Ride on the wild side...

Today we took a 10 mile bike ride to Tavernier. Among other things, we saw witches, dragons, and birds of all sorts...

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Side trip to Marathon

For the last two days we have been guests aboard Dick and Anne's "Nati" for a short cruise to Marathon. The first night we were on the hook in Long Key bight. A cold front came blasting through Sunday so there was plenty of wind. There were three other boats trying to hide from the wind that didn't fare as well as Nati as they all went to the drag races by morning. With the wind behind us blowing 25-30, we cruised down Hawk Channel the next day to Boot Key Harbor.

As usual, for this time of year, the "inn" was full, with a 20 boat waiting list for a mooring. We eventually found a place to anchor in the land of stray current, Sister Creek. Normally, this is not a good place to be as the noseeums have a 1' wingspan there and are especially hungry. Fortunately, with it blowing so hard they were kept a bay...

It appears the city fathers of Marathon are trying to reduce the boater population, for as of Feb. 1, the daily dinghy fee for those unable to get a mooring will be $22.

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Passings...

On our way back home today we passed a couple of interesting boats. One looked vaguely familiar...

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Rendezvous

Yesterday we headed 26km to Little Card Sound for a rendezvous with good friends Dick and Anne, living aboard their newly purchased 380 Maxim catamaran, the S/V Nati. Our last time seeing them was in August while we were cruising the Thousand Islands. The Nati is quite a boat! A bit of a change for them after owning an F-33 trimaran, custom built for them in Australia 7 years ago.  The design of their F-33 was the same as our last trimaran, an F-31. We had lunch and the best Conch fritters stateside at Alabama Jacks. After a peaceful night on the hook, we are underway, headed "home".

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Ready to go...

The guy on the cute little boat was the first with the correct answer to my quiz. We get back to the marina yesterday and he gives me the lame excuse that his tap and die set is 1400 miles north in Indiana... So, $50 and 3 hours later this morning, Buddy is good to go. We hadn't run on one engine for any distance before yesterday so I was interested to see how it worked. At 3000 rpm we ran at a little over 6 knots, 3500 rpm about 7.5. With both engines at 2000 rpm we run at 6 knots, fuel economy running both at 2000 is the same as running one at 3000. We had a Proline 23 walk around a few years back with a 15 kicker that would do 6 knots wide open in flat seas. I'm pleased with Buddy's performance with the twin 50 high thrusts, and am glad we had two...

On the way back to Plantation Key we passed a marker that has obviously seen better days...

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Bird hunting revisited...

Tonight we are on the hook about 9km NE of Plantation Key. The hunt for Roseate Spoonbills was successful!

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Today's Quiz...

Notice anything missing on the port engine? First one with the right answer gets to send me a tap and die set...

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Sunset cruise

Yesterday we headed to Key Largo with our land yacht to visit our good friends Larry and Candi. While there I received a call from other friends that know our winter residence. They were in transit moving a recently purchased 57' yacht from Savannah to Punta Gorda. The boat has an 87' spar that requires sailing all the way around the Florida Keys. They would be on the hook overnight at nearby Rodriguez Key. We took a beautiful sunset cruise out for a quick visit and inspection. The yacht is Australian built, performance-oriented, with a lifting keel that goes from 5.5' to almost 12' draft, water-ballasted, with twin rudders, and a hull shape similar to the current Open 60 ocean racers. So far their top speed has been 14 knots in less than 25 knots of true wind. Quite a boat...

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A trip down Memory Lane

After the cable guy showed up today and hooked us up so I could enjoy my morning coffee watching the news, we took a 15km joy ride up Tavernier Creek, returning via memory lane...

Actually, we came back "home" via the Toilet Bowl, a cut through the flats that is very well "marked". Last February we gave some friends the thrill of their life with a boat ride through the same cut...

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Shrimp for Breakfast

Yesterday morning I found this large shrimp in our dinghy. Too bad there was only one... Ended up giving it to the guy on the cute little boat nearby to use for fish bait.

On the beach next to the marina a large Multihull regatta is finishing up today. With the current cold front blasting through (high temp about 70), they've had good air for sailing.

