Another beautiful day in the Keys...

This year the weather in the Keys has been exceptional. Last year was one of the worst on record. Go figure...

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Goings on...

It's been a while since I pulled out the laptop to update what's been happening. With this post I have included a number of photos from our run to Boot Key, another snorkle event and other happenings. When we cruise any distance, I usually run about 12 knots with our twin Yamaha 50 HT's at about 4,000 rpm. If the weather and conditions permit, Cathie likes to put in her ear plugs in and ride and read in the cockpit.

When we arrived in Boot Key there was this fantail yacht anchored outside the entrance. Johnny Depp recently had one of these built. I don't know if this one is his...

We went to visit our friend's Les and Barb. They arrived about 1/2 hour before us. This is their Gemini 105MC anchored in front of us.

When we got back to Plantation Key our friends Bev and Bob arrived for a couple days visit. The first day was perfect for snorkling so we headed for the Hen and Chickens reef.  The reef was in better condition than I expected.

We then motored back to Cowpens Bay and dropped a hook in front of the beach at Founders Park and relaxed. As you can see, Bob really relaxed...

For those that enjoy a little history, the settlers in this area dined on Manatees. They would catch them and keep them in pens in the bay until, well... it was time. Hence the name "Cowpens" Bay...

The next day checked out this Toilet Bowl place everybody at the dock said we just had to see... Actually is is a cut through the shallows marked with the locals artistically displayed cast offs...

Bob and Bev left Thursday afternoon. Yesterday our friends Les and Barb took the Keys bus to Plantation Key for an overnight on Buddy's Dinette and this weekend's Nautical Flea Market. After shopping till we dropped (a few $ that is), this afternoon we took them back to Marathon. We stopped for lunch at the Islamorada Fish House and watched the feeding frenzy at the Bass Pro Shop next door....

Happy hour...

We got back "home" this afternoon and were invited to join our dockmates for Happy Hour at the Island Grill." Dinner" consisted of shrimp and conch critters washed down with a bit of Budweiser. Our bill was $12.77. Such a deal!! The photo represents the view from my side of the bar. A bit different than Tom's...

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Can't help it...

once a sailor, always a sailor... Actually we were able to meet up with Boomerang today for a photo shoot at Snake Creek, Plantation Key. Don and Lynn sailed up Hawk Channel and we motored back to Plantation Key on the Florida Bay side. We both got to Snake Creek at the same time, with them leaving Boot Key about 7 AM. We left at 10. This is Don and Lynn's last cruise before delivering Boomerang for shipment to its new owner.

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Boomerang!!!!

We last saw the crew of Boomerang three years ago in Hopetown, Abacos, Bahamas. It was good to see them again here in Boot Key. It was purely coincidental... Don and Lynn are leaving in the morning to head back to the Bahamas for a short cruise before sailing back to Fort Lauderdale. Don and Lynn live on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, just west of the Thousand Islands. They sail an absolutely beautiful performance-oriented 40' cruising catamaran, a Fusion 40. To the right is a photo I took of them while they were on a mooring in Hopetown three years ago. I took another photo of them from atop the Hometown lighthouse as they were entering the harbor that ended up in the Fusion 40 sales brochure. Fair Winds Boomerang!!!!

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horses and pigs

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Toast to sunset

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Live on the beach...

some might think it's a good motto,some do it, but we only did it for a few hours today...

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Full moon over Boot Key

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Naw... we decided to keep our Buddy

Yesterday we motored 33 km SW to Boot Key. Why anyone with a large Fleming would stay on the wall at Boot Key harbor is beyond me... After dinner we came to our senses and traded back for our Buddy. The harbor is full, with a waiting list for mooring balls (as it always is this time of year). We knew it wouldn't be a problem with our "cute" little Buddy as we dropped a hook near the shallows west of the mooring field. Larger, deeper draft boats are having trouble finding room to anchor. Bigger is not necessarily better...

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We've decided to trade up....

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Dinghy run

The other day we took a dinghy ride up to Marker 88 for lunch with some of our dockmates. Here' s Kay Ann and Mike on the way. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a group photo once we got there....

Today our plan is to take a run over to Boot Key for a few days. Our friends Les and Barb are on their way there from Little Shark River.

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Demo day...

A couple of days ago a friendly couple visited our dock. They stopped to chat about Buddy a bit, we exchanged cards, and they moved on. They had expressed an interest in purchasing a Sedan Cruiser once they sold their current boat. They had it built in 2000 and then did the Great Circle.  As many folks are doing these days, George and Stacey Sass are interested in downsizing and the Rosborough has caught their eye.

After they left, I thought perhaps they would appreciate a demo. At one time I tried to sell Corsair Trimarans and we gave allot of demos...  Anyway, I emailed them and they accepted our offer. Turns out George and Stacey were staying near Miami so they joined us for a little cruise the next day. We had a wonderful time with them while looking for a bit of rough water. Hawk Channel had a little chop but that was about it. George is a writer for the boating industry and Stacey is a teacher. It was a good experience to meet individuals with such extensive boating and marine industry experience that were interested in our "cute" little boat...

