By the Way...

By the way... the blog and photo of the "cold front" moving through Marathon was meant as a joke! Although a cold front did come through, it only dropped temperatures into the high 60's.

Home For The Holidays

The blog will be suspending publication as we are heading back to Maryland for the Holidays tomorrow.

The weather here is still gorgeous despite the aforementioned cold front. Yesterday we walked 5 mi on the 'old' Seven Mile Bridge. We saw an 8' hammerhead shark swimming down in the water. Also saw a number of rays and other fish.

We are on a 4pm American Airlines flight to BWI tomorrow and will be in Maryland until December 27th. The weather is a 'balmy' 28 degrees there now....

Photo: Hammerhead shark; how would you like to go through life with lips like these?!

Cold Front Moves Through Marathon

A winter cold front blew through Marathon last night dropping temperatures and sending people scurrying for their winter underwear.

Photo: Compass Rose et al dockside after the cold front.

Marathon!!!

Arrived at Marathon at the crack of noon on Saturday!! Yea!!! We did it! 1,437 nm after leaving Annapolis we pulled into Marathon Marina (or Cay Clubs Resorts, as they are now known).

Photo: Yes, the water is really this color!

We entered the Atlantic Ocean via Channel Five channel and had both a following sea and wind all the way down. The stern of the boat (blunt end) faces west so the sunsets should be spectacular. It was 84 degrees here today but a cold front is forecast for Monday dropping the temperatures to the mid-70's!

Tonight was also the Boat Parade of Lights in Marathon. Not quite the Annapolis parade...there were only seven boats but a lot of spirit. Oh yes, and everyone was dressed in shorts!!

As you loyal bloggers know, we never saw a manatee the whole way down. Well, once in the marina, who shows up but five (count em) manatees!! The pictures really doesn't do justice to the sight of them. A hose from a boat was dripping fresh water and the manatees were sucking it up. Despite their size (1,000 lbs or more) they seem very graceful and docile in the water.

Key Largo and Islamorada

After entering the Keys we dropped anchor off Key Largo. Most of Key Largo's development in on the Atlantic side so we didn't go ashore. There were only two other boats in a large bay so it was a little slice of paradise. The catamaran about 1/4 away seemed to be having anchor troubles so we used the binoculars to check out the problem. Well, yes they were having anchors difficulties and yes they were also stark naked! Ah, life in the tropics!"

Left the next afternoon for a short run to Islamorada. We took the dinghy ashore and "officially" walked into the Keys ("we shall return").


Ashore we did some Christmas shopping and even saw Christmas trees for sale under a tent. It's a little hard to think Christmas when it's 84 degrees. Then we returned to the boat and gave Compass Rose a good cleaning. We swam around the boat in the crystal clear waters cleaning the waterline. People ask us 'what do you do all day?'... we're not sure but we do it in bathing suits!

Tomorrow morning we plan to depart for the final 30 miles to Marathon.

Photo: Compass Rose with Christmas Lights anchored off Islamorada (Double click picture to see lights)

Biscayne Bay

Departed Miami at 9:30am. We wanted to leave much earlier to coincide with slack tide but the fog was so bad we had to wait until it lifted.

Biscayne Bay was as smooth as glass today and we enjoyed a lovely cruise. On the way we were befriended (adopted?) by a pair of dolphins who surfed on our bow wave for at least ten minutes. Those guys really know how to have fun!

With calm seas and the autopilot driving, we could sit out front and enjoy the view. Pam took advantage to the time and gave herself a pedicure (see photo).
At 3:25pm today we passed through Jewfish Creek and officially entered the Florida Keys! We made it!! Continued on for a few miles and dropped anchor off Key Largo. We will hang around here for a few days before one last push to Marathon. The marina says the repair work on the slips should be completed on Dec 10th.

Photo: Jewfish Creek (US Route 1) drawbridge opening our way into the Keys.

Miami B-b-b-b-beach FL

Left Boca Raton early Sunday morning and decided to take the outside (ocean) route to avoid the many bridges and speed zones on the ICW to Ft Lauderdale. The ocean water was a gorgeous blue-green as we cruised three miles off the coast. Since the weather was so nice we continued outside and skipped Ft Lauderdale altogether.

As we came through Miami harbor we spotted five cruise ships in port in Government Cut (see photos). Did you know that you are not allowed to go down Government Cut when any cruise ship is in port? Ask me how I know? The ‘friendly’ Marine Police pulled along side to gently inform us of that.

We re-entered Biscayne Bay at the north end and made our way down the narrow channel. Decided to splurge a bit and got a slip at Miami Beach Marina for two days. We are surrounded by high rise condos and are only a 15 minute walk to South Beach.



