2019 Cruise - Week 7

2019 Cruise - Week 7

Sunday, February 17, 2019 Taking a Boat Ride!

An invitation for a boat ride with Gary and Carol caused us to change our Sunday afternoon routine. Instead of listening to Joe Mama, we joined them for a 3 hour cruise (Key the Gilligan’s Island Music). Our course took us east to the Bush mansion that is near the Curry Hammock. It was a most enjoyable trip. Thanks Gary and Carol!

Dinner included corn-on-the-cob, fish in a Key Lime butter sauce, asparagus and coleslaw. Each was seasoned and wrapped in aluminum foil and placed on the grill for 12 minutes. The meal was incredibly tasty!  

Monday, February 18, 2019 Nomadders to Burdine’s! 

Road trip for the Nomadders. Burdine’s is the destination. Good food, good camaraderie, delightful weather. Another great Burdine’s experience.

Back at Blackfin, it was time to enjoy the beach with a good book. The sun shone brightly, but we found a shady spot and enjoyed the breeze and the view.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Debbie’s Last Supper!

As sunsets go, it wasn’t spectacular, but it was Debbie’s last opportunity to see a Marathon sunset this year. She choose the Sunset Grille as the venue for dinner and the sunset. The wait for our table was over an hour. Once seated, service was s l o w, extremely slow! After a long wait, we received our meals. Was it good? The unanimous opinion of the group is that it was worth the wait.  

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Lobstahs!  

The long anticipated arrival of John and Stacy, friends of Capt. John, is fulfilled. They and their two little dogs arrived early, after 33 hours non stop from Winter Harbor, ME. They brought 91 Maine lobsters with them, only one of which perished during the journey. Upon arrival, they immediately started the steamer pot and in no time all the lobstahs were bright red. The party begins at 1730!

The lobstah roast was a huge success. Several of our boating neighbors had never eaten a Maine lobster. Their general consensus seemed to be that it was “a lot of work.” To us, the Maine lobster is far superior to the Florida version. 

We really appreciated John, John and Stacy for bringing the lobsters, cooking them, and for giving us a very special evening! There’s already talk that they going to bring more lobsters next year.

Thursday, February 21,2019 Goodbye Tom and Debbie!

Debbie was scheduled to fly out of Key West yesterday, but there were flight delays and cancellations at many airports, including Houston and Newark, where she would have to make connections. She decided to drive home with Tom if he would leave today instead of tomorrow.

They hauled out at around 1600 hours and about two or two and one-half hours, goodbyes were exchanged and they were off. We did’t even have a “last supper” for Tom, but we did have one for Debbie on Tuesday. That one is retroactively dedicated to Tom as well! Drive safely friends.

After they left, we had the honor of meeting Larry’s brother and Ellen’s sister, who happen to be married to each other. They were hoping to do some diving, but the ESE Wind is up and the dive boats didn’t go out today, and considering the wind forecast, they probably aren’t going out tomorrow. Their hoping the forecast is incorrect. 

Friday, February 22, 2019 Crane Point!

So, we became members of Crane Point yesterday. We finally got the bikes out of the truck, rode to Crane Point, walked the main loop and rode back to the marina. We did the same today, only we rode to the Keys Fishery for lunch and to get some hog fish fillets for dinner. 

Scott and Lorie arrived for a few days’ visit with Al and Shelly. Her brother came by boat (a 40’ trawler they docked it Slip 2) and a party was in the making. Stories and laughter were heard during the fish fry. They provided Larry, Ellen and us with samples and Marcia’s delicious Eclair dessert!

We went up to the ‘Cane to hear a Reggae band and watched Kevin shoot pool. The Reggae band was very entertaining. We stayed until 2330 before turning in for the night.

Saturday, February 23, 2019 Doo Dah!

No big doings today. We sat at the point enjoying the ESE breeze, the shade, the view and the books we’re reading. For lunch we went to the Hurricane for the $5.00 fish sandwich.

In the afternoon, we gabbed with our neighbors. AM did her daily trek to Publix. Larry and Ellen joined us for Key Lime Mackerel, courtesy of Cap’n  John. 

So, we asked away again, all the doo dah day!

2019 Cruise - Week 6

2019 Cruise - Week 6

Sunday, February 10, 2019     Joe Mama and a Party!

Can you believe it? We are starting our sixth week here at he Blackfin. It’s Sunday and that means Joe Mama and friends pickin’ and grinnin’ on the back porch at the Hurricane. We enjoy Joe and banjo player John and the folks who sit in on some songs. 

Before getting to Joe, we walked to Publix to purchase some items for the party. Chris is smoking 35 lbs. of chicken parts, Ruthie made macaroni salad and baked beans and each participant brought a dish to share.

It was a grand time. The camaraderie was palpable. Most of the roomies from this particular wing of the resort were there. We were the only boaters probably because we occasionally hangout with the roomies. Chris was particularly enamored with the jam sessions among Jim H., Tom M. and me. I think this was his way of saying thanks.

