Still in Key Largo

It started as a quiet day.  Did some laundry.  Martha and Pegg did some exercises and yoga.  Jay and I hit a couple of yard sales in case there where any nautical items we did not have yet.  It was the weekend so we decided it was a Bloody Mary day.  Then we came up with the bright idea that we should drive (Jay, Pegg, and Martha) and tow (Dan) kayaks to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  I think the driving went well but I know the towing didn't.  Even with my special polaroid glasses I was not able to read the water well enough.  Got to some points where I realized I was bumping bottom with the outboard.  I raised it one level.  Got a little further.  Sometimes I had to raise it all the way.  Then I was rowing...then I was out of the boat trying to pull boat and kayaks...then I was sinking into mud as I tried to pull.  Finally got there and learned I had violated all kinds of rules about protecting the reefs.  Luckily (so far) no one has thrown the book at me.  Once in the park Jay and Pegg had a good time with kayaks while Martha and I dopped around in the dinghy.  Martha's workouts are good for her knees but then there is the pain of the workout to deal with.  After devastating Florida's reefs I didn't need any more work.  In spite of all it was another nice day.  We are almost up to Florida temperatures.  Another nice supper on board and now we will listen to the music not very far away from Coconuts cause we are too comfortable sitting here and really don't want to go up and join the Saturday night crowd. ~~~(\_~~~D&M

Dan delivered the kayaks to John Pennekamp Park...barely.

Jay and Pegg had a good time with them.

Martha and Dan watched from the dinghy...

Not sure that nature approved of all our antics...the mangroves are amazing!

Hanging out in Key Largo

Not much going on today other than oil changes and other maintenance activity, a little shopping, Jay and Pegg played some tennis, Martha and Dan soaked in the pool (finally warm enough...in a heated pool), and took a dinghy ride...with cocktails, of course.  It was a very relaxing day.  Watching an old movie now and wish we had "African Queen" as she is up the creek from us. ~~~(\_~~~D&M

Changing oil and other chores and the smile was one of the few of the day!!

He wasn't watching all that Dan did but he was keeping track of his time on the job.

The African Queen is just up the creek from Brunelle's slip.

Key West by land

Well, we tried to send a "SPOT" from Key West, but it didn't want to lie to you and wouldn't go!  We tried the continental breakfast that is included with our slip and then drove to Key West so Jay could get his race week fix.   It's hard to tell if the temperature or the economy was responsible, but things were MUCH quieter in Key West than Jay and Pegg were used to.  We drove along the coast, where we could see three different racing venues.  The winds were quieter today but we couldn't really see any of the action.  We ate lunch out on the docks and froze!  NOT what we expected from Key West.    We wandered around town a bit and then headed back.  We stopped at Marathon around 3 to have a beer at the Sombrero Dock Bar.  We asked if anyone knew Jennifer Brewster (she is the younger sister of  someone Martha grew up with back in Rumson, NJ) and the bartender (after vetting me) called Jennifer - - who showed up around twenty minutes later and we had a great time reminiscing about sailing back on the Shrewsbury River in Woodpussies. We got back aboard Brunelle around 6pm and will try Coconuts, the local restaurant tonight. ~~~(\_~~~D&M

Jay was in his element

Martha and Jennifer Brewster get re-acquainted after probably 50 years!

No Name to Marina del Mar, Key Largo

A cold day!!  You guys in the north are supposed to keep this stuff up north!!  We had an anxious night with winds blowing like crazy from the NORTH and were glad we had our new 60 lb Manson  for security!  We left No Name Harbor before nine and powered out the Key Biscayne channel heading for the Hawk Channel,  It was interesting passing the remnants of "Stiltsville".  I gather they took a beating in hurricane Andrew ('92) and haven't been the same since, they are under the protection of the Park Service now.  We rolled out the jib (sometimes furled and sometimes full 130%) and sailed all the way to Key Largo.  The wind was off the starboard quarter  so we stayed dry, but we certainly didn't stay warm.  We both had more on than we wore anytime on the way down from the NORTH!  We had to wait for high tide to enter the channel to get into Marina del Mar, luckily we didn't have to wait too long and Jay and Pegg were there to watch us come in.  So here we are tied up with all the amenities to play with for a week!  All we need is a little warmth!  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Stiltsville with remnants of blue tarps on the roof.

BRRRR!!!

Jay and Pegg capture us arriving at Key Largo

No Name to No Name

We stayed put today because the forecast was lousy to go south.  We will be off in the morning heading for a week at Marina del Mar in Key Largo.  Gotta get there because Jay and Pegg are rejoining us and they need a place to sleep.  We had a nice time today riding out the strong winds in No Name Harbor.  We went ashore this morning for a walk and other important things always done better ashore for some reason.  Then we spent the rest of the morning and much of the afternoon doing what many of you probably did, we watched the Inauguration. Compelling.   This evening neighbors at anchor on an Albin 40, Jim and Sharon Angel, came over for Happy Hour.  It was a great visit.  They are calling for record cold tonight, but hopefully we'll stay warm, here on the water. ~~~(\_~~~D&M

The view from Bill Baggs State Park pavillion, ashore in No Name Harbor, shows "Stiltsville" and the route out to Hawks Channel (to the Keys)

At anchor in No Name Harbor

Dinner Key Marina to No Name Harbor, Key Biscayne

Today was a work day.  Three loads of laundry, washed the boat down, filled water tanks, Jay and Pegg went to pick up a rental to get home for Jay's Port Commissioner meeting, Martha and I took advantage of that and bummed a ride to the grocery store, and we didn't turn them loose until they helped us out of the slip in a stiffening breeze.  With Martha at the helm we went next door to fill up with diesel ($2.12 a gallon!) and then headed across Biscayne Bay to our anchorage for the night.  The plan was to get into position to head down to Key Largo in the morning.  Weather may alter our plans for a change.  The trip wasn't long and we didn't get the camera into action so we have no pics to entertain you (no real excuse 'cause there was a lot going on here in the anchorage with boats anchoring, fouling anchors, etc....I was too busy gawking and not thinking about pictures).  Jay and Pegg are planning to rejoin us in Key Largo, hopefully we get there before they do! ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Tarpon Basin to Coconut Grove

We had a WONDERFUL night sleeping last night...compared to the night before (some people say that they like trying to figure out which of us is writing this...I hope the ... doesn't give it away).  The ride today was great and relaxed.  We arrived at Dinner Key Marina about 4:30 and took care of several musts and then moved on to a short (?) cocktail hour and a great dinner by Martha and Pegg.  Tomorrow Jay and Pegg will head north so Jay can attend a meeting of the Port Commisioners in St. Augustine (he is one of the five).  Martha and I will head south-west the outside way where there is enough water for our boat.  We have a reservation at Key Largo to stay for a week (suggested by fellow members of CCYC, the Helldorfers).  Jay and Pegg hope to get back down for a few days after Jay's meeting.  After our week in Key Largo we will plan to go east to the Bahamas.  At that point these updates will slow down as our internet connections will be less frequent.~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Morning in the mangroves with a snowy egret.

Evening welcoming committee at Dinner Key Marina.