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Statue mile of notable places along the ICW from North to South

Name or Place	Statue Mile	Notes
Salt Ponds	*	15 Miles from MM 0
Norfolk (Hospital Point)	0.0	Anchorage between yellow markers. watch cable area on charts
Top Rack	8.4	Cheap Fuel. Good Restuarant
Great Bridge and Lock	12-13	Bridge opens on hour, Lock is sync'd with Bridge
AYB Boat Yard	12.4	Transit Dockage too
Centerville and North Landing Bridges	19-15	North River bridge notes: going North: CENTERVILLE BRIDGE IS ON DEMAND OVER THE WEEKEND The three bridges going north from Coinjock in order are: North Landing (on the Hour and 1/2 hour) Centerville Turnpike (Demand on weeknds, on 1/2 hour) Great Bridge (Opens on hour) GOING NORTH Arrive at North Landing on the Hour, then Turnpike on the 1/2 Hour. Great Bridge on the hour. 28.8 miles to North Landing from Coinjock. 5 miles between North Landing and Turnpike. 1.5 miles between Turnpike and Great Bridge GOING SOUTH Centerville is 3.1 miles from Great Bridge. At 7mph its about 25 minutes, at 8mph its about 22 minutes. North Landing is 5 miles from Centerville. At 7 mph its about 42 minutes, at 8mph its about 37 minutes. At 5 mph it will take an hour, the best scenerio.
Coinjock	49.5	Mildly expensive. Overflow dockage across the ICW. Prime Rib
Albamarle Sound	80-65	about 21 miles across. Can be very rough West winds.
Alligator River Marina	84.1	~5 shoaling at entrance. Wind driven tides. Long face dock. Slips are small and 10 foot fingers
Pungo River Anchorages	127.4	After exiting Alligator Pungo River Canal. Anchor anywhere.
Dowery Creek Marina	131.8	A little gem. Pool and loaner car
Turn to BelHaven	136.1	Belhaven Marina. Or Anchorage behind breakwater
Reo Mayo dock	157.5	Fresh Fish. Ragged dock with 30amp only
River Dunes Marina	173.9	Broad Creek 4.5 miles off ICW
Cedar Creek Anchorage	187.6	Protected but 6-7 feet
Beaufort Area	200.0	Stay to Red between R13 and 10A
Homer Smith Marina	200.9	Gallants Channel leads to Homer Smith (southbound)
Swansboro Anchorage	229.0	By Caspers Marina, but tight. Very Shallow past R4
Camp Lejune Security Zone	235.0	North end of Live fire area
Browns Inlet	238.6	Follow markers and Bob423 route
Onslow Beach Bridge	240.7	Bridge wont hold open if your not at the bridge
Camp Lejune Security Zone	241.0	South end of Live fire area
Craig Point	243.0	At the turn shoaling by Green. Stay to RED side
Mile Hammock	244.4	Anchorage
New River Inlet	245.5	Follow Dip Route from Bob423
Marker 99A shoal	269	Stay to red side!
Figure Eight Swing Bridge	278.5	Depending on tide its usually 23 feet at center.
Mason Inlet	280.5	Shoaling green side
Wrightsville Beach Bridge	283	Hourly. Can get crowded waiting for opening.
Wrightsville Beach	283.4	Motts Channel and Banks Channel. Anchor in basin by village or near inlet
Carolina Beach	295.1	Moorings and small anchorage
Snows Cut	295.2 - 296.8	Follow latest Bob423 route
Southport Marina	309.3	!! CLOSED 2020 !! Strong Currents
Village Harbor Marina	311.1	South Harbour Village Marina. Good Italian Restaurant
Lockwoods Folly	319.0 -322.1	Follow Markers, but shoaling already. See USACE surveys
Shallotte Inlet	328.8 - 331.0	Shoaling. See USACE surevy or Bob423 Route
Little River Inlet	340.9
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club	346.0	Inside the basin about a mile
Rock Pile	349.9 - 352.2	Make a Security Call
Barefoot Resort Yacht Club	353.6	Long transient dock. Barefoot Landing Marina is gone. Jakes for seafood.
Grand Dunes Marina	358.5
Osprey Marina	373.3	Usually cheap fuel
Oxbow Anchorage	375.4
Bucksport Marina	377.1
Wacca Wache Marina	383.7	Not so good any more
Butler Island Anchorage	395.5	Large area.
Georgetown Harbortown Marina	403.0	Long side-tie transient dock. Really cheap fuel July 2020
Georgetown Anchorage	403.3	Georgetown Anchorage by Steeel Mill. Dont use South channel.
Winyah Bay Anchorage	410.5	Lots of Current and open
ICW Entrance	410.5
McClellanville	430.0	Shallow, but dredging in 2019
Awendaw Creek Anchorage	435.7	Convenient stop between Waccama and Charleston
Capers Creek Anchorage	451.5	OK anchorage closer to Charleston Enter by R96
Isle of Palms area	456 - 462	Shoaling
Charleston Harbor Marina	464.5	Near Patriot Point
Wapoo Creek (ICW)	469.0	Turn to continue on ICW
Elliot Cut	472.0	High Current
Stono River Anchorage	473.5	Across from St. Johns Marina
Church Creek	487.8	Good Place
Dawho River	496.7	Note Use Bob423 Northern Route
Watts Cut	Shoaling. 502.7 - 504.3.	Much easier at higher tide levels.
Larual Hill Anchorage	507.5	Open Anchorage near a House
FenWick Cut	511.1 - 511.6
Coosaw Cutoff	513.4	Dredged 2018
Ashapoo-Coosaw Cut	518.5	Shoaling near western end into Edisto River
Wimbee Creek Anchorage	521.3
Factory Creek Beaufort	535.9	Ladies Island Marina. Strong current
Beaufort	536.5	Anchor at end of Mooring field or around the bend
Broad Creek (Hilton Head)	563.7	7.7 miles up creek is Shelter Cove Marina
Thunderbolt	583.2	Hal, great Dock Master
Isle of Hope Marina	590.0
Hell Gate	601.0	Dredged 2019
Walburg Creek	619.0
Crescent River	642.9
Duplin River	649.3	Anchor past the Ferry dock
Little Mud River	653.6-656.3	Shallow. See previous routes
Brunswick Landing Marina	679.5	5.5 miles up to east river and marina
Jekyll Creek	680.6 - 684.3	Dredged 2019 but channel is narrow
Jekyll Creek Marina	684.4	Long transient dock
Jekyll Creek Anchorage	685	Anchorage west side of ICW across from ramp
Cumberland Island	710.7
St. Marys Inlet	714.0
Fernindina Beach Marina	716.8
Sister Creek and St. Johns	739.7	Junction
Blount Island Achorage	739	About 5 miles up St. Johns from Sister Creek
Pine Island Anchorage	765.0
Valano Anchorage	775.0	Anchorage north of Bridge, east side of ICW. Rolly.
St. Augustine Marina	778.2
Fort Matanzas Anchorage	792.5	Enter keeping to North Shore
Marineland Marina	796.6
Hammock Beach Marina	803.1	Neil Dock master
North Daytona Anchorage	830.7	Use entrance along bridge
Bethune Park Daytona Anchorage	832.7	Enter on south end
Rockhouse Creek	842.3
New Smyrna Marina	845.7
Mosquito Lagoon Anchorage	863.0	One of a few in the area. Wide Open
Titusville	878.2	Mooring field but bouncy
Addison Point Anchorage	884.9	Either side
Cocoa Anchorage	897.8	Dinghy docks not replaced as of 2020
Melbourne Eau Gallie	914.2	Internet from Library
Fort Pierce	965.1	HarborTown isn't so nice anymore
Hobe Sound Anchorage	998.0
North Palm Beach Anchorage	1014.0	North Lake Worth
Lake Worth Anchorage	1021.0	Lots of choices. 6-7 feet deep
West Palm Beach Anchorage	1022.5	Across from West Palm Beach City docks and just north of Royal Park Bridge
Lake Santa Barbra	1057.0	Anchorage
Port Everglades Inlet	1066.5
Maul Lake	1077.5
Oleto Park	1080.0	Bakers Haulover Inlet
Boca Chita Key	1090
Tarpon Basin		Inside on east end or better spot is south outside grouper creek
Matacombe Key		Or use Long Key on ocean side of Channel 5 if west winds
Marathon		Boot Key and Marathon Marina