As folks started to drift away, a smaller group tightened into a circle and stories started flying. It was great entertainment and lots of laughs. Sadly, the party ended with good-byes and well wishes for Terri and Jim who are leaving in the morning. 

Monday, February 11, 2019    Are You Calling Me Lazy?

Ah, if the shoe fits... So no big doings today. We enjoyed the view and the breeze at the point. We had enjoyable conversations with our neighbors yet again. Captain John offered to buy the ingredients if I would make my Key Lime Fish and Pasta dish. I told him he just needs to supply the fish. We made arrangements with Tom, Debbie, Allan, Shelly, David, Marsha, Chris, Ruthie, Carol, Gary, John and Sue to provide specific contributions. We set the fiesta for tomorrow evening.

Tom cooked our meal tonight. The main course was fish swimming in a butter lime sauce with corn-on-the-cob and baked potatoes. It all fit on Tom’s grill and he slaved over it for forty-five minutes, starting with the potatoes and adding the corn and fish at appropriate intervals. We finished the meal with mini cupcakes.

After the sun set, we watched the space station fly through the sky and then, a manatee stopped by to pay Debbie a visit. She got a great night time shot of the big mammal.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019     Key Lime Fish for Fifteen!

It’s getting hot! The high was in the mid 80s with about a 15 knot breeze. During the day, we visited the Point, ran some errands, read a little and talked to friends and neighbors. Tom Mooney and I played John Prine songs for an hour or so.

At 1630, I started to prepare dinner for fifteen. Key Lime Fish is on the menu. John, Alan and David caught the fish earlier in the day. Susan (Mighty Wench) made the pasta and a bean salad, Marsha made her overnight salad and an eclair dish for dessert. Alan and Shelly brought some loaves of crusty bread. Tom and Debbie brought several desserts. Gary and Carol brought a salad. The meal was enjoyed by all and the camaraderie afterward was the icing on the cake!

AM and I set up the 1100 BTU Zero Breeze AC unit. We’re expecting rain. When it comes, the boat will be closed up. The night temp is hovering around 80° so AC is in order. It will be our first real test of the unit.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019    Thunderstorm!

Woke up to a pretty good thunder storm complete with torrential rain. The liquid sunshine remained steady for hours, but the rain stopped between 1800 and 1900 hours. The wind, however, continued to blow out of the north. We continued to rock in our slip throughout the night.

The Mulcrone’s treated the Martin’s to dinner at the Upper Crust ostensibly for helping them turn their boat around in its slip. I mostly watched Tom, who did all the work. At one point I may have thrown him a line. None-the-less, we are certainly grateful for their hospitality. Thank you so much Debbie and Tom!

On the way back from dinner, Tom and Debbie dropped us off at the cinema. We saw “Upside” with Kevin Hart and Bryon Cranston. We liked the movie and give it two thumbs up!

Thursday, February 14, 2019     Happy Valentine’s Day!

Larry and Ellen (Water’s Toy) have arrived. A bunch of us helped them launch and guide them into Slip 1 without even starting the motor. They spent some time stowing their gear. 

In the evening, the crew of Water’s Toy, Loafs and Fishes and SUNSHINE along with Gary and Carol Kramer went to the Butterfly Cafe in Tranquility Bay. The setting was delightful. A round table would have been better for the group, but the long table on the side porch gave us a bit of privacy from other diners. The food was impeccable, perhaps the best salmon I’ve ever had. It was a very nice Valentine’s Day celebration. After dinner, we walked the grounds before heading back to Blackfin. 

Friday, February 15, 2019     Royal Reds!

Didn’t do much today except make a run to Fish Tales for 3 1/2 pounds of Royal Reds. The same crew from last night gathered near the three Nomads for a Royal Red feast. Tom grilled a steak for Debbie who eschews shellfish. The RRs were a hit! The after dinner gabfest lasted until bedtime (for some but not all of us).

Saturday, February 16, 2019 Coral Head Music Festival!

It’s 0945 and we’ve already been to the Blackfin yard Sale and the Farmer’s Market by Crane Point.

At 1130 we set out for the Coral Head Music Fest. We had a ball, enjoying the music of John Bartus and Storm Watch, Fiddle Rock, Mike Mulcahy, and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. We didn’t stay for Sweet or Jackyl who were the last two acts of the day. Between band set ups, we visited the vendors and partook of the buffet that was included with our tickets. 

Back at the boat, we talked with the other Nomadders and heard about some drama that unfolded in our absence. We’ve had more drama this year than in our two previous stays at Blackfin.

2019 Cruise - Week 5

2019 Cruise - Week 5

Sunday, February 3, 2019     Not So Super Bowl Sunday!

The day was warm with a gentle breeze that turned sweater cool in the evening. Our usual Sunday activity is spending the afternoon listening to Joe Mama on the back porch of the ‘Cane.” We talked with him before his first set about having his house on the market (he’s thinking about moving to Inverness, FL), his guitar, his luthier, who set up my little Martin, and some other stuff. He invited me up to play a few tunes. I declined. I’d have to plan what to play before doing that. It’ll be a said day if Joe leaves the Keys.

