Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Febr. 22, 2014 Saturday Cape Lagoon Resort and Boat House Marina, Saturday
Cleaned out the aft berth, found the pads moist and the sunbrella covers wet. Cleaned and dried out everything, organized and put back. Got the A/C out, put it in the companionway, was nice to have it since it was low 80's and very humid and Marilyn not feeling well with a headache since first getting to Marathon. Interestingly Curt woke up in the middle of the night with the first sinus headache since starting the trip. We hung out in the lovely air conditioned boat for most of the day. Felt better by evening. Went to the Marina Potluck and met a bunch of new folks, some loopers and others who have been here for awhile.
Febr. 21, 2014 At Marathon Marina, Florida Keys. Day #124 on our adventure
Talked with Martha and Bob from Field Trip, they said to come over to their Marina because it was almost new and a dollar a foot, less if you stayed longer. After calling the dockmaster several times we pulled the lines and carefully backed out of our slip sideways, almost hitting those engines again because they were also sticking out in the canal. The night before we watched a bigger sailboat try to negotiate his way into a slip and just gave up and went along the wall of the marina. Not sure how he'll get turned around to get out of the marina. Went around Marathon Key into the Atlantic Ocean side. Glad we had left early because of the 4-6 ft waves with 20 kt winds and gusts higher. Glad it was only going to be a few hours before we get there. I thought the swells from the ocean were higher than 6 ft, maybe just seemed that way. Zig-Zagged around thru another channel, much larger into this well protected marina. As they said he is very nice place, love the pool.
11:30--Motored around the south of Boot Key and toward Vaca Key and the Boat House Marina. Wind was 15-20kts out of the SE with waves of 4-6 ft. It was a rough ride!
Looking out to the Atlantic
The dark spot to the left on the horizon is an island with a beautiful house, don't watch too long or you'll get sea sick, pretty sky. We were really being tossed around., below is one of the houses along the channel into our new marina. We were very thankful for Martha's help in getting us set up in our slip.
1330--Arrived at the Boat House Marina, didn't have a 50 amp. plug in for the electricity but one of the other loopers had one that he was ready to get rid of, so we bought it for $50. So now I am the proud owner of a 50/250 amp. to 30/110V single power cord converter from the guy on a New Nordic Tug M/V "Hummingbird".
11:30--Motored around the south of Boot Key and toward Vaca Key and the Boat House Marina. Wind was 15-20kts out of the SE with waves of 4-6 ft. It was a rough ride!
1330--Arrived at the Boat House Marina, didn't have a 50 amp. plug in for the electricity but one of the other loopers had one that he was ready to get rid of, so we bought it for $50. So now I am the proud owner of a 50/250 amp. to 30/110V single power cord converter from the guy on a New Nordic Tug M/V "Hummingbird".
, Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Febr. 20, 2014 Leaving Little Sharky River
Well we got up to find the rock in the early morning before light was the two boats leaving, after spraying the screens last night the bugs seemed to leave us alone but covered us as soon as we stepped out into the open. The no see'ms were horrible and I began to find more mosquito bites than I could count. Glad to be on our way out. The other 4 boats in the mouth of the river were on their way out also.
0700 Departed our anchorage. Weather clear with light windout of the SE .Motor sailed with main and jib at 6.1 kts.
10:00Wind increasing. Took main sail down, still cruising with jib at 5 kts. on direct course from marker FL R"4" off the Northwest Cape to FL R"10". North of the Bridge over the Moser Channel
12:00 Waves at 3-4 ft with winds 15-20kts out of the SE. Reefed the Jib still going at 5 kts. Was on the scream meter at 25 degrees up to 30 most of the afternoon.
1500-Finally got into the Marina, traffic bad. Docked at Marathon Marina and Boat Yard. The channel into our slip was about 20 ft wide with boats on both sides, not much room to turn and get into the slip plus the wind was blowing us opposite direction we wanted to go. Curt initially started in and then turned around and went out. The lady dockmaster yelled at him to go ahead follow the channel in and after two little jigs and a jog we would see slip 22, so hesitantly he turned and started in again. Even with the 15-20kts crosswinds he was able to turn into the slip. I jumped off with the rope from our boat onto the back of another boat, pushed Castaway away from hitting his two 250 hp engines and managed to pull Castaway into the slip while Curt motored keeping the boat moving forward into the slip as the wind and current kept pushing it away and sideways down the canal. With no room to back up or turn around, we squeezed Castaway into her tiny close spot hanging the back out a few feet in the channel. Wow, toughest docking so far. Curt secured the lines and we both came down into the cabin for a beer for Curt and a coke for me. My knees didn't quit knocking for a half hour. Had supper then went for a 7 mile walk to McDonald's for a Hot Fudge Sundae and to see Marathon. Expensive Marina and big, not bad bathroom/showers/laundry, never did see the pool.
