Readying for the Bahamas...We are so Excited to be Going There! March 12-13

Friday Scott and Brigitte invited us out to dinner.  We picked Morado Bay.  Julie and I had been there 10 years ago for their monthly  full moon party. The food and company were excellent! The fresh catch (mahi-mahi) was the best I have ever had.

The view from our table.

 

We have spent the last couple days readying things for our two month trip to the Bahamas.  I cannot remember a grocery bill over $400 but the Winn Dixie in Islamorada was the recipient of same!  Needed lots of stock up supplies....and to you all thinking liquor...NOT a bottle was in that total.  OK so that was done earlier in Marathon.....
Anyways, groceries are stocked (freezer is full, have lots of canned fruits, cereal, crackers, etc all stowed away).  Lots of laundry was done as well.  At $4 a load for washing and another $4 for drying, we certainly wanted to "get ahead" of some of the wash. 
On Saturday DeVere and Carole aboard Job Site got to the marina for a night.  So Julie planned a dinghy excursion with them and Scott and Brigitte from Putz'n Around over to the Lorelei for dinner, discussion of our travels together to the Bahamas and to listen to the first set of music. It was again a wet trip but a good band (lot's of 70's stuff) and a great chance to discuss our crossing to Bimini on Tuesday.  Sunset was occluded by clouds so not as nice as last week's trip home though. 

 

 

DeVere trying out the new Rigid Boat/ 30HP 2 stroke Evinrude dinghy rig with four passengers.  Works great!

Trying to beat the darkness! Glad we have a fast dinghy!



All sea strainers were cleaned of weeds and barnacles, oil levels checked, coolant checked, etc. Found a small crack in a crankcase breather hose on the generator, but it was too late to find a mechanic so hopefully the "rescue tape" job will suffice until we can replace it.  Judging by the oily film around the break it has been there a while so we should be fine. The generator is very important when anchoring out! 
Fueled up the dinghy on Sunday and stowed it on the bridge and left the crane hooked up for a quick launch if necessary.  Set up travel alerts with all our credit cards.  Set up phone for international service "just in case" the SIM card we bought for Julie's phone doesn't work as advertised.  Readied yellow "quarantine" flag for entry to Bimini.  (Have to fly this flag until cleared by customs, then replace it with a Bahamian courtesy flag).  Set up some new favorite websites for Bahamas weather.  Pulled out passports and all other documentation needed to enter.  Stowed, stowed, stowed.  Inventoried things.  Pumped holding tank.  Topped off water tanks (water is likely 50+ cents a gallon in the Bahamas!) The list goes on but I won't bore you!

Scott and Brigitte have a vet appointment for their dog on Monday morning so we will likely continue on to our planned anchorage at Pumpkin Key alone in the morning and they will hopefully catch up later in the day.  DeVere and Carole will be at the Ocean Reef Club on Monday night.  So we will all rendezvous outside Angelfish Creek for our 60+ mile crossing Tuesday morning.  We have reservations at Bimini Blue Water Resort for Tuesday night so we can check in with customs, etc. 

We got a nice 45+ minute brisk walk in each of these days as well.  It is a very nice park here at the marina with nice walking trails, an Olympic size pool, nice laundry facilities, etc.  The only issue is it is really too far to bicycle to groceries (about 5.5 miles each way).  Otherwise, the monthly rate here is very competitive and the other boaters here are all very friendly.  A nice view as well!
We'll try to drop a quick post when we arrive in Bimini!!  The adventure should get really interesting now as this is one of the highlights we have been looking forward to!....weather looks great for our crossing.....

Islamorada March 4-11

First an addendum to the last post.  A "small world" update.  As we were walking off the docks at Faro Blanco a couple came up to us and said "aren't you Randy and Stella's friends that we went on a cruise with 10 years ago?".  It was Cassie and Keith from Michigan!  They recently retired and were vacationing at the Hyatt Resort adjacent to the marina.  It was great to see them again.  Small world.
On 3/4 we moved the boat to Plantation Yacht Harbor in Islamorada to get a little closer for our Bahamas departure still planned for the first weather window March 14 or later. 
Leaving Faro Blanco:

Note the depth in the middle of the marked channel...just under 5 feet (sounder is about 1.2 feet below water line). Bumped bottom once later in the trip.  Hopefully only sand.....don't feel any vibration when running.

