GOODBYE BOOT KEY HARBOR March 7, 2009

This is our last day at Marathon City Marina. Tomorrow we start our trip up the Gulf Coast to Crystal River. We have been here 26 days and away from home 35 days.

Tom made one last repair on the boom but first we had to go to West Marine to get a part. Debbie continued the bike ride toward the airport while Tom checked out the news. The repair was made and Tom returned the borrowed tool to Midori.

We haven’t mentioned much about the Marina except the balls. Along the side of the Marina is one channel which goes inland that is used to dock a few boats overnight, the two MCM boats and sometimes the sheriff’s boat. At the far end the channel is divided with the hard sided boats and drinking water tap nearest the Marina Building and the soft sided dingies on the far side. As you can see in the picture two-thirds of the dingies are soft sided. Sometimes especially in the morning, it is very hard to find a spot!

Our new ball is right across from the Marina. The open area is very shallow water.

Can you pick out Catrina? It is just over the left side of the bush. Second Avenue in right in front and the houseboat is behind our floating home. Does it help to see what the Marina looks like from Catrina?

During the day, we replenished drinking water and moved the bikes to the port deck. Tomorrow on the way out we will top off our gas tank. Hopefully, we can sail most of the way. However, Tom just checked and said we may not have enough wind as we move up the Gulf Coast.

We advertised the bikes on the morning net but did not get any buyers. Tom decided to bring them with us in case we wanted to explore any of the cities along the way. It is to bad we could not get a picture of just one bike in our small dingy!

We also rested up and read books after lunch. In the late afternoon, Debbie took this shot from our from our starboard stern.

PRUSSIC HITCH BRIDLE March 6, 2009

Yesterday was so much fun we decided to do it again. Tom went to watch his news programs and Debbie climbed back in bed and read the paperback romance Tom read yesterday.

However, Tom came back from MCM with a surprise. Our Spinnaker was back and all the holes were sewed up. We opened it up in the cockpit and looked at all the stitching. Unfortunately, the wind was way over 15 mph which ruled out trying it today but someday . . .

About mid afternoon we heard pounding on our transom. Our doorbell. Brian and Lynn from Midori, Toronto, CA, came to visit. They have the thirty-third built PDQ of our size and we have the third. When we first arrived, we stopped to visit with them. Tom talked about the changes he had made while Debbie showed Lynn around.


Brian had a tool Tom had wanted to borrow from someone but had been able to find. They invited us up to get it (I think they are in B and we are in N). While there Brian showed and explained his Prussic Hitch Bridle. Since our PDQ’s did not have a centered anchor line, we need to make a yoke on the bow. We have been using a pulley on a line to move the anchor line to the middle.


Midori was built in Canada and first owned by US citizens who then sold her to Canadians. The hull is exactly the same as ours but some of the equipment is different.

On our way home we passed a cute little boat which Tom called a New England Tug. On its side was Nordic Tugs.

We got out our bikes and road up town stopping for a paper, milkshake, apples and pepsi. Exercise is good especially when we have been so lazy recently!


The wind has slanted Catrina a different way and now this boat above is beside us and Salsa below is behind it.

SOMBRERO BEACH March 5, 2009

Catrina said goodbye to Clint and Pat as the courtesy car from Marathon Airport picked them up and delivered them to their plane. Tom really enjoyed their company and talking about airplanes and sailboats!

The rest of the day we used to re-energize ourselves. Tom did lots of projects around the Catrina and caught up on TV news. He also restocked the milk and cookies!


Debbie took a ride to Sombrero Beach and read her mystery book.

Previously, we had noticed how the seagulls were different in the Keys and Debbie finally got a picture of them.


Can you pick out the different ones?

Yesterday the Marina moved us to N-2 which is right off the main channel to MCM. Across the channel we see lots of boats in A-J.

In front of us is Second Avenue from Lutz FL


Beside us is Laura with no port of call.

Behind us is the biggest houseboat on a ball!


The big news from yesterday that we completely forgot to mention was our turtle sighting on the Gulf side. We thought at first that it was a big piece of board but as we got closer we could see it was a very large brown turtle, maybe 5 feet long. We think it was an Atlantic Green Turtle (which are brown) but when we got close he did not stay around for us to observe! He dove down into the Gulf and disappeared!

PELICANS March 4, 2009

As Catrina leaves Boot Key Harbor we pass the resting area for a large group of Pelicans. We have seen them here before but now we know it is a favorite spot for them.

We even see a Peligan on the 7 Mile Bridge.

This morning the wind is strong (15-20 mph). We could not pass up going out to sail as soon as everyone had breakfast. With a north wind we decided to try the Gulf side first. It did not seem to be quite as windy so we headed for the Atlantic side.

Tom and Clint chart paths on the GPS.

As we re-enter the Atlantic we see a large ship passing far out to sea. Debbie crops the picture and brings it in closer for you to see.


Clint took over the captain's chair for the rest of the day until we returned to port. He did a great job and we will miss him when he returns home tomorrow.

When we return to Boot Key Harbor, we have finally been issued a new ball much closer to MCM. We asked three different times to be moved so our guests did not have to travel so far to shore. Now that our third set of guests are leaving tomorrow, we get a close in spot.

