All Tucked In

We are tucked into Loblolly Marina.  It is a membership type of Marina with a few transient wells in Hobe Sound, a town south of Stuart.  The weather is supposed to get very bad tonight high winds lightening etc.  and although we thought about anchoring in Peck Lake across the way we decided to take the safer option of being tied to a dock. I am ready to go lay on the solar panels if the hail they are predicting comes!!! 

This is the view from the back deck......a 60 foot beauty!

Gary reminded me that I got my wish.  I'm like, huh???  He said "remember when you said you would rather be the worst boat in the nicest marina"  and the light went on.  I did say that.  Well it's true. Would you rather be the nicest boat in the worst marina, or the worst boat in the nicest marina??  Think about it.

We anchored in Boca Raton last night with friends Elaine and Lawrence (this taken Tuesday night in Marine Stadium)  They are stalking us....or maybe we are stalking them!!   Just kidding guys.

They have had their share of storms already with the one that caught them off guard on Monday, since they are on a sailboat and can't quite keep up with us, although they really made a effort today, they are spending the night tonight anchored in Lake Worth.  It didn't look like the storms were going to go that far south.  Hopefully we'll meet up again tomorrow or the next day.  Safe is better than sorry.

We went through Palm Beach today, once again an experience not easy to forget.  Between the 'palaces' and the mega yachts your eyes get overwhelmed.  These are a few that caught our eyes....

Loved this 'Fantail" yacht.  Had a bit of  class .

Steve Jobs, 256 foot , $140 million dollar (houseboat??), VENUS, that was finished after he died and just came into Palm Beach on Monday. Google Mega Yacht Venus if you want info.


'Fountainhead'  was at the Port of Miami...a 287 foot Feadship owned by Mark Cuban a 'self made' Billionaire!!  She was a BEAUTY

When we make it to Merritt Island I will try and put together a slide show with the sights along the waterway. For now I'll call it a day....

By the way it is only sprinkling...our guarantee for a wrong weather forecast is paying for a slip in a marina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Adventure Begins

I had a comment from yesterdays post from my daughter, Dorian.  She is always thinking when I drop the ball.  

For those who'd like to learn more about, and help to support, the amazing manatees, check out http://www.savethemanatee.org/. Consider "adopting" a manatee the next time you need a gift for someone!!

Thanks Dorian!!!!!

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After our very hectic day Sunday our friends Ondra & Nelson Gainey from 'Last Boat'....came over Sunday night to send us off on our voyage.  They plan to stay in Marathon for another couple of weeks before heading back to North Carolina.  We have made many new friends and reconnected with quite a few from 2 years ago. We met Ondra & Nelson in 2011.

A look back at Sister Creek .....Bye, Boot Key !


And there was a new dawn.....

Sunrise on Blackwater Sound...on the very north end of Key Largo
 

We started our trek north yesterday at 9am.  The wind was supposed  to be in the high single digits so we had decided to go into hawk Channel in the Atlantic and anchor at Rodriguez key off of Key Largo.  This is the way the boats with deeper drafts have to go as the mean depth inside is about 7 feet and under 5 even in the intercoastal in a lot of places.

WELL.... it is a good idea always to have a plan B and a way out of your Plan A! The winds were over 10 which would generally not be an issue but they were from the SE which was right on our aft quarter and old Mother Ocean was rolling those swells at us like a bowling ball.  Boats with bridges like Tie A Knot do not like swells....they wallow....not pleasant.

Gary had to go below to secure things and he came up slightly green at the gills which totally matched my totally green at the gills!  

I had already put my magic Sea Bands wristbands (which are an acupressure device ) on 

for seasickness but even those weren't enough.

So on to Plan B.   Three and a half hours later ,we again (just like 2 years ago) ducked into the inside (Florida Bay) at Channel Five, which is on the south end of Islamorada.

Once under the bridge and into the bay the seas were flat the winds calm and after a few hours we were over the slight cases of mal de mer. 

The calm waters of Florida Bay

We entered Blackwater Sound around 5pm and dropped the hook. We  heard from our friends Elaine & Lawrence on S/V Elle & I who left Boot Key a day ahead of us, that they had a really rough trip for two days on Hawk Channel on the outside.  They are now in Miami waiting to go out again to get past the Miami bridges to Fort Lauderdale where they will be able to resume their trip on the Intercoastal back to New York State.