 Our new tiny lighthouse.  The view from our slip at Plantation Yacht Harbor in Islamorada.

 Our good friends Scott and Nancy joined us on Saturday and we took a 15+ mile round trip dinghy excursion to the Lorelei tiki bar and restaurant for dinner and to listen to the live music. It was a bit rough but the weather forecast for the next few days was very windy so we knew it was now or never as they say.  The band was very good and we stayed for the entire first set which allowed us a beautiful sunset view from the dinghy on the wet ride home. Thanks for taking most of the salt spray Julie!! It was a fun trip and we arrived back at the boat just at dusk. 

 

On Sunday Scott drove us on a tour of the area.  We went to Marathon and checked out our previous "residence" (Faro Blanco) and a few of the local sites including Sombrero Beach, Sunset Grille

 

and Burdines (had to have one more French fry and key lime pie "fix"). It was a beautiful day and a great way to catch up with Nancy and Scott.

At Sunset Grille

Sunset at the Plantation Yacht Harbor from our fly bridge.

Monday we went to Key West for the day.  It was nice to travel by car instead of bus!  Thanks for all the driving Scott!  It is a long 87 mile one way trip with all the small towns, speed limit changes, etc.  We made it to most of the tourist stuff except we did not stay for the sunset celebration at Mallory Square....just too long of day for this old retiree!  But the shopping and site seeing was great and the temperature was just perfect.

 

Tuesday was a bit of a lazy day allowing Nancy and Scott (and us!) some relaxation time.  Went out for breakfast and dinner.  Breakfast was at the Made to Order restaurant and we had surprise visitors there too!  Mark and Janice and their daughter Kathleen and son in law Noal were on their way to Key West and stopped by to say hello.  It was great to see them!! 
It was a great sunset for Scott and Nancy's last night before returning north.  The view from Islamorada Fish Company restaurant....

Mark and Janice also stopped at the boat on their way back through the area on Wed.  It was so good to see them and catch up for a couple hours.  Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

Took a dinghy ride Thursday and found this unique spot about 2 miles north of our marina.  I'll have to do some asking around to find out the genesis of this apparent tradition!

If the zooming in did not work on the photos above, the street sign name is Shit Lane and the poles marking the channel are topped with toilet seats with various notations on them.  Weird tradition, that's for sure.  So later I found out this is called Toilet Seat Pass by the locals.  It has been a tradition for many years.  Someone in the marina here is constructing a plunger tree (like a wine bottle tree) to plant there soon as well....gotta have fun!

Friday I set out to get a haircut.  Hmmm, 6 miles by bicycle one way.  And that means I need to "unstow" a bike from the lazarette. Or....how about a nice dinghy ride to the dinghy dock at Mangrove Marina and a short walk?  Easy decision.  Great chance to see the sights along the way and get a haircut.  So the personal travel vehicle hit the waters and it worked great!

The weather appears to be shaping up for our crossing to Alice Town in Bimini next week.  We hope it holds and we can make our way to the Bahamas for a couple months!
Thank you so much to our family and friends who have visited us.  We have so enjoyed the company this winter!  Our next visitors are scheduled in mid April in the Abacos, Bahamas for a week.  For those of you who are still contemplating a visit but have not planned it, we still have 18 months to go on our trip!  Keep in touch and let us know.  We'll try to share our adventure whenever we can.

