Because we needed water and electricity and all marinas in Key West were full, we ended up in Stock Island, not a very nice marina (although Key West prices), but that can happen. At least we got to borrow a bike and Jacques went to West Marine to buy a new water pump, the old one was so noisy, the whole boat resonated when using it. I got to borrow the same bike to do some shopping.
On Tuesday we left for Ramrod Key after we cleaned the boat, was very necessary, it was a short trip where we anchored at the SW side of the island and next day we made the hop to Bahia Honda. We had been there once before, it is a national park with a wonderful beach, I think it would be a good stop with Paul, Karyn and the kids. It was a wild night on the anchor, high winds and thunderstorms in the distance, but in the morning it was all over. We took the dinghy to shore and made walk over the island. There is an old railway bridge, now used for walking and fishing and when I looked down I saw two sea turtles swimming just below the water, great!
On Thursday we left for Boot Key, it was great sailing, two mono-hulls had left just ahead of us and it became very soon a race between the second boat and the Lady Hawk. After the second tack we went to second place and in the end Jacques was steering by hand to try to get as high on the wind as Lady Hawk could to maintain our lead. We would have won but we anchored outside Boot Key and they went inside, but it was a very fun sailing day. We stayed two days on the boat, just being lazy and Jacques started to read! It was the book about “Marley and me” and he enjoyed it very much (thanks to Helena who gave me the book when I visited them Last September).
Ria
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
March 14
After Joel’s arrival our stay at the mooring ended and we were on the road again, was a good feeling. The first day we had hardly any wind and went to Marco Island, anchored just south of the entrance. Joel and Jacques went for a swim and afterwards we went to search for a restaurant. We had a little difficulty to find a place for the dinghy, where we also could climb on the wall. With some help we found a spot where we could crawl over some rocks to get ashore. We had to wait about half an hour for dinner, so we decided to walk a little bit around and found a fantastic little Italian restaurant, was really a coincidence, we had there a wonderful dinner.
Next day we looked at the charts and decided to go to Little Shark River. We tried sailing but the wind again was slow and we made it to the river, just before it was completely dark.
The next morning we took a dinghy ride up the river, where we found two more boats anchored just around the corner, it was one of the nicest anchorages we had, saw lots of dolphins jumping and diving for their breakfast, really spectacular.
Next morning we left for Boot Key, we had great winds and made 8 knots, wonderful day of sailing, the only small negative thing was that we had picked up a crab buoy and Joel had to take an unplanned swim to check everything out.
We anchored outside the Harbor and Joel went for a dive on Thursday. In the evening we went with the dinghy to pick up Joel and to go to West Marine and have dinner in a very nice place Joel had heard about during the diving trip. On our walk we met another Fountain Pajot catamaran Antigua, we will try to keep contact, there are only about 55 Antiguas made.
On Friday we sailed outside the reef to Key West (to get some Atlantic feeling), the sail was very good but the waves were very high, not a comfortable ride, in the evening we anchored west of Fleming Island and went ashore to get the feel of Key West and watch a wonderful sunset.
Now Joel has left this morning and we tried to do some shopping, but the prices within walking distance were crazy, so we only took water and will find another place to shop tomorrow.
Ria
Saturday, March 7, 2009
March 7
Tom took the good weather with him, we had very strong west winds and it was also colder this week. While we are waiting for Joel we did some trips with the bus to Summerlin Square, for a visit to (of course) West Marine, Walgreens did groceries etc.
I went for a hair cut; we did laundry, visited the library and had one more time dinner at Bonita Bill’s. Tomorrow Joel is coming, the weather does not look good for a direct trip to Key West, but we will see. An uneventful week.
Ria
I went for a hair cut; we did laundry, visited the library and had one more time dinner at Bonita Bill’s. Tomorrow Joel is coming, the weather does not look good for a direct trip to Key West, but we will see. An uneventful week.
Ria
Sunday, March 1, 2009
March 1
We had a wonderful week with Tom, really nice weather, we installed handrails on the back of the boat, we needed someone smaller to get into the stern compartment and Tom was the one. We changed oil in the two engines and showed Tom Estero Island Beach. He felt very young, because there are a lot, I mean really a lot of snowbirds here in Florida. Nearly every third car is from one of the snow states, with Minnesota on top.
Monday we moved to the mooring field, we immediately got visits from two former Dutch Guys, and one told us about a small restaurant on the water “Bonita Bill’s”. It was a really nice place, which we would never have discovered on our own. Tuesday we had a nice sail to Big Carlos Pass, where we anchored of Coon Key. We were landed in dolphin heaven; they were everywhere, jumping as if they were in a show, so great!!!!!!!!!
Tom and Jacques went for a dinghy ride to show Tom how fast it could go, really fast, and discovered around the corner some stores, from where they took some beer home. The next morning we sailed to Sanibel Island and we tried out the spinnaker for the first time. Tom and I went to the beach to do some shelling, he found a very nice one that was still alive, so back on board we cooked it and opened up very nicely.
