hurricane. They drew a very nice crowd. Most stayed for their three hour gig. Lot’s of good tunes and harmonies.

Madi Gras - party hosted by Mike and Bev (Queequeg) on their dock at the  end of 51st Street. Met Rich and Mary (Dark Star), Russel and Linda (Blue Highway), and others. Enjoyed the camaraderie and food. Mike played his new, black Takamine complete with Samsung Sound System, Trio box and band in a box. I really liked the harmonized feature.

Valentines Day celebration for ten at Sunset Grille. We chose the 1700   seating so we would be there for the 6:15 sunset. Dinner for two was $79.95 and included appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage.

Royal Reds - for happy hour bought 5.5 pounds from Fish Tales for $16.95/lb. everybody chipped in, most have never had RRs. They were a huge hit! Raves all around. In fact, there was some sentiment to change next week’s planned lobster bake II to another Royal Red boil.

Weather - Strong winds have returned but they are mainly from the south, allowing the boat to “hunt” in the Slip, but it doesn’t rock. High temps in the low 80s and low temps in the mid 70s. Lounging at the point is delightful and we manage to get there a couple times each day. The last couple days of the week saw wind speeds in the single digits.

Friends/Acquaintances - on the 13th, Larry and Ellen Waters arrive from Illinois with Water’s Toy. The next day, Bill and Kathy Towers arrive with Slo Poke. They managed to avoid disaster when their trailer became disconnected from the truck. Despite the mishap, the mini gathering of Nimble Nomads is underway. We now have 9 people in our group as Debbie Mulcrone departed on Friday.  We were told that the north Dock Homeowners Association (aka the liveaboards) have decided to call us the “Nomadders.” The nom de plume may just stick!

Valentin's Day menu at the Sunset Grille

Nomadders and friends at the Valentine's Day celebration

Valentine's Day sunset

Mike plays a few tunes at his and Bev's dock party.

Four Sheets to the Wind

Valentine's Day selfie

2018 Cruise - Week 5

Week 5

February 3 - 9, 2018 

Entertainment/ Fun - Sunset Grill and the Marathon All Stars featuring Ty.  Fun night with Joe and Dee.

Ty Thurman and the Marathon All-Stars at the Sunset Grill

I don't know if Dee is a bigger Patriots or Brady fan, but she was dumbfounded when Brady fumbled insuring victory for the Eagles in Super Bowl LII! Yes, the Eagles win the Super Bowl!! The Eagles win the Super Bowl!!! Foles is MVP and Pederson is acknowledged as a genius!

The national tour of Cabaret was in Key West for two performances at the Tennessee Williams Theater and we  had two tickets. We spent most of the day in Key West  and took in the Shape of Water at the Tropic. Nominated for thirteen awards, it was an enjoyable, quirky movie that we could have waited to see when it comes to Netflix. 

While in KW, we strolled the streets and delighted in the winter flowers that are in bloom.

Taco Tuesday at the ‘Cane (we had Pizza) in the company of a brunch of folks from the resort and the marina. We enjoyed the offerings of Four Sheets to the Wind. 

One day we returned to Fish Tales for a light lunch, having had a salad aboard. The Bavarian Fish Sandwich might just be my new favorite! It was delicious!

Jim (Jim ‘n Terry from St. Louis) did his final performance during open mic night at the ‘Cane. We had to go! Dee and Joe joined us. Right after Jim, Micky Belin took the stage. He’s 100 years and 3 months old. We first saw him at 92! He told jokes and played the trumpet.

Our first of the season lobster bake was held this week. We baked 13 lobsters, 9 potatoes, someone brought salads and desserts. We had 10 people for the bake (Kevin & Sandy, Gary & Carol, Tom & Debbie, Joe & Dee, me & AM) and Ellie and Pat were walking by and decided to sit in for the sing along. It was a fun evening.

The last night of this week, we went to Tom and Jackie’s room for a jam. He has a Rain Song carbon fiber guitar. Eventually, Jim and Terry and Carol and Gary filed in, Jim with his telecaster. Tom had a small amp and now, we had the makings of a guitar band. 

Weather - the wind dropped to single digits this week with gusts to the mid teens. High temps made it into the 80s.

Fiends/Acquaintances - Debbie Mulcrone arrived for a ten day stay aboard Loafs and Fishes. 

Captain John (Cool Change) the fisherman was hired as a guide for Nick and Sally, owners of the impressive looking World Cat for several fishing trips. This week he offered some us some Spanish Mackerel fillets. Sally delivered them after John filleted them. He told us they can have a strong taste. He suggested we spread table salt over them to draw out the blood (he already cut out the large blood lines during the filleting process. They are the fourth couple to offer us a couple of fillets. Of course Pat and Ellie have continued their practice of offering us a couple fillets from their catch. Alan and Shelly gave us couple fried  fish fingers and Kim and Charlie from Upstate NY gave us some fillets three times after returning from their days fishing. We have been in fresh fish heaven and have supplemented our ration of fresh fish with purchases of Hog Fish, Mahi Mahi and Snapper from the Keys Fisheries.

Chilling' under the Tiki with Carol Kramer 

Dee looks on incredulously as Brady fumbles the ball during Super Bowl LII insuring victory for the Eagles!

Flower in the gardens at Blackfin

Four Sheets to the Wind on the Porch at the cane.

Spanish Mackerel 

Micky Belin at 100 years of age still telling jokes and playing the trumpet.

2018 Cruise - Week 4

Week 4

January 27 - February 2, 2018 

Entertainment/Fun Stuff - The Pigeon Key Arts Festival and the Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 Concert was great. We have been enjoying watching Netflix with the new Pyle projector. The sound is good and the six foot screen is amazing. Anna Marie hangs a sheet across the back of the cabin and we lie in bed to watch. 

We’ve been to Burdines and Schooners Wharf this week. Michael McCloud and Crab and Avocado Salad are still Key West favorites.     

Mike McCloud at Schooner's Wharf

Anna Marie found an Eagles coconut

Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band

Howard Livingston and his Johnson

Weather - mostly windy and chilly

Work Stuff - No projects this week!

Friends - Tom arrives with Loafs and Fishes; Sweet Dreams and Dale and Sandy (with Jack) head home to Wikki Wachee, waited for the Fritz’s on Thursday but trailer tire issues delayed their arrival until Friday, 2/3.

Sweet Dreams being prepped for the haul out