Hammock Beach December 2019

We arrived here in December 21, slip H14.  Per our usual luck it was really blowing out and I ended up having to bow in to the slip which was fine.  We are next to a boat we remember sitting next to in Norfolk.  It flew a 10x10 foot Trump banner.  I have several items to tackle here before we leave so the boat is starting to be strewn with parts etc. during the "project" cycle.

Most everything we needed to have repaired, was sorted out at Huckins.  New fuel lines, injector rebuild, port engine squeak which turned out to be a belt after they tried several solutions, ice maker and aft stateroom trim work.

The insurance company was really on us about the nuisance leak Bill the surveyor had uncovered on the port shaft where it enters the boat.  It turned out to be a two set screws holding the cutlass bearing at the end of the shaft tube.   Much, much less traumatic than a rotted wood and a fiberglass job.

We waited for a propane gas pressure gauge to be delivered, and then for a weather system to pass by and took off around 8AM on the 20th.  We hit the tides just right riding down the St. Johns River and much of the way down the Tolomato River to Pine Island, an anchorage we had never used.

Marys welcoming anchoring event was in 30 mph winds and driving rain.  But the anchor held fine all night and the new knee did seem to weather the storm too.   And the new knee's owner wasn't too annoyed either.

We did the 30+ miles to Mile Hammock the next day.

In our slip, H14

Mary at the bar in Delfinos. 

After settling in the following days we did a few boat chores, went to dinner at the high end Italian place on the grounds, Delfinos, which was a good as always. 

Mary Donna and Greg at JT's Sea Food Shack

Dona an Greg stopped by for a night to see us too.  Meanwhile its been squally weather here, windy, overcast and rainy.   We were hoping to get the big dinghy cleaned up and slathered with a few coats of Liquid Rubber, but the weather is uncooperative for now.  But we still have a battery issue and water leak to deal with so there is plenty to do.

Fascination, a boat at the end of the dock is home to "Tahn:", (short for Ruth Ann).  She actually remembered us! Her bird and dog didn't seem to though, but you have take what you can get.  She told me about Gary, a guy here who runs a pump-out boat which means we can stay tied up in the slip and not move over to the pump-out dock every week.

The little folding bike we have, is still functional.  I did ride it to Publix after much greasing and oiling.  We still plan to leave here around the 15th or so.  Dave and JoAnn may stop to see us before that as they make their way down to Wayward on the Caloosahatchee River near Okeechobee.   I hope I have the boat back together before they arrive!  






 

Minimalist approach to blogging

Going to give updating this blog again.  But will this time, employ a more minimalist approach instead of the long rambling posts I was doing several years ago.  Writing is fun but carving out the time to write up gnarly details was doomed to failure.  So here we go with the minimalist approach.

We are in Huckins boat yard having some minor work done but since we are teetering on the precipice of a new insurance company, it was expected we would have av condition boat survey completed.  Bill Gladding, the surveyor did a great job.  Maybe a little too great because the insurance company latched on a nuisance leak on the port shaft Bull saw, and they wont insure us until we get it fixed.  Or at least provide proof the boat yard is in the process of repair.

At the dock after being hauled out for Survey

So thats on-going while we are still in WI where the weather continually makes us pine for Florida.  And we are facing a situation where the boat work may not be completed by the time we arrive back there next week.  Living on the edge ... in a myriad number of hotels.

We drove to MN for Thanksgiving but the restaurant ran out of Turkey, Potatoes, Cranberries, Stuffing and the final crushing blow, Pumpkin pie.  So it was roasted chicken, a veggie burger.  No desert.  We stumbled into a diet Thanksgiving... all the rage now days.

March 16-30 2017 Marathon

Insert stuff here

March 16, 2017

My mother, Ruth  passed away last night May 15.

Returned the car this morning after deciding we would attempt getting a flight to Milwaukee for the funeral. 

Took a dinghy ride with all four of us through Galloway Bay and spotted a couple of Manatees.  We were headed for Sisters Creek until Mary made us turn back because of the dog’s dinner.  Along the way we helped a stranded dinghy and towed him to Burdines.  He had run out of gas.

I filled up the dinghy at Burdines earlier.  Gas is $4.00/gal.  Luckily the dinghy only needed about 4 gallons.  Diesel is near $3 gallon so we’ll just wait until we get to Ft. Pierce to fill up.

Fiddled with the magnifying screen for the radar.   Also re-soldered the shielding wire of the bigger VHF radio.   Seems to work just fine now.

Spent some time fiddling with the generator raw water pump after receiving the new one.  They put the pulley on incorrectly.

Much of the day was consumed with plans for WI.  We are flying out of Fort Lauderdale on Delta with credit card points, a large amount of which I didn’t realize we had accumulated.  Taking the Keys Shuttle to and from the airport.  $90 each way for both of us.

Put on the old Ideal windlass rubber switch cover up on the fore deck to replace the newish one that developed a crack recently.  Leaky switches are bad.

