LOBSTER HUNT Feburary 28, 2009

After a quick bike ride to West Marine and Publix (our favorite two stores), we set up the boat for visitors. Trish and Ted arrived from South Shore III, followed by Rose and Gary from Rose’s Pick. As we leave our mooring, we pass a new resident in our neighborhood!

We pass under the lift bridge and out of Boot Key Bay. Tom has information about Lobster areas from Pat and Colin and we decided to explore these areas in the Gulf where they might be found. Up went the sail and we moved along at a slow 3-4 miles a hour. Low winds mean less waves and a good day to snorkel.

Gary enjoys a quick lunch prepared by wife Rose.

Bethal Bank is north west of 7 Mile Bridge. Debbie drops anchor in about 10 feet of water. It did not look like a lobster bank with lots of places for them to hide in the rocks. In fact there are no rocks. Regardless, we decided to check the area out and suited up or not. After some exploring and no signs of any thing that might make anyone think lobsters frequent the area, we pulled anchor and tried another shallow spot a little farther south.

Trish and Rose keep watch.

The most exciting event in this area was when we gave up and swam back to the boat. As we got within 20 feet of Catrina a strong current (and we don’t know where it came from) surfaced and made it difficult to swim back to Catrina’s stern steps. Ted made it back, then Debbie and finally Tom but where was Gary? Rose said he was in front of Catrina. We got his attention and he swam directly along Catrina to the back. Tom had a rope ready in case he swam passed the stern and needed hauling back.

Later Bob and Gary are on the bow so long that we call them to find out what is happening. And of course we did not find out! Could they be looking for Lobsters?

We have had a great time snorkeling but would like to see some fish and beautiful coral. Tom takes us back to the Atlantic side to Sombrero Reef. It is so clear from the boat that we can see the bottom and many colored fish. This time we convince Rose to borrow some goggles, wear a life preserver and venture away from Catrina with a rope and floatation cushion.

In a very short time, we know Rose is hooked and Gary will have to shell out the money to get her snorkel gear! This part of the reef has deep narrow gaps in the coral which stretch 30 feet down to the sandy bottom. Many plants reside on the coral and the area is so full of different kinds of fish that we cannot count them. Being late in the afternoon we see patches of sun and shadows. It is beautiful!

Finally everyone is back in the boat but Rose. Gary finally drags her out and we pull anchor and head for Sister’s Channel.

Look at the grin on Gary’s face!

As we reach Sister’s Channel, the sun is setting.


On the foredeck we find Trish and Ted.


Okay, that’s better.



Tom drops dingies and friends at their boats and we head for U-6. Along the way the fleet lights up (mooring lights, that is) as night draws near.

RIDE TO 7 MILE BRIDGE February 27, 2009

On the way to the Marina we stopped to thank Pat and Colin for dinner. They must be out walking. This is our elegant restaurant from last evening - Lady Margaret.

We hurried on to the MCM to use the facilities as our black holding tank was at 100%, a number no one needs to reach. Fourtunately, we were on the list for a pump out today!

Our destination today is West Marine. We picked up a new boat hook which floats! This one is retrievable when Debbie drops it!

Can you find the new boat hook?


We continued south on the main drag to 7 Mile Bridge. The cars use the new bridge and the old bridge has been made into a walking, fishing and golf cart bridge to an island. The picture below shows the walking bridge on the left and the car bridge on the right.




We decide to ride our bikes on it. It is two miles of easy riding. When we reach the end, a section of bridge has been removed so there is no way we can go further.


Guess what - the ride back into the wind is much more difficult and we stop 3 times in 2 miles. When we finally get back home, we have riden over 7 miles. Our bodies feel invigorated but our bottoms are very sore. The bike seats leave a lot to be desired!

Colin and Pat are back on Lady Margaret and we wish them well on their trip to Fort Myers. We are happy to get home, eat lunch and relax. Debbie reads a book while Tom uses his computer and goes for gas in the dingy.

About 4 we head for MCM for showers and the news. We have a dinner invitation from Ted and Trish aboard South Shore II. They are docked farther up Boot Key in a slip. We have drinks and nibbles on the stern, brats and broccoli salad inside and strawberry and blueberry shortcake back outside. The moon looks in on us. We get caught up on our adventures on the Rivers and Loopers we know in common.

