February 25-March 10 2015 Leann, and Hagens visit

April 7, 2015 
We are still in Marathon Marina awaiting water maker membranes before leaving for the Bahamas.  Anticipate being here until Tax day next week.  No real alternatives except to stay and enjoy the pool.  Most all of our friends have left for the Bahamas or headed back up north.

So now we really do sleep late and go to bed early.  We have morphed from being active participants in dock parties, to the  quaint and quiet couple on the dock. 
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LeAnn is flying in?  But wait!  My calendar had us picking up the rental car Wednesday, tomorrow!  Huh, we both said.

Seems we had LeAnn’s arrival in our calendars wrong.  We thought she was arriving Friday morning and we were trying to figure out why I had the car rented for Wednesday.  We contacted her and she confirmed a Friday arrival.  Perplexing.

Until she texted back saying she was arriving Thursday morning at 5:49 AM.

Nothing like a little confusion ...

So this morning I trudged up to the Marathon Airport but first made a stop at the dive shop where this guy will put together a hookah for us.  And the configurations are almost endless but we’ll end up with two breathing regulators and 2 high compression scuba tanks or an air compressor.  Not sure which.  Storage might be a complex exercise in organization.  So we’re contemplating this which mean Mary will eventually go along to the shop and I’ll end up sitting in a chair while she corrals the owner with a thousand questions.   But we'll tackle that after all the kids leave.

I walked into the airport around 2 PM.  The poor Enterprise guy was all alone today and doing all the car prep, drop off and pickup duties plus handling the phones.  He had called me earlier in the morning asking if I’d come in after noon.  The original reservation was for noon.  But I said sure.  Its not like were  in any hurry.

Before I left to get the car we tore apart the forward stateroom and cleaned up the under-bed storage.  It was getting a bit musty in there.  We aired out the bed and the storage area while we went ashore, Mary doing laundry and me walking to the car rental place.

So now we now have a nice new Altima for a few weeks.  Nice and black too,  Nothing says warm like a black car in Florida.  Sheez …

We spent the evening on board and went to bed early because we are leaving tomorrow at an usual hour.  5AM.

Coffee was almost ready for this caffeine deprived customer

And yup, we were in the dinghy at 5:15AM.  Amazingly Mary was the first one to wake up this morning.

Traffic was light heading north on US 1 which is really called the Overseas Highway.   We took the toll rode, Florida's Turnpike and ran into heavy, heavy traffic near Miami.  1.5 hours later emerged in lighter traffic near Ft. Lauderdale.  Brought back memories of much despised Chicago except for the palm trees.

We plucked LeAnn from the Fort Lauderdale Airport, at Terminal 3 around 9:45Am.  She took Spirit Airlines an arrived around 6AM.  Spirit offers very cheap flights.  I imgine the post flight effects would require multiple visits to a physical therapist.

From the descriptions, the seats a such that your pretty much confined to a bolt upright position and squished so there is no movement possible.  Ugh …  I’m not an avid fan of flying because of the cramped, cattle like atmosphere these days.  This though.  A new low?

We headed back to Marathon and I figured we'd just run up to Big Pine Key to the CVS there and get Mary’s’ prescriptions.  The best laid plans.

It took us 45 minutes to go from the middle of Seven Mile Bridge, 5 miles to the CVS.  Traffic down here is ridiculous.   For the most part, the road is a 2 lane highway.

No worries LeAnn.  I can never find what she wants either

We got Mary’s prescription and then she went on a shopping spree because LeAnn was there to scurry around finding stuff she wanted to purchase.  I, being the voice of reason, tried to convince everyone all this stuff wasn't necessary.   And as usual, my persuasions served as a mild form of amusement to them.

Since it was late in the afternoon we just went over to No Name Pub and ate lunch.  Fun time as always.  Going back was pretty easy since traffic was unusually light.

At No Name pub

Back on the boat we stashed all the purchases and then Leann and I went over to gas up the dinghy and then went into the marina where I showered.  Back to the boat we enjoyed a cocktail or two on the bow watching the sunset even though it began to cloud up.

