March 02, 2009

I did it again—missed Monday—passed it up as if it wasn't even there, although it was a busy day....oops. Our last week at Banana Bay was as pleasant as the first three. Days filled with beautiful blue skies and fluffy white clouds, and starry nights that sang the song of the everpresent winds. We walked and visited and swam laps for exercise and Go-Petted to West Marine and True Value hardware. Changed the oil in both transmissions, washed windows and generally prepared ourselves and YOUNG AMERICA for travel once more. Many live aboards have either completed or, like us, are planning to do what is called the Great Loop. The Loop circles the east half of America beginning in Florida, (or anywhere on the circle, I guess. duh) going north to our old stomping grounds, the Hudson River and NY Canal system, thence to Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan via the Canadian Canals, Gerogian Bay and the Northern Channel, then to Chicago, the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, and the Tom-Tenn Canal back to the Gulf of Mexico and west coast of Florida. We spent much of Friday going over charts that Milton shared with us. He and Fran are, as we plan to become, “Loopers”. This journey north is the beginning our our Great Loop. Friday evening we tucked the Go-Pet into it's temporary home in the Dinghy. Talk about a perfect fit! With it's Kenmore cover (designed for a barbecue, but it was the closest we could come) it reminds me of a bad scene from a Chevy Chase movie sitting atop the boat. Bright and early on Saturday (well, ok it was 10 am) we cast off the lines and headed north. The wind was spinning poor Ernie the sea eagle kite into a frenzy indoors, so I took him out on deck. He flew to the end of his string and it was a fun ride for us both. By 4:00 we'd reached a Town Dock in Islamorada, and slid in behind the bulkhead (a mangrove hedge growing on the coral rocks) to tie up in time for the monthly Keys Community Band concert. Love city docks! Here again, we benefitted from new work done in the wake of Hurricane Wilma. The Hammock style bandstand, the tiny beach with a great playground, lots of recreational vessels--kayaks, hobey cats, etc., for rent, and the fitness walk with 17 stations for special exercise all made it a great place to bring the family! Sunday's winds were stronger still and the nassty chop on the Bay kept us tied to the dock—with extra lines, just in case. It is an ill wind, though, that doesn't blow someone some good. Three parasailers were out having a blast in the relatively protected but windy space beyond the mangrove hedge. I guess they'd passed the upper body strength stations in the park (that were waaaay beyond my strength level) as they hung on for dear life and swooped and somersaulted above the water! I thought we had pix of them in the air, but.....my computer skills lacking again. Monday's winds again precluded travel, and we hunkered down for the day. There is a boat a few slips that might interest you readers from Mid Hudson Power Squadron—a beautiful ELCO built in Bayonne, NJ in 1925! Original name was REUBEN, the current owners have christened her HERMIONE. With it's tender balanced off the port quarter it is a lovely sight. We bundled up against the wind, and took a long walk down to, and along Route 1. The drawback of this marina—not much to see or do within walking distance. Roger and Elise aboard TUMBLEWEED in the next slip offered to share their rental car tomorrow for a trip to the grocery store. We're watching the weather, and it looks as if Tuesday will be a day with fair winds. Will let you know next week! Be well! Linda and Fred