In the evening, we gathered with a gang of folks at the Moondome (outside Tom Moon’s room) for Stupor Bowl LIII. It was a boring game that the NE Patriots won 13 - 3 over the LA Rams. Maroon 5 did the halftime show and were equally boring. 

Monday, February 4, 2019     American Chamber Players

It was a lazy day, warm with a gentle breeze. AM and I attended to the usual chores adding ice to the coolers and doing a bit of cleaning. In the afternoon, we walked to the Keys Fishery to buy some lobster tails. We dined outside with Tom who contributed linguine to the cause. Our first lobster roast of the year was a hit.

When we returned from the fish market, Tom, Al and I had a jam. We exchanged tunes and followed each other’s lead. Tom provided nice harmony to some of the songs. After the jam, we cooked the lobsters and enjoyed dinner.

Shortly thereafter, we drove to San Pedro church for the FKCA Chamber Music Concert. It was outstanding. I find classical music to be very inspirational. The musicians were excellent. The sound was exquisite. It was a very enjoyable evening.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019     A Little Bit O This and A Little Bit O That!

AM and friends went to Yoga this morning while I did some writing. When she returned, we hung out for a bit before heading to Burdine’s for lunch. We had the usual (shared a Mahi Reuben and a basket of fries). The place was hopping. Service was slow because the Chiki Tiki was packed to the gills; slammed as they say in the business. We were seated at the bar (too busy for us) but the food, always great, seemed better than usual. 

When we returned, AM did a coat of touched up varnish on a spot that I sanded yesterday. In the evening, we joined Tom for a bite on the Hurricane’s back deck. We met Tom, Jacquie, Jim, Terri and John who were already there. John and Sue (Mighty Wench) soon found their way to the deck and joined us. We were all there to see a Four Sheets to the Wind, one of our favorite Marathon bands. Tony brought out his new Nickless Dobro that luthier Dean Nickless told us about. The instrument is a work of art!

We stayed for for all three sets before returning to SUNSHINE. Once aboard, we watched a few Netflix shows before hitting the sack.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019   Projects and Open Mic!

AM finished her varnishing project this morning. I gave our rechargeable fan a thorough cleaning. Following that task, I used the power washer on the inside of the hardtop Bimini. 

Yesterday, Ellie and Pat, the fly fishing Doctor and Nurse that I’ve mentioned in years past, gave us some mackerel and snapper fillets after a most successful fishing trip. It was so successful that they were back in the marina by 1430, having caught their boat limit of fish.

I prepared several of the Mackerel fillets in a Key Lime butter sauce. That, baked potatoes and corn-on-the-cob made for an outstanding meal that we enjoyed with Tom. In fact,Tom thought the Key Lime buttered fish was great! So did AM and me! I just “dreamt” up the recipe and how I would go about making it. Later, AM found Lazy Days recipe for Key Lime Mahi. She read the list of ingredients and procedure to me. It was more complicated than what I was going to do and we didn’t have some of the ingredients, soI stuck with my original plan.

Later in the evening, we went to the ‘Cane for Open Mic night. As usual, it was crowded and very loud. The instruments are always very loud to the point you can barely hear the singers. Something is terribly wrong with the equalization. Plus, it’s hard to understand speaking through the mic even when the band isn’t playing. When Jim was called up, he was the lead guitar player for some guy. Jim didn’t get to do any of his own stuff. When Jim finished, we were out of there in a flash. It was so uncomfortable, I don’t think I be going back for any other Open Mic nights.

Thursday, February 7, 2019    The Point and a Hootenanny!

I still have a project to do, but I didn’t get to it today. I didn’t even try! We have been enjoying glorious weather for several days and today is no different. We went to the point to sip a beverage, relax and see some sights. We also visited with some of our friends who came to the Pint to do exactly what we were doing. Tom and Jacquie stopped by, so did Jim and Terri. We talked a bit. A manatee, swimming out of the marina, attracted a lot of attention. Jacquie went snorkeling, and Tom and Captain John took Cool Change out to get fuel. 

We had a hootenanny at Tom’s place. Several folks stopped by to listen. It was a fun evening. At Chris’s request, we’re doing it again tomorrow night!

Friday, February 8, 2019   Lady Bradley and Another Hootenanny!

It’s time to enjoy another gorgeous day in Marathon. The weather has been spectacular for the past few days and today is no exception. We’re going on a picnic at Sombrero Beach because the Turtle Hospital is releasing Lady Bradley, a 170 pound loggerhead. Lady Bradley was caught in trap line back in November 2018. A rear flipper was amputated and she was nursed back to health. Today she got to go back to her element. 

After dinner, we gathered outside Tom’s and Jacquie’s room for another jam. We had a pretty big audience. So big, they were stacked two rows deep n the parking lot! We played and sang a lot of tunes and even had the audience singing along on a few. Blackfin GM Chris was so enamored, he offered that he and Ruthie would smoke a bunch of chickens for everyone who was at the gathering. Ruthie volunteered to make potato and macaroni salad. The guests were invited to bring a dish to share. It should be a fun time!

