s/vYOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 232 Entry 0041 Celebrate like a local! 2

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Thursday, January 2, 2014  

Day 232 Entry 0041

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10 http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Marathon in the Middle of the Florida Keys

Actual Date:  December 31, 2013 New Year’s Eve, Tuesday

Subject:  Celebrate like a local!  2

It was my job to think of something to do to close out 2013, while Captain Steve cleaned the filters on the outboard motor, which is a Mercury four stroke 6.0 engine.    http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/4-6/  Boy oh boy does my Captain Steve love to clean filters!  Thankfully there was just a little gunk in this filter and no presents left on the salon table!

So what to do till midnight?  I thought of what we can’t do:  invite friends over – we don’t really know anyone here; can’t watch the ball drop in New York’s Time Square – we don’t have cable TV. http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/index.aspx

OK enough negativity – I have to look at what we can do!  Some of the local restaurants and tiki bar establishments, that are accessible by dinghy, were having parties.  The prices varied from $50 to $150 per person for dancing to live bands; none of which were familiar, unlimited food and open bar.    Paying that kind of money to be with very drunk strangers, is not my idea of the way I wanted to close out 2013, which was a very good for us!  We would have 2 drinks at the most!  You can not be drunk and get in and out of a dinghy, let alone start the outboard, navigate through unfamiliar territory, keep site of channel markers and locate your white boat amongst 200 others at night with only a hand held flash light to guide you! 

So where do people in the keys go to party?  Everyone goes to the Conch Republic - Key West!  http://www.conchrepublic.com/welcome.htm

Sea u later.  Subject Celebrating like a local. 3

s/vYOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 230 Entry 0039 On the Move.

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Day 230 Entry 0039

New Years Eve

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10 http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Marathon in the Middle of the Florida Keys

Subject:  On the move. 

Captain Steve and I decided to move the boat to the mooring on Friday.  We had some chores to do which are easier to do at the dock then on the mooring so we got up early on Friday.  While Captain Steve worked on down below I was topside.  While Captain Steve cleaned the water  intake filters and screens on the engine and generator, I worked topside, hosing down the deck.  The deck did not need to be scrubbed, since we did that when we arrived from Miami.  After the trip down from Miami the boat was encrusted with salt from the waves and sea spray.  The railing around the boat was completely covered, as though it had been dipped in salt.  Picture the rim of a 48 foot margarita glass!  But at this point the boat just needed a good rinse and some tiding up!  I pulled the dinghy up and secured it.  I got the mooring lines out and secured the chaffing guards.  When I finally went below, Captain Steve had this little present for me spread out on a paper towel on the salon table.  When I saw it on the table I started yelling to get it off the table (since we eat there!)  He kept saying 'It's OK it's on a paper towel!'   'It's only sea grass, there are no dead fish or fish parts in it.'   OMG!!!  Are you kidding???   (I ,ll let you assume who said that!) Then he said take a picture – no one is going to believe this.  So I did exactly that!   But just this once though!

YUCK and more YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!  According to Captain Steve the bright green leaves are a clear indication that the water is clean!  I am not convinced!

Captain Steve thinks that we picked up the sea grass while we were anchored in Biscayne Bay for a week! 

We finished our chores.  Let go the lines and started up river to the Boot Key Harbor and Marina mooring ball W10.  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/
Ready for our next adventure.  Happy New Year!!!!!

Sea u later.  On the mooring!

s/v YOLO Swab's Blog Day 222 Entry 31 Now I'm back!

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Monday December 23, 2013  Day 222 Entry 31

Marathon  Marina and Boat Yard - Slip 63  
http://www.marathonmarinaandresort.com/

Middle of the Florida Keys

December 22, 2013 Tuesday 
Weather:  Beautiful!   Temps - 73 - 85 degrees.  Winds ESE 8 to 10 knots, sunny with blue cloudless skies.

Subject:  I'm back!

I apologize that I have not posted lately but we have been so busy – doing chores on the boat; having company for a week; practicing anchoring; researching various destinations and marina amenities; deciding how and where we are going to celebrate Christmas and New Years; selecting alternative cities and marinas; shopping for Christmas presents; mailing presents; keeping track of inventory and provisions among other things.  Please be assured I  am not shunning my commitment to post but a multitude of ‘things’ got in the way.  In the future I will post at least every other day, even if it is not as informative as I would like.  Living on a sailboat in Florida and blogging are very new to me.  But on the positive side - all this activity has created a lot of material for this blog; some very interesting, exciting, funny; unbelievable and all true!  So hopefully the wait will be worth it!  Thank you for you patience and understanding and most importantly reading and sharing this blog with others!

The following is a recap of the past 3 weeks, each of which will necessitate multiple posting to cover!

·        My sister Gen came for a week so we moved the boat to the Miami Municipal Marina (Miamarina.) http://www.miamigov.com/marinas/pages/marinas/  Had a great time with the three Ms – Miami, Marina and Mojitos!  (actually 4 and Me)

·        Anchoring in Biscayne Bay.  http://www.sandbarhopper.com/biscayne.htm   The process; what we did wrong and right.  What we learned about anchoring, going ashore, our systems and ourselves.

·        Sailing Biscayne Bay.

·        Moving on south.  Traveling on the ‘outside’ for 2 days in very rough seas!  OMG!

·        Coexisting on the boat for 10 consecutive days – and still talking to each other!

·        The sunrises, sunsets, stars, sun and sand!  Best of all no snow!

·        Preparing to celebrate the holidays!

Sea u tomorrow - Christmas Eve!