February 20 - 21, 2010

The T-Shirt Even Lies About the Weather
Visitors at the Nautical Flea Market
Can You Believe This?
Danny had a big birthday party, actually they had a nautical flee market at the marina. Quite interesting they had everything here even antique items. The most fascinating thing I seen was the cash cow, Danny did have to visit the machine as most of the vendors were cash and carry.

February 11 - 17, 2010

Danny Took John to a Colourful Local Establishment in Key West
Over $200,000.00 on the Walls
Danny stayed at Coral Bay Marina for the week but moved to Founders Marina. He did not think I would like Coral Bay as it is a working marina. He did have John Jones come and stay with him for a couple of days. The weather was horrible, they had rented Harley's but cancelled them as it was cold and raining. They did do some touring with the wiener dogs as they were not behaving well on the boat by themselves. They must of looked cute walking the streets of Key West with a wiener dog each. No pictures but I'm sure you can imagine it.

February 7 - 10

Spent this time in Key Largo, a very laid back area. Not at all what I expected. All the people we have met are very friendly. We even went to a Super Bowl party at some people who we had just met home. Had a great time. Danny today is helping Sterling change a hot water tank. Myself I am on the boat packing. I have been voted off the boat and going back to Canada to ski. Danny will bring the boat with some help to Coral Bay Marina in Islamorada, Florida.

There will be no blog until I get back.

February 6, 2010

Leaving Miami Noticed Palm Trees Growing on the Roof
Flying the Conch Republic Flag as We are in the Keys
Sterling Taking Us to Judy's House
They Even Let You Touch Them - I Trusted Sterling
Manatee - So Ugly They are Cute
Manatee are Huge
Looper Gang at Sterling's 60th Party - Judy and Sterling, Judi and David and Danny and I
Sterling and His Canada Eh T-Shirt at His 60th Birthday
Miami, Flordia to Key Largo, Florida - Sunny and warm with east winds. It was a very good day for cruising. We came into Tarpon Basin and anchored with our Conch Republic Flag flying. Captain Sterling came out to greet us and guide us in. We visited Judy Curtis' home on the canal. (We met Judy and Sterling on Lake Michigan and they live in Key Largo) We saw our first manatee and were able to touch him. Later that evening we attended a surprise 60th birthday for Sterling. Fellow loopers Judi and David Campbell also met us at the birthday party.

February 5, 2010

This Truck Belongs to Ocho Cinco a Football Player
Rae, Steve and I on South Beach
Portuguese Man of Wars
Conducting the Interview for Steve's Boat Cats
The City is Setting up for Super Bowl
New Drink - A Margarita with a Couple of Coronas for a Chaser
Miami - High winds today with thundershowers to bright sun. Took the dinghy to South Beach with our great tour guides Rae and Steve. We had a great day people watching as the city was setting up for all the Super Bowl Parties. The New Orleans Saints against the Indianapolis Colts will be playing on Sunday. We walked Miami's South Beach which was covered with Portuguese Man of War. They are very poisonous so you would not want to walk the beach without shoes. Talked to the life guard and he says the beach gets covered with them every time their is a 25 to 30 knot wind from the east. We have two wiener dogs on our boat so Steve wants to get two cats. The guys think they found them.

February 4, 2010

We Left in the Dark
A Boat Transporting Ship
She Still Has the Plastic On - Brand New Yacht Being Delivered
There Are Even Small Boats - Thought This Little Tug was Cute
Coming into Miami
Doesn't Look Good - Life Boat from Carnival Cruise Ship Destiny Being Towed
Carnival Cruise Ship Destiny in Miami at Government Cut
Del Ray, Florida to Miami, Florida - We got an early start at 6.15 a.m. It was still dark. The scenery was much the same as yesterday lots of bridges, slow zones and no wakes with high priced and beautiful homes and yachts. We anchored in Miami just off of Government Cut close to where the cruise ships dock. It was very nice to watch the cruise ships from afar as the channel is closed and guarded while the cruise ships are in port. We reunited with Steve and Rae Mason from Barefoot Shoes. We have not seen them since the Clarksville, Tennessee.

February 3, 2010

Yachts Leaving Stuart
Just the Boat House
Beautiful House with Large Yacht
We are Going to Rock and Roll - I Hate Viking Boat Operators
Sailboat Must of Recently Sunk as the Police Divers Were Present
Marina of Large Yachts in Fort Lauderdale
Imagine a Garlic Fest
Stuart, Florida to Del Ray, Florida - Sunny and warm but high north winds. Lots of high priced real estate complete with large boats. This was the largest accumulation of spread out wealth that we have ever seen, with each house and boat getting larger and larger. We stopped in Del Ray at Veterans Park there is only supposed to be 2 hour parking but chanced it and were not bothered. A group of Viking boats were on the way to the Miami boat show and everyone of them made us rock and roll. It was slow progress due to the numerous bridges and we would not want to do this trip on a weekend or peak summer days.

February 2, 2010

Never Seen Any But Can You Imagine Sliding into the Mouth of a Waiting Alligator
Lock at Port St. Lucie Fresh Water on One Side Salt on the Other
The Bridge is Pretty Close to the Top of the Mast
Indiantown, Florida to Stuart, Florida - The morning started out overcast but it became a beautiful day sunny and warm. We went thru Port St. Lucie Lock which connects fresh water with salt. We checked into the Harborage Marina. A very nice marina with lots of amenities even a pool. This is our last night with Karen and Roger as they are staying here for two months and we are heading south.

February 1, 2010

Our Course Around Lake Okeechobee
The Rim Around Lake Okeechobb
Swamp and Birds
Egrets in the Okeechobee Swamps
Clewistown, Florida to Indiantown Marina - Heavy rain all day with heavy cloud cover.
We took the rim route for scenery,around Lake Okeechobee but never seen anything but swamp and birds. Alfred Hitchcock must of shot his film The Birds here. We touched bottom 3 times in a very shallow area at the end of the lake. There is lots of trailer parks here, I don't see any attraction but I hear there is world classing fishing. We had one lock at the end of the lake which was a drive thru lock as is is only a one foot drop. We arrived at Indiantown Marina in the pouring rain and we thought we were in Quebec. Lots of Quebecois.

January 31, 2010

Sugar Cane Truck
Letting the Water Out of the Lock
Fort Myers, Florida to Clewistown, Florida - Overcast, windy and raining off and on for the day. It was a long day 65 miles with 3 locks. We are travelling on Caloosahatchee River now on are way to Lake Okeechobee. This will take us across the state. We are looking for alligators and manatee but I guess it is even to cold for them to be out. This is farm land and there main crop is sugar cane. The locks have no underground piping or pumps and they use the gates to control the lock levels. This makes for more turbulence but none of the locks are large drops.

January 29 - 30, 2010

Fort Myers Skyline and Legacy Harbor Marina
Fort Myers - Sunny and warm. The marina is in the refurbished downtown. Walked around town. Looks like they are doing a nice job, but no shopping close by only restaurants. Karen and I like civilization and went for a pedicure and to Starbucks. Danny went to the Fire / Police / Emergency Display that was going on downtown. Roz and Mike Jurcik picked us up and took us to their beautiful winter home for dinner.