Saturday, February 9, 2019     Happy Birthday, Madi!

Out of the gate, we made our call to wish Madi a happy 15th birthday. For much of the next few hours, we talked to friends and neighbors who were either going to or coming from the beach. We even got to talk to Chris and Ruthie for a 1/2 hour or so.

At 1815, we joined the Kramer’s and Matilda for dinner and the Island Time Band performance at Havana Jacks. Tom, Debbie, Terri and Jim rounded out our table of nine. Sadly, Island Time wasn’t there even though their monthly email indicated that they would be performing.

Dinner was average at best, and not a good value. Tom’s meal arrived after almost everyone was finished. The waiter blamed the kitchen. Things went to pot when the waiter automatically added a 20% gratuity. Tom and I took exception considering the service. We enjoyed the dinner conversation, so it wasn’t a total waste.

2019 Cruise - Week 4

2019 Cruise - Week 4

Sunday, January 27, 2019 - Windy, Cold and Rain... Again... Really?

The weather is certainly stuck in an unpleasant rut. The forecast suggests that it will be windy and cold with more rain. It’s almost NJ weather. 

It’s now 1630 and guess what, no rain... yet! And it 85° so much for today’s forecast. Rain is still predicted, but it’s now forecasted to start at 2100. We’ll see!

We stayed for three hours of Joe Mama picking on the porch today. We haven’t seen him this season. He cancelled last week due to weather that was just like that predicted for today. As it turned out last week, the rain came early and was over by 0900. A lot of the boaters and friends from the motel were there. 

The rain finally made an appearance beginning at 1930. It continued intermittently for a couple hours. A strong NW wind picked up as the temperature dropped to the low 60s. The blustery NW wind had us rocking in our slip.

Monday, January 28, 2019 - Farewell Dan and Biddie!

It is windy and cold this morning and it didn’t warm up all day. The high temp didn’t make it out of the 60s. The wind was supposed to lay down, but that didn’t happen until the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

AM did the laundry and I waited with her on the patio near the laundry facilities in an attempt to get warm. I was unsuccessful, even though I was sitting in the sun. The wind, while not as strong as it was near the boat, still penetrated my sweater.

In the early evening, we joined the rest of the boaters and some of the room dwellers for a farewell celebration for Dan. He and Biddie are leaving the Marina tomorrow for their new slip at the Marathon Yacht Club. It was a grand send off with lots of well wishers.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - Loafs and Fishes!

Tom and Loafs and Fishes arrived a bit after 2100 hours last night, having driven about 1525 miles in 25 hours. We caught up with him this morning. In short order, L&F was readied for launch and splash, she was floating. In even less time, she was secured in Slip 2, where Tom set about making her comfortable.

No sooner than L&F was Launched, there was more excitement in the marina. Dan , Kevin and Patrick slipped Biddie and the Beast’s lines and were off to the Marathon Yacht Club. That’s their new home.

Captain and crew returned after the short trip. The crew went about the tasks for the day, while Dan gathered up some belongings and picked up Biddie who was waiting for his return.

I talked to Dean Nickless (Nickless Custom Guitars) by phone about setting up my Martin LXME. The action is a bit high and it has been getting harder to play. I took it to him and he offered to do the set up while we waited. He was a delight to talk to and after almost an hour, he finished the set up. He took some relief out of the neck and shaved down the saddle. He did the latter task in two steps. Having played it after his first attempt, we agreed that there was enough material to lower it more. He said the strings were mediums (the store said they were extra lights). I have a spare set of extra lights in the bag. I’ll use them on one of my other guitars and will get a set of mediums for this one. Oh, the guitar plays wonderfully now and it is in tune when use the capo, probably a benefit the the adjusted neck. Dean invited us back to his house tomorrow evening for a house concert. He is having a Bluegrass Band perform.

In the evening we went to see “The Beatles on Sullivan.” It is a documentary made by a local Marathon man. It’s community week at the Cinema. Each night features a movie with a local connection. A couple day ago was a movie about the Turtle Hospital. 

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 Nu Blu at a House Concert!

Dean Nickless, the luthier who did the set up on my little Martin guitar, invited us to a house concert today. We arrived at about 1815 with a desert to share. Other folks shared salads, chips, salsa, deviled eggs, and myriad other dishes. 

At 1900, Nu Blu ( http://www.nu-blu.com )took the stage. Yes, Dean has a stage in his yard complete with theatrical lighting. It was very cool. The band played for about two hours with one intermission that allowed for a meet and greet of sorts and for the band to sell CDs and give autographs. 

They have performed with A-list folks including Dave (from Sam and Dave) and Jimmy Fortune (Statler Brothers).They do a TV show, Bluegrass Ridge, that reaches 60,000,000 people.

Thanks Dean, we enjoyed the evening! 

Thursday, January 31, 2019     Grilling Time!