Marathon Feb 22-March 3

Tuesday Feb 23 our neighbors at Faro Blanco (and one of the boats we hope to cross to Bimini Bahamas with next month) DeVere and Carole on Job Site invited us out boating for the day.  Imagine that, after a month in the marina we actually went boating (no dinghying)!  Jeff and Susan from Act III were also aboard.  The original intent was lunch at the Island Fish Company followed by snorkeling, but the water was too rough for the snorkeling so we went to Burdines for key lime pie after lunch instead. Tough trade off there!  Burdines is definitely my favorite key lie pie in the area!  We spent a full day on the water aboard Job Site a beautiful Sea Ray 48 sedan bridge.   Thanks so much DeVere and Carole, it was a great day on the water!
DeVere the captain and Jeff.

Beautiful water!

Tom's friends...

 

Returning...we are the small one!

 

It was a beautiful day here on Wed with bright sun and a high of nearly 80.  Wed night we went to Sunset Grille with 12 others.  Clouds came in to occlude the sunset but it was still a great time. It was a bit of a reunion as Ralph and Linda (Mazel Tug), Carey and Nancy (LeeLoo) and Dick and Pat (Dream Catcher) were all there too.
A nice moonrise....

 

Thursday we made a couple trips to the grocery store beginning our "stock up" for the Bahamas.  We also purchased a new pannier for the folding bike to help us with grocery runs.  It works great!

Friday we stopped by to say good bye to Ralph and Linda (Mazel Tug) over at Blackfin Marina as they were planning to leave for points north on Sat.  It has been so much fun travelling with you both...we'll miss you guys but will see you in N Carolina this summer we hope!  Thanks for the DVD's and old fire hose (used as chafe guard on dock lines)...they will all be useful.
We played cards with Carey and Nancy (LeeLoo) on Friday and also said goodbye as they left on Monday for points north.
It has been such a pleasure travelling with you Mazel Tug and LeeLoo....we will miss you but hope our paths will cross again.
Julie's brother Kevin and sister in law Deb arrived for two days on Saturday.  They were on their way to stay in Key West for a few days.  We had some great meals together and enjoyed watching all the really big boats come in from the Ocean Reef Yacht club (Key Largo).  It was so relaxing to sit on the flybridge and visit and watch all the activity in the marina (which was completely full for this event).  We were able to show them all around Marathon including a visit to Sombrero Beach.  They commented that they slept well in spite of the relentless winds that kept us from dinghying around the area. They helped us with transportation to get heavy groceries and supplies for our upcoming Bahamas trip.  Thanks so much for that help!! It was great to have you aboard!

Cruising in the van.

Snug in the slip.

The Ocean Reef Yacht Club arrived on Sunday.  Wow!

 

 

 

On Monday and Tuesday we did some boat chores but also found time to relax at the pool a bit on Tuesday.  Tuesday evening we met with DeVere and Carole (Job Site) and Bridgette and Scott (Putz'n Around) to discuss plans for travelling to the Bahamas together.  Our timelines are very compatible and we now have a "rigid plan subject to infinite revision" (as Scott would say) to leave the Key Largo area on March 15 or the next available weather window after that.  It will be wonderful to have other boats with us for safety and comradery.  Now we just need God to bless us with some fair weather for our crossing.  So we will be patient and await the day....
We arrived back at the boat and found a gift...an apple pie delivery form our friends Bob and Liz (Knot Sew Easy).  Bob, I will make that blueberry pie at some point!  If you get on the two year plan with us I can guarantee it!  Thanks much for the tasty treat!  Popcorn and pie for dinner....

 

 

 

We also booked February and part of March here at Faro Blanco next winter.  We may decide to do the Bahamas again, but this gives us a solid reservation and another option.  Remember, with boating one always needs two plans.....
Wednesday night Faro Blanco hosted a "open house" type event to preview their new menu and such.  This resort has not been open too long and they are trying to "dial it in" a bit.  A nice party.
The "crew' we have been hanging with here at Faro Blanco enjoying the party.

A good turnout!

Our friends Bob and Liz (Knot Sew Easy) and Tim and Carol (Liquid Assets) took off today.  Here is a shot of Bob and Liz leaving at 6:45 AM. 

 

We will miss you all!  Safe travels North and keep in touch!

We will leave Faro Blanco on Friday to move to Plantation Yacht Harbor for 10 days or so.  Thanks for following us.