Jeff came over and offered to take us any where we had to go.  He balked though at driving us to WI. J

Rhonda sent a sweet condolence message.  And so did Sue.

Kathy, assuming emergency dog care duties, did a test walk with the dog.  It pooped four times for her.  She (the dog) may  have found a new Alpha.  Sorry Jen.

PDQ in front of us, the couple who went to Cuba left today in some pretty stiff winds.  Seems they were in a hurry to get north.

March 17, 2017

Saint Patrick's Day.

 

We walked to 7 Mile for breakfast this morning,  With the dog.  We had Puddin as our waitress again.  She at the dog seemed to get along fine.

My sister, Heidi, and I settled on Pandles in Whitefish Bay, as the luncheon place for my mothers memorial.  She always enjoyed it when I took her there for dinner in the past.

I finished up our taxes except for the digital signature pieces.

Went to the marina St. Patrick's day party where Kathy's potatoes were a hit.  Wasn't a rousing party like last year and I missed the picture this time!

Started to show Dave all the boat things he may need to know.  I'm not anticipating any issues, but if a water hose bursts or an electrical problem rear up he needs to know where the valves and switches ar located.

Kathy went to the pool and found it freezing!  Uh Oh.  I suspect they may have turned off the heaters!

I rode down to Publix for a few things and more specifically to get some money for the trip home.

I cut my usual long walk short walk tonight cause we were watching Game of Thrones

March 18, 2017

This morning Dave and I did a walk through of the boat and certain projects I was working on that he maybe would continue if he gets bored.  

Next we took the dinghy out and around Boot Key (it was a little rough) and then back into Sisters creek and all the way up the canal to near Publix.  There is a small basin there where a marina has been built but appears to be in limbo.  No boats, just empty docks.

But there were 4 Manatees floating around there.  And in the canal there was one soaking up the freshwater from a hose a few kids were using.

Once back at the boat we hauled the dinghy aboard and Dave and Kathy went off to the pool.  I decided to change the dinghy engine oil and filter, a potentially messy job. In this case it wasn’t too bad but still had oil on the deck from the filter removal.  It’s a side mounted filter with no room to use a catch basin of some sort.

Next I went over to Rob and Sue’s .  Sue is such a sweetheart… preparing mucnhies and giving us a very nice card.  We watched the sunset, Dave showing up shortly after I did.  And the Kathy stopped in for a few minutes.  Mary was sick with some stomach distress so didn’t make it.

Tomorrow we go to WI.

March 19, 2017

We were picked up by the keys shuttle service a little before 9AM.  The driver was a very nice 71 year old from Uragauy.  We had to make a stop at Key Colony for what appeared to be a  grandmother and her daughter complete with baby.  Next stop was in Key Largo for 2 more couples. 

That was followed by a quick pit stop at a gas station right before the overseas highway and Jewfish Creek.  The driver, Mary and I were the only ones making use of the opportunity.

We arrived at FFL with 1.5 hours to spare.  We had elected to do the quick TSA checkin so we didn’t have unload everything in our carry-on bags.

The plane was full and we had center seats in separate rows.  I was in between one very sick girl who was coughing and sniffling the whole time and very shy American Indian lady who’s cell phone had fallen between the seats and was almst to shy to ask for help retrieving it. 

The good thing about the flight was the plane.  It was a 757 and had little individual screens with a surprising number of current movies. I watched a Beatles documentary by Ron Howard.

We rolled into Detroit a bit late because the vice preseidnets plane was occuypying some Florida air space.  We actually walked off one plane, walkd ½ mile to the other end of the terminal and walked on another plane. 

I sat next to Mary who was in row 11, an exit row.  I was supposed to be in row 15 but somehow we seemed to have been reassigned.

Landed in Milwaukee and were met by the Hagens!  Also was poignantly reminded that shorts and a t-shirt aren’t suitable attire for the conditions here in WI.

We drove to a Culvers for dinner and then made it back and the kids all went to bed.  So did the adults. 

March 20, 2017

Slept until almost 10Am

Went to Walmart because I forgot my tooth brushes

Took a long walk agin.

Found out that Greg took a new job but after a few weeks, returned to his old job with nice new perks and money

Also discovered Greg and Laura sold their house and are looking for a new place to buy, possibly out here in Jefferson county when we stopped by to visit the kids, Seany and Sammy.

Another store run and then Mary had to watch her programs before I could go to sleep

March 21, 2017

Slept until 10 again.  Delightful!  

Went to buy buns for the dinner tonight.

Received confirmation that the IRS received our taxes.  So that's at least done and off the list.

LeAnn arrived around 4:30.  We had pulled pork and soup.  Greg came over later with their boys, Seany and Sammy.

March 22, 2017

We went to take a tour of Jen’s workplace at the college, WCTI this morning.  Then took her to lunch at Applebee's.  I dont miss working at all!

After dropping Jen off at her office, we headed out to shop.  CVS, Dollar Tree, JoAnn’s Fabrics and Kohls.  Finally ended up at Pernats meat store in Ixonia where we picked up some chicken and burgers for dinner. 

LeAnn went off to Greg and Laura’s to eat and then went to a lecture while we more slotherly types watched modern family episodes.

Later LeAnn and I took Lula for a freezing walk and then to bed.  The kids want to at breakfast at 8AM somewhere.  Us more experienced folks probably won make that.

March 23, 2017

Well we did get up at 7:30 and ate breakfast at S & J restaurant with everyone.  Came back to the house and then left for Pandles and the memorial luncheon.

Wow… the freeway is so different form when we drove around Milwaukee.

Anita, at Pandles was the hostess who helped get us organized.  Very efficient and a pleasant person with whom to work.

Debbie, my cousin, called from home and related a nice story about my mother..  She couldn’t make it because of a migraine.

We were situated in the main dinning room, about 20 of us in all.  During the lunch, Mary gave a nice toast.

Maura (Dave and Kathy's daughter) and Jason  along with Colin showed up first.  Very delightful conversation with them.  Jason will be going to school to obtain his CRNA (Certified registered nurse anesthetists)  and eventually his DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) from Oshkosh.

Karen and Chris were there along with Judy and Larry and our kids and Heidi.  A small but fun group.  We had wienerschnitzel.

We remain there for a few hours and had a great time.  Then stopped by Heidi's house and ogled her remodeled kitchen.   And an old auto-harp the workmen found in the rafters above the kitchen.  Where it came from is a deep mystery.

Back in Ixonia we heard about Greg and Laura’s house hunting out here in Jefferson.  Once they left, Jen, LeAnn, Jack and I took the dog for a walk before it rained.