This afternoon, we walked to the Keys Fishery to purchase some fresh off the boat fish fillets. We selected Hog Fish ($21.00/lb). The fillets we selected weighed in a a tad less than 1/2 pound. Hog fish is dense with a delicate taste. We prepared it with a drip of EVOO, sea salt and pepper, a slice of garlic, a couple slices of onion and a slice of lime on each. Corn-on-the-cob, with butter, salt, pepper and a sprinkle of Parmigiana cheese made one of the veggies. The other was a simple cucumber salad. We wrapper the fish and corn in packets of aluminum foil and put the on the grill for 13 minutes and medium high heat, turning the corn every five minutes. The meal was fantastic!

After viewing the sunset, we walked the the community theater for tonight’s rendition of Drinking Habits. The play featured a lot of laughs. The announcer said it was the most attended second show of the season in the history of the theater. We enjoyed it.

Friday, February 1, 2019     The Kennedy’s!

The day started sunny and warm and remained so. The high temperature reached into the low 80s and the low was in the mid 70s. The wind was 10 knots or less out of the ENE. AM began the day with Yoga and I cleaned the orange box that holds our flammable items, alcohol, butane and propane.

We had the $5.00 lunch special with the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) and met a bunch of sailors and trawlerers. 

In the evening we walked to the library with Tom to see the Kennedy’s perform. It was very enjoyable. Pete Kennedy added a lap steel guitar and a ukulele to his repertoire. On the way back home, we stopped at Upper Crust for pizza. It was delicious. The Upper Crust never disappoints.

On a sad note, we bumped in to a very distraught Carol Kramer. She just received news that a very close, lifelong friend had just passed away. She and Gary were making arrangements to head home to support the family of the deceased. They hope to be back by next Thursday.

Saturday, February 2, 2019     The Pigeon Key Arts Festival - A Big Show for a Little Island!

It’s hot (85° with a real feel of 92°) today and cool (mid 60s) overnight. We did the almost daily walk to Publix and stopped at the newly renovated and just opened today Wendy’s. It took them a long time to recover from Irma.

At about 1600, Tom, AM and I walked to the Community Park for the Pigeon Key Arts Festival. We had just enough time to tour the booths and get a bite to eat before the auction and Chain Reaction, a Journey tribute band. They changed the auction from a public bidding event to a silent auction. The Art seemed as overvalued as last year and there were minimum bids that weren’t met, meaning some of the pieces were not sold.

Journey had some good songs in their day, but they weren’t one of my favorite bands. Chain Reaction did a good job of recreating their sound.

2019 Cruise - Week 3

2019 Cruise - Week 3

Sunday, January 20, 2019 - Football!

Went to the Marathon Grille for the KC vs. NE game. Arrived for the last quarter of the Saints v. Rams. We cheered for the Saints (for no particular reason), but the Rams won in overtime. With 1:45 remaining, the refs missed an obvious pass interference call on a third down play. The Saints, who could have run out the clock for the win had to punt. The Rams drove down field and kicked a 57 yard field goal to force OT. Then went on to win.

The late game went into OT as well, with Brady engineering the winning drive. KC (we root for KC because we like Andy Reid) could have won, but one of their players lined up offsides and the play was called back. 

Since both our teams lost, we have very little interest in the Super Bowl.

Monday, January 21, 2019 - Laying Low!

I developed a rash on Saturday that was exacerbated by all the walking we did yesterday. No sure, but think it was caused by a bug bite. So we’re laying low for a couple days until it goes away.

The wind laid down a bit today. The high only made it to the Mid 60s. It felt cool. Everyone was wearing long pants and sweaters.

Tues, January 22, 2019 - A Lazy Day!

Because of the rash, I’m hanging around the boat again. AM walked to Publix. I read some of Pirate by Ted Buell. 

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 -  Dock Party #2

We welcomed John and Susan (Mighty Wench) to the Marina this morning. About one-half dozen folks helped them launch on this windy morning. 

In the afternoon, AM and I took off for Bev’s and Mike’s Dock Party. Another good time here in Paradise.

In the evening, we went to Open Mic night at the ‘Cane to hear Jim. He’s really good! We enjoyed his set.

Thursday, January 24, 2019 - Hangin’ Out!

The forecast suggested rain would start at 0900. We waited. Instead of rain, we had sun. The next rain cell was supposed to arrive at 1600. It didn’t. Then the prediction was for 1700 and again, no rain, but it was overcast. We had a nice, long gam with a bunch of folks. We thought the gam would last until the rain chased us in, but even after the sunset, still no rain. The gam continued. Thunder started to rumble over the Gulf, some time later, lightening flashed. The gam continued as the thunder and lightening was far away. Eventually a few drops of liquid sunshine were felt, signaling that the gam was over.

Between the threats of rain, I took AM to the store where I bought her a couple pair of yoga pants. At around 1300, we boarded the F 250 for lunch at Burdines, our favorite eatery in Marathon. We always get the Mahi Ruben and Fries (with extra fry dust). The fries are the best!

lWizard is the name of the sunken boat in the picture. It has been the talk of the harbor (Boot Key Harbor) since we arrived. It has recently become the talk of Blackfin mariners as well. Wizard had apparently been anchored in Boot Key Harbor and, as folks have reported, it has dragged anchor repeatedly. Mariners who are staying in the mooring field have frequently expressed concern that the Wizard could damage their boats when and if it were to drag thru the morning field. Reports were made to the Coast Guard and FWC, but nothing had been done to secure the boat. Apparently no one has been seen on the boat for over a year. A few days ago a collective cheer went through the harbor when a center console boat towed the Wizard out of the harbor. I saw a photo, posted on the Boot Key Harbor Facebook page, that showed the Wizard being towed out of the harbor. 