With all the fun and activity poor Leann went to be at 7:15 PM.    Us energetic old folks stayed up until 9PM.

This morning I wanted to get the old 3000W inverter re-installed and had to change the generator engine oil.  Mary and LeAnn wanted to do yoga.  So I fired up the generator and took them in to shore, came back and after the pump out lady was here to pump us out, I shut down all the power and for 40 minutes swamped inverters.  Why is everything always located in a little dark hole?  But it's all hooked up and when I cut it over its working just fine.  I re-wired the thing without the troublesome GFI receptacle this time.

Next I changed the generator oil.  That took another hour.  And then another hour or so putting everything away before a trip into shore to get LeAnn and Mary.   But I had to make a quick trip to Home Depot to buy some additional water hose to complete the dockside water project Dave and I started a few weeks ago.

Susan and Liz backs to camera with LeAnn and Mary

When I returned Mary and LeAnn were in the marina common room with Liz, Susan and Curt and Marilyn.  Liz, having had some dinghy driving lessons, was taking everyone back to their boats except Curt and Marilyn who are docked several miles north of here at Boathouse Marina in Key Colony Beach.

Mary and LeAnn with backs to the camera with Liz (driving) and Susan

Oooops!  Lucky these are blow up boats and bounce off things

Everyone left and I headed over to see gal-bladderless Bob for a while.  Bob had gal bladder surgery last week and we had no clue!  They're heading off to Saint Lucia for a 2 week sailboat charter.  Bob wont be handling any lines down there while he recuperates.

 Meanwhile Mary and Leann got the kayaks down and headed off to Sister Creek.

I went looking for the kayakers and found them in the creek where I ended up towing Mary back to the boat.  We all gathered our shower stuff and headed to shore.  Except I forgot my clothes and Mary forgot the shower key.  So yes another trip back to the boat.

LeAnn at the Hideaway Cafe

We eventually got showered and in the car for the trip to Hideaway Cafe.  Very good time.  Great food as always.  Once we stuffed our selves Mary asked for the bill and found they had forgotten to charge us for a bottle of wine.  She called that to the attention of the waiter and they re-did the check.  And as a gracious offer brought over a bottle of something called Bin 9.  As far as I was concerned it was from coal bin 99.  Awful stiff.  Sweet and syrupy wine is not my thing.

We finally left and had a cold dinghy ride back to a dark boat (we forgot to turn the anchor light on).  And then to bed.  Well for LeAnn and Mary.  I had to stay up for a few hours to run the genset to charge up the batteries.  Yawn… maybe I can sleep late tomorrow?

We woke up without a plan today.  But one was quickly hatched.  Mary and LeAnn would kayak to Sombrero Beach while I put the last of the dockside water lines in and made a run to Home Depot for some screws.

But before we executed “the plan” LeAnn and I took the dinghy to Marathon Marina where I wanted find out where they were putting us the next day.  We had reserved a slip almost a year ago.

They didn’t know.  But after several minutes they agreed to put us in a 60 foot slip on the outside where I wanted to be all along.

The cost though.  Astronomical!

After the marina office we headed over to Rob and Sue’s boat, Papillon, but they didn’t appear to be home.  Jeff, their next door neighbor popped out of his pilot house and said they were inside.  So I was about to knock again when Rob, pleading innocence because he was in the engine room, walked out of the cockpit and invited us aboard.  I was going to accuse him of napping.  Again.

And Sue was there this time too.  We stayed for a short while before heading back to the fuel dock where Debbie, the kind fuel dock master allowed us to tie up the dinghy.  Cant wait to get in here to the marina tomorrow!

Once back at the boat, the plan was in action.  They went off and I slung my way back into a dark hole.  All I have to do now is to get some additional screws so I can use the hose clamps to keep the water lines from wiggling around.  Oh, and of course cut the main water line and splice in the new ones I’ve run.  Don’t want that to go awry.

After home depot I went to sisters creek anticipating a nice swim but caught them kayaking back.  Mary, not a long distance kayaker, was looking a little peaked so we swapped.  She took the dinghy back to the boat while I kayaked back to the boat.  It was a mid-creek transfer accomplished with nary a splash.