We hope their ride was enjoyable. Perhaps we'll see them in a Rossy someday.

If anyone is looking to buy an absolutely beautiful Downeaster, George and Stacey's is for sale. It is a Mast and Mallet Thomas Point 43. More details at: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2000/Mast-and-Mallet-Thomas-Point-43-2284490/Annapolis/MD/United-States

Let's get cuttin"...

Today our dockmate Kay Ann graciously offered to trim up a few of us. Cathie, Pam and I were treated to a quick cut!!

Yesterday the second big cold front blasted through the Keys since we got here 4 weeks ago. Actually, the weather this year has be better than average. While the northern states are getting a good taste of winter, the Keys have been rather pleasant. Our forecast for the next ten days is great!!

Don't tread on me...

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Bada Byng!!

This afternoon we took a 20 KM cruise and circumnavigated Plantation Key. We invited our dockmates Kay Ann and Mike to join us. I wanted to check out the "Community" anchorage on Tavernier. We saw this colorful houseboat at Mangrove Marina that caught our eye.

But what REALLY caught my eye was this trimaran heading north on the inside as we we headed to the creek. Just so happens it is our last trailer cruiser, an F-31 Corsair trimaran, now called Bada Byng. The new owner, a Canadian from the Georgean Bay area of Lake Huron, was heading north to stage for crossing to the Bahamas. Fair winds Bada Byng!! The boat was called kimosabi when we owned her - see: http://www.trimarankimosabi.blogspot.com/

We then decided to cruise through Tavernier Creek to cruise back on Hawk Channel. When coming back through Snake Creek we passed this 22' twin-keeled English Westerly sailboat. Anyway, those aboard her had no idea what the Thistle on their sail was about. It is an old mainsail off of a 17' racing dinghy designed by Sandy Douglas in the 40's. Still a very popular racing design today. We used to own one... 

Miami City Hall

Miami has a population of how many million? Our hometown of Sturgeon Bay's population is less than 10,000. The City Hall buildings are about the same size....

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Bill Baggs State Park and Dinner Key Entertainment

While we were anchored in No Name Harbor at Cape Florida,  (http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/) a young couple was using their ParaSail boat for a weekend cruise. It was Friday night that we anchored here. Late that night it was a busy place. Saturday morning the place turned into the Southeastern Miami Zoo...

A couple on this little cat (Discovery 50) from South Hampton England dropped a hook in front of us for a bit Saturday morning before we headed to Dinner Key.

While we are at Dinner Key we walked over to the launch ramp a few times to enjoy a little Cuban entertainment. It took this poor guy at least a 1/2 hour to haul his boat. I think he may need a new set of tires...

What more can I say?

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Dinner Key

Well... The Coral Gables moorings field is sailboat only. Didn't matter that we are sailboaters in disguise. So... Two nights at the marina are only $180..... Go Packers!!!!!

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Cruise to Cape Florida

Morning in Plantation Key...

Yesterday to cruised north to Cape Florida on Key Biscayne to meet up with the Grey Hound. It was a 54 KM run north of Plantation Key. We cruised up the "inside", passing through Jewfish Creek. 

Anchored off of Elliott's was (I'm sure) the only Grand Banks 48 ketch in the world. Dick and Anne told us they talked to the owner, who did the modification himself.

We left at 09:30 and arrived in No Name Harbor at 14:15. It was a nice run up.Today we head to Dinner Key. Grey Hound was the first boat we saw at No Name...

One of the houses of Biscayne Bay...

Miami!!

and sunrise at No Name Harbor...

On the hook for the night...

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A run to Alligator Reef

No alligators. That's a good thing. We headed out behind Tonic (who went to an different reef )

and when we came back we ran into Kay Ann and Mike!!

Took about ten pictures of Portugese Man-O-Wars. This bad picture to the left was the best. We'll have to work on that!!

Boats, Bikes and Beaches

I had a super birthday a few days ago. A ride out to the reef, lunch off the beach and dinner with dockmates. We are keeping "busy". I can tell because I have only read 1/2 of a book since we got down here. On our one week trip to Kentucky Lake last fall I read three.

Been having issues with bike tires, three flats in a week!! Although the last one "healed itself" after the "Green Slime" worked its way to the leaking valve...

We hauled Buddy for a couple hours yesterday while I serviced the power tilt systems. The starboard engine was not responding to the tilt switches all the time... I figured it was a fluid issue, so I filled both engines with new fluid, purged the air, and they now seem to work as designed...

Brenda and Woody hauled out yesterday to move to Key West for the month. Something was growing on their bottom...

Oh yeh, I did get buzzed on my birthday. By this RC plane that is...