BICYCLES February 26, 2009

We crashed pretty early last evening and woke up before the sunrise today. I have stopped printing pictures of sunsets because they always contain the same boats! However, the sunrise obviously has different sailboats!

Tom heads out early for the Marina to catch up on the news he missed last night. We made a lot of progress getting Catrina back to our usual set up but she stills needs to be cleaned. Debbie got out the 409 and shop vac and went to work. When Tom returned she was finishing up the windows. He got out the acetone and went after the last yellow cedar nut stains from our neighbors tree at Crystal River. Now we are ready again for guests!

After lunch and a 15 minute “digestive” nap, we head for the Marina and our new bikes. First we head a mile up the main drag to K-Mart and look for head lights. We don’t find any we like. Debbie has her backpacking one at home but we may need a light now for after dark riding home.

At the laundry yesterday, Debbie heard about a bike trail to the Atlantic Shore from between Publix and K-Mart. We found it and discovered where a lot of the locals live and where the kids go to school. The beach area is landscaped with bathhouses, plantings and cement trails. The sand is very firm and made up of large grains. It is beautiful and littered with people sunbathing!

We walk the three block length to Sister Canal where Tom points out a Gemini like his old one. We sit on a bench under a palm tree and wish we had brought drinks and lunches.

The ride back into the wind is a little more work and we realize we have not been active enough. We get a few things at Publix and head up for a nap before dinner.

We are not the only ones with bikes at our Marina. The biggest problem is finding a spot for two bikes on the stands!

Dinner was served by Pat and Colin on Lady Margaret. We sat at a table with linen on the top fly bridge and watched the sunset and the boat lights glow all around us. Pat prepared a first class meal of spinach salad, lime tequila chicken, baked new potatoes and asparagus. To top it off she added yogurt and strawberries to our pecan pie. We learned that Colin is an electrical engineer and Pat a dialysis nurse and their home port is Hamilton, Ontario. After dinner we learned a new dice game - Farkel.

FRIENDS LEAVE February 25, 2009

There was a very unusual and noisy Alarm Clock on Catrina which started before the sun was even thought of. Bang. Crash. Where is the phone that is ringing? It is a phone alarm? Slam - Did someone run into a door? Pump, Pump, Pump - Did someone forget to close the bathroom door? When it got to be 6:30, Tom and Debbie decided they must be the only ones left in bed. Tom stuck his head out the door and discovered that most everyone else had gone back to bed!!! (or else Catrina had a very noisy ghost)

This is the morning when our Indiana Guests depart for places north. Breakfast around the settee was an assortment of leftovers and cereal. The boat was scoured for belongings. As far as we can tell, nothing was left behind! They did not even leave a fishing pole!

As Debbie threw the mooring lines and fender overboard, the fender came loose. After a couple missed attempts of capturing it, Mark from next door ran his dingy out and grabbed it. Thanks, neighbor! (Aquila)


Catrina saw Glen, Carol, Lynn and Alice off at the Marina dock while Debbie retrieved the car parking sticker, emptied trash, put tags on our new (actually very old) bikes and paid water fees. Tom scrubbed and sprayed Catrina off (no more salt and fish smells) and filled the water tanks.


Back at the U-6 we reclined on either side of the settee and watch Obama’s Tuesday evening address to the Nation. It is fun to have visitors and then it is fun to just lay back afterwards!



In the afternoon we tried out our new bikes and treated ourselves at Wendy’s as we got caught up with USA Today. Fresh baby Asparagus was on sale for $.98. Add Carol’s leftover spaghetti and Debbie’s red beans and rice for a great and easy meal!

We had our social time at the showers and made some new local friends. We saw Pat and Colin saying goodbye to their guests. Carol from the Laundry brought us up to date on her Canadian Boat registration problems or maybe solved problems. Bill gave us the latest gossip on when the new shower building would open.

An average day with lots of interesting boats all around us!

EXPLORING February 24, 2009

Winds of 15 to 20, bright sunshine and lots of waves! Sailing paradise.