We were going to Rob and Sue’s for some sundowners (cocktails at sunset).  Lovely time with them as always!

Then it was back to the marina and the pig races.  Three heats.  LeAnn won something too!  Wish I had pictures, but the highlight is always the pot bellied pigs in the last heat.  Very fun!

Back to the boat and off to bed.  We have to call Marathon Marina at 9AM tomorrow morning to find out where they are putting us.  Then it’s a walk back to the City Marina to get the car and my bike.  Busy day.  And even busier after because we’re driving to Key West tomorrow.  

The pen it upper right points to our slip

We called this morning and Marathon Marina assigned us to slip #66.  But the occupants hadn’t left yet.  They had until 11 so I waited and called again around 10 and was told we could come in  So against a stiff wind we took in our mooring lines and headed the ½ mile to Marathon Marina.

Slip #66

Our stern looks west out towards the 7 mile bridge

Slip #66 is right on the bay looking at 7 mile bridge to the west.  A good place for seeing sunsets.  We came in bow first and thankfully the guys next door, Richard and Ward, gave us a hand.  It took a bit of finagling because the wind was pushing us off the dock but we managed to get tied up and secured.   And it was only 10:30AM.

LeAnn and Mary standing ready to handle lines on the way to the Marina by the sign in the distance.  

LeAnn wanted to visit Key West so I planned on walking to back to City Marina to get the rental car but Rob kindly gave me a ride on his motorcycle.  Been awhile since I rode in a bike.

LeAnn and Mary at Fogartys

Met LeAnn and Mary back at Marathon Marina and we headed out to Key West.  Not too much traffic.  I bit the bullet and paid for parking near Front and Duval streets.  We walked up Duval and peeked into Sloppy Joes but it was way too crowded.  I couldn't remember another good place so we just went to  Fogartys on Duval Street.  Really good meal and wonderful service.  Nice people too. 

Next it was Mel Fishers Museum and checking out the cruise ships near Mallory Square.  And of course we ate some ice cream too!

Then we hit Hemingway's Home.  Ironically we had the same tour guide as we had on our previous

They really do have 6 toes

tour last year.  The six toed cats (polydactyls) still flourish and all the stories are unchanged although I did relearn that the house is built on one of the highest points in Key West.  And it has a basement..

Always people taking pictures here

LeAnn and I then walked to the southern most point of the US while Mary stayed behind at an ice cream place that had chairs.   There is always a line of tourist waiting to get a picture standing by the southernmost point buoy.   We walked back to fetch Mary and then we headed over to Mallory Square for all the sunset activities. 

Lots of people and street performers.  But instead of standing around gawking at the sunset we went in to the Westin's little sidewalk cafe right on the walkway and had a drink and some munchies.  The sunset though was pretty much obscured.  Must have been a thousand people hanging off the railings watching it.

LeAnn and Mary eating at the WestinAs the sunset 

Looking along the walkway at Mallory Squre

 We watched a few party boats go by with very happy people dancing to loud music.   It is Key West after all.

After we ate we started off towards the car but  stopped to watch an entertaining street performer do his, handstands-on-4-chairs routine.  He’s still as entertaining now as we was when we watched him in past years.  And the Cat man is still there uttering his strange guttural moans as his cats do tricks.

The drive back was uneventful and I was able to get a spot inside the gate of the marina!  Yeah!

Mary and LeAnn doing breakfast at 7 Mile Grill

Next morning we walked over to 7 Mile Grill for breakfast.   Its just outside the marina access road and across the street.  Pretty good but we hear the Stuffed Pig place is the best so next time we’ll have to go there.

Once we returned I went to work putting the finishing touches on the dockside water installation while LeAnn and Mary did laundry.  Only took me an hour to get it all together and working.  So now, at dockside, we can use marina water which is really city water.    Long showers and doing laundry on the boat are now a reality!

Dockside water!