Buddy is in Plantation Key

We hauled out yesterday and headed south this morning on I75 to our winter home for the next two months, arriving at Plantation Yacht Harbor about 2 pm. A cute little boat was in the slip we had last year, so it looks like we have a new view this winter.

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Sailing on Charlotte Harbor

It was a beautiful day in Punta Gorda today...

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Punta Gorda Isles

Thursday we cruised 45 KM south on the ICW to Boca Grande then across Charlotte Harbor to Punta Gorda. We are visiting friends that have recently purchased a canal home in Punta Gorda Isles. We have been hanging here, helping a little with final touches on a major renovation. The social calendar has been quite full... The plan is pick up the truck and trailer on Wednesday, haul out and then tow to Plantation Key on Thursday.

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Launched today

Got Buddy in the water today after spending 4 nights with good friends in Venice. Even though we are in the middle of the first real cold front to hit this area this winter, we took a 30 mile cruise with our friends aboard. With the sun out and the cockpit enclosure up we enjoyed the afternoon in comfort. We motored back to Venice, docking at the Marker 4 for dinner. After thanking our hosts for five super days, we cast off to anchor off the ICW by Venice Yacht Club. It's forecast to get to 35 tonight, but our Cozy Cabin Heater with the Ecofan on top is keeping us comfy.

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We took the wool socks off today...

We're in Venice prepping Buddy for launch on Monday. We decided to get off of I65 early last evening as it appeared every snowbird in the world was heading south. After almost being rear ended by someone behind us as he drove onto the shoulder to avoid hitting us, we baled out and headed the nearest Holiday Inn...

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Tailgator

After a slight delay and one busted knuckle from replacing both batteries in the truck, Buddy is headed south. First launch - Venice, FL.  :-D

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Great day for boating in Wisconsin

Ice boating is cool..

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Three weeks.. but who's counting??

This is much better than a dirty bilge photo...

Tom and Pam cruising Florida Bay on Tonic

Muskrat problem solved ...

With the help of my very capable, high-paid assistant, we ended up running a fish tape down the center line of the boat through the limber holes to get the transducer wire to the helm. The new transducer is now mounted underneath the cockpit floor. My original thought was to mount the transducer underneath the helm. But after measuring the hull deadrise there, I fished for another location..The layup is a full 1/2' thick.

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Muskrats are not my favorite animal...

I have a new through-hull depth transducer ordered to replace this one...

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Fayette State Park Michigan

A labor day cruise north for the holiday weekend, meeting up with sailing friends Les and Barb. As we were leaving, some nice folks we met at the dock took some photos. The building in the background is an 1880's steel mill...

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Two Weeks in the Thousand Islands

A recap of our cruise...  After launching in Picton, we headed to Waupoos for a rendezvous with the crew of Grey Hound... As usual, we had to climb Mount Goofy...

From there we spent a night in Parrotts Bay. Then it was off to Beaurivage Island in the Canadian National Park where it poured rain for about 15 hours... In spite of the rain, it was a beautiful spot. The next night we were back in civilization at Kingston.

From there we headed to Downey and Hambly Islands for a night on the hook with the Grey Hound anchored beside us. There we waited out squall warnings that never materialized. We then headed to Clayton, NY for a night and a tour of the Antique Boat Museum. 

The next day we headed east and did the Castle tour. We did not feel inclined to get off the boat... A-Bay was the next stop to watch the Pirate Days celebration. Fortunately we fueled and docked at Rogers Marina across from the Village Dock... 

Our next stop was Gananoque for a night and bicycle tour of the town.

The next morning we headed to Camelot... Island that is. Spent a quiet night there with storm warnings posted again. We then headed to Bath for the night. A VERY quiet little village...

Camelot Island is a popular spot offering moorings and docks and good hiking.

Wildlife was abundant...



This was one of many quaint private islands in the area...
Our last night was in Picton, getting together with friends Lynn
and Don for dinner, with haul out the next morning. Sixteen hours later we were back home.  180 gallons of diesel, towing 1,810 miles, and 90 gallons of fuel, cruising 220 KM... A beautiful area. We saved the Rideau Waterway for another day...