January 18, 2010

If has finally warmed up in Florida and we are presently sitting at anchor in Tarpon Basin off of Key Largo watching the sun set in a cloudless sky.

We left Ft. Myers a week ago Saturday and made our way across Florida via Lake Okeechobee to Stuart and the ICW. We were in Roland Martin's Marina, on the west side of the Lake and it was a toasty 25 degrees in the morning with ice on the handrails and deck. In fact, I had to get a warm cloth to wipe the ice off the isinglass so that I could see from the fly bridge before proceeding across the lake.

In Stuart we had a very nice dinner at Wahoo's with Plymouth friends Brian Chandler and Peter Kowilcik.

We left Stuart the next morning and headed south to Delray Beach and then the next morning to North Miami. The following morning we headed south across Biscayne Bay and ended up here in Key Largo.

We meet up with fellow Great Loop friends Capt. Sterling and Judy, as well as Rudy Sampson from Plymouth. For the last three nights, the five of us have been conducting a QC inspection of various establishments in Key Largo that are purveyors of post prohibition libations. I am happy to report that they all passed inspection.

We had our first "Face to Face" with a number of Manatees this afternoon behind Judy's (not Judi's) house, which is located on a canal. We actually had to be careful when we left in the dinghy as a very large Manatee was romatically interested in the dinghy and would not move. As you can see we got some pretty good pictures and they are pretty big animals.

We plan to stay here one more night and then head south to Islamorada where we will hole up at Islamorada Yacht Basin at the Lor~E~Lei. We drove down today to check it out and had lunch with Dave & Betsy Chase who, I am sure, we will see lots of while we are at Lor~E~Lei.

In the words of the immortal Sonny Bono, "The Beat Goes On"

January 9, 2010

Well we arrived back in Ft. Myers on the 29th of December after an uneventful trip south. We stayed with Danny and Susan Godin and the Weiner dogs, on Potest Fieri the night of the 28th. It was nice to see them and we had a good time even though we thought it was cold in Clearwater. Little did we know what we were in for.

We had two nice days on the 30th and 31st and went to a great New Year’s Eve party at Heidi and John Asiaf’s home in Naples. Also at the party were old friends from Plymouth that now live in Marco Island and Naples.

Since then, it has been cold. The other morning we went out to drive to Sarasota to go to the Ringling Circus Museum, estate and art museum, there was frost on the windshield. This was not in the trip description.

We left Ft. Myers yesterday, a relatively nice day (70 degrees) and are now in Moore Haven, Fl, a thriving metropolis of 1000 souls on the west shore of Lake Okeechobee. Yesterday, while traveling through the northern everglades on the Caloosahatchee River looking for wildlife such as alligators, manatees, boys with banjos, etc. the only interesting thing we saw was a camel in somebody’s front yard.

Today, Saturday the 9th, is another wonderful South Florida day with cold rain, winds 15-20 from the Northwest and a balmy 37 degrees at 2:30 in the afternoon. They say it will get into the mid 20’s tonight and tomorrow before it warms back up to the 60’s. Eat your heart out you New Englanders.

We are, however, tied up to the town dock with all three heating units on and it is a cozy 75 degrees in the boat.

We, hopefully, get across Lake Okeechobee in the next couple of days if the winds subside. Then is on to the Florida Keys where it was 50 degrees in Key West this AM.

The plan is to go to Key Largo, Islamorada, then on to Marathon where we will meet up with several other travelers we have met along the way. Perhaps by then we will see some warmer temperatures.

I am beginning to think that Al Gore is in hiding with Tiger Woods.

We arrived back in Plymouth Massachusetts on Wednesday and were blessed yesterday with 20+ inches of snow in what is being called the Blizzard of 2009. Today the temps are ~10 degrees with wind to 20 knots. Reminds me a lot of the marina in Ft. Myers where JEJUDA is enjoying balmy breezes. You can all be assured that the marina in the picture IS NOT in Ft. Myers.

It has been great to see the kids, grandkids and all our friends. We stopped in Virginia on the way up to see Jessica, Sam, Abigail (3), and David (5). They are getting big fast. On Saturday we visited with Evan, Julia, and our newest granddaughter, Isabelle who was born in August. Perhaps we are a little bit biased, but our grandchildren are the best looking and most intelligent grandchildren ever.

Christmas will be the usual whirlwind of activity as everyone gets together on Christmas Eve at my grandniece's home in Chelmsford, north of Boston, and then to Judi's aunt's home in Squantum, south of Boston.

Christmas morning will be the usual havoc with the grandkids opening their presents in front of the tree and fireplace. Christmas is a great family day that is enjoyed by all.

Hopefully we will start our trek south on the 26th, arriving on the 29th or 30th depending on the weather. It will be nice to return to the warmth and the continuation of our adventure although we will be thinking of all we leave behind in the cold northeast.

Having never been or ever will be, "Politically Correct", Judi and I wish all of you and your families "Merry Christmas".