Sunrise or almost sunrise over Little Sharky River boats upstream have left
Sunrise
One boat left and he was getting ready to go
Appears to be a calmday going out to the Gulf for the crossing to the Keys
Little black spots are some of the bugs who died during the night..
Beautiful, sky, moon, morning putting all the sales up
Seas starting to get heavier so took down the main
0700 Departed our anchorage. Weather clear with light windout of the SE .Motor sailed with main and jib at 6.1 kts.
10:00Wind increasing. Took main sail down, still cruising with jib at 5 kts. on direct course from marker FL R"4" off the Northwest Cape to FL R"10". North of the Bridge over the Moser Channel
12:00 Waves at 3-4 ft with winds 15-20kts out of the SE. Reefed the Jib still going at 5 kts. Was on the scream meter at 25 degrees up to 30 most of the afternoon.
1500-Finally got into the Marina, traffic bad. Docked at Marathon Marina and Boat Yard. The channel into our slip was about 20 ft wide with boats on both sides, not much room to turn and get into the slip plus the wind was blowing us opposite direction we wanted to go. Curt initially started in and then turned around and went out. The lady dockmaster yelled at him to go ahead follow the channel in and after two little jigs and a jog we would see slip 22, so hesitantly he turned and started in again. Even with the 15-20kts crosswinds he was able to turn into the slip. I jumped off with the rope from our boat onto the back of another boat, pushed Castaway away from hitting his two 250 hp engines and managed to pull Castaway into the slip while Curt motored keeping the boat moving forward into the slip as the wind and current kept pushing it away and sideways down the canal. With no room to back up or turn around, we squeezed Castaway into her tiny close spot hanging the back out a few feet in the channel. Wow, toughest docking so far. Curt secured the lines and we both came down into the cabin for a beer for Curt and a coke for me. My knees didn't quit knocking for a half hour. Had supper then went for a 7 mile walk to McDonald's for a Hot Fudge Sundae and to see Marathon. Expensive Marina and big, not bad bathroom/showers/laundry, never did see the pool.
Wednesday Febr. 19, 2014, Leaving Everglades Isle Marina and RV Park
Woke up early to get out before all the traffic from the fishing boats and tourists, Everglade Swamp airboats started.
9:30-Reluctantly left the Marina! Marilyn saw a flyer for a Free Wine and Cheese Tasting at the Club House tonight. This was the best marina so far. Motored out to marker at the Indian Key G"1 then out about a mile off shore. Plotted a course direct to the Everglades border marker outside the Shark River Inlet. Our proposed anchorage. Average speed 5.2 kts. ETA around 1700hrs.
12:30 Around Pavillion Point Light
18:00 Arrived at little Shark Rive anchorage
Note: At 14:30 the wind increased to about 15 kts. and the seas were 2-3 ft. with white caps. Changed course 20 degrees to port toward the coast for smoother water. At about 1500 first 6 gal. gas tank ran dry. Switched to 3 al tank and increased throttle to maintain 5.2 kts. As we got closer to the Ponce de Leon Bay south shore the seas smoothed a bit and our speed increased to 5.6 kts. Arriving in the mouth of the Little Shark River, we saw 5 other boats anchored and two more up the river farther. We chose to go up river farther to have more room to swing on the hook and be out of the wind more. Curt thought he saw an alligator on the bank, they said bugs were bad and definitely not go swimming here in the Everglades.
Leaving our slip above, restaurant across from us
Below the restaurant where we ate last night, good food, interesting way to serve the food,she had an herb garden out front and used everything in her salads, it was very good
The Gun Club, which made Everglade City famous
Our breakfast once on the road
Just got the beef stroganoff done and the wind started beating down on us
Curt's watching to see if the anchor's going to hold, the other two boats up farther in theriver
Looking carefully for the big Alligator
Sunset out of the river area over the Gulf of Mexico
9:30-Reluctantly left the Marina! Marilyn saw a flyer for a Free Wine and Cheese Tasting at the Club House tonight. This was the best marina so far. Motored out to marker at the Indian Key G"1 then out about a mile off shore. Plotted a course direct to the Everglades border marker outside the Shark River Inlet. Our proposed anchorage. Average speed 5.2 kts. ETA around 1700hrs.
12:30 Around Pavillion Point Light
18:00 Arrived at little Shark Rive anchorage
Note: At 14:30 the wind increased to about 15 kts. and the seas were 2-3 ft. with white caps. Changed course 20 degrees to port toward the coast for smoother water. At about 1500 first 6 gal. gas tank ran dry. Switched to 3 al tank and increased throttle to maintain 5.2 kts. As we got closer to the Ponce de Leon Bay south shore the seas smoothed a bit and our speed increased to 5.6 kts. Arriving in the mouth of the Little Shark River, we saw 5 other boats anchored and two more up the river farther. We chose to go up river farther to have more room to swing on the hook and be out of the wind more. Curt thought he saw an alligator on the bank, they said bugs were bad and definitely not go swimming here in the Everglades.