When we are all squared away at N-2, we look around and find Clint like this--

And Pat like this--

Now Pat, do you really think we believe you were sunbathing?

As we leave for dinner, the sun is dropping over the boats where we used to be moored.

Everyone enjoys Annette’s for dinner. Salads from a very well stocked bar. Each person had a different kind of fish in a gourmet sauce. Debbie had a stone grilled meal which she cooked at our table. The grill was a square of granite heated to 750 degrees! She suggests if you have a meal like this, you don’t need to wear a sweater!

We had a rematch of Train and the men again won - Tom this time, Clint last time. Lady luck does not seem to reside in Boot Key Harbor.

GUESTS March 3, 2009

Ring-A-Ling goes Tom's Phone. Pat and Clint are taking off from near Weirsdale. Debbie and Tom hurry to MCM and on to Publix and the Showers. Catrina is ready.

Ring-A-Ling. Clint and Pat are standing on the dock at MCM! We quickly untie Catrina and head in. Clint catches the bow line. Pat and Clint are sailors and travel light. Also they arrived by small Airplane. We add fresh water and head out for a nice long sail. Clint shows his skippering ability and Tom relaxes!


We sail to Sombrero Reef but it is too wavy and not clear enough to look into the coral. Pat and Debbie attempt to make sandwiches as Catrina pitches up and down.


In the late afternoon we head in. After mooring, we relax for a while and decide on dinner. A pleasant dingy ride through the sailboats leads to a walk to Keys Industries and a good fish dinner.


All is quiet at home. A little newspaper reading and then Tom and Clint set up Train.

Here is a winning first play at 5 p.m! All chips down in one play!

ANNETTE'S March 2, 2009

The northwind was down a little from yesterday and last night but the water still glistened as it kicked up ripples. We decided to make it a day ashore or in harbor.

We got a late start heading up to MCM about 9:30. Just off our boat we spied a bunch of floating debris blown out of a side canal.
Debbie started bread in the activity area. We tried to watch news in the big barn area of MCM but the noise was too much. All the old Washers and Dryers had been removed and they were cleaning the floors. Word is that when the new ones arrive, they will be installed here. Does this mean they are not going to open the new bathhouse or they were never going to be put there in the first place?

We decided to exercise Tom’s leg. We headed south but crossed back over Route 1 to check out the Salvation Army for bike seats. They recommended a bike store.

On the north route Tom’s bike took him to Annette’s Lobster and Steakhouse. Rumor has it that they have a very good $5 lunch. We were their first customers.


Stain glass windows line the walls and the dark wood inside is covered with fish models (for sale) It was so dark that Debbie with her dark glasses on could not read the menu! Tom ordered from the $5 menu and was stuffed. Debbie had chicken salad (salty) and salad (delicious).

On the way out Debbie checked out the Ladies and found the only bright spot. Below is a picture of one of the tiles!

Tom again watched news at MCM and Debbie relaxed at Catrina and washed windows. The wind is down some. The temperature is dropped and it maybe in the lower 50’s than last night.

Below is a map of the middle and lower Keys. Marathon is on the far right.

The large number refer to Coral Reefs. Yesterday we were at #12 Sombrero Reef.

When our next guests arrive we may go north east to #13 Coffin’s Patch or South. The island at the end of 7 Mile Bridge is Bahia Honda, a State Park, where we stayed last November. Just below that are two more Reefs, #11 Newfound Harbor and #10 Looe Key.

RABBIT, RABBIT March 1, 2009

Catrina starts a new month with a non-typical Florida day. We start with a warm, sunny day. Tom heads for the MCM to do laundry and catch up on the news. Unfortunately, the women who are also at the laundry require that he stay at the machines or lose his spot! The machines are going downhill quickly. We cannot wait for the new bath/wash facility opens!

Debbie spends her time getting Catrina back in order. First on the list is to put the snorkel gear away. She creatively hangs it outside in the sunshine to dry.

Very soon the wind rises. Debbie uses special clips to attach the hangers to the main sheet to keep them from blowning away!
As she stores gear, she notices an unusual sight.

Can you pick out what Tom should not see?

If you guessed that the ladies are rowing their men upwind and all appear very happy, you win the Observation Award of the day!

In the early afternoon, the sky clouds over and the wind whistles by. It is a grey day!

We hear one clap of thunder and rush to close windows before a brief rain shower hits us.
About 3 p.m. we decide we need exercise and take the bikes for a ride to the Airport. Tom wanted to stop and get ice cream but by the time we visit Publix, it is biting cold and we head for home quickly. Next time we will wear long pants. Debbie’s hat blew off three times. It just might make 30 mph winds as predicted.

Of course, we stop at MCM to catch the news as Tom claims he was so busy tending the laundry, he missed it this morning!

When we reach Catrina and look back we see that the lights at the sports field are already on and it is way to early for that! If you cannot see them, they are directly over Aquila's sail cover and above her stern is blue sky!

Tom checks the mooring lines while Debbie whips up a Salad and Spaghetti. We pull Tigger out of the water because no one is going out tonight! We can see the sliver of moon through the top windows as Catrina wanders back and forth and rocks us to sleep.