South Beach is an amazing mix of art deco hotels, sidewalk cafes and barely dressed people parading. It is also right across the street from the Atlantic ocean. It is also wall to wall clothing stores although I doubt they are selling to us!

Photo: Any wonder that everything is made in China?

Photo: No one slows down for you down here

Boca Raton, FL

Anchored for the night in Lake Worth (Palm Beach) about 35 mi south of Stuart. Then did another 5 hr day down to Boca Raton. As you loyal (and observant) bloggers know, the ICW begins at Mile Zero in Norfolk. South of Stuart we passed Mile 1000 (statute miles). Little milestones like this keep us going.

This is truly the land of big boats and bigger mansions. Also, the high rise condos have started to line both the Waterway and the ocean beaches. We are anchored in Lake Boca Raton pretty much surrounded by high rises. No real place to go ashore....probably couldn't afford it anyway.

Photo: Boat (ship?) parked in front of their house.

Photo: Still the only Manatee we've seen. Notice the pearls on its neck.

Stuart, FL Day 3

Rode the bikes to the mall 3 miles west. Also stopped by the Kadey Krogen headquarters and met some of the people we've corresponded with over the years.

Hurrican Wilma hit the Stuart area very hard. All the Krogen docks were wiped out and are only now being rebuilt. They still have no electricity on the docks. It's also hard to tell which buildings in Stuart are be built and which are being re-built from Wilma.

Photo: Kadey Krogen Yacht Sales HQ.

Photo: a brand new Krogen 44 on a demo ride passes an older Krogen 42 on the St Lucie River, Stuart, FL.
Photo: Sunset in Stuart, FL

Shack of the Week (Week 2)

These lovely houses were all along the banks of the St Lucie River coming into Stuart, FL.
This shouldn't really count as a house...it is actually a boat house with three entrances. The repair work is from Wilma.

Stuart, FL Day 2

Did I say there were train tracks nearby?! The Florida East Coast Railway line runs across the St Lucie River (remember that draw bridge?) and right through downtown Stuart. This is one busy railroad! And everytime a train comes the drawbridge goes down. A warning siren goes off ten, five and two minutes prior to the bridge closing. The siren can best be described and a "wolf howling in the night". It is downright eerie!
Photo: Myriad bridges...train bridge "up" with vehicle bridge (blue) down. 'High' bridge in the rear.

We walked into Stuart today in the pouring rain! This is something we never would have considered in the past (both walking and 'in the rain'). Also ate lunch at a very good Thai resturant "Basil Tree".
Photo: Pam talks with a Blue Heron.












Was it something she said?!

Stuart, FL

Well, we finally got "unstuck" from Velcro Beach!! Left there on Monday and arrived in Stuart that evening. We actually got here at 4pm but ended up waiting an hour for the train drawbridge to open. The bridge closes automatically when a train is 10 minutes away. Three different trains kept it closed for an hour! There is also a vehicle draw bridge right next to the train one but the bridge operator has no idea when the next train is coming.

Stuart, FL has a mooring ball field like Annapolis. There are 80 mooring balls here and most are in use. The city is actually about 6 miles up the St Lucie River off the ICW. It is also on the Okeechobee Waterway route across to the west coast of Florida. Stuart bills itself as the "Sailfish Capital of the World". It is also the headquarters for Kadey Krogen Yachts.
Photo: Sailfish Fountain in the heart of Stuart, FL

Stuck to "Velcro Beach"

We’re still here... the Velcro rule seems to have attached itself to us. We could sure spend the winter here.

Up very early today, the morning is filled with chores and boat maintenance. We have to run the generator every morning for a couple of hours to recharge the batteries that run the AC appliances and lights. Pam takes advantage of the AC current to vacuum and dry her hair. John is down in the engine room changing the oil and fuel filters. After a morning filled with housekeeping chores it is time to get out and enjoy this perfect sunny day.

We rode our bikes over to the Vero Beach Riverside Park on the Indian River. We rented kayaks and explored the many inlets and lagoons not far from our anchorage. It was hard to believe that we were so close to civilization. The surroundings were so calm and peaceful. We shared this long stretch of water way with the many birds and dolphins and the sounds of the swamp like setting. Still have not seen a manatee. Maybe they really are endangered. We rented the kayaks for four hours. What were we thinking?!! After two hours of paddling we were beat. It is amazing how little effort it takes to glide thru the water but those are muscles that have not been used for awhile.