After breakfast the group decided to venture out in the car toward Key West. Debbie took two loads to the dock. The wind was kicking up some waves in Boot Key and the front man in the dingy got a free salt water spritz! If she keeps up this ferry service, it might be safe to ride with her. Did you know that the easiest way to remember forward is to think starboard - speed! Turn the lever to the right for forward. That leaves Port-Reverse.

Dinner is planned at Key Industries when the group returns from galavanting.

BRIDGE ADVENTURE February 23, 2009

Catrina makes her usual stop at the Burdines, the gas/bait/ice store (and a restaurant upstairs). The attendant tells us a number of boats have been getting nice fish at the 7 Mile Bridge. Off we head for the Bridge.

We decide to try the Atlantic side since we were unable to plant an anchor on the Gulf side. We drop Anchor but are not sure it is firmly planted and decide to move to another place. That’s when the fun starts. The bridge is about 50 feet off and we are up wind. Debbie cannot pull the line up. It goes under the boat. About that time if you came by you would see lots of bodies hanging over the side looking for the anchor line.

We found the line running down the port pontoon to the port motor and then under the port side and straight away from the boat. Tom moves the boat in all sorts of directions trying to free the line. Alice and Debbie try to grab the line from the side and loose one of our two hooks. Stupid move. Glen and Lynn pull up the port motor and there the line is over the shaft of the port motor. Unfortunately, there is no slack in the line.

Tom joins Debbie up front. We put a bumper on the end of the line and detach it from the anchor box. If we have to throw it overboard, we can retrieve the anchor. Debbie lets out line from the Anchor Box to make a slack line and Tom quickly lifts the line off the motor shaft. We are able to pull in the anchor just before we run into the bridge . Catrina quickly heads out into the Atlantic. It only took six adults one hour to free the line and it exhausted all of us! We hope that will be our greatest adventure of the trip!

To cool down we headed for Sombrero Reef for a swim. All the fish that were there yesterday are still there but the water is cooler and the group does not stay in as long this time. However, Alice saw a new creature--an eel!

Glen and Carol are friends of Tom's when he lived in Southern Indiana. Their families used to sail to the Bahamas over spring break.

Lynn Ray is their son and Alice is his happy wife.

After lunch we headed north along the Atlantic Coast to Flounder Hole - maybe we would be lucky!

No flounders but we had lots of interest from another species!

We moved to another spot with about the same amount of success. This time, however, the anchor gave us a difficult time coming off the bottom. This must be a really good anchor.

Back home at U-6, Alice prepared Chili with or without spagetti noodles and crackers. It was delicious and we thank Carol for putting these three meals together.

When you go over to MCM, you meet the nicest people standing in line for the showers! Debbie is getting much better at driving Tiggerl. Also we went before it was pitch dark! Sailing is a little like camping. When it gets dark, it is bedtime. However, when it gets light . . . .

FISHING AND SNORKELING February 22, 2009

Today is a WONDERFUL water day - All shades of Blue.

Catrina dropped anchor under the 7 Mile Bridge but it would not hold on the rocks. We trolled out to the Sombrero Reef with a few nibbles but no bites. At the Sombrero Reef everyone got into gear. Some persons claimed their wet suits might have shrunk but with a little wiggling and squirming, we all managed to suit up.

This was the perfect day for seeing deep into the water. It was clear with a little current and lots of colorful fish. We even saw a group of 8 baracuda! Debbie found a fish that was not in the Florida fish book. It had a blue nose, all fins were back and the center portion was yellow! It also stayed on the bottom, swam solo and liked to hike under coral!

After a lunch of last night’s leftover dinner and a good nap, we tried more fishing. This time they liked us and were hungry.

Glen caught the first fish.

Alice liked to sit on the stern and cast.

Then she caught a beauty. Just look at that big smile!

Lynn Ray on the other steps pulled in lots of fish. Here are some. If you haven’t guessed Lynn is the son of Carol and Glen.

But the biggest fish of all which wasn’t yet big enough to eat was caught by Glen.

Debbie threw together some of the food that Carol brought and we dined on Salad and Spagetti. It took two boat rides to get us all in to the Marina for Showers. Glen and Lynn went to the market for milk and came home with multiple bags!

When Tom and Debbie got back to the boat after watching news at the Marina, everyone was tucked safely in bed. It was only 9:30!