Back at the mooring we checked out all the side channels, because one of them should have a dingy place and a short walk to food store and library. Luckily there was already a little boat otherwise we would have missed it. You tie to a mangrove and try to step on the mangrove and not next to it, like I did when we came back and smashed our fresh strawberries.
The dinghy and I are still not very good buddy’s, I have blue spots everywhere from getting in and out of the thing, which is by the way called “Alex”, because he was a master in handling that boat. We also took a trip up the Caloosahatchee River which would lead us into downtown Fort Meyers, but the traffic on the water was so busy, that half way we stopped on the water to have lunch and went back to the mooring. As a treat we went to our favorite Bonita Bill’s instead. There was a karaoke event and we enjoyed some really good singers (and of course also some very bad ones).
The time has been flying and today we had to say goodbye to Tom, who had to take a taxi because his flight was very early.
Ria
Monday we moved to the mooring field, we immediately got visits from two former Dutch Guys, and one told us about a small restaurant on the water “Bonita Bill’s”. It was a really nice place, which we would never have discovered on our own. Tuesday we had a nice sail to Big Carlos Pass, where we anchored of Coon Key. We were landed in dolphin heaven; they were everywhere, jumping as if they were in a show, so great!!!!!!!!!
Tom and Jacques went for a dinghy ride to show Tom how fast it could go, really fast, and discovered around the corner some stores, from where they took some beer home. The next morning we sailed to Sanibel Island and we tried out the spinnaker for the first time. Tom and I went to the beach to do some shelling, he found a very nice one that was still alive, so back on board we cooked it and opened up very nicely.
Back at the mooring we checked out all the side channels, because one of them should have a dingy place and a short walk to food store and library. Luckily there was already a little boat otherwise we would have missed it. You tie to a mangrove and try to step on the mangrove and not next to it, like I did when we came back and smashed our fresh strawberries.
The dinghy and I are still not very good buddy’s, I have blue spots everywhere from getting in and out of the thing, which is by the way called “Alex”, because he was a master in handling that boat. We also took a trip up the Caloosahatchee River which would lead us into downtown Fort Meyers, but the traffic on the water was so busy, that half way we stopped on the water to have lunch and went back to the mooring. As a treat we went to our favorite Bonita Bill’s instead. There was a karaoke event and we enjoyed some really good singers (and of course also some very bad ones).
The time has been flying and today we had to say goodbye to Tom, who had to take a taxi because his flight was very early.
Ria
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Feb 19
We had a wonderful day with the Portmans, went to visit their place, a really beautiful campsite where I saw my first alligator in a pond on the site, and I had been on the look out for so many hours, but they are very hard to spot. We took advantage of being in a car and went for a big shopping spree to the Wall mart, RadioShack and of course the West Marine. Great day.
Next day we motored to Bokeelia Island and had again a nice anchorage. We took a dinghy ride into town, but as soon as we wanted to tie the boat, people came immediately to tell us we were on private property. We had to go to a wall and hoped it was okay. After lunch we dingied home and decided to leave Bokeelia to the Bokeelians. But we had a very nice dinghy ride into a mangrove little river.
We moved back to Useppa Island for two days. Went to a private harbor and did as if we belonged there, made a walk over the island, a wonderful place so lush with plants and birds and very expensive houses!
Tuesday we sailed to Sanibel Island and anchored in a bay north of S.I. We made some long dinghy trips because the only thing we could get in the neighborhood was bait!! So Jacques went to Pine Island which was a long and wet ride.
Thursday we went to Estero Island by way of the” miserable mile”, it is really called that way, because it is a very small channel and when you would go a little outside you would be stranded, we were a little nervous and were fixated on the buoys, but made it without a problem and stopped at Moss Marina, where we had reserved a place for 4 days. Nice Marina, nice people and it was the cheapest we had until now.
We took a bus ride to Publix, a big food store and filled up with everything we needed and walked around the beach area and tomorrow Tom is coming!!!!!
Ria
Next day we motored to Bokeelia Island and had again a nice anchorage. We took a dinghy ride into town, but as soon as we wanted to tie the boat, people came immediately to tell us we were on private property. We had to go to a wall and hoped it was okay. After lunch we dingied home and decided to leave Bokeelia to the Bokeelians. But we had a very nice dinghy ride into a mangrove little river.
We moved back to Useppa Island for two days. Went to a private harbor and did as if we belonged there, made a walk over the island, a wonderful place so lush with plants and birds and very expensive houses!
Tuesday we sailed to Sanibel Island and anchored in a bay north of S.I. We made some long dinghy trips because the only thing we could get in the neighborhood was bait!! So Jacques went to Pine Island which was a long and wet ride.
Thursday we went to Estero Island by way of the” miserable mile”, it is really called that way, because it is a very small channel and when you would go a little outside you would be stranded, we were a little nervous and were fixated on the buoys, but made it without a problem and stopped at Moss Marina, where we had reserved a place for 4 days. Nice Marina, nice people and it was the cheapest we had until now.
We took a bus ride to Publix, a big food store and filled up with everything we needed and walked around the beach area and tomorrow Tom is coming!!!!!