March 24, 2017

Seany came by this morning while LeAnn was still here.

He trampolined (The Kubleys next door have a large trampoline) a bit then we all went to breakfast at the old folks home (Shoreline).  Suzanne, the server we know, was there (finally).  We seemed to keep missing her when we eat there lately.

We took Seany to the Batman and Lego movie.  I wasn’t expecting it to be that fun/funny.  It was.  With little blurbs of humor clearly crafted for the more  senior movie goer.  If you have ever seen Rocky and Bullwinkle you'll know what I mean.  Very good.

After the movie we went to the buck store and bought, stuff including a few toys for Seany.  Then we stopped in at the gaming store and he wanted a figurine of a bad guy from the Star Wars movies, a sith lord or something.  I talked with the guy and learned that a game I have on a computer, Half-Life is pretty old and out of date.  It’s replacement as a superb “shooter” is Bio Shock which itself is an old game.

After stores we went to McDonalds for a happy meal and sundae for me.

Back at Jen and Dave’s house Seany hit the trampoline for awhile and then TJ came out and they bounced around together while I talked with Jen, TJ’s mother.  Then the older kids arrive (Jack, Alex, Addy, and Gracie) basically taking over the trampoline.  So I went inside, put on some running clothes and went for a short walk. 

Mary and I took showers then and drove to Libby Montanas for a fish fry with Gene, Don and Linda, Judy and Dan, and Jan and Bob.

Then back to Ixonia and bed.  Tomorrow we do some laundry, pack and get driven to the Hyatt near the airport so we can get up at 5 instead of 4.  AM.  Flight is at 7AM

March 25, 2017

For some reason we were up before 8AM!  Mary had some package return label she wanted to print and then was going to get our boarding passes issued.  This time we are both having them sent to our phones.  Instead of scanning paper copies, they scan the image on the phone.

The kids all went off to their respective Saturday activities while we packed and then drove to the post office before running around the corner to Cornerstone bar and grill where we met everyone else.  Everyone meaning Greg, Laura, Sammy and Seany.   And David, Jen, Jonah and Jack.  We had lunch and heard a few more meager details about Greg and Laura’s new house and then left when Dave and Jen left.  

They had to take Jack to his concert  and a solo session to try out for another band.  We headed for the UPS store and then Old Navy where Mary returned a pair of pants we’ve been carting around all up and down the east coast since December.

We later all met back at Jen and Dave’s house and eventually made our way to outback steak house but they were full so we ended up at Champs, a sports bar but with good food.  

After eating we were dropped off at the Hyatt near the airport where we catch the  5:30am shuttle to the airport.  That’ll be fun.  But the terminals are only about 2 minutes away so we wont have to get up too early.

March 26, 2017

Nice hotel, Hyatt at Milwaukee airport.

We took the 5:30 Shuttle and checked a bag and sailed through TSA using the quick line Mary signed up for.

We were re-assigned seats by the Delta ticket person.  She put us together in an exit row instead of Me being in row 17 and Mary in row 33.

Atlanta airport is a zoo.  Man is it crowded.  We waited for a few hours before boarding the flight to Ft. Lauderdale.  Mary asked the ticket agent and she switched us around so we were sitting together.  Not in an exit row this time though.

Both planes we had this time were equipped with little movie screens and a host of video offerings.

At Fort Lauderdale we retrieved our bags (I had checked one at the gate per the pleas from the nice ticket agent) and waited outside for the shuttle.  We were in the wrong spot.  A few hundred yards down the road was the shuttle waiting for us.  He trying to call us but must have had a wrong number.

We took off with Mary in the front seat.  But she asked me (and the 6 other people in the van) if she could sit back where I was.  I said sure but then she changed her mind.

The shuttle then drove to the Miami airprt to pick up two others and then we were back on the road.  The driver made a brief stop for the guy to fill up the van and everyone to pee.  Two ladies from Michigan were behind us.  Nice people.

The van  stopped and dropped off the Miami folks somewhere near marker 89, and then another couple further down the road in Key Colony.  Next were the ladies from Michigan at a different hotel in Key Colony.  Then us further down the road in Marathon.

As soon as we returned we went to the low country boil party at the marina.

March 27, 2017

Up early?  No.  But we had breakfast.  And coffee made by Dave, who made full strength high octane coffee for us.  Caffeine in those amounts put me into hyper speed mode. 

We worked on the back flybridge window and carved out an idea of how to fix that.  Also hashed out a few ideas for the forward head hatch.

Then we got the dinghy down and made out way to City Marina where we tied it up and walked to Home Depot.  On the dock filling with water was a unique boat, a hull of ’79 Chris Craft Roamer, 60’.  The owners spent 10 years outfitting the boat with new aluminum superstructure and all the other boat structure things.  Nice looking boat.  And a pilot house to die for.

We walked to Home Depot and Dave and I bought  a few essential parts for various projects.

Then stopped at the ice cream store where Mary muscled her way into the line and ordered a hot dog before we even got in the door.  The rest of us had ice cream.

Then to Publix where we bought enough to require a cab ride back to the marina.  Kathy and I walked to the City Marina to fetch the dinghy.

We all met back at the boat after several phone calls from an impateient Mary because the cab was late.

Kathy and I went to the nice warm pool and then we had some cocktails before she went to fetch dinner from her favorite Cuban food place down the road..

I stopped over to see Rob and Sue.   We are planning a reef trip tomorrow and I said I’d go out there and grab a mooring in the morning if it wasn’t too rough.

Watched the first episode of Frankie and Grace, third season.  Very funny stuff!

March 28, 2017

Today is reef day.  I did a little computer work and then we both took the dinghy out to the reef.  1-2 foot waves with an occasional 3 footer in there.

I picked up the last free mooring ball and with my shortie wetsuit on I went in to the 74 degree water for about an hour before hauling myself back in the dinghy.  The sun was mostly hidden behind clouds after about 30 minutes and the waves and current seemed to be picking up. 

I hung around in the dinghy for awhile when Rob called and said they’d be out in 30 minutes.  45 minutes later they pulled in next to the dinghy but I had returned to the water earlier and so swam up to their boat and climbed aboard.

Then we all went in but Mary was caught up in the current and was yelling she couldn’t get back.  Rob and Sue went after her until I got there and then I pushed her to a fender on a long line we had thrown out.  She was able to clamor aboard then.

We sat and talked for a bit before Kathy (the only one), went back into the water.

We left soon after, Kathy and I in the dinghy and the Mary in Robs Grady.  It was a rough ride back until we were in the lee of the island.  Our littl 40 hp cant compete withe his 350 hp.