NO BITES February 21, 2009

Our Guests from IN arrived about 9 p.m. Catrina met them at the dock and gave them a dark night ride to U-6. After stowing gear and food, we had a nice sit around-get caught up and then to bed.

Saturday morning dawned windy but sunny. We motored out under the south bridge to the seven mile bridge. When our anchor did not hold, we decided to drag a line on the way to Sombrero Reef. The catamaran rocked up and down and over the waves. Lynn and his wife Alice fished for three hours without a nibble. Along about that time we lost both of them to seasickness. After lunch we decided to go into harbor and buy some antinausea medicine!

Tom escorted the ladies to dock in tigger for a nice shower. When the men arrived, Glen drove us to Wendy's for milkshakes!

It was Carol's night to cook. She had prepared the fixings for three easy to make dinners and tonight she selected Tacos. Yum, Yum!

After dinner and a afternoon nap, Alice and Lynn took on the fish again.

BICYCLES February 20, 2009

After watching four of our friends ride home from dinner on bikes as we hiked along the highway, we decided to make a change.

Today we borrowed Peggy and Bob's bikes to run our errands! The pure speed of peddling along the sidewalk was heaven. We rode from 35th street to 90th street, just above the airport. We stopped at all sorts of stores. We even had lunch at Wendy's! Our life is going to change.

We looked up Winddrifter and bought the two bikes he advertised over the 9 a.m. radio. It was cash on the line. Debbie even rode the smaller bike and the wheels did go around! Come Monday when they leave Boot Harbor we will be the proud owners of two very old rusty bikes with lock--to make sure no one steels them! Our world has just openned up to anywhere we can sail or peddle!

Debbie also tried to get a new battery for her camera and did not succeed. The old one is quickly failing. We hope it will last a few more weeks.

Four friends from Indiana are headed our way and should arrive about 8 p.m. tonight. We plan to take Catrina to the Marina to pick them up because poor Tigger would probably be underwater with over three adults and luggage! The fun begins!

LOOPERS February 19, 2009

Three couples we met on our trip down the Rivers joined us today snorkeling at Sombrero Reef. The group of boaters that makes a circular route up the Atlantic Coast, across the Great Lakes, down the Rivers and back to Florida are called Loopers. Catrina is a Half Looper because we only did the Rivers side.

About 10:30 three dingies arrived at Catrina. We tied all four soft siders to U-6 Ball. After loading aboard lunches and snorkeling gear, we headed for Sisters Channel (previously called Fishing Canal).

The sun was bright without a cloud in the sky - a blue bird day! A light wind gave us promise of sailing. When we reached the Atlantic, we headed directly into the wind toward the Sombrero Marker. The Trapeze became a focus group. Peggy, Trish and Pat found lots of things in common while Colin beside Peggy looked on.

After tying up at the Reef, six got into gear and jumped in. Because of the waves, the water was a little murky but there were plenty of little fish. We floated around on the waves. It felt so good. With wet suits on, it felt warmer than 72! This is the only shot Debbie got of snorkeling and the heads are Colin and Pat.
After swimming we ate lunch and Tom and Debbie put up the sails. We crisscrossed the area at a roaring 3 mph. Such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon with good friends.

Ted and Trish aboard South Shore III hailed from Richardson TX and Frankfort MI. Debbie knew them from Crystal Lake. In fact they bought her first Woodpussy and now race it. That is a sailboat! They started the Loop in NC where they purchased their trawler last spring and will be completing the loop this spring.

Pat and Colin aboard Lady Margaret are from Hamilton Ontario. Colin has made the loop five times and this year Pat is doing the complete trip with him. Debbie and Tom met them at Frankfort Harbor shortly after they had purchased Catrina.

Peggy and Bob aboard Baby Grand were originally from Wisconsin but moved to Colorado when they got the Baby. We met them at Joliet on the wall. When they passed by Crystal River, they stopped to see us. We have been following their trip on their blog. They will complete the loop by summer time.
After a wonderful time on the Atlantic we made plans to meet for dinner at Key Industries.
Tom and Debbie hiked in but the other four rode bikes. On the way home it looked like one very long bike with the first person wearing a head light and the fourth one three red back lights! Loopers have style!