Marathon, Florida
Well the wind speeds and wind direction are pinning us here in Marathon a lot longer than anticipated! I say "pin" but we are having a wonderful time here. Kids are playing everyday with a small little "possy" of kids from the harbor and Steve and I are enjoying some "adult" conversation with other cruisers/live-aboards here at the marina. When we can, our plans are to head north to Key Biscane and anchor in No Name Harbor. It would be from here that we jump over to Bimini, Bahamas. The numerous and strong cold fronts that have come through have just not allowed this to happen.
Being from Maine we are one of the only boats in the harbor with HEAT! I swear we have run that heater at least 1-2X week since we left on our trip! Money well spent. It was 40 degrees yesterday morning when we woke up. We have been in the "eternal fall" season.
Hook handled the highest winds of our trip so far this past week. The highest was clocked at 57Kts with a simultaneous lightening storm! Tornado and water spout watches were on for 3 hours into that same evening. Steve was in his element while I myself was contemplating my sanity. It is such a yin/yang as the next day was beautiful and I couldn't imagine myself missing such an opportunity with my family. It is hard to describe to people what 57Kt winds feel like, but if you have ever flown on an airplane over a large angry body of water in bad weather it seemed quite similar! The noise level is similar to sitting next to the jet engines on a very cheap, thin walled airplane. You get alternating moments of the feeling of the "lift-off" on the plane and the feeling of intense "shuddering" from bad brakes on landing...you know the kind that make you clench your teeth so you don't accidently bite your tongue? Yea, that. Everyone in the harbor faired well. A few people lost oars, water jugs etc off decks but nobody sustained major damage. All in all an experience to remember. Everyone monitored ch68 on the VHF radio and was able to talk to each other to keep all boaters calm and giving us a sense that we were not alone. Somehow during the storm Steve convinced us to sing a Bob Marley song over the VHF.
After, we received a series of "clicks" of applause from the harbor.
Friend Coleen showing off her newly lost tooth from snorkling on Sombrero Reef!
Shoving the snorkle in and out of her mouth proved to be too much for the more than ready baby tooth!
Sombrero Reef, Boot Key, Marathon
Returning from a cook out on Sombrero Beach
Friend Mary and I on the near final phase of grocery shopping.
Dinghy to shore, Walk to grocery store, Cab ride back, lug groceries to dinghy, dinghy to boat...
Maddie and Coleen just realizing Maddie had a butterfly on her head!
Key West Butterfly Pavilion
Bus ride to Key West from City Marina, Marathon
Picture taken from companion way of Hook during 57Kt winds in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon
Cruising friends Art and Denise that we met in Georgetown, SC added balloon fun to Maddie's party. Thank you! It was great to see you again!
HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY MADDIE! WE LOVE YOU!
Poor Steve...searching for his brand new Hawaiin Sling Spear that "somehow", we are not mentioning names, got bumped off the dinghy into Davey Jones Locker!
It was not meant to be. It is supposed to be bad luck to retrieve treasure from Neptune anyway!
Marathon, FL
.........Feb 18, 2010
Who landed the blue-fin tuna?
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine what Andy would say to this post, I am sure it would not be complimentary............
ReplyDeleteOh I wish we were having as much fun as you all look to be having, don't ever come back!!