New Adventures

Okay people.  

We were off line for a little while but now we are on another adventure.  Today, we are in Marathon at a marina just across from the Boot Key mooring field.  We are heading for Key West in a couple of days and eventually to The Bahamas. 

We had a great time staying in the same marina as Dan in South Pasadena for 5 weeks. 

He was working a lot but we had a chance to catch up and share dinners.  Kerm and I helped get Morris (Dan's 26 foot sail boat) ready for a cruise south with Carrie. 

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Surveying the worksite

Dan working on in the crow's nesting.

A big pile of chart books and cruising guides that we used on the Loop

Linda and Pat joined us from Minnesota.

They helped with provisioning and the purchase of the new dinghy- it's a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with a fiberglass v-shaped hull that allows for much more stability under way.  Dinghys are used a lot in the islands for getting ashore and going to the reefs for snorkeling.  Our old one was good but it was not robust enough for hard use in the Bahamas and Exumas.

Splashdown

Pasadena supplied free ice...Linda stocking up

Pat at the helm of the new dinghy

 We finally got finishe with a lot of our chores and cast of on January 17.

Jewfish Key- we enjoyed a great dinner of shrimp and lobster bisque at MarVista on shore.

Testing out the new dinghy

At anchor in Jewfish Key

We left and headed for Venice and stayed the night at Fisherman's Wharf Marina.  Were delighted to see Jeff from Jeremiah and Mike from Nauti Nell, friends from the Loop.  Mary Ashby joined us after her business conference so there were five of us on the boat...cozy and fun.  Left the next morning and had a great cruise to Fort Myers Beach, where we hooked a mooring ball.

Fort Myers Beach

The pump-out boat comes along side and "away goes trouble down the drain"

Pat had to leave us but we had a great time with him on board.  he took wonderful pictures and also videos. 

Lots of birds in the morning

Leaving Fort Myers Beach

Mary

We saw this sad sight...don't know the story behind this sunk boat

Maybe he knows??

Heading out into the Gulf for Naples

Naples homes on the channel in to town

Mary and Warren enjoying a moment

Mary left us on Sunday after a great visit.  She and Pat are both welcome back anytime.

New Manson anchor (Nicknamed Charlie)

After much provisioning and some important maintenance we departed Naples on Tuesday.

Ready to leave port

We encountered some shallow water on the inside route a little south of Naples so we turned around and went out into the Gulf.  Went past Marco Island and found a lovely anchorage at Goodland which is inland a little way. 

Sunset at Goodland

Lady in Red joined us in the achorage and we had a nice visit with Donna and Greg

 

 

 

This is the sunset at Shark River -last anchorage before we hit Marathon- the Florida Keys!!

We had a very smooth crossing to Marathon and pulled into Boot Key Harbor at about 2pm.  All mooring balls were filled so we took a slip at Sombrero Marina.

Warren taking his first look at the Keys

Sunset in Marathon

New motor to go with new dinghy

Testing it out

It works!!!