After a much needed nap we decide to check out the Riverside Bar and Café down the water way. We launched the dinghy to take a ride over to see what they have to offer. Much to John’s delight the bar has a number of TV’s all with a different college football game on. Have not seen much TV since we left. After an order of nachos for dinner we’re back to the boat. We talk about our trip plan for our next leg down the ICW and we are in bed by 10, which is late for us. It must have been the nap!

Thanksgiving Day 2005

Happy Thanksgiving, Bloggers! We all have a lot to be thankful for...and we miss being there with all of you. Thanksgiving in Vero Beach is a special occasion for cruisers. For the past few years, a cruiser-organized potluck Thanksgiving dinner has been held. There were at least 150 people attending this year with food of 200! Once we got the ice and snow shoveled off the picnic grounds, everyone had a wonderful time (see, we have empathy!). Not quite the same as Thanksgiving with close friends and relatives...
Photo: relaxing after the snow melted.




Photos: the Thanksgiving we missed

Vero Beach, FL

We reached Vero Beach, FL on Monday trying to stay ahead of the cold front due across the eastern part of the country. Departing the ICW, we entered a very sheltered ‘lagoon’ where Vero Beach Municipal Marina is located.

Vero Beach Municipal Marina is in a park like setting offering all the services and amenities that a cruiser could need. Vero Beach is within walking distance from the Marina and with our bikes we can be there in just under 10 minutes.

Photo: Vero Beach Marina (Compass Rose with another Krogen in the middle)

Vero Beach does not allow anchoring. The harbor has a mooring field with about 50 mooring balls each with at least 2 boats and most with 3 boats sharing the balls.

Photo: 3 to a mooring ball

That makes for over 100 boats here for the Annual Thanksgiving Gathering of Cruisers. Everyone will gather this afternoon for a potluck Thanksgiving Day dinner. The dinghy dock should be a site to see with dinghies tied up 3 deep you sometimes have to dinghy hop to get to your dinghy.

Photo: Dingy dock at Vero Beach (are these those manatees we've heard about?)

Vero Beach has become so popular for boaters that it has been nicknamed “Velcro Beach” because once here you just don’t want to leave and many have just made this their winter destination.

When we first arrived at the marina office to register we were given a brochure put out by the city entitled “Vero Beach Where The Tropics Begin, a Jewel in the Crown of the Treasure Coast”. So far we have found it hard to argue with that introduction.

"Shack of the Week"

As we approached the Vero Beach area, we were 'returned' to civilization. Replacing the mangroves were numerous and large houses.

Since this will be the norm the rest of the way, we have decided to institute the "Shack of the Week" photo display. These are our nominations for Week 1:

[Snuck one in from Oxford, MD]

The Blog Continues!!

It’s been almost a week since we updated the blog. Mea culpa, mea culpa….

As you may recall, we last left you at Daytona Beach on our trip south. Two uneventful days on the Indian River with anchorages in Titusville (Cape Canaveral) and Eau Gallie (Melbourne) were mercifully uneventful.

The Indian River is about 3-4 miles wide but only 4-5 feet deep. The channel dredged in the middle has 8-12 feet of water. So, it is mostly an exercise of staying in the channel. Fairly repetitive scenery along the way, mostly mangroves and small islands.

This area was hit hard by two hurricanes in 2004 less than three weeks apart (Frances and Jeanne). What Frances didn’t wreck, Jeanne did. The shoreline is still littered with half sunken boats, pieces of docks and houses with partial roofs.

We still have not seen a Manatee despite the many signs of warning. Of course, we didn’t see any Indians on the Indian River nor bananas on the Banana River!

Daytona Beach, FL

Left St Augustine early for a 6 1/2 hr run to Daytona Beach. The wind was howling at 15-20 kts from the north giving us a nice 'push' south. Did not go ashore at DB due to the high winds, now up to 30 kts. The waterway is lined with gorgeous Florida homes and condos. Not sure where all the people are coming from...

With the high winds, we decided to put out two anchors. As we tried to raise the first one in the morning to depart Daytona....surprise, surprise!! It wouldn't come up. And, this is the anchor that is not on the 'wildcat' side of the windlass (there are no 'teeth' to engage the links of chain). As John hauled it up by hand the reason for the difficulty became readily apparent once the anchor broke the surface. The anchor was hooked on an old steel pipe (T fitting) approximately 18" in diameter. The pipe was further secured to the anchor with a fishing net and two ropes from other old anchors. Photo: Anchor/pipe/fishing net/anchor lines menagerie.

John got in the dinghy and, using wire cutters, a knife and scissors, was finally able to cut everything free. As Roseanne Roseannadanna says, "it's always something"!

Photo: morning workout hauling in the second anchor (after clearing said pipe)