Month: January 2020

RUNNIN’ MARATHON

Mike & Pam

Awesome visit with the SAMFAM at Marlin Bay Marina in Marathon.  Michael’s Brother Tom outdid himself by renting a palatial three story 10+ room house complete with dipping pool overlooking the Marina.  Only steps from our boat, it truly was a perfect place to visit with much of our family.  An added bonus was Camille and Dave, and Lynn visiting along with locals Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lydia.   We enjoyed great meals and fun with the entire crew throughout the week. It was also nice to have a few cars around to help us provision for the days ahead. 

  • Sweet crib

As we continue to peel back the interesting layers of Marathon, the more we are discovering its wonder.  To the passer byer, the town may simply look like a busy four lane speedway with a bunch of strip malls.  But the more time one spends immersing themselves in the community the more the community gives back.     

  • Big fishin day!
  • Yellow Jack and Snapper
  • Stray Crab pot
  • Tryin to be as tall as the Leatherbeck.
  • Nursing back to health
  • Crabpot boat
  • Burdines – great local spot
  • Deep Fried Key Lime Pie anyone? Of course!
  • Yoga on the beach

Excellent & unique restaurants, Dolphin Research Center, Turtle Rescue Hospital, regular pickleball, regular yoga, beautiful Sombrero beach, theaters, festivals, fishing, crabbing and lobstering, largest mooring community in the US, daily mariner net on Channel 68, dolphins and manatee everywhere, loopers galore and friendly locals, docktails on demand, breathtaking sunsets, friendly bike paths, rich history are some of what we are experiencing.

Video – 7 mile bridge dinghy ride
Video – Pelican Love
Video – Docktails Conch Blow at Sunset

Key West is up next as we head down to meet a group of nine couples for all to reflect on turning 60 in 2020. Frisky at 60…  Should be interesting!

GETTIN’ KEY-SY

Mike & Pam

We arrived at Marlin Bay Marina in Marathon Florida Keys a week ago and love the area. The Marina has the nicest Gulf of Mexico view, pool area, and clubhouse that we have experienced to date. Our dock view off the stern looks out through a couple of palm trees and into the bright Gulf waters.

  • Damn crab pots
  • Unexpected visitor
  • View from back of Sea C
Manatee Video

Our Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lydia live 20 miles down the keys in Cudjoe Key. We took the bus down to meet them and spent a great day getting to know the area better thanks to their local knowledge. John and Lydia are no strangers to boating, They navigated their boat down the river system from Chicago all the way to Punta Gorda more than 20 years ago. They did it on their own and without the modern electronic tools available today. Quite a feat! They are now snowbirds who spend the winter months in an awesome community with a great view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Pam with Lydia and their Grady White.
  • Pam releasing two of Lydia’s many newly emerged Monarchs.

The annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival took place in the park right across the street from our resort and provided excellent weekend entertainment. From women’s log toss, sheep herding, local craft beer and fantastic music we took in two days of this Keys-ey event.

  • The Screaming Orphans straight from Ireland stole the show
  • Pam found another friend, 94 yr old Betty!
Video – Powerful

John and Lydia taught us that certain elements and characteristics of the Keys are referred to as Keys-ey. Things like the relaxed pace of life, large live aboard boat communities, cool RV parks, open outdoor restaurants and bars, limited availability of goods, eclectic collection of people, etc…we are adapting nicely into the Keys-ey lifestyle.

ONE WITH NATURE

Mike & Pam

The route to the Florida Keys required another deep into the Gulf of Mexico journey, this time around the Everglades National Park.  Weather planning is crucial to a safe and comfortable journey and we fortunately picked two great days.   We anchored at Little Shark River in the Everglades the first night and then made the last leg to the Keys the next day. The Everglades region has no cell service and no signs of civilization for many, many miles.   Our 100 mile or so travel to the Everglades was one our best days on the water, following seas, light winds and great temps in wide open clear water made for a perfectly serene cruise.  Our anchorage revealed nature at its finest, from sting-rays and dolphins jumping out the water, to the most unbelievable sunset/sunrises, all surrounded by lush green shorelines and beauty.

  • Ready for the bugs!
Video

The final 50-mile leg of the Journey was just as magnificent as the first, with the exception of the ~10,000 crab pots we had to dodge along the way (no direct hits!).  With Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes radio blaring, and no land in sight, we decided that this was the perfect time to become one with nature and donned our birthday suits.  Yep, we went naked boating (sorry for the visual thoughts) for much of the day…very freeing.   Don’t worry, we were appropriately clothed by the time we safely arrived at Marlin Bay, Marathon. 

  • Pesky Pots
  • Viewer discretion advised

HOLDIN DOWN THE FORT

Mike & Pam

We are safe, we are healthy, we are having fun and our boat still floats! Our last post was about a month ago, not because we haven’t had anything to write about, we have just been very, very busy throughout the holidays.   We arrived at Legacy Harbor Marina, Fort Myers, Florida on December 9th and have had a whirlwind of visitors and activity.   Downtown Fort Myers and the surrounding areas have a ton to offer,  from the cool shops, Art & Seafood festivals,  New Years events and other attractions we always had something to do.  Fabulous restaurants, with heavy influence from the Edison, Ford, Firestone, trio who put this place on the map many years ago.

  • In our boat Salon at midnight.
  • Selfie reject

Pam’s Mom, Nancy, stayed with us for several days over Christmas.  She was our FIRST overnight guest on the boat and we enjoyed a different, but wonderful, Christmas. 

Our friends the Gaskins from Tipp City, Ohio visited for a few days after Granny and then Samantha, Tyler and Scott visited for a week over New Years. 

  • Visiting the Bunck’s @ Mirimar Lakes
  • Lookin’ for Manatee
  • Sam & Friends..
  • Gilligan!
  • Wilson water save by Scott
Video – Tyler Flyin’ off the Flybridge

In addition, we had a steady stream of fellow loopers that we hung with much of the time.

We took several day trips and one-over-night trip while our guests we here.  Our overnighter was to Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach with Sam, Ty and Scott.   We all slept on the boat and had full access to the Resort’s amenities.  Great resort with lots to do.  Sleeping five on the boat was another FIRST.   Guest sleeping comfort levels were probably marginal.  

  • Comfy lookin’ pull out couch

Legacy Harbor is another amazing place with an awesome group of people.  We had regular docktails, Christmas events and made some great friends on Dock C.   The place certainly lives up to its reputation when it comes to location, service, and an overall great place to stay.

Headed to the Keys tomorrow mornin!