Back in Cape Coral!

 Monday, Feb 23:

It was a chilly morning, so Wes fired the generator up first thing to warm up the boat.  I started working and Wes made us all breakfast sandwiches for breakfast.  While I was working, my dad and Wes started working on replacing the port side screens.  It was a pain, but they got the three windows done despite the wind!  Then Wes and Dad took the dinghy to the milk jug and added two more jugs to it with some zip ties to keep it afloat and to ensure no one runs into it.  Then after I was done with work, Dad, Wes and I went for a quick visit with Merle and Tima.  They were doing well.  Merle had a doctor's appointment to follow up on his knee and it isn't fusing as they hoped, but he isn't in any pain.  He has to keep the brace on and try to limit his walking as much as possible.  Then we went back to Toscana where we hosted anchor tales with the other boat that was anchored in the basin with us.  It was the first time they had tried smoked cream cheese, and they liked it!!  Then we had dinner and played cards until it was time for bed.

 Tuesday, Feb 24:

We got up and we both did our respective bible studies.  Then I started working.  We pulled the anchor around 1000 and headed the short trip to Tarpon Point Marina.  Once we got there, Joel and his wife brought Papa's truck to us and then we all enjoyed lunch together.  Then Mom and I went back to the boat, where I went back to work.  Papa and Wes went to provision.  Once they returned, we put all the food away, then started loading up all their stuff into the truck and my stuff into the truck except for the last minute items.  Then we went through all our pictures and saved them on the thumb drive for Papa so he could show everyone back home about their trip.  After dinner, we relaxed a bit watching some TV then off to bed early as we wanted to get going early tomorrow.  

 

Wednesday, Feb 25:

We got up and got moving right away.  We loaded up our last minute items and were on the road around 0730 on our way to Montgomery, AL.  Wes was left alone on the boat.  He left the marina around 1100 and headed back to Bimini Basin.  We hit quite a bit of traffic at first and it was a long 10+ hours but we made it to Montgomery.  Wes took Dennis and Deb from Wild Goose the The Dive,  Unfortunately, Dennis dropped his phone in the water, so that will get addressed tomorrow.

 

Thursday, Feb 26:

My folks and I got up early, had some breakfast and hit the road to Champagne, IL.  We hit the road about 0645 and hit traffic around Montgomery.  The traffic lasted for the first couple of hours.  Once we cleared that, it was a nice drive, but still another long 10+ hour drive day.  We arrived at the hotel, grabbed some dinner, relaxed a bit, then went to bed.  Wes went to breakfast with Dennis and Deb and got a replacement phone for Dennis.  Betty Mae showed up in Bimini Basin and Wes had a nice visit with them.  

 

Friday, Feb 27:

My folks and I got up, had some breakfast then hit the road again.  We had a shorter drive day, so we didn't rush.  We took off around 0700 and arrived at my parent's house around 1030.  We unloaded everything and started on laundry.  Then that afternoon, I went to my daughter's house to help them prep for laying new flooring in their house.  Wes did engine work.  He replaced the coolant pump, oil cooler and put new coolant in the starboard engine.  

 

 

Saturday, Feb 28:

I was slow moving in the morning, but I finally got going and then went back to my daughter's house to help with laying their new flooring.  Things went smoothly and so I headed back to my parents house early evening then enjoyed a quite night watching some TV.  Wes did more engine work and got the port engine all set with a new coolant pump, oil cooler and put new coolant in.  

Sunday, Feb 29:

I had a lazy day at my parent's house.  Wes went and visited Ella J.  They had a nice visit.  Wes returned to the boat at dark.  The boat dock and Bimini Basin restaurant opened, so he decided to go and see how the new restaurant was.  It's was a bit pricey, but his fish sandwich was big.  Then he went back to the boat, and relaxed.

 

   

South as far as we can go!

Monday, Feb 16:

I took the day off so that we could go explore Key West.  Wes went and picked up the rental car as soon as they opened and then we loaded up and headed out.  We went to Truman's little while house.  It was President's Day, so they were hosting a cook-out on the grounds.  We decided to have our lunch there as it was very reasonable.  We decided not to do the tour as Tutu couldn't get to the second floor and it was pricey.  So then we walked to the Hemmingway House.  We did the self-guided tour and Tutu was able to watch a video about all the history.  It was neat to see the  history and all the people he came into contact with.  Then we walked the grounds and saw many of the 61 cats on the property.  From there we drove to the southern most point of the US and got our picture taken there.  Then we just drove around and enjoyed the views.  Finally, we went to The Boat House for happy hour.  We walked around the docks and a couple shops in that area as well.  We were joined by Pecktacular (Jim & Vicki), Wild Goose (Dennis and Debbie) and Serenity II (Chris and Denise).  We enjoyed beverages and food as well as many stories and laughter.  We called it a day shortly after dark (around 1900) and started the drive back .  It was a long ride back.  We got stuck in traffic due to construction and made a couple stops (gas and beer).  We made it back to the boat around 2000 and we all basically went straight to bed.