December 9, 2009

We are now docked until the 7th of January at Marinatown in North Fort Myers, FL. The weather has been in the high eighties the last few days but we have a very nice cross breeze that helps keep it cooler.

The marina is very nice with three on site restaurants, bars, pool, and laundry. It is very laid back with a definite south Florida tone. Actually more like the Keys than the keys as there is no real "tourist" presence other than the occasional obligatory Canadian snow bird.

We have been watching the news, and as I sit here in a bathing suit, I see the "dreadful" effects of Global Warming as a huge snow storm marches across the US. I am confident that it will not have any effect in Massachusetts as it is a Democrat State that voted for Al Gore.

We will be returning the "Yes We Can" State leaving here on the 15th. The last time we went back the sales tax had increased from 5% to 6.25%, are there any new taxes we must be prepared for?

We look forward to seeing you all at Christmas.

December 4, 2009

Much has happened since our last post while not covering a long distance. We made the crossing to Steinhatchee without great incident except the fact that the predicted 5-10N winds with 1-2 foot seas was actually 15-20N winds with 3-5 foot seas. We left the next morning and had a nice trip to Crystal River where the Manatees winter. This port was the beginning of two weeks of our meeting up with our old friends.

We were very happy to get together with my former business partner Winston Perry and his wife Andrea who now live in a lovely home on a canal in Homosassa, FL. We had a great day with them exploring the area and browsing their shop, “Ritzy Rags & Glitzy Jewels, ETC” in Inverness (check out their website www.ritzandglitz.com). The shop has a wonderful collection of “Eclectic” pieces, I’m sure they would be happy to ship. We had a great time.

From there we moved on to Tarpon Springs, FL. Tarpon Springs is like going into a Greek fishing village where they harvest sea sponges. If you like Greek Salad, olives, feta cheese, Greek pastries, and especially lamb this is the place to go.

We were graciously invited to Steve and Judi Aldrovandi’s lovely home in Marco Island for Thanksgiving Dinner. The Marco area has been a magnet for many of our friends from Plymouth who now live there.

These included, Pat Harrington, Yvonne & Don Gauley, and Heidi & John Asiaf. We spent the night with Steve and Judi and returned Friday to Tarpon Springs.

On the return trip to Tarpon Springs we stopped in Clearwater and visited with Karen & Roger (Roger) Montembeault on “Karen Ann”, friends we had meet in various adventures down the rivers to Mobile Bay. We had a great time.

Saturday, November 28th, we drove north to Cedar Key, FL, a place we would have liked to have stooped on our exploration of the “Nature Coast” but there is no public dock.

Cedar Key is an extremely laid back community with one main street with several shops and a separate waterfront street with the obligatory waterfront dives.

While walking down Main Street we came across a restaurant called “Tony’s” who advertised that they have won the “World Best Clam Chowder. From their website.

“On Saturday June 6, 2009 Tony's Cedar Key Clam Chowder competed at the 28th Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-off at The Newport Yachting Center on America's Cup Blvd. In Newport, R.I. Thousands of Chowder lovers sampled chowders from all over the world. With all the votes counted, Tony's Cedar Key Clam Chowder was selected 1st and crowned Clam Chowder World Champion.”

The chowder was excellent. The world’s best New England clam chowder is in FORIDA!!

From Tarpon Springs we proceeded to Bradenton FL where we meet up with Brain & Irene Ward. Brian and I have raced and sailed for over 35 years. We have raced around the buoys, offshore to Halifax, NS and to Bermuda.

We left Bradenton on Wednesday (We have trouble remembering what day it is. Thank goodness for Verizon cell phones to keep us up to date). We then proceeded to Sarasota, FL.

NOAA, our great weather guru said no problem if you on the inside water, just a slight chop. Right, 5 plus feet with a wind gust to 43 knots on Sarasota Bay. To save the marriage a stay at Marina Jack was appropriate.

On Thursday we proceeded to Englewood Beach where we are now anchored and meet up with Greg & Di Tolonen who came out in their center console Parker and picked us up and brought us to their lovely waterfront home to have dinner, and a few “adult beverages”. Jen, their daughter, and her fiancée Jim came over to say hello, a really nice couple and we wish them the best.

On Friday we went again with Greg and Di and had a great day with lunch, shopping, etc. then returned to “JEJUDA” in a torrential downpour.

It was blowing 25 knots from the north, pouring, with the wind chill at 40 degrees. AL GORE WHERE ARE YOU?

Friday AM “Barefoot Shoes” arrived in the rain. Fear not Steve and Rai, the Christmas cards were mailed.

Today, Saturday, it is still pouring and 60 degrees. It is just like Plymouth with a nice New England “Nor’easter” in November. No wonder so many “Plymouthians” move here to retire, it is just like home.

Check out the sailboat. This is why you have to stay in the channel.

We will be moving south to Fort Meyers where we will leave the boat for our return to Plymouth for the family Christmas.

Stay tuned.