Mary lingered at the pool while Kathy and I rinsed everything off and hung up the wet stuff to dry.  Kathy went down to the pool and I took the opportunity to fix a few bolts that hold down the rear head (toilet) and then cleaned out the head floor sump and shower stall.

We had some more Cuban tonight and then went for a waik.  Dave and I walked to where he usually turns, at Burdines.  I went on my usual City Marina stroll.  I think I’ll sleep good tonight,

March 29, 2017

Dave and I tackled the forward head, hatch.  We drilled out the broken off screw and found another screw in my spare parts inventory that fit.  It was stainless so I coated it with this stuff designed to protect situations like this when using dissimilar metals joined together.

We started to work on the fly bridge rear window roll up straps but I stumbled on the kayak cradle and the little crimper die went overboard.  So that means I get to buy a new one.

We consulted on the anchor roller and moving it to a new location in line with the gypsy.  This would enable us to use our as yet untested Rocna anchor by simply moving the change from one anchor to the other.

After Dave went for a walk and was going to sand and re-varnish the head hatch.  I went off to NAPA up by Vaca Cut and then stopped by Speciality Hardware, the Dollar Store, Radio Shack and Walgreens.  I needed to buy a new button snap crimper tool, new oil filters, vinegar, momentary switches and a long stem button switch.  And finally Rum.   Walgreens was having a Captain Morgan sale.

Did finally locate Sweet Savannah’s ice cream shop, now by the airport.

We, minus Mary, had a cocktails on the sundeck and then ate dinner (we grilled tonight) while watching Franke and Grace.

After a walk to City Marina we went to bed.

  

March 30, 2017

Right out of the box we did a few things, namely got the Nissan engine for the small dinghy running.  An epic struggle of man versus machine.

I took off all the shrouds, gas tank and starter but was taken back by the area where the reed valves were located.  I had been intending to replace these thinking that was the non starting problem.

Rob just happened to return from baseball so I asked him and he came over and thought we’d be better off trying the simple things first.  That’s what I thought too.  Except I didn’t do it.

First we checked spark.  Rob did the old screwdriver grounded while sticking the pointy end into the spark plug, wire.  Good spark.   Past, electrifying experiences of mine provide a whole wall of caution doing this.  I’d go buy a spark tester first.

Next was compression. Finger testng compression resulted an, OK on that score.

Fuel was next and Rob pointed out the fuel in the tank was more oil than gas.  Huh?   I'm betting the fuel evaporated out over the months it sat.

So we tossed a little gas into the cylinder, put in the plug and fired it up.  Yes, it ran just fine.  

Rob left and Dave and I began cleaning the carb and tank and reassembling everything.  Except we lost this tiny little float valve pin.  So I had to ride to Marathon boat yard where they went thru a few carb rebuild kits before finding one that had the right diameter.  So I bought it and returned.

When we tried assembling the carb thou the pin was too long.  It succumbed to a cut off wheel and the dremel.

Once back together I got the little dinghy in the water, put on the engine and it fired ff right away.

After a little ride all is good.

Then we went to have pizza with Jim and Rita, Rob and Sue, Mary and I, Jeff and Mary, Snake (Rob’s friend) and Dave.  Kathy wasn’t feeling well and stayed back on the boat.

Inspiring conversation and pretty good pizza.

We rode back with Jeff and Mary who brought us here. 

Kathy was up when we left and Dave brought back an anchovy laden pizza for her.

Then it was Frankie and Grace, then a walk and bed.    

March 31, 2017

Today is pool party day, a party thrown as a send off to those who are leaving the first week of April.  That almost includes us.  We’re leaving the 9^th.  We could actually stay until the 26^th but that would eliminate New York as a destination because we’d get there way too late.

Dave, Kathy and I took the dinghy to City Marina where Kathy perused  the Library and Dave an I went off to Home Depot for weather striping and ¼” spline.  We also got a bunch of small foam brushes.

Then to Publix where, among some food items I spied a French Press.  It was only $11 and after reading an article Bill Parlotore (former publisher of Passage Maker magazine) wrote on coffee, (https://www.followingseas.media/blog/2017/2/27/better-cup-of-coffeeeven-better) I was anxious to try this out.  So we now own a coffee press.  Tomorrow we’ll see how well this works.

Returning, Dave and I tackled the fly bridge rear window, trying to install a button snap in the thick Sunbrella window casing.  No joy.  So I returned to my tried and true shoe string snap arrangement to keep the rolled up window, up.

Next was the anchor roller re-location.  But after studying it a bit I noted that a scrap plate in the main anchor slot had a small notch cutout to allows the plate to be installed along the secondary anchor roller (the one I want to move).

Making a long story short, I decided to just swap the anchors for the trip north.  So we will be using a Rocna 55 instead of a Bruce 66.

We went off to the pool after and I noted it was not the toasty warm pool of a few days ago.  Now it was cool.  (( shiver )).  We all went this time too!

Back for shrimp dinner Kathy came up with and then another walk and bed.

Rob and Sue leave tomorrow for the beginnings of there Welland Canal adventure.

March 1-15, 2017 Marathon

Today is boat chore day.

I went below into the engine room and pulled off the generator fuel pump.  It was leaky so I tightened up the top face plate nuts which were surprisingly loose!  This has to have been the cause of the fuel  leaks. 

Meanwhile, LeAnn went off kayaking somewhere back in the mangroves.

Leaky water pump

Next I pulled the generator raw water pump.  It's leaking from its weep hole indicating some loose seals so I decided to send it to Depco, a pump rebuilding company.  After I had the pump out, I rode to the UPS store to send it off for a rebuild.  New ones are $300+.   A rebuild is half that.

And since I was right next door, I made a stop at Publix too.  Come to think of it I always seem to be dropping in on a Publix.

Curt and Marilyn  stopped over and we went to Sparky's in Key Colony, a little community just north of Marathon.  Shrimp and wings were cheap during Happy Hour.  It serves as dinner.

Not much singing going on here but a lot of laughing

After that we all went to watch the sunset at sunset beach in Key Colony.  This is where the energetic locals pass out lyrics to a song which is sung as the sun goes down.  It's pretty silly but there a few who take this very seriously.

Returned to boat, watched Frasier and went to bed.  Tomorrow we take the dinghy down after I fix the bilge pump wiring yet again.  Very high winds over the next few days mean we wont be using the dinghy much and LeAnn won't be able to go out to the reef.

We took the dinghy down and went out for a ride sans the dog.  But before that I filled it with the gas we had in the gas can from several months ago.  And I made more permanent wiring connections on the bilge pump wires. 

