March 1, 2014 Marathon, FL

The weather looked uninspiring but not too bad so we hauled the dinghy up on the boat, and took in our lines and headed out of Boot Key to test the water maker and possibly pickup a mooring at Sombrero Reef.

Once we cleared the channel I started up the generator and fired up the water maker as we headed out towards the reef.  The dissolved solids monitor finally detected water coming through the membranes that was free enough of dissolved solids that the solenoid tripped and allowed water to enter our water tanks!  Whew ... if we couldn't get to that point it would mean replacing all three membranes.  And they cost a lot of money.  And I mean a LOT of money.

So we cruised around out by the reef for an hour or so filling our water tanks before approaching a mooring ball on the reef.  It took a few tries but Brant finally snagged it and we got a line attached.  I shut down the engines and within a few minutes the water tanks were full so we shut down the water maker and generator leaving us floating there in some choppy seas with a myriad number of fish seeking refuge under the boat.

LeAnn adjutsting her mask

We prepared the new masks and fins and LeAnn was first in the water (it was 78.9 degrees) followed by Mary.  The swell was pretty rough so it was difficult to keep people in sight.  Mary stayed in only a few minutes.  LeAnn, of course, was 100 yards away from the boat before I could get in.   She did spot a dock line wrapped around our starboard prop so I dove under the boat a few times to pull it off.  No damage done.

 It was a good time even though the skies were cloudy making the normally vivid colors somewhat muted.  We saw some barracuda, and the normal contingent of brightly colored fish.  Brant spotted a turtle and a pod of porpoises on the surface while LeAnn and I were in the water.   I really need to get a waterproof camera one of these days.

LeAnn decided to get out after being plagued by an ill fitting mask.  I stayed in and cleaned off the hull for about 30 minutes creating a ring of cloudy water around the boat.  The normal contingent of fish lurking under the boat seemed to react badly and fled somewhere else leaving me alone to labor and ponder why am always working at something..

It was getting uncomfortably choppy so we abandoned the snorkeling idea and headed backed back to the mooring field.  And of course as we headed back the sun broke through the clouds giving us a glorious sunny day.  Sheez ...

Mary and LeAnn wanted to go kayaking so we took both kayaks down and they headed off  towards sister creek and the mangroves while Brant and I took the dingy to shore so I could go to the store.  We returned and then took the dinghy for fuel with intentions on heading to a bar but Mary called with orders to return post haste so we could go to the piglet races.  Yes, Pig Races.

Sunset lounging

But dinner took a long time and we missed the last race of the day so simply stayed on board and watched the sunset from the top deck.  I ran into shore to do a quick errand and came back to grill (well, Brant did most of the grilling) and eat a feast of a dinner.

After, they wanted to go to a bar so we took the dinghy over to dockside and had a few drinks and then headed back and to bed.

Yellow submarine

Next morning LeAnn took off in the kayak while we stumbled around deciding what to do, ultimately settling on a trip to the yellow submarine.  There is a marked channel (very shallow) leading into the mangroves from the bay.  Supposedly there is a yellow submarine there built by some guy.  How he planned to get it out is beyond me.  But off we went in search of it.  The channel leading into the mangroves is spooky.  But sure enough there is a yellow submarine.  Rather worse for wear, but it is yellow and it does appear to resemble a submarine.


We  headed back out the channel and decided we had no more time to do anything else so we returned to the boat and the kids packed up their stuff.  I took them into shore and then returned to fetch Mary for the final good bye.  They are headed back to Ft. Meyers for a few days of Twins baseball before heading back to the chill of Minnesota.

After they left we lingered in the marina office for an hour or so to make use of the WiFi there so I could update our phones and tablets.  Ironically our WiFi booster picks up the marina WiFi signal just fine unless were facing the wrong direction and the boat blocks the antenna just enough to infringe the signal.  But not knowing that until now, we did our updating and decided to head over to the nautical flea market at the yacht club and then hit the pig races at the Stuffed Pig, a bar/restaurant right across the street from us.

Nothing good at the flea market so went right to the Stuffed Pig and sat down for some pork sliders and ran into a couple off the boat, Priorities.  After eating with them we headed over towards the water while waiting for the blaring horns signifying the start of the races.  We got back just in time and ran into Curt and Marilyn.

Oh, and the Pig races were hysterical, especially the pot-bellied pigs.








Curt and Marilyn were thinking of looking for a bigger boat and since we knew Bob and Carole were selling theirs, we took them over to see Southern Cross and stayed awhile at the nearby bar before taking them back to shore so they could bike back to their marina about 3 miles north of us.

When we returned to the boat Rob cruised over for a chat and to make plans for Monday evening.  I didn't invite him aboard for a drink mainly because we're both exhausted.  Tonight is going to be a "forge for yourself / movie" night.  And then early to bed.

 We're heading to Key West tomorrow with Brent and Sue and then are going to try and meet Bob and Carole back here before they head out for the Bahamas tomorrow morning.

And just heard from Dave and Joan who arrived here a few minutes ago.    Its going to be an active week I suspect which means I wont get anything completely fixed.   Again.  Oh well.  All these tools and no time to use them.