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!

WORK DAY February 18, 2009

Sorry, folks, we took the day off to get the boat ready for our next crew of visitors!

ERRANDS February 17, 2009

Catrina was very quiet this morning. The Captain and First Mate sleep in. Catrina rocked on the line and wind howled around us. It felt like Sunday!

Tom relaxed with his morning news.

About 11 we dropped Tigger (lowered her into the water) and went up to MCM office. We paid our bill of $2.50 for yesterday’s water to fill our boat tank. What a deal!

Next we headed up Boot Key passing a number of our friends and stopping for a chat.

Brian and Lynn on Midori (PDQ 32)
Anice and Tom on ThomKat (PDQ Trawler)
Colin and Pat on Lady Margaret (Trawler built by Colin’s Father)
Rose and Gary on Rose’s Pick (Carver Trawler)
Peggy and Bob on Baby Grand (A Grand Banks Trawler)
Ted and Pat on South Shore III (Trawler)

We tied up at Baby Grand, borrowed Peggy’s grocery cart and hoofed it to Publix. Tom enjoyed a Wendy Brunch while Debbie hunted for Teva’s unsuccessfully.

On the way back to Baby Grand, Bob came riding up missing one bike pedal. He had been to a marine certification course and lost a bolt in his port pedal.

After such an exhausting day, we took an afternoon nap!

Our goal for dinner was to finish the dolphin fish. Debbie tossed the warm fish in a salad along with the left over rice and ranch dressing. The fish was better the second day! Tom is our hero. He then ate a fish sandwich which ended the leftovers! Peaches for dessert and a quiet evening watching the internet news