We headed up into Boot Key Harbor marveling at all the anchored boats.  Then went through Sisters Creek where there were more boats anchored.  We did go out in the ocean for a ride.  It started out a little rough but up on plane the dinghy held its own so we continued around Boot Key, through Seven Mile Bridge via Knights Channel and up to Banana Bay Marina  where Steve and Sharon on Stevedore are staying.  But they weren’t there. They had taken the boat out to test  a new anchor and were right around our marina about the time we left..  We probably just missed them coming around the island.

Mary wanted to eat a Lobster Reuben at Keys Fisheries.  So that’s where we went.  All three of us ordered the Rueben and all three of us could only eat half.

Keys Fisheries 

We did meet a nice couple there from Madison and talked for a while.  Then we headed back to Banana Bay to visit Sharon and Steve but they had cruised out to Crane Point and anchored for lunch but she forgot to text me.  So we didn’t see them but notified a couple relaxing on the sand at the marina entrance to let Stevadore know a dinghy full of people were looking for them.

We took Knights Channel back to the boat and with the forecasted high winds the next few days we brought the dinghy back on board and also the kayak.  I washed them all down and then closed up the east facing windows where the predicted winds were going to be blowing.

LeAnn, followed by Mary went off to the pool.  I tagged along later.  Clouds were obscuring the sun so it was cool.  I cant find my key card so had to ask Mike, an RVer I know, to let me in the gate.

Mike is one of a dozen RVer's here in the Marina's RV park.  Most of the RV's are Class-A Motorhomes, big fancy behemoths usually towing a small SUV or car.  They do what we do, cruise around the country except on the road.  Mike has been returning here for at least 10 years, enjoying the winters here and the summers up in Maine where he has a small summer home.

Mike and Loyd, another RVer were chatting up LeAnn for a while while Mary and I sat around until after 5.  Mary had to go feed the dog and LeAnn went back so I hopped in the pool and talked with the guys for awhile before we all left.

We decided to go out to eat and walked to Castaways.  LeAnn seemed to enjoy the sushi.  We took their courtesy electric golf-cart to the highway and walked back to the marina.  2 episodes of Frasier and then it was to bed.

    

I called Enterprise car rental to get picked up but they didn’t answer until the fourth time I called.  They don’t do pickups down here because they only have one person on staff.  Instead they reduce the rental amount if you provide a cab receipt.  Here a cab ride to the airport from anywhere in Marathon is $5.  Not for any particular reason, but I called Bob Narley taxi company.  Regardless of which of the half dozen cab companies you use, the drivers are usually colorful characters.  And the vehicles could also be classified as, colorful and having unique character.   In other words, the vehicles are pretty old and are functional ... more or less.

Another Enterprise car rental

Once I got the car, I drove back to the marina, picked up LeAnn and Mary and dropped them off at the Stuffed Pig while I made a dash to Publix to pick up a few things but more importantly, cash.  Using a debit card you can get up to $75 cash back which I do regularly thus avoiding the damn ATM fees.  Did I mention the the Stuffed Pig is a cash only restaurant? 

I returned in time to order an omelet.   After we ate it was back to the boat.   LeAnn and I walked to Tranquility Bay to check it out while Mary did a load of laundry.  Then I stopped to pick up some more dinghy repair glue at West Marine where I once again paid almost ½ again over what I could purchase it for on line.

Added lines

Back on the boat we made plans for dinner but by then the front was nearing , so while Mary and LeAnn frolicked at the pool I secured most everything on deck and added a few extra lines since the high winds would be pushing us on the dock.

It started to rain, then pour as Mary and LeAnn returned.  The drenching lasted only about an hour.  But then the winds started picking up right away.

We are sort of hemming in the PDQ in front of us

A PDQ 34 Power Catamaran neighbor we have nearly hemmed in on our bow, returned from Cuba this afternoon and we’re anxious to hear his story.  Maybe at the pool tomorrow?

The boat across from us owned by Ken, is being emptied of personal items.  Ken a pilot for Spirit airlines, was off flying somewhere while his wife (Linda I think), a nice lady was moving stuff from this boat to the one they purchased a ways down the dock.  We talked while I helped her load up the cart.  She just passed her real estate broker license.  She was a financial person but got laid off.  They are trying to find a place to buy down here in Marathon.

We ended up just staying aboard and skipping Burdines until tomorrow when we take Leann to the airport.

We fired up the oven and warmed up the chicken we had cooked on the grill last night.  Very good. Our goal was to get through season 11 of Frasier.  I didn’t quite make it, going for a walk in the soothing 25 mph winds.   LeAnn declined to join me and instead she and Mary tackled several more Frasier episodes without me.

I walked to City Marina and it was rocking and rolling in the harbor with these winds.  Glad we are tied up to a dock.

Tomorrow we drive to Ft. Laureldale to take LeAnn to the airport.

Burdines!

Today LeAnn leaves.  So the morning routine was packing up.  We went to Burdines for a farewell lunch thing, then back at the boat packed up the dog stuff and the dog and headed north.

Traffic was heavy and sporadic.  We had to stop at a mandatory animal inspection station where they were just checking for any signs of Screw Worm.  They also dispensed info about it.  It's been found on Pine Island, the island just to the south of us.  Key Deer are being infected and a few pets have also fallen pry to this insidious little bug.  

Yes, Walmart was pretty crowded

We dropped LeAnn off at 4:30 in plenty of time for her flight.  Then we went back and stopped at Walmart where Mary fumed about all the crowds and the damn kids running up and down the aisles.   We, of course, never let our kids run up and down the aisles.  Nope, never.  Our shopping expeditions were always somber affairs, focused only on the task at hand.  We were very hardass and strict....  Ha .. what a bunch of bull.

We escaped (20 minutes in a checkout line) and went directly back to the boat by way of a Subway and McDonalds.  One must eat dinner after enduring rowdy crowds at Walmart.

 A few Frasier episodes and then to bed in the same howling winds we had last night, but much cooler temps.  No AC necessary tonight.

I started on our taxes this morning and almost have them completed.  Then we drove to Islamorada to see Darlene and Dave.  The traffic though was horrible.  It took us 90 minutes to go the 30 miles.  But that's not unusual on Highway 1, the Overseas Highway, here in the Keys.

We found their place which is right on the ocean and then Dave directed me to a side road leading to a restaurant near their place.  We had a wonderful time.  Dave ordered the breakfast fajita and, after looking over the menu, so did I.   Pretty tasty.

3 things at Dollar Tree ...

We dallied at the restaurant for a few hours and then dropped them off and headed back.  We had to stop at the Dollar Tree store for three items.   Ya, like that ever happens.  Only 3 items?  It can't be done.

Who can resist Thin Mints?