February 18, 2014 Tuesday, leaving Naples
Woke up to a beautiful morning,went to the Dingy dock and the City Marina to get ice and let them know we're leaving.
09:30-Left the mooring and took the inside route to Marco Island, then picked up the Coon Key Light and turned to 123 degrees and motor sailed to the Indian Key Light. Tide was coming in and the current strong approaching Everglade City. Had called ahead to the Rod and Gun Club Marina arranging for a slip, dockage next to waterfront wall unprotected from traffic or current. The current was too strong to turn and dock so we proceeded upriver. On the old GPS another marina was indicated. As we approached we were motoring by a beautiful RV park with dock slips at each RV parking spot. The RV"s were all high end new models. As we were going by a gentleman flagged us down and told us this was the marina we were seeking and there was a bridge ahead we could not go under or turn around with this current. So we pulled into a slip. The gentleman said he would check to see which slip at the other corner of the complex we could go into. Shortly he came back and said he would help us get into the floating slip then took us in his golf cart to the office, showed us where to sign up and took us back to the boat after showing us around. Free Laundry, towels in the fancy bathrooms, movie theater, fancy gym, nice beautiful, bar and sitting area, Happy hour with beers $2.00. It was called Everglades Isle an exclusive Motor coach retreat, a 25 million dollar upscale campground where people can buy their spots to use for the winter. We were the only transient boat there and everyone said Oh, you are the ones on the sailboat. Rumor got around quite quickly. One of our nicer spots that we just happened on.(Italics is from Curt's Journal)
Looking across the old city docks at the mooring site where our boat is at Naples
Offthe main dock, boats parked along store front,hotel area and apartments I think
They just watched us as we quietly paddled by in our dingy
Our surroundings while on the mooring ball
The Restaurant/hotel with pretty lights last night
The way out with the only other boat on a mooring ball.
Looking both ways we went out to the water way or channel, two other boats heading for each other in front of us, I stopped to let them do their thing
This is the kind of boat that swamps us when he goes by, I think he also burns 100 gallons of gas an hour
Cute houses going out of Naples
This turquoise house looked really out of place but was cute
Calm waters today, below going thru the channel to Marco Island about 8 miles
Osprey nesting on one of the poles, sometimes they are marker poles and hard to see what number the marker is.
Going into Marco Island, tall resort condo's everywhere and rental boats going all directions, all speeds, crazy
Restaurants to pull up to for lunch
They had passed us going 30 miles an hour, must be a swamp tour, they were looking at something in the water over there for a while, not sure if dolphins or a turtle, we had seen both
Water not as clear and pretty turquoise color
White Pelicans an other birds on an island in the middle of the channel
My new tatting project, a Celtic Heart with split rings on the other end as a book marker below. Gave this one to the kind gentleman's wife that helped us dock at the Everglade Isle Marina
It was quite a place that we just happened upon
View from the lighthouse connected to the clubhouse/office
Neat spiral staircase
The movie poster and theater
The gym
Sitting area outside the spa
Nice little screened in gazebo, perfect place to read or quilt in a rocker.
Restuarant across the waterway from our slip
09:30-Left the mooring and took the inside route to Marco Island, then picked up the Coon Key Light and turned to 123 degrees and motor sailed to the Indian Key Light. Tide was coming in and the current strong approaching Everglade City. Had called ahead to the Rod and Gun Club Marina arranging for a slip, dockage next to waterfront wall unprotected from traffic or current. The current was too strong to turn and dock so we proceeded upriver. On the old GPS another marina was indicated. As we approached we were motoring by a beautiful RV park with dock slips at each RV parking spot. The RV"s were all high end new models. As we were going by a gentleman flagged us down and told us this was the marina we were seeking and there was a bridge ahead we could not go under or turn around with this current. So we pulled into a slip. The gentleman said he would check to see which slip at the other corner of the complex we could go into. Shortly he came back and said he would help us get into the floating slip then took us in his golf cart to the office, showed us where to sign up and took us back to the boat after showing us around. Free Laundry, towels in the fancy bathrooms, movie theater, fancy gym, nice beautiful, bar and sitting area, Happy hour with beers $2.00. It was called Everglades Isle an exclusive Motor coach retreat, a 25 million dollar upscale campground where people can buy their spots to use for the winter. We were the only transient boat there and everyone said Oh, you are the ones on the sailboat. Rumor got around quite quickly. One of our nicer spots that we just happened on.(Italics is from Curt's Journal)
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