We are now approaching Miami where we will meet them for the night in the Marine Stadium, one of our favorite spots to stop. 

 

We sent our auto pilot out to be repaired while we were in Marathon.  

Now Bob can take his turn at the helm!!!

We will be in Miami for the night and then heading for Merritt Island where we will finish projects for our summer "playtime".  We have some destinations in mind but nothing in concrete.  More on that later.  Here are a few snaps coming into Miami....

Florida Power and Light 

Turkey Point Nuclear Power plant

Quick facts

• Located on Biscayne Bay, 24 miles south of Miami and just east of the Homestead area
• Two nuclear power units:
  • the first unit began operation in 1972
  • the second unit following in 1973
• Generates about 1,400 million watts of electricity -- enough powerto supply the annual needs of more than 450,000 homes
• Reactor manufacturer - Westinghouse
• Turbine Generator Manufacturer - Westinghouse
• A safe, reliable and a low-cost producer of electricity

Rafting up Miami Style

Whats left of the Rickenbacker drawbridge with the new fixed bridge in the foreground.  The first bridge into Miami from Biscayne Bay

The Marine Stadium Bleachers...  built in the 60's it was condemned in the wake of hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The Stadium was host for many world class powerboat events including Unlimited Hydroplane, Inboard, Outboard, Performance Craft, Stock, Modified, Grand National divisions as well as other special event races. The Stadium was also the site of a number of nationally televised events including the Bill Muncey Invitational and the ESPN All American Challenge Series. The last major race in the Stadium was the 1987 Inboard Hydroplane national Championship.
Although there is a drive to restore the stadium we saw no evidence of any forward movement since 2 years ago when we were here.

 At anchor with a fabulous view of the Miami Skyline.

And of course it wouldn't be a day on Tie A Knot without an "issue"....this time a steering fluid leak at the lower helm.....Oh Joy!!!!!!!!!!

Manatees and Eco Systems

Yesterday as we were at the dinghy dock we saw a group of people on the next dock looking at a Manatee 'floating' in the water.  We went over to get in on the action and turns out he wasn't just floating but feeding on the sea growth on the dock and posing for the cameras!!

This  the second Manatee we've seen since we've been here and this was a real photo opportunity....we got lucky!

A real POSER!  They have very tiny little eyes that look so out of proportion to the rest of them.  They are also sometimes referred to as Sea Cows, obviously because of their size.

She was close enough to touch him and she said he had rough skin with a slimy feel but the little white hairs you see sticking out were very soft.  We all figured he was looking for a treat.

Here he is chewing on the sea growth on the dock.  Maybe it's a girl and she is one of the "Ladies who lunch"!

Still there when we got back from the store.  This time at the other side of the dock and chewing on a dinghy rope.  Ummm, maybe that's where those dinghys go when they turn up missing??

As for the growth on the dock....this is what our dinghy looked like when we took it to Sombrero Beach to clean the bottom yesterday.  No wonder that manatee was chewing on the dock.  

 Gary starting the task of scraping

No kidding it was like an ecosystem....little crabs running around and everything.  Unbelievable after only 2 months.  Made us wonder what the bottoms of some of the boats in Boot Key Harbor look like when they've been there for five years!  They probably don't even need a mooring ball they're attached to the bottom!!!!!!   We did get a tip from another boater, all you have to do is lift it a foot or two out of the water overnight every  days or so and the stuff won't grow.  Where was he in February???

Doing Stuff

 I decided that it was about time I let you know that I am NOT just along for the ride!  You probably wonder "what in the heck does that woman do all day" ???

Since I am not allowed to help with most projects, anyone who knows the captain of this ship knows that he is very particular in how things are done, hence he prefers doing them himself.  Which is fine by me especially when it comes to toilets and other 'stinky' stuff.  Although I do always offer, and I shouldn't probably say this, but since he doesn't read the blog he won't know ..shhhh....

I offer on the yucky stuff because I KNOW he will not take me up on it!

Anyway, ...I DO do stuff...lots of it.

I give blood..Keys Style
I received a cute bow wrap and an awesome Sea Turtle T-shirt by a local artist.

I do Yoga.

