The end of a great adventure

The last leg of our trip was a half day trek from Naples to Ft. Myers Beach.  It was a rock and roll ride with a brisk Northeast wind.  The picture below is of Ft. Myers Beach.

We arrived at Board Walk Caper, Rives and Kathy McGinley's slip in the early afternoon on Wednesday February 9.

On Thursday we started in earnest to prepare the boat for trucking her home.  The trickiest job was to unstep the mast with only two people!  To all my friends that have helped me over the years to put the mast up in the spring and down in the fall, you will be impressed with our ingenuity.  Rives and I did it.  This spring when it is time to step the mast you all will find that the hardest part will be pulling back the tab on your beers!

The next step was loading the dinghy on board for the trip home.

Candy and I flew home on Saturday February 12.  Rives was left with the task of motoring the boat to the boat yard to meet the truck on Monday.  He sent me the last two pictures.

As I write this last blog Speculation is on her way home.  What an adventure it has been!  I have enjoyed bringing you all along on my dream trip Cape Cod to Key West!  What truly made the trip extra special was that Candy, the non-sailor, stuck it out the whole way and enjoyed it.  To share the adventure together on a small sailboat for weeks at a time, without killing each other, and really enjoying each others company was such a blessing.  I must say so far this retirement business is OK!  Stay tuned for our next adventure.

Greg

Boot Key Harbor to Naples

We are back in "Life Connected".  We left Boot Key on Saturday morning.  However when we woke up the battery was very low and I could not lower the motor power tilt.  The first picture is of me reading the manual on how to lower the motor with a dead battery.  Naturally there was no reference in the manual.  We turned everything off and let the battery rest for an hour; that did the trick. It gave us just enough power to lower the motor, then I just used the pull cord to start the motor.  The trip involves two days out of touch.  The first day we made Little Shark River in the Everglades.  It is about half way to the nearest gas pump. Along the way we saw this pod of dolphins.

That was the highlight of the day, unless you count stopping every half hour to clear the weed from the motor and rudder.  We arrived at Little Shark River at about 4:30 PM the next picture was of Candy and I.  I finally figured out how to use the self timer!

Yesterday we left Little Shark at 7:00 AM sharp for the long leg to Marco Island.  It was light and variable winds.  We did manage to get a little push from the jib for about an hour tops!

We didn't arrive at Marco Island until 6:30 PM, 11-1/2 hours!  We filled the gas tanks, anchored the boat then took the dinghty to the Snook Inn for a late dinner.  This morning we motored up to Naples, about 3-1/2 hours.  We saw this eagle on the way into Naples.

Tomorrow the plan is to wrap up our adventure, weather permiting, in Ft. Myers Beach.

Greg

We begin our trip home

Tuesday was our last day in Key West.  We went to the Post Office only to encounter some of Key West's famous residents.  This day was about shopping for gifts which I found dehydrates the body!  We stopped at the Rum Barrel for a Guinness.  Then it was off to the Hog's Breath Saloon for a Yingling.  After this place I tried to convince Candy that it would be great fun to go the Bull, Whistle and the Garden of Eden-  upstairs they have a "clothing optional" bar.  Fortunately Candy's good sense prevailed.  We did end the evening at a very good Italian restaurant.

On Wednesday morning we set sail.  The first picture is of the Cruise Ships as we left Key West Harbor.

We took a different route back to Marathon, the ICW on the Gulf side of the Keys.  It is longer so we took two days.  The next picture is of someone parasailing.

We anchored in Harbor Channel on the Gulf.  It is where you turn south to get back down to Seven Mile Bridge.  The next two pictures are of another specular sunset and the next morning.

This last picture is of our last leg of our passage back to Boot Key Harbor.

Today we are taking it easy.  I managed to pick up a cold from Key West.  Tomorrow we plan to start our way back to Ft. Myers Beach.  This should take at least a three days, most of which we will be out of contact.  We then start to prepare the boat for trucking her home.

Greg
 

Key West Tourist

Yesterday was play tourist day.  We rented a Scooter to see some of the sites.  Our first stop was Higgs Beach, with all due respect to Key West, I would guess anyone from Cleavland, OH may think they are great but compared to Cape Cod they are mediocre at best.

