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