In the afternoon they went off to lounge by the pool while I walked back to City Marina to get my bike.  Once back LeAnn got packed up and she and I left for the airport.  Her flight was scheduled to leave at 9:38 PM.  Traffic was heavy but I dropped her off at 7:30 and headed back to Marathon.  She got delayed and her flight didn't leave until after 11.

I made it back by 10:30.  I had deliberated about just staying in a hotel since I had to be back at the Lauderdale airport the next morning at 10:15.  But decided it was cheaper to just drive back.  Hotels around there are expensive!

That tiny dot to the left is their plane

Next morning I left again for Ft. Lauderdale airport to get the Hagen’s.  But they had a delay in Milwaukee and were scheduled to arrive an hour later.  Guess they had a snow storm up there. 

I was early so just parked in a nice little park alongside one of the runways.  Even got a picture of their plane as it was landing.

Picked them up and headed back south.  We made a quick stop at a Wal-Mart to buy a booster seat

Brothers during a more benign moment

for Jonah which I guess is a law for small children riding in a car.  Back when we drove kids around we'd just tossed them in the back.  We had a quick lunch at Jimmy Johns and then slogged the 70 some miles to Marathon along the 2 lane overseas highway. 

Arrived at the boat and decide to reschedule the Turtle Hospital tour we had scheduled at 4 in the afternoon.  Instead we took a stroll around the marina looking for manatees (none found) and then headed to the pool.  Then back aboard for cocktails.

At the pool

At the pool

And a dinghy ride.  I had gotten the small dinghy down and mounted the little 2-cycle outboard on it.  Thanks again Dave and Joanne!!!

Jack and I took it out and then Jack drove after a bit so he'd be ready to take it out by himself one of these days. 

Then it was dinner aboard and bed.  By 8:30?   Could we at least stay up to 9?

The kids were up around 6:30 the next morning but I stayed in bed half asleep.  We eventually all ate breakfast on board and then headed out to Sombrero beach in two dinghies.  Mary took the big one with everyone except Jack and I.  We took the small one with Jack driving most of the way.

Mary the most of the gang heading out to the beach

Very windy day so the beach had some debris with some surf.  The winds had blown in some Portuguese Man-war too.  They are  rather small and very blue.  Not something to touch.

Once there I took the small dinghy back to the boat and got the chairs in the car and drove back to the beach.  But stopped and then ticketed for not wearing a seat belt by a Florida cop who were standing on a corner watching people drive by.  Not my lucky day I guess.

Beach frolickers Jonah and Jack

At the beach I unloaded all the beach chairs and then walked along the shore to check on the big dinghy which was anchored off away from the beach in small shallow cove.  It was aground because the tide was going out.  A nice guy who had a boat in there too, helped me pull it off muddy bottom  and out into deeper water.  Then I helped him do the same with his boat. 

At that point everyone seemed ready to leave so I went back and to get the chairs and then dashed down to help Mary and Dave get the dinghy off.

Jennifer and I drove back with Jonah and we loitered around the boat a bit before eating a big lunch at Lazy Days, the restaurant at the marina.  Then everyone but me went to the turtle hospital.   I went shopping.

When they were finished I picked them up and went back to the boat.  Mary made spaghetti for dinner while I swapped out the dinghy prop.

Met a guy from the Hatteress 48 foot LRC, Concrete Idea.  They were on a mooring ball very near us.  We made plans to exchange info later in the week.  Love those boats!

Ended up buying a new freshwater hose from the marina store because the one we have was leaving a disagreeable taste in the water.  Much better now.

Tomorrow is Pigeon Key.  Jack, Mary and I plan to dinghy over there and try some snorkeling while everyone else does the museum tour.  Hope it works out.  The winds out at the reef are making for 3-5 seas which are just to rough for the kids.  So we’ll try the reef near pigeon key.