A few hours later, I watched as the tow arrived just a few hundred feet from Blackfin. A person on the bow of Wizard lazily dropped the anchor, reboarded the tow vessel which then motored away from the scene. There was no attempt to make sure the anchor was caught. Sometime later, Wizard drifted free and was blown toward shore. It was towed back in the dark of night where it sank, a few hundred yards from Blackfin. 

I have heard that the sinking has been reported to the Coast Guard and the FWC. I haven’t seen either organization around the Wizard. I have, however, seen at least one guy on a SUP board Wizard. I suppose he was looking for stuff that could be salvaged.

Friday, January 25, 2019 - Howard Livingston at Boondocks!

It’s windy and cool today with some liquid sunshine predicted. At 1700 we joined Gary and Carol for a trip to Boondocks to have dinner and see Howard Livingston. We arrived at 1745 ordered some appetizers and talked until the show began at 1900. Howard and Mile Marker 24 are very entertaining. They played their hits, of course, some of which were new and they played a bunch of covers that we haven’t heard them do before. We stayed for dinner and both sets and began driving home a little after 2200. We found a bunch of Captain Josh’s mustards and sauces in the gift shop, but didn’t buy any because they were all hot!

Saturday, January 26, 2019 - Jammin!

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, we walked to the weekly farmers market near Crane Point. Along the way, we stopped at the flea market at the Marathon Garden Club. We didn’t make any purchases, but the place was hopping. I’m sure there were buyers in the crowd.

It’s windy and cool again today and a few sprinkles are headed our way. In the evening, we joined Tom and Jackie at Jim and Terry’s room for a jam. We played for a few hours and exchanged a bunch of stories. Before we knew it, it was 2330, way past their bedtime. Not ours though. We went back to SUNSHINE where we watched a couple shows before hitting the sack.

2019 Cruise - Week 2

2019 Cruise - Week 2

Sunday, January 13, 2019 - Celtic Festival - Day 2!

Another day at the Celtic Festival with more music and more food. The Drake Dancers, West of Galway and Albannach performed while we were there. An audience member who danced with a hula hoop was the subject of many photographs. She danced almost the entire time. Just before I went to take her picture, she sat down for a break.

Later in the afternoon, we went to the Marathon Grille and Ale House to have a salad and watch the Eagles game. They played well but came out on the short end of the score.

Monday, January 14, 2019 - Acoustic Jam & Tai Chi!

Relaxing in the morning is becoming quite a habit. Eventually we get in gear. After lunch, OK, technically it was breakfast for lunch, we hoofed it to the Library to check out the acoustic jam. There were five guitar players and a bassist. We even played some percussion when they played the City of New Orleans. There was talk of them performing at the open mic night at the Hurricane, but since no one had ever been, most said they rather check it out first.

We returned to the boat for R&R and dinner after first doing some shopping at Publix. After dinner, we were off to see a demonstration of Tai Chi. AM signed up for the beginner class. I’ll probably join her. Check out taoisttaichi.org for info.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - It’s Chilly!

Today’s news is that it’s chilly and windy. The high temp was supposed to reach 67° but it didn’t feel like it made it. The wind was blowing 20+ knots out of the north which could help account for the chilly feeling. Everybody was wearing windbreakers or sweaters. It’s been blowing out of the north for a couple days now. The change from south to north caught Chris by surprise. He turned the bubbler off and by the time he realized the wind had shifted, seaweed had entered the harbor. It’ll be here awhile as the north winds promise to stick around for a few days. We may not see the 80s until next week!

Four Sheets to the Wind is playing on the back deck at the Hurricane. We watch their three hour performance while noshing on pizza. Carol and Gary joined us, but Gary was tired and went back to their room after a few songs. Cindy from Ontario did an outstanding performance of a couple Janis Joplin songs. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - A Day Trip to Key West!

It is cool (67°) and windy; a good day for a trip to Key West. We left around noon but arrived in the town at the end of the road too late for the first showing of, “On the Basis of Sex.” So we went to Schooners Wharf for the crab and avocado Salas and Michael McLeod. The salad was good as usual, but MM had the day off. He’s there Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Jeff Clark was holding down the fort. He was very good, played many original tunes that were funky. A few mainstream songs made it into his act as well. He has an interesting style and uses a drum machine and a looper to give depth to his sound. He rendition of Unchained Melody was excellent!

After an hour and a half, we were off to the Tropic Theater to see the movie mentioned above. It  is the story of the early professional career of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I was blown away by the story and the performances too. RBG is an inspiration. What a great woman. 