Ria
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Feb 11
We had a nice sail to Charlotte Harbor, the first night we anchored east of Gasparilla Island, but it was very choppy during the night, so we left for Useppa Island, very nice anchorage off the ICW, saw two groundings (made us feel much better), visited Cabbage Key for lunch and took a walk over the island. We had peaceful time with some nice dinghy rides and are leaving tomorrow for Burnt Store Marina, where we will meet with the Portman’s. Until now there has not been a day without dolphins!!!
Ria
Ria
Friday, February 6, 2009
Feb 6
Today we had a wonderful sail to Venice, our Piet Wireman had given us two anchorages, so we thought that would be an easy landing, but the two places were full and they really did not like having us in between them. After searching up and down for half an hour we decided to go to Crows Nest Marina. After tying up, where Jacques really had to show he can handle the boat (very strange corner for catamarans), we had lunch and decided downtown Venice was really too far to walk, we had a peaceful afternoon with reading and playing my Nintendo!
Ria
Ria
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Feb 5
Yesterday we had a nice breakfast, it is an easy walk to downtown and after that we took separate walks, Jacques was still very upset about the grounding, so we took some alone time, I of course made my walk back from the whole food store twice as long, because typically for me, I forgot again the name of the street where I had to turn, exercise is good for you!!!!
Today we met with Ira and Cheryl Berman, friends of Karin’s parents. They took us for a nice sightseeing of Longboat Key, had a nice lunch at the local Salty Dog, it is still very much below the normal temperature, so we put the heaters on when we came home, was a nice day.
Ria
Today we met with Ira and Cheryl Berman, friends of Karin’s parents. They took us for a nice sightseeing of Longboat Key, had a nice lunch at the local Salty Dog, it is still very much below the normal temperature, so we put the heaters on when we came home, was a nice day.
Ria
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Feb 3
Yesterday was a peaceful rainy day at anchor, but today was quite the opposite. We left this morning for Sarasota and because the wind would be 20 to 25 knots from the NW we took the ICW (Intra Coastal Waterway). With big waves from the back a sand bar decided to place itself underneath our port hull, and yes we were stranded!!!! After several tries we decided to call the towing company.
After a few minutes we were free but 450 dollars had to be paid by us, the Boat US would pay another $150!!!!!!! We were a little shocked. Within the next half hour the starboard motor alarm went of, so we shut that one down, not our day, luckily we found a nice spot in Marina Jack in Sarasota and after calling Mark, our Pensacola motor guy, Jacques could easily fix the problem.
Now to bed and forgetting this day, Ria
After a few minutes we were free but 450 dollars had to be paid by us, the Boat US would pay another $150!!!!!!! We were a little shocked. Within the next half hour the starboard motor alarm went of, so we shut that one down, not our day, luckily we found a nice spot in Marina Jack in Sarasota and after calling Mark, our Pensacola motor guy, Jacques could easily fix the problem.
Now to bed and forgetting this day, Ria
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Feb 1
Yesterday it was an uneventful ride to the manatee river where we anchored just across from De Soto Park. In the late afternoon we went for a dinghy ride and decided to find a restaurant for dinner. There are of course not much neon signs on the river to show where there is a restaurant, so we had to dinghy a few miles to find a marina with a restaurant.
It was completely dark when we drove back, luckily two other boats had there lights on, it would have been difficult to find our home. Today we went over to the De Soto national park, named after the man who discovered it, it would have been better named after all the Indians they killed there, just of course my opinion.
Ria
It was completely dark when we drove back, luckily two other boats had there lights on, it would have been difficult to find our home. Today we went over to the De Soto national park, named after the man who discovered it, it would have been better named after all the Indians they killed there, just of course my opinion.
Ria
Friday, January 30, 2009
Jan 30
Today we walked to the Salvador Dali museum, was really nice, must be one of the biggest in America (said the brochure), was quite a walk and on the way back we visited the aquarium on the pier. Cleaned a little the boat because tomorrow we will leave for the Manatee River.
Ria
Ria
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Jan 29
We are not lucky and it rained nearly half of the day. Jacques installed the Led lights in the port hulls, so every bunk now has its own light, an other thing done from the still long list of things we wish to do.
Ria
Ria
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Jan 27
We left Clearwater, the dolphins came again to say goodbye, to go to St. Petersburg, had to motor the whole trip for lack of wind. In the sailing guide was a anchorage just downtown and we found a nice place in the basin just north of the “pier,” a big thing in St. Pete’s.
Ria
Ria
Monday, January 26, 2009
Jan 26
Nice weather again and we took a long dinghy ride, Jacques clearly wanted to see what the dinghy could do we, so it became a racing trip, not really how my thoughts about a ride is, we were really wet when we came back to the boat. In the evening a gentleman named Piet Wireman came by, he had seen the Dutch flag and wanted to try his Dutch again, was a nice visit, he gave us some tips about anchoring places and were we should go for dinner.
Ria
Ria
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jan 25
Very rainy day at the anchor, I read one and a half book! And Jacques was just trying the computer, very peaceful, the weather still a little on the cool side.
Ria
Ria
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