The next stop was the mandatory picture of the southern most point.  We had to wait in line to get this picture so I hope you appreciate it!

The next stop was the Key West Light House.  They wanted $10 each to walk up.  I thought I could put that $10 to better use later that night!

The next picture was of Ernest Hemingway's house.  I did spring for that entrance fee!  It was a good tour.

We also stopped at the Little White House.  Truman used it as a vacation retreat.  It also has been used by other Presidents as well.

Candy insisted that we had to get this next picture, mile "0" for Route 1.

We ended out day at Sloppy Joes.  We had "Sloppy Joes" for dinner, they were great.  There was a fantastic band playing Cuban and Caribbean music.

Today we didn't do much except move the boat out to a City Mooring to save some money.  The last pictures are of Candy and I enjoying a libation. 

Greg

Boot Key Harbor to Key West

We left Boot Key Harbor after a week.  Speculation started the last leg of her adventure, Key West bound, on Friday January 28.  The wind was 10 to 15 knots from the northwest, a close reach.  The sun was in and out.  Everything was going well. Candy had gone below for a nap after lunch.  We were about 3 miles from the entrance channel to Key West when what should come up to us!

We were boarded by the Coast Guard!  We obviously fit the profile of either drug smugglers or trying to smuggle Cubans into the USA!  As it turned out they let us go, it was a safety check.

The next pictures are of the Key West light house and the harbor.

Candy made it! This picture was of the boat in the slip at City Dock Garrison Bight, what an adventure!

Once we were settled we headed to Margaritaville to celebrate!

I had to have my Cheeseburger in Paradise.

On Saturday we slept in.  Once we got organized we headed to the famous sailors bar Schooners.

Then it was off to Mallory Square for the famous Sunset Celebration.  I lucked out with a schooner sailing buy for a great picture.

After sunset, we had dinner at Kellys Caribbean Bar and Grill, They made a good Dark & Stormy. We ended our evening at an Irish bar, Finnegans Wake, for a few Guinness. The saga to be continued tomorrow!

Greg

Marathon to Marathon

First Mate again!  No pictures because we haven't been anywhere with the weather we have been having.  Let me paint you a picture.  A severe thunderstorm complete with electrifying lightening and high decimal claps and throw in some wind.  The boat actually tremored and you could feel everything.  Even closing my eyes I could see "light".  At some points I wasn't sure if it was THE LIGHT!  I wasn't ready to go just yet; I need to get to Key West.  So we have stayed in Marathon at Boot Key for yet another day and hopefully on Friday we can move on.  It is cooler today but not as cold as I understnd it is on Cape Cod.  I will be so excited to hear on the weather radio something other than "heavy chop".  We'll start to provision the boat again with water, fuel and an empty porta-potty.  Maybe a pot of beef stew and cornbread for dinner.  Sounds like a real sailor's delight!

Candy 

Marathon Boot Key Harbor

It has been a few days since I last blogged. We have not gone anywhere!  I have included some pictures of the marina and mooring field, it is loaded with boats.

We had a spectacular sunset on Sunday evening.  This was taken from the mooring.

On Monday morning we left to sail to Key West.  It was a little windy but I thought it would be fine with the wind on our quarter.  I was wrong!  Once we got out into the Hawk Channel it was rock and roll!  After an hour of that, the Captain turned the ship around and headed back to Boot Key Harbor.  We are going to wait for more favorable weather, so we went for plan "B".  Yesterday we rented a car to tour some of the Keys.  Our first order was to find the "No Name Pub" on Big Pine Key.

This is a very unique place.  They say it is a little piece of Key West, the way it used to be.  The beer was good!  The walls are lined with Dollar Bills.  The tradition is to staple a bill to the wall or ceiling, it is amazing.  The picture of this chick I picked up shows the bills all over the place.

Last night I found my first Guinness in the Keys at the "Island Fish House Co." in Marathon.  Today before we had to turn the car in we did some more sight seeing We found this nice beach on the south side of the key "Sombrero Beach".  We took a couple of pictures.

This last picture is of Candy trying to catch a coconut!  The weather is warm and sunny today but the wind is still up and from the wrong direction.  It looks like we will not be able to head to Key West until Thursday at the earliest.  Life is tough in the Keys!

Greg