We made it back to the boat by 1900 hours after a quick stop at Burdines for some Stone Crab soup and fries. The gang at the north end was holding  court, so we visited for a few minutes before calling it a night. They are a fun group to hang with.

Thursday, January 17, 2019 - More Arrivals!

It was cool yesterday with a high of 67° and a low of 62°. Today it’s in the mid 70s and it feels cool at the point. We walked to lunch at the Keys Fishery. Along the way we noticed that the Keys Boatworks is closed. All the boats are gone and the property is vacant.

We returned to find Jim and Terry. They arrived yesterday afternoon. A few hours later, Tom and Jackie arrived. We had an impromptu gam at the Point with both couples and Gary and Carol. We were introduced to Marilyn, one of Terry’s friends. Loretta (Toto’s Tug) seems to know Marilyn and she stopped by to join the conversation.

I made Key Lime Scallops for dinner. It was excellent (as usual)!

Friday, January 18, 2019 - Rebedding a Portlight!

Another beautiful day in paradise. I think we say that most every day. Today ‘s High was in the mid 70s with a gentle breeze blowing. A bunch of folks boarded the Ranger atug, Toto’s Tug for a day trip. Anna Marie went to Yoga with Deb, Joann and Doreen. I stayed back and caught up on email and news.

When they returned, a discussion about lunch ensued between AM and me. She choose Calamari at the Island Fish Tiki, one of our favorite dishes. I can report that it is as good as ever, but the portion appears to be half of what it has been, and the presentation is not nearly as nice. We continued lunch at Frank’s Grill, a place we haven’t tried before. It gets rave reviews. We chose the Eggplant Parmigiana. It was served piping hot, too hot the eat. Ten minutes later, it was still piping hot. The eggplant was covered with a ton of cheese. So much cheese you couldn’t taste the eggplant. It tasted like baked cheese and tomato sauce over flavorless mush. The dish was served with fresh bread, but no pasta. We weren’t impressed.

Back at the boat, we rebedded the round portlight on the port side of SUNSHINE. We used a double layer of butyl tape to accomplish the task. 

We were both exhausted so we went inside at 1800 hours, binge watched seven episodes of Frankie and Grace (season 5 was released today on Netflix) and hit the sack at 2230, amazed that we stayed awake that long!

Saturday, January 19, 2019 - Happy Birthday, Geoffrey!

It’s early to rise this morning. A quick breakfast and we’re off the the nautical at the Marathon Marina. A lot of stuff was for sale, but nothing that struck our fancy. Our friend, in the market for a 35 lb CQR anchor, found one for $20.00. It was the deal of the day!

After the sale, we were off for the Big Pine flea market. There we found the cheese lady, the bread lady and the olive guy. We bought some cheese (aged balsamic cheddar) and olives (Healthy Harvest Koutsourelia (healthyharvests.com)). We also bought a balsamic reduction from the olive guy. We’re going to have delicious lunches, snacks and salad dressing from these purchases!

One other thing, the wind changed direction last night and blew most of the sea grass out. We helped get the bits that were trapped in slips 1 & 2 out by jetting them with the hose.

2019 Cruise - Week 1

Cruise 2019 - Week 1

The week in pictures:

Lobster Pot Christmas Tree

Toto’s Tug

Couldn’t Wait to Have Some Royal Reds

Played a few songs at Bev’s and Mike’s Dock Party

So did Mike!

It’s Pacho!

Ty performing at Barnacle Barnies

The Screaming Orphans

SUNSHINE at home in Slip #3!

Never get tired of the view at the Blackfin Beach.

The Rest of the Story:

Sunday, January 6, 3019 - Splash!

It’s 1000 and we finally decided to get out of bed. More chores await but first, a quick walk to breakfast. Before that, I lined up help for the launch. Alan, Gary and Carol and Kevin are set to help. 

At the appointed time (1300), 3 hours before high tide, we assembled at the ramp. Alan backed us into the water, the engine fired up and, uh oh what’s happening? The boat slide to starboard before getting off the trailer. Alan managed to put the starboard wheels into a deep hole. We survived that and made our way to Slip 3. Our reservation was for Slip 4, but Alan and Shelley are there. 

AM was attending to her duties while I thought it best to raise the motor (the new motor) out of the water. Unbeknownst to me, it was turned to port. As I raised it, I scrapped the port decal. I’m disgusted with myself for doing that. I usually have AM look to see if the motor is straight. I should have waited until she was available.

We set about tying off the boat, adjusting the dock lines and putting the canvas up. Chris dropped off some nice chairs and a little table for us to use. Have I mentioned that Chris is the new manager? Barry has purchased a home in Coral Gables. The canvas is a bear to install, but in an hour or to it was all zipped up.

We were exhausted, but summoned up enough strength to walk to the Marathon Grille where we enjoyed the delicious Crab Cake dinner (the BOGO is stilled offered) and the underdog Eagles victory over the Chicago Bears (16-15). 

There was a raucous party happening among the North Dock group but rather join in the revelry, we stumbled aboard for some R&R before bed time.