But I think Ozzie the yoga leaders dog does a much better
'Downward Dog'  than I do!!!!

I bail the dinghy

Making pine needle baskets with my friend Elaine 
aboard  ' Elle & I'

Not to mention the usual 'domestic engineer' stuff.  I once mentioned to Gary it would be nice if he'd show an interest in cooking.  I'll NEVER do that again.  He said he'd be glad to if I wanted to take over fixing the toilets....we all know that would be a very bad decision!l  

Leave it to the experts I say.

Captain Jack

Captain Jack
As this picture was being taken he told the camera man  "don't hurry"......

You meet so many interesting people in the boating community.  Some young, some not so young, some with small children, many with animals and one in particular who is a bit of a fixture at Boot Key Harbor.

Captain Jack, is 91 years young.  He loves to give the ladies a Hibiscus flower and you can watch him walk around with the flower trying to decide who he will bestow it upon that day.  Some days you may be lucky and he'll give out two or even three which gives you a much better chance of being one of the favored ones that day.  Actually I don't know how he decides but I have been lucky enough to receive three during my time here.

He told me his story one day.  He arrived here in 1956. He was alone and broke sailing his sailboat up the keys, when he got caught in a terrible storm in the Atlantic.  He threw the anchor over the side on the Sombrero Reef and sat it out during a very frightening night.  He woke up the next day to a beautiful calm day only to find that his rudder had broken off during the storm and he was stranded on the reef.  Someone finally towed him into Boot Key Harbor. Knowing he would have to make some money to stay he started weaving and selling palm leaf hats.  He asked how much I thought he sold them for and then smiled and said $5.00, then he asked how much I thought they'd go for today and he again smiled and said $5.00.  Talk about inflation!!!!

He obviously did well enough with the hats to begin a life in Marathon.  He worked here, and for a while at a Miami boat yard, had a boat here, owned a home for a while and five years ago he bought his current boat and resides on the wall at Marathon City Marina. 

He walks the grounds every day, and rides his bike to the store for groceries just like all the other cruisers although he did complain a little about the 'darned wind' making that ride difficult (since none of us are as steady as we used to be). We were commiserating over the need to pull out those jeans when shorts are the normal attire, but he as they say "goes with the flow".  

Known, by all who use the facilities at the harbor by sight and by the very lucky, personally, he is a treasure and with 91 years of 'experience' very interesting to get to know.

Comment Winner From Last Post

 In my last post I asked that you leave a comment as to what a big HOORAY meant.  The answer....we found the source of our  'head' ...nautical term for bathroom for you landlubbers...odors. My niece Lindsay solved the puzzle! Yea Lindz.

It ends up that the toilet was not the culprit at all and yes I have apologized to it profusely for falsely accusing it.  There is a piece of equipment in a boat called a shower sump which collects 'grey' water from the shower.

This is the new sump the white and blue 'float' is what hung up on the old one.  It was pretty nasty too so no pictures to assault your eyes.

Since we are in a harbor where we have access to land showers we do not shower on the boat. This is a big water saver and allows us to survive for 2+  weeks on 240 gallons of water and saves us from having to go up to the water dock to fill up with water.  But before we got here we did shower on the boat.  SO, anyway, our shower sump was of course ancient and Gary totally remembers me saying it'll do we don't need to spend money on a new one....famous last words!

It seems that the sump which hides under the raised floor in the bilge had a float that was hanging up and the water was overflowing into the bilge.  After taking everything out and apart we found that previous owners had drilled holes for numerous other pumps into the floor which is over the keel.   WELL.....the keel is full of some sort of stuff that reacted in a nauseously odorous manner with that sump water and voilà  we are transported to the land of super stink.

Once again, Gary gets the good job....although I always offer :-).........after 2 days of sucking yucky water up with a shop vac he filled the screw holes with silicone and put screws in them to seal them up.

The problem......Screw holes above hose 

Screwing new screws in silicone filled holes

Covering the holes with marine sealant

Finished job all hooked up....now for the test

In a previous post I had said all you would hear from me when we solved it was a big HOORAY....obviously Jill and Lindsay were paying attention!!!

HOORAY!!!

Did you get it??   Leave a comment!

FINALLY A COMPLETED PROJECT!!!