But there were a few Brownies selling cookies there so ...

Next was Publix for some necessary items.  We somehow bought a whole cart full of stuff.

Back aboard, and everything put away, Mary took the dog for a walk and I cleaned up a bit.  We weren’t hungry but Mary wanted her cable hooked up so that took a while.  I’d forgotten, just like I do every year, that we have to use a cable box and can't tie cable in directly to the TV.

Once she was mesmerized by some TV show I walked down to City Marina.  Back on board I showered.  The dog apparently cant relax and sleep until I'm back, showered and in bed with my laptop.    Once she's in bed on my pillow, she's snoring and snorting her way into a deep sleep.

The yellow quarantine flag on Rob and Sue's boat

Yesterday, lacking any chicken soup,  we put up a Quarantine Flag on Rob and Sue’s boat.  They've both been quite sick and haven't emerged from their boat for days.  But they didn't expire because I received a complaint via text message the next day.

Since I had the car for the morning I went and had our empty 20lb. propane tank filled, and the 10 lb. tank for the grill.

Then I took the car back to the Enterprise office at the airport and walked back to the marina.  5 miles.  But I stopped at Winn Dixie and noted they had Polar Seltzer water, two 12-packs for $2.99.  I like making seltzer and Captain Morgan rum drinks.  

Next I swung by K-Mart (yes there is still one here.  No Walmart though which is why K-Mart is still in business).  Nothing we needed in there. 

Then to Publix where I bought a stick of sun tan lotion.  Yes a stick.  It resembles chapstick but apparently is used to apply sunscreen (sun tan lotion) to sensitive areas like a face.  Since it was blistering hot out in the intense sun I bought some and also revived my cash supply.  I use Publix as a cash dispensary avoiding the ATM fees.

After that I stopped at Island Time ice cream shop for a small dish of mint chocolate chip and then, revived, continued on to Home Depot where I bought Mary a 100W equivalent light bulb and 2 quick disconnect fittings for our hoses.   

Back at the boat we cleaned the forward stateroom, walls and all.  Then I cleaned out the shower sump and painted the forward head floor which is teak and holly.  And ratty.  Now it’s a nice brilliant white.

Mary finished up the laundry and we made the bed after eating dinner on a nice clean grill with a fresh propane tank.  Our Frasier episodes were dropping out because of a network issue which I could only trace to the AV receiver.  So I re-booted it and it seems to be back to normal.

Took an abbreviated walk to Faro Blanco marina and then showered, retrieved Bubbie from her safe place on the dinette where she scurries whenever the shower is on.

Bed by 9:30.  We need our 12 hours of sleep I guess.

Today I worked on taxes and finally got them done.

Later, I cleaned up around the galley and forward stateroom.  Then added a second coat on the forward head floor.  Looking good now.

Next I took our bike and rode to Kmart and Publix for a few food items and these needle-like curtain hangers.  Mary washed the aft curtains and noted the curtain hangers are pretty grungy so we decided to replace them all.

And Mary lugged the last of the laundry over to the marina laundry center.  

Today we finished cleaning up the forward stateroom and stowing things.  Then cleaned up the galley.  Again.

Next we cleaned all the windows.  I applied liquid rubber to the big dinghy where the fabric was delaminating from the rubber.  Also found another small leak on the micro dinghy and patched that, so if that holds, I’ll start on the small outboard engine.  Going to try and replace the reed valves and see if it starts.

Rode to Publix for number 4 cone filters for the big coffee maker. We decided to retire the small 4 cup coffee maker in favor of the big Melitta 10 cup coffee maker with a nice carafe.

Riding back I was near Home Depot when I encountered a large Iguana sprawled across the sidewalk.  It was big.  Big enough to obstruct the whole walkway.  Not wanting to run it over I stopped a foot short of it and stared at him.  He responded by lazily rotating an eye up at me, sizing me up for a moment before turning back to scanning the highway.

Obstinate lizard!  So I shouted at it, something along the lines of. “… move your ass you uppity amphibian”.  Again I fell under gaze of a rotated eyeball.   It appeared to be unimpressed with my vocal threat.

“Ok.  How about this!”, I yelled.  And proceeded to bounce my bike up and down and then forward just missing it.

This got it's attention because I was now under the cold stare of two rotated eyeballs.  I kept bouncing the bike up and down and after a minute it made a repulsive noise, something between a hiss, a growl and a groan.  It sat there staring at me for a few more seconds before moving about a half a foot so its tail left several inches of the sidewalk clear.

I went by leaving it sprawled across the sidewalk waiting to defend its small patch of concrete from others sure to follow.

Today we cleaned the sundeck and also the area behind the couch.  And we caught two cockroaches that scurried out from their hiding places.  

Later, I epoxied up the dinghy hull where I found a few stress cracks.  But the poor dinghy is aging noticeably.  It is 10+ years old and has seen its share of heavy use.  We have a slow leak somewhere too.

We re-stowed the last of the stuff that belongs in the forward storage area located under stateroom deck up near the bow.

Then we cleaned the heads.

Taking a cleaning break I wandered out on deck and observed that the patch on the micro dinghy appears to be holding air!

Had a brief conversation with the sickies, Rob and Sue, who are beginning to feel better but still under the weather.  Rob said he saw 2 green flashes?  Is his fever that high?

I hauled out the Bissell green machine and cleaned up the sundeck couch and the sundeck carpeting.  Very dirty, but not any more.

Then I put the battery charge on the dinghy battery in anticipation of launching tomorrow after I add some air to the pantoons.  I fear this may be heralding the end of its it's useful life.  I can patch leaks when we see them but it's probably going to be a losing battle at some point.  There are places that will replace the entire air chambers too but I can't imagine how costly that could be.

At City Marina and the park there, the ball diamonds are now occupied with booths for the Marathon Seafood Festival.  And Dave and JoAnn arrive tomorrow to stay with us for a few days during its weekend run.

We finished straightening up the boat.

I took the dinghy down and went to city marina to buy a month dinghy dock pass ($200!).  Meanwhile Bruce and Rhonda texted us to meet them at Burdines so we did.  So great to see them.  Later Will and Rosemary, friends and marina mates of Bruce and Rhonda, stopped by. They are all at White Marlin Marina north of us in Key Colony.

They both took their dinghies out on the ocean to get here, a 9 mile ride.  Will though only had a 3.5 HP motor so it took him a while longer.

We went back to the boat and I walked into the marina office and spotted Dave and JoAnn talking with the marina staff about staying here next year.  They are planning on taking one of their boats, Wayward, a 44 foot Marine Trader, down the coast from New York and keeping it here in Florida.