There were small craft advisories out again this morning making the reef untenable especially for the kids.  So we decided try a snorkeling run to Pigeon key.   Dave, Jen and Jonah took the ferry while  Jack, Mary and I took the dinghy the 3 miles to the Key.   Pigeon Key is on the bay side of the bridge and typically isn't as rough as the ocean side 

But it was rough.  And of course Jack loved it.  Bouncing all over the ocean seems to be a 9 year olds favorite activity.  Once we made it under the bridges the waters calmed somewhat but the tiny reef near the Pigeon Key dock wasn't very visible.  The water was terribly turbid from all the winds the last few days so there wasn't much to see.  Jack hopped in briefly but was out and back in the dinghy in a few minutes.

We left soon the Key and ran on the Bay side before heading back under the bridges and into the ocean and the entrance to Boot Key.  

Arriving from Pigeon Key

We got the dinghy tied up to our boat and then took the car over to the ferry landing which is an old railroad car and waited for Dave, Jen and Jonah.  They arrived a few minutes late.  The ferry seemed to have had a transmission problem.  And it was noisy.  Too noisy for Jonah who casually mentioned that he won't be riding on that ferry ever again. 

They did see a Manatee on the Key and some other creatures.

We all got back to the boat and  walked over to eat lunch at Lazy days again.  And then Jack Mary and I took the dinghy out again into Boot Key Harbor looking for manatees.  Nothing.  We went way back into the harbor and still found nothing.    Guess they discovered a better place to hang around today.

We had a light dinner of sandwiches while watching a movie the Hagen’s had brought along.  Then off to bed.

Jonah prepared for the ocean and loud noises

This morning the forecast was good and the buoy at Sombrero Reef was showing light winds.  The swells which were uncomfortable yesterday had diminished but from past experiences I knew it wasn't going to be glass smooth out at the reef.  But this was our last shot so we made preparations to leave the dock and head out to the reef.

I got the electrical and water cutover and dock lines taken in but forgot to check on the stern spring line which was still attached as I began leaving the dock.  Luckily Ward and Richard next to us saw what was happening and dashed out to untie the line.  Whew!!

Jonah and Nona on our way to the reef

As we went further out into the ocean the swells increased and the boat started rocking.  No one was sea sick though.  We picked up a mooring ball and experienced some pretty wild rocking as we began to take the swells on the beam.  Dave wasn't faring too well.  Nor was Jonah.

Admiral Jack scanning the horizon

The rest of us though hopped into the ocean after we dazzled the kids by tossing out a few crackers and watched the yellow tails (fish with yellow tails) zoom up and trash around trying to consume the cracker bits.

Watching the schools of fish eating crackers

The water was ok, 77 degrees.  Last year it was in the 80’s.

We swam around awhile and saw a few barracuda and these darn almost transparent jelly fish.  Even saw a Portuguese man of war.  The are rather small but with air sack colored brilliant blue.  And they pack a powerful punch if you happen to touch one.

Dave and Jonah weren't faring well so we all got back aboard and we slipped the mooring and headed back into the marina.  Good old Roger and Ward were there to help us in again.

At Sunset Bar

There was time for lunch so we headed over to Sunset Bar by 7 Mile Bridge.   A last tropical lunch for the northerners.   We drove back to the boat but made a stop at the Pigeon Key ferry stop so Jack, the gift shop junkie, could select an appropriate momento.  He had gone with Mary and I in the Dinghy for the not-so-productive snorkeling attempt.  And lo and behold there was a manatee in the basin near the ferry dock.  So everyone got to see a Manatee.

The Hagen’s were all pretty much packed as the departure time approached.  And and as were getting the bags ready we spotted more manatees!  On their last day here we had Manatee's everywhere.  

We left around 3PM and almost 4 hours later arrived at their hotel in Dania Beach near the airport. Horrible traffic on the Over Seas Highway.  We did stop at a MacDonald’s for about 30 minutes but the traffic was just as horrendous on the turnpike around Miami.   Miami has a less people than Milwaukee but the traffic is as bad or worse.

I didn't linger at their hotel when I dropped them off but left right away bound for the Florida city Wal-Mart.  2 hours later I was there and got what was on the list and ended up waiting 30 minutes to check out.  I was in the short line of 16 people.  It was a little nuts.  Guess it was my day to exercise patience.

Arrived back at the marina by 11:30.   Tomorrow we clean!