It is finished!!!  Yes our exploration into solar power has ended (for now) with two 215 watt solar panels that are installed and operational and solar cranking machines!  Top amperage coming in so far was almost 26...in case you wondered this is FABULOUS....we even were able to watch a movie without the generator running....and this was with power stored up in the batteries from the solar panels.  Before if we wanted to watch a movie we had to be plugged in at the dock or running the generator and we couldn't even hear the dialog of the movie....we gave up on that after one try.

 

Of course the installation did not go smoothly, you know the saying "The life of Riley", well from here on in there should be a new saying "the life of Merrill", because if it should be easy it isn't going to be for us.  

Gary painstakingly measured and built a mock up support out of plywood and took a drawing to the fabricator (they frown on having to come out to the boat to do measurements, too much like work I think) brought part of it back in the truck for a fitting, went back to the fabricator with some minor angle changes, picked up the finished product, drove it illegally down the highway (with a 3 foot overhang on each side of the truck bed and 3 feet off the back) got it back to the boat (this was the easy part as we had to go up to the dock for water and could just hoist it up onto the top from land) and guess what ........ 

Right,.....it just fell into place.....NOT.

The angles on the cross member were not changed so they had to be beaten into submission (literally)

and the tabs to attach the panels were off .so only half of the solar panel could be attached....so "McGiver" Merrill swore a little, cursed his luck and figured it out!  Let's give it up for him!!  He had to drill more holes into the aluminum (with the panels half attached) in 18 mph winds standing on a 2" stainless rail.

Off a little I'd say

Clamping and a hammer did the trick

He assured me this was safe

We didn't know the tabs were wrong at this point you can see the little shadows sticking off the sides

 

Our best buddies...the 2x4

Oh,oh...."we've got trouble in River City"

Fixing by feeling.  The little grey spots in the foreground are metal shavings from drilling new holes.

TA DA!!!!!!!      He had the frame built for 3 panels in case we want to add another.  Always thinkin' that guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Natural #77

As a departure from my usual boat laden posts I just had to blog about my granddaughter Sydney who  started T-Ball this year.  She says her favorite part of the game is "running the bases" ....looks like she is a natural doesn't it??  This was her first game and we are very proud of her !!!

Never A Dull Moment

Not only did we have snow this morning but a sailor joined the 'Polar Bear Club'!! 

And we did too have snow....just not in the air but in our freezer which didn't get closed tightly last night (My bad).

But the camera doesn't lie...  this poor couple dropped the ball at 7:30 this morning only to find their boat belching black smoke when put into gear, unresponsive and drifting (pretty quickly as it is very windy this am) into the boat behind them.  Not a good way to start the day!!  

They got tied up to the boat they barely dodged and we heard the captain say he had a badly fouled prop. 

That's when he joined the 'Florida'  polar bear club....cause it is in' the 50's this morning and as I said a pretty nippy North wind chill factor.  It took him about 15 minutes in the water but he did get the boat moving .....up to the dock....where I guess he can tackle his problem of the day!

As for us, our problem of the day, as in many other days, is sanitation. Even all new lines and a brand new holding tank didn't solve that issue....when it does finally happen all you will hear on this end is a big HOORAY.

And you thought boating was all fun in the sun...

Key West...A Dog's Tale

I don't know if I'm up to going there again...Rooster's everywhere...and the way they chased the cats around I don't think I'm up to it.  Luckily they did NOT make me pose with a Rooster.  (Probably because Jann is afraid of them)...but they did take me on their bar hop and thought it was quite cute to make me pose with a beer....never touch the stuff....the best part was the Southernmost Point, except for all the people waiting for their photo op, we kind of snuck in the side, who cares if there are other people in the picture anyway....that's life isn't it? 

Aunt Meredith seemed quite taken with me, so I was on my best behavior, although at times I think she talked to me too. 

Well, anyway, it was nice to get a day off of the boat and seriously,  these people need to get a real dog!!

Gee whiz...does this mean only 1 stop??

Note the tail wagging....
use your imagination folks

When in Rome.....

It was a hike...well actually I traveled with my head hanging out of someone's purse  (I won't mention names)....but worth it.  Bet I'm the only boat dog here today who got to ride in a purse, and guzzle beer....although I did see a Maltese riding in a stroller...

Are they crazy or am I real???