Across the way are Divid and Loretta aboard their new Ranger Tug 27 “Toto’s Tug.” It’s the first 27 with an outboard (Yamaha 300hp) that I’ve seen. David says he cruises at 28 knots and the fuel burn rate is similar to that of a diesel (no longer available on the 27) which is slower.

Also across the way is Robbie and his Macaw 🦜 Pacho. Pacho likes to screech... a lot.

Monday, January, 7, 2019 - Another Arrival!  

So, Gary and Carol Kramer arrived on Saturday, Alan and Shelley (Exit Strategy) we’re here when we arrived, as were Kevin and Sandy (Koastal Karma). All the North Dock folks are here except for Kevin and Deb and Sammy (Mocean Therapy). It seems they went home for Christmas and Kevin broke his arm or hand. He’ll find out today if he needs surgery. If so, they’ll be gone a while longer. If not, they’ll return in a few days. Jay and his spouse. sold their  boat (Finz Too) to Ricky and Yvonne. 

David and Marsha arrived this afternoon and after a bit of work on Indiana Keez, we launched it at the ramp. I backed it down the ramp with David and Alan aboard to get the boat into its slip. They had an army of people to get it safely into its winter home and secured to the piling.

AM and I chose today to have lunch at Burdines. The Mahi Reuben and fries are as good as ever. We the went to Fish Tales to pick up some Royal Reds for dinner. They were good too!

We ate in the cockpit on our new teak tables, installed this past summer. Before we could eat out there, we had to do a bit of cleaning to get the road grime off the tables and seats and while at it, I installed the cockpit lights. They add a nice bit of ambiance to the evening time spent having dinner, sipping beverages and enjoying the solitude.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - Another Day to Clean!

The outside of the boat was really dirty with 1500 miles of road grime on top of the incredible amount of dirt it got from sitting in the yard, uncovered since the end of August. So today was finish cleaning the outside day! I managed to clean and wax both cockpits. It took hours, but the exterior of the vessel is cleaned and waxed.

We still have work to do on the inside, but that’s for another day. While I was attending to my task, Anna Marie walked to Publix, did some shopping, and returned with so many supplies she could barely carry them all. Chris, the new GM gave her a ride in the golf cart. After a late lunch/early dinner, she did a couple loads of laundry while I finished my cleaning task.

At day’s end, we were both exhausted! Too tired even to go to the Point to watch the sunset. We laid in bed and watched a couple shows on Netflix.

  

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 - Dock Party #1!

Bev and Mike invited us to their first dock party of the new year. We met some old acquaintances and new ones as well. Bev had asked me to bring my guitar or ukulele to play some songs. Tonight I brought the ukulele and I did a few songs after Mike started the entertainment. Rick (Dark Star)  maned the grill and did a great job with our Beyond Burgers. There were delicious sides to go along with the burgers and Klondike Bars for dessert! It was a nice evening and a great first of the year party.

The weather has been fantastic with highs in the high 70s and low 80s and lows in the low 70s. It got windy today and it built overnight. At 0400, I had to go out to adjust the line that holds the stern off the dock.

Thursday, January 10, 2019 - Keys Sweater Day!!

The high temp didn’t make it out of the 60s today and overnight it was 60°. So yes, today is Sweater Day in the Keys! The wind dropped down late in the evening. The cool, windy weather encouraged us to skip our cleaning detail today. We also postponed rebedding the round portlight until a calmer day.

We visited with Greg and Doreen aboard Blurred Lines, their new to them Bayliner. They’ve done a lot of work to it and having it looking great! After our visit, it was on to Publix to buy a few groceries. Once back, AM made Chili for dinner.it was delicious.

At 2100, we crawled under the covers to keep warm and watch a few shows.

 

Friday, January 11, 2019 - Back to the 70s!

That’s right, the temp climbed back into the low 70s and the low was in the mid 60s. Still, it seemed a bit cool today and this evening. 

We went to Barnacle Barney’s to seeTy Thurman perform. We enjoyed his set. The Friday night fish fry was barely adequate. Not worth $13.95. Dan stopped by earlier in the day to warn us. He was right. We went because we wanted to hear Ty. We try to catch him a couple times each year.

Pacho is the talk of the Dock. The bird has a blood curdling screech and he screeches all day long! We think he’s lonely. When people stop to talk to him, he is quiet. Robbie leaves for long stretches throughout the day. While he’s gone, Pacho screeches. 

 

Saturday, January 12, 2019 - The Celtic Festival!

The Celtic Festival was fun. We listened to Albannach, a bagpipe, three drummers, didgeridoo (not sure what that has to do with Scotland). They were rhythmic, to say the least.

I really liked the Screaming Orphans (please pardon our extremely white skin, we’ve been in Ireland these last two months!). They blend traditional Irish music with pop and some overtones of Scottish culture. 

For lunch we had fish and chips from one of several food trucks. It was average at best. Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda Pop provided our beverage. It was fantastic!

In the evening we went to Havana Jacks to hear the Island Time Band. They seemed to lack their usual energy, but so did the crowd. We had the Calamari and the Key West Steamer Poy while listening. The latter was terrific but the former left a lot to be desired.