March 15, 2010

No need to beware the Ides of March, at least from our perspective.  The day is gorgeous--warm, sunny and blue-skied!   Does it get better than this? 

And it’s been 2 weeks since we returned from IL and settled in to the pace of life at Banana Bay.  Not too strenuous a task, that....my ability to be completely lazy never ceases to amaze me!

Fred, on the other hand, has been pretty busy!  He ordered and supervised the installation of covers for the dinghy and Go-Pet.  He’s done an amazing amount of re-wiring in the salon.  We now do actually have ‘liberally dispersed’ electric outlets!  What a difference that makes!  The breaker box is also updated in ways that only Fred can explain, but I can attest to the number of hours spent, and the happiness he expressed with the job well done!

Along those lines, Duane from SALT (Sea, Air and Land Technology) has, at last, completed the conversion of the water maker to 220 volt status.  That has been on the ‘list’ since 2008, so we are happy to have it move to the “don’t have to think about it any more” file.

Evenings at Banana Bay come complete with a lovely (sometimes) sunset.  But never mind the weather, the boaters gather at the ‘point’--ostensibly to enjoy the view, but really, to enjoy the getting together with a cuppa whatever in hand.  

It is pretty rare for us to see another Mirage boat in our travels, but this week there were two of them.  First,  JACK O’ HEARTS tied right up here at Banana Bay!  Mike and Lenny spent a couple of days visiting before setting off for the Bahamas.  At the same time, LAZY DOLPHIN pulled into the Marathon City Marina.  We’ve enjoyed several get-togethers with Barb and Randy as they contemplate the Great Loop.

On Monday we loosed YA’s lines and took a 5 minute trip across the Marina. All the way from slip #16 to  slip #23!   We’re now directly opposite Cap’n Billy’s house, and YA will remain here while we spend a few weeks in New York.

Before that, though, we’re looking forward to spending time with family members #4 for this season--Geoff, Amy and Peter will arrive momentarily!  They’re visiting all around Florida this week, and we're excited that they will spend three days with us.  The birthday balloon announces Geoff’s special day!

Our plans for the future are slowly formulating.  When we return from NY we expect to head back in the direction we just came, and check out Western FL more carefully.  It was a sort of ‘hold ‘er, Newt, she’s heading for the barn’ (an old SD expression....) trip down, as we were about to close the Loop, and got caught up in the destination, vs the trip.

Florida’s west coast has much to offer and many hide-y holes to explore, so that is the plan.  From there, we’re thinking we’ll just meander up to Pittsburgh, and maybe WVA.   More on that later..........What we are perfectly clear about today is that our 2 year experiment (living together in a 37x16 foot space) has been immensely successful!  And, as we all know, if a thing works, there is no reason to fix it.  sooooo, we'll continue to cruise until.........well, who knows?

For now, be well, laugh a lot, and enjoy the coming spring!

Fred and Linda

March 1, 2010

Once again, I've skipped a week..or so....but here we are in sunny FL---no, make that snowy Illinois.  Plans do change, but I digress...

Jen, Chris, Casey and Rebecca sadly drove off to Ft. Lauderdale on that Monday, and left our car in the Long Term parking lot until Thursday when Kris, Gerry and Devyn picked it up and returned to Marathon.  The Motel at Banana Bay is happy with us, and we're happy to have space available for those for whom bobbing at the dock is not high on the pleasurable list.   Jen still doesn't have her 'sea legs' and reports that she's continues to rock in NY!

The long weekend with the McGraths was sunny and warm--well. pretty warm.  Day one we visited the iguanas, Hurricane (the famous $5 lunch!), the Dolphin Research Center, and  rounded out the day with a Looper's get together on the Banana Bay point.  Fun.

On Saturday, Gerry and Kris fished from Islamarada and brought home a cooler full of spiny lobsters (Kris says she picked them up when they grabbed her legs while she waded in shark infested water to free the boat from the sandy bottom....Sounds like a case for Ripley, to me!) snapper and perch.  We sorted them out, froze some and brought the rest to LazyDays South (Gerry's favorite restaurant in the Keys) where they were cooked and served and dee-lish!

While the grownups were fishing Dev and I had a fun day (well, I thought washing the boat's window covers was fun)--we hung out at the pool and got her a hot pink manicure!  Sing ho for no more nail biting!  Congrats, Dev! 

On Sunday, we IHOP'ed breakfast and set out for Key West.  On the way we detoured onto the ferry to Pigeon Key for a tour of the buildings  built by Henry Flagler to house employees and their families when the Key West extension of his Florida Railroad was under construction.   There is a house on the tiny key that is available for rent---hmmmmm.  A neat spot.

We rode the Ferry back. got on Route 1, and headed south.  The restaurant next door looked too good to pass up, so we stayed for lunch, and THEN set out for Key West.  There were a lot of folks out on a Sunday, and we had a fun time as the New Yorkers explored DuVall Street and we all enjoyed Mallory Square.  Sunset was abbreviated by a low cloud cover, but a good time was had by all!

Monday was Departure day, and yukky weather in the Detroit area had us wondering about the connecting flights that would get these travelers home!  As luck would have it all went well.  AND, don'tcha know that once they were back in Newburgh the snowstorm of the century began, and as it turned out, they could have stayed in the Keys all week!  No school, no work, no power, no nothing but white flakes in Newburgh for many days.  Uffda.

After dropping the travelers at Ft. Lauderdale, Fred and I made a quick stop at West Marine, and then met Marilyn and Pam Marcus for dinner.  Our 'slip' is still available at Marilyn's canal--maybe next year!

We returned to Marathon Monday evening and on Tuesday received the sad news that my nephew and godson Tracy Newnam  died of cancer at age 51.  On Thursday we drove back to FLL for a flight to IL. We are so thankful that we were able to visit with Tracy and his family when we 'looped' through Joliet last fall!     Our prayers are for peace for Tracy's wife, son and daughter, and all the rest of the family and friends who grieve this tragic loss.

We will return to Florida tomorrow. And be back to you next week....or so....

Just to note, on this Saturday, March 6, we'll complete our two year commitment to live on the boat!  The only 'for sure' at this point, is that we'll continue cruisin'.   Where  will remain to be seen.........

Fred and Linda