Day 358
We have had a busy March. More company - more fun! And an excuse to eat more Burdine's french fries and deep fried Key Lime pie.
With more guys coming down to fish the first week of March, I took the opportunity to go home and hug our grandkids for a few days. While I was gone, Greg's friend Tom Peterson and son-in-law-Randy experienced Florida Keys fishing. Our son Matt and nephew Ryan (who both live in Florida) drove to Marathon to join the fun for the weekend.
Next up was our son Michael, who flew down to drive our car back to Michigan for us. It was his first time in the Keys, and we tried to cram in as many sights and sounds and foods as we could as he was only here 2 days. He loved every minute and his enthusiasm about everything made us smile. He gets excited about the little things - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! It gave us the chance to hit all our favorite places one last time before we leave Marathon.
We no longer have a vehicle and are back to being true Loopers. We can only go as far as our feet or dinghy will take us without calling a cab.
Our last visitors were a pleasant surprise. We found out this morning that our niece Lyndsey's in-laws had flown into Ft. Lauderdale and were driving to Key West for a vacation. We contacted Jarek and Barbara Zahel and they stopped by the boat this afternoon. We were able to give them some suggestions of things to do and places to eat while in Key West.
I had decided a long time ago that my souvenir of Florida was going to be a crab pot marker ball. They are something we don't see in Michigan, but are literally everywhere in Florida waters. I wanted an authentic one, not purchased in a gift shop along with the t-shirts. The Vaca Key Marina is across Highway 1 from us. (Vaca is the name of the key where the city of Marathon is located).
Commercial fishermen dock there. When I went, several fisherman were sitting at an outdoor table. They did not speak very good English but I explained that I would like to buy one of their markers. One fisherman went on his boat, opened a storage box and held up a ball. I said, "Yes!" Another fisherman got a ball from his boat, and strung both on a rope for me. (the crab pot balls are painted and numbered to identify who they belong to). And they would not take any money.
But the big news is we are going to the Bahamas! Just like before we left Ludington to begin the Loop back in September of 2016, we are very excited and a little nervous about this next adventure. We have spent the last two weeks pouring over our charts (paper and electronic), looking at Active Captain (a boating crowd sourcing site, similar to Trip Advisor) reviews of marinas and anchorages, and checking several weather sites to try to choose the best day to cross the Gulf Stream. I have been reading the blogs of other Loopers we know who made the trip to the Bahamas last year and their writings have been a road map for us. Our heads are swimming with information!
When we are in a marina here in the U.S., water is supplied free at every slip. We just hook our hose up. In the Bahamas, they will charge anywhere from 25 to 75 cents a gallon to fill our water holding tank. So for the first time, we will be using the shower and bathroom facilities at the marinas we stay at. And no using the clothes washer on the boat. To conserve water while we are anchored out, we will take NASCAR showers. When we had our motorhome, the Magee men would go to the NASCAR race in Michigan every August and camp in a field that had no electric or water hookups. Showers were limited to: get wet, turn the water off, lather up, turn the water back on to rinse off. Hence the name for a short shower.
While we still had our car, we did major provisioning for our planned 3 week stay in the Abacos. They do have grocery stores there, it is just that everything costs about 3 times more than here. So we stocked up on non-perishables. We've turn our bunk room into a pantry. The deep freezer in the cockpit is filled with burgers and brats and hot dogs and chicken and steaks. We are loaded with some things that are pretty heavy - gallon jugs of drinking water and cases of beer and pop. When we leave, True North will have a full holding tank of water and full fuel tanks as well. Let's hope we don't sink before we get started! It is a good thing that potato chips are so lightweight. Since they are one of the four main food groups for us, we have an embarrassing amount of bags onboard. You would think we are going to be gone for 3 months instead of 3 weeks!
Getting ready to travel to a foreign country isn't all about food. When going by personal watercraft, there is a lot of paperwork involved. We have filled out pages of Customs and Immigration forms to make checking in with their system and returning to the states easier. Having and showing a passport is not enough. We have tried to have all our ducks in a row.
On the personal side, prepping for the trip included a short Bahamas hair cut for me. Not particularly attractive, but highly practical - no blow dryer, no curling iron.
When we bought the boat back in 2016, we are sure the previous owner gave us keys to the lock on the door. We can't find them anywhere. We have never locked the door, but think it will be wise to do so in the Bahamas when we are off the boat exploring by foot or dinghy. So the other thing on the to-do-list was get a locksmith to install a new lock with 3 keys. Check.
Greg is on a vacation with his family and returns to the boat Friday, March 30. We will leave for the Bahamas on the first good weather day after that. Right now, it is looking like it will be Saturday, the 31st. We plan to run directly from Marathon to Bimini. The Gulf Stream lies off the coast of Florida and runs from south to north. It will give us about a 2.5 knot push. The rule of thumb for crossing the Gulf Stream is you can't go if the wind direction starts with an "n" - north, northeast or northwest.
So the winds will dictate when we can go. I will send out a quick email when we know for sure we are departing.
Marathon has been our winter home the last two years and we have enjoyed our time here. We have also spent the last two winters with other Loopers who have become friends, so we are having some sad goodbyes this week with lots of promises to stay in touch.
Leaving isn't quite so difficult when the excitement about the next stop (Bahamas!) takes over.
Wishing all a blessed Easter. He is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
From front:
Matt, Ryan, Randy and Greg (bent over)
Tom and Ryan with a big catch!
Randy and Matt
My souvenir crab pot marker balls
with Michael
Some people boat the old fashioned way - with oars!
Dolphins have been coming into our harbor every day
Keys Fisheries is famous for their Lobster Reubens. I was determined to have one before
I left Marathon. As you can see, I was tall enough to eat one.
You have to be thankful for the little things . . .
Barbara and Jarek Zahel
Water aerobics at our marina pool on Monday morning. I am at the very back.
One of the "ducks that had to be put in a row" for the Bahamas trip.
We are required to have this sticker upon returning to the U.S.
Unique and random photo of the day:
This has been our view off to the right of the back of True North for two years.
It is a skeleton of a sunken, rusted boat and a perch for a variety of birds.