 

Tuesday, Feb 17:

We got up and started getting things ready right away for our departure.  We said our goodbyes and then dropped the lines around 0900 (after Wes returned the rental car and got gas for the dinghy).  It was rougher than planned so it was quite lumpy ride even with the sail up.  There were also A LOT of crab pots that Wes needed to dodge.  We arrived at Bahia Honda State Park around 1600.  We got secured and plugged in, then John and Terri from Captain Kid II came in by dinghy and we had a nice visit.  Then we went in, had dinner, watched a little TV then off to bed.

 

Wednesday, Feb 18:

I was moving slow in the morning as I am fighting a cold.  Wes got up and made breakfast which we all enjoyed on the aft deck in the beautiful sunshine.  I started working.  Wes walked around and visited with some people around the marina.  Serenity II stopped by via their rental car and visited a little bit.  Blue Lobstah also stopped by for a quick visit as they were at the park to do some snorkeling.  Then Captain Kidd II stopped by for some dock tales.  The we went in for dinner, a little TV, then off to bed.

 Thursday, Feb 19:

We all got up and I started working.  Wes did computer work.  Then he went and visited with Road to Nowhere.  For my lunch break, Wes and I went for a dinghy ride to get some breeze as it was quite warm.  Then Wes took me back and then he and Papa went out to see if they could catch any fish.  They caught a few small silver snappers.  Papa filleted them and we cooked them up with our fish dinner (tuna steaks and grouper filet).  It was good, but not much meat to them.  After dinner, we relaxed watched TV.  I was still fighting my cold and didn't have the energy for cards. 

 

Friday, Feb 20:

We were up and prepping the boat for travel first thing.  We dropped the lines around 0800 and started heading toward Little Shark River.  It started out very lumpy!  We were rockin and rollin for the first couple of hours, but when we got over to the gulf side it leveled out and was a much smoother ride. We arrived at Little Shark River around 1400 and dropped the hook.  We enjoyed a landing drink on the aft deck, then Wild Goose arrived around 1500 and they just rafted up to us.  We enjoyed anchor tales on the aft deck.  Then we went in as it was getting dark and we made chicken bacon ranch wraps.  The we watched a little TV before calling it a night.

 

 Saturday, Feb 21:

We got up and got moving right away.  We were able to get some beautiful sunrise pictures!  We untied Wild Goose around 0700, then pulled the anchor and started making our way to Marco Island.  It was a smooth, beautiful day out on the gulf!  I spent most of the day on my "perch" on the bow of the boat soaking up the sun.  We arrived at Marco Island around 1500, dropped the hook and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon on the aft deck.  The we went in for dinner, watched some TV to relax, then off to bed.

Sunday, Feb 22:

We got up and got moving right away again as the winds were picking up later in the day and we wanted to get to Bimini Basin before the weather hit.  We pulled the anchor around 0700.  There was a bit of a cool wind, but it was a beautiful ride.  I was on the bow of the boat for most of the time.  We arrived in Bimini Basin around 1330 and dropped the hook.  Wild Goose and another cruiser were already anchored in there.  We dropped the anchor and as we were trying to set the hook, Wes noticed something floating in the water that looked like a milk jug.  He altered our course to avoid it which is a good thing!!  Once we got the hook set and everything secured, we went inside and played some cards.  Then Wes dropped the dinghy and took Wild Goose to shore as they were visiting friends for the next 2 nights.  Wes checked out the milk jug more closely and upon further investigation, he found out it was a chain with an anchor that another boat had left.  They couldn't pull the anchor, so they cut the chain and left it.  The chain was too heavy for the milk jug to stay afloat though, so it was easy to miss.  Wes returned, we enjoyed dinner and continued playing cards.  The wind was swinging us around quite a bit, and while it looked like we were going to get rain, most of it missed us.  After cards, we all went to bed.