We went back to the boat with their stuff and had a great few hours of catching up over cocktails.  We had planned a party but cancelled because they had arrived late and Rob and Sue were still sick.

Instead of grilling we went to get pizza, took a short walk around the place and then went to bed at the late, late hour of 9PM.

Tomorrow is the festival.

Dave, JoAnn, Mary and of course, Bubbie at 7 Mile Grill

We went over to 7 Mile Grill for breakfast.  It was also an experiment because we brought the dog.  Here in Marathon, it's not unusual to for people to bring dogs to a restaurant and eat while the pets slumber under their feet.  Not my thing but Mary wanted to try it.   Nothing untold happened but it was just weird.

Next we hopped in the dinghy and spent several hours wandering the festival grounds and buying a few things.  We did get a corral lamp … finally.

Finally ... Our new Coral Lamp

Dave, JoAnn, Mary, Sue and Rob

Later, back at the boat, we went to the pool for a while and then back to the boat when Rob and Sue came over.   After they left we returned to the festival so Mary and JoAnn could have their lobster sandwiches and I could watch the band, The Regs.  Great band.  This guitar player went through a great rendition of Eruption, a Eddie Van Halen song. 

We drove to the festival this time and stumbled on a car just leaving a parking lot so we had a relatively close spot.

Scotty Migone, really good guitar player

Earlier when we left the festival the first time, we had a festival program stamped with the re-entry stamp instead of our hands.  4 stamps for 4 people. Because we knew it would wash off in the pool.

Another early bed time.  Tomorrow the clocks get turned ahead.

Daylight savings time.  We slept until 10 this morning.  Well, not exactly.  It started to pour so I was running around closing windows.  The rain stopped after 30 minutes and it was sunny and hot after.

Dave and JoAnn returned from showering and we had coffee (except JoAnn who likes tea) on the sudeck when Sharon and Steve popped over.  So we had a great time with them for a while.  Then as we were about to leave for breakfast (it was past 11) we ran into Tom and Connie who own a Sea Ranger almost identical to ours.  We talked with them for a while too before we made it to the car and fought traffic to the Stuck Pig, our goal for breakfast. 

But is was after noon by the time we rolled in and they were closed.  So it was off to 7 Mile again.  We were seated and the waitress, who called herself “pudding”, was taking drink orders when Dave suddenly mentioned that we could have gone to Burdines which is our usual farewell dinning place.  Oh well.

Puddin is a boisterous razor witted person, quite funny.  She and I were trading barbs the other night when I was here and she crushed me like a paper cup.  Nothing like a challenge so I called her Puppy instead of Puddin which set her off again.  Really entertaining lady!

Dave and JoAnn sadly left to return to their Pine Island place and we trudged back to the boat and gathered up laundry and did a few little maintenance things. 

Mary did a couple loads of laundry and I cleaned the hull at the water line.  It was quite literally like a jungle of growth.  Then took the dinghy out for a speed run to hopefully dislodge any marine growth tyring to get a foothold on the dinghy hull.

We grilled steaks and are now watching Season 2 of the Netflix show, Frankie and Grace, in preparation for Season 3 which begins March 24.

I took a walk back to the festival grounds, but all the vendors had packed up and gone.  I had really wanted a seafood Festival t-shirt!

Mary was sick today so I had to take the dog for its morning walk.  The dog seems to have a different idea of what constitutes a morning walk than I do.  I'm more of  a "walk to a spot and do it" type, whereas she prefers the "sniff everything for an hour to find a suitable location for it" type.  We clash.

I let them both sleep until 2:15 this afternoon when I rode to the store.  I also noted the dog seems to be able to leap up on the bed when she wants too which means she can also negotiate the stateroom stairs when it suites her too.  I dare say we have been played by and a wily old terrier.

I spent the morning chatting with Ubiquiti engineers regarding my new software key to enable the lower end frequencies of the 5GHz band of wifi on our Bullet 5 wifi booster.  As of now it will only see the upper half of that spectrum.  It’s working fine here on the marina 5G wifi but when we are anchored we use my phones hotspot capability and it only transmits on the lower half of the 5GHz spectrum.  Ugh …

After a quick dinner I walked to City Marina and then back to the boat and bed.  I have to get a car tomorrow morning.

A Chevy Impala, not one of our favorite cars

Picked up the car this morning, a Chevy Impala.  On the way back to the boat, I stopped at the store to get  a few things.

Later, Jeff, of Jeff and Mary on a Cherubini 45 next to Rob and Sue, stopped by and we talked for a while too.

Someone I know came up to me on the dock and borrowed my drill the other day.  I haven't seen him anywhere around the marina and I cant remember his name nor which boat he's on.  Uh oh …??

The guy next to us on the PDQ mentioned that diesel prices at Faro Blanco Marina are 40 cents less than the usual low cost fuel provider here, Burdines!  This is surprising because the docking fee's at Faro Blanco hover in the $3 - $4 range, several dollars more than most places.

As I was walking back down the dock I caught sight of Rob and Sue talked with them for a short while.  Good to know they are on the mend.

Since the dinghy seems to be holding air, I cleaned the micro dinghy and applied 303 to it after riding to West Marine to buy it.  303 is a PVC protectant and helps retard UV damage.

Later Mary and I walked the dog around the marina.

I was on the internet searching for reed valves since I couldn't find any locally.  And I did come across a guy on ebay who has reed valves for the Nissan.  He’s sending them to me for $20

I walked to Marathon city marina again and then went through Blue Water Resort and Fara Blanco marina.  Faro Blanco has really emptied out, although Daisy was still there.

Up early and left at 9 to pick up Kathy and Dave at the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  Their flight was on time.

We left the airport and made a stop near there at Joe’s house to get a bike Kathy bought on eBay.  Joe turned out to be rather nice guy.   He has pineapple plants all in his front yard.  And the bike was an older Schwinn.  

Dave did some bike disassembly and were able stuff the whole bike in the trunk.

After Joe's we made a stop at the Homestead Walmart, the closest Walmart to Marathon.

Tired travelers at 7 Mile Grill

After buying a lot of things, we started the long trek to Marathon and reaching there we stopped at 7 Mile Grill to eat.  Mary has stomach issues so we didn't brig any food back for her.

Heidi called to tell me my mother has pneumonia which was a surprise.   We may have to fly back to Milwaukee. 

I usually walk to City Marina and take a few minutes too look out over the harbor.  I was standing there when some young man approached me asking about a dinghy.  Turns out he was looking to get a dinghy ride back to his boat on a mooring ball.  I think he was too shy to ask anyone, so I stepped up and interrupted some of the old salts engaged in deep discussion.  One of them agreed to take the young guy to his boat.