Settling in for a Florida Spring

Paul & Emyl getting ready to launch off Osprey

Now that we are re-situated with Independence in Plantation Key, we are accustoming ourselves to a new home base, and exploring the area. We have taken Osprey, our new 29-ft world-cat, out a few times now that all systems are (hopefully) working. First was a kite launch, in very shallow water in the bay just off our marina. Seychelle, Emyl and Paul all had great rides, and we got to chase Paul downwind in our fancy rescue boat.

We also had a fabulous dive adventure, guided by Tim, Seychelle's dad, who works with the marine scientists, and got us permission to dive the underwater research habitat. It has been abandoned for a short time, but the hundreds of fish- barracuda, snapper, grouper, etc-- have definitely not abandoned the area. The platforms and structures provide a nice habitat for prowling fish, we even saw a free-swimming green moray.
The most interesting part was swimming under and into a bell-like structure with oxygen at the top level. We could actually stand on a platform, with our heads inside this inverted bowl and talk to each other, as our heads were out of the water! Strange, indeed.

Tim and Paul at the helm

Later that day we were treated to a great dinner and inspiring sunset at the bay front home of Tim and Donna.

Although Donna & Tim took us out in her convertible-- This was not it!

Once again, delightful to make new friends, as we have taken our temporary leave of our old friends both at home and in the Bahamas. Good times, new times.

The marina that is home for now, is also a community park, featuring a first class olympic-size pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, sport fields and a skate park. There is also a small beach from which you can rent hobie cats, kayaks, etc. Today we saw a rescued and rehabilitated loggerhead turtle being released back to the bay at this beach.

Independence at Plantation Cay Marina

The Park also has an amphitheater. We have been swimming laps in the wonderful pool.

15-18 yr old loggerhead turtle

Cruising Again

March 2012

Keeping it brief-- lack of entries in this blog for the 2011 cruising season, due to our Bahamas adventure being cut short. We returned to Ft. Lauderdale in early January (Sue by plane, Paul following with Independence and
intrepid crewmate, Debi). Sue proceeded to visit various back doctors, MRI centers, chiropractors, acupuncturists for severe sciatica issues. After scheduling and canceling one surgery, finding an incredibly well-respected neuro-surgeon, and re-scheduling surgery with her, the body finally decided to start healing on its own. Wel
l, almost 4 months of invalid status, and finally returning to normality, the doc says don't do the surgery. How can you argue? Especially when you feel you have your life back!

Meanwhile, Paul remained happily busy at the World Cat dealer on a daily basis as

they put all finishing touches on our new baby: a 29-ft., center console power cat with twin 250hp Yamahas. Snap!

We look forward to bringing "Osprey" home to spend her time taking us around the East End and New England.

Shortly after the initial launching, Lisa arrived from Boston to look after her post-surgery Mom, who was actually pretty fine by that point, without surgery. Although the visit was short, we made a good attempt at enjoying every minute.

Johnny Dep's boat in Ft. Lauderdale

Cruise ship in Port Everglades

A fun place to grab a hamburger and a beer

(and feed the tarpon)

Without the time and weather to return to Bahamas, we decided to spend a month down in the Florida Keys. Never having gone there by boat, it was time to step out of our comfort zone. Although the wind blew fiercely for over a week, and threatened another week of same, we woke up Friday morning, cancelled our hair-cut appointments and grabbed the one and a half day of calming wind and seas that we saw in the forecast. Our first day took us to Miami Beach, where we stayed at the base of South Beach and had a pleasant and filling dinner with Capt. Joe P., our ol' buddy.

Early Saturday morning, out of Miami, Independence headed down the ICW, passing Miami in the morning light. South of Key Biscayne, we headed west from the ICW to proceed south on Hawk's Channel, or the passage east of the chain of islands, but west of the long corral reef running alongside the Keys and providing a buffer from sea swells, as well as terrific snorkeling and dive sites.

It was a great passage, and by afternoon, we decided to pull in to a marina at Key Largo on the ocean side. The entry was interesting, including the obligatory "securite" call on the radio-- once for the approach to the ridiculously narrow entrance at the breakwater, and again at a turning at the end of the canal, affectionately dubbed as "crash corner" for obvious reasons.

Once inside the tight space and tied up in an even tighter slip, we began to wonder if this was a big mistake, since we knew the winds were picking up that evening and on for the foreseeable future, as far as getting back out on the ocean side...

Although the digs were a bit "ghetto", the people were all extremely friendly, and when we walked across to the bay side later, for a sunset beer and then dinner at a local, and fabulous diner, we were happy for the interesting diversion.

Sunset Key Largo

This morning, however, we took the plunge, and decided to head back out in building winds and seas to come a bit further south to a marina and park on the bay side of Islamadora. Yes, the water is very shallow, and thankfully yes, it is mostly soft sand. We have not left our track in the sand yet, but....

We have now arrived at, ok, I feel like it is paradise. After the hustle and bustle of Ft. Lauderdale, the oh-so chic-ness of Miami Beach, here we are with the friendliest people in the world, a beautiful, new, olympic-swimming pool and park area, a sweet beach with bar-b-q and hobie cat rentals, tennis courts, trails, basketball, ampitheater-- all in a very laid-back atmosphere. We both swam long laps in the pool, and enjoyed reading in the lounge chairs. Paul took a bike ride and chatted with Hal Jones on the dock. I even jumped in the water off the back of our boat to swim with 2 very friendly manatees, who let me scratch their bellies!

Oh, there seems to be no TV service. Watch me cry. :)

Maybe not attractive, but certainly friendly manatee!