Bicycles

Transportation on land is a conundrum when you live and travel on a boat.  For small boats, one solution is folding bicycles, so we have 2, one for me and one for Daryl.  It definitely increases your range, as Jeff would say.  No matter how hot the sun is, it is cooler and faster to ride than to walk. We can put groceries in our baskets.  

Daryl bought me a Port Runner about 2 years ago. My bike is red with 20 inch wheels and rides very smoothly.  He customized it with heavy duty tires and a big comfortable seat.  We tested it at Ft. DeSoto and it passed.  So we packed it in the quarter berth and it fit.  When we got to Marathon I rode it several times, one trip to Pigeon Key, about 4 miles away on the old 7 mile bridge with Jeannie on her big bike, and I kept up with the pace.  Another trip I rode to Vaca Cut and beyond about 5 miles one way.  Another trip at dawn to view the sport season for lobsters on the bridge.  So we called it a success and determined that the benefits of having a bike would warrant the space on the boat.

We scouted bikes at the marina and found a nice abandoned one that needed new tires and seat because it had decomposed.  But the marina impounded it because it didn’t have a tag. 

Daryl looked online and found a great deal – a folding bike for $120 free shipping and almost assembled.  We got it within days, and it was such a big deal, Ty at the marina desk called to tell us it was in.  Daryl dashed over and assembled.  He had to adjust the wheels and it was ready to go!  

We have ridden up and down the roads of Marathon and out to Sombrero beach.

Now that we are getting ready to leave we will need to stow 2 bikes in the quarter berth.  But we have solved this conundrum, and we will ride our bikes on the islands.  

Marathon Cruisers Net

Each morning at 9:00 am on VHF Channel 68, Marathon Cruisers Net gives the weather for the day, welcomes new boats to Boot Key Harbor, wishes farewell to departing boats, makes announcements, does buy/sell/trade, solves problems, and ends with a little trivia and final business.

It is hosted by the boaters in the harbor and volunteers who are called net controllers.  Net controllers open it each morning following the agenda plus monitoring the conversation.  You get some very interesting conversations, but most of all what I like is the community of it all.  It is like sailing, you never know what is going to come up next.  For example, I learned about Spanish classes and Tai Chi from the cruisers net. 

Sage from Spirit Dancer is my favorite.  She has a kind voice and you can tell she is compassionate and caring, and that you could call on her confident that she would know what to do to help you.  Charles on Ship of Fools is perky, sometimes a bit too perky in the morning, but he has my favorite closing line, “Remember, we are all here because we are not all there!”  Don’t you love it?!  Don on Lady Trianna, a trimaran of course, has the best radio voice, and he always includes his wife Dina, his dogs, Rudder and Tiller, haha what a hoot!  Then we have a guy who sounds just like Click and Clack, the Tappit brothers on Car Talk.

The Net provides a venue for sharing information on the storms, too.  With Tropical Storm  Erika bearing down on Marathon, the net is used to see what issues are out there, who needs assistance, and sailors share best practices and gear.  We have a special Net at 7:00 pm a couple of nights before TS Erika was scheduled to hit us.

So we look forward each day to our daily dose of Cruisers Net.  And it is ok that we won’t have one at distant islands and deserted beaches; that will be very different, more adventure than community.  Just like air conditioning at the dock, it’s nice, but you may as well stay home if that is what you want. 

Mother Nature Smiles

Tropical Storm Erika has dissipated into a wave that not even NOAA wants to waste time reporting.  Mother Nature once again smiles upon us this hurricane season, but true to form, we sailors take her very seriously and we will continue to watch with due caution and be alert to other systems that may develop behind her. 

So we feel good about our schedule.  We paced ourselves in the heat and put the main sail back on this morning and bring the anchors back to the boat from the bike rack.  We will reconnect them to the anchor rode and put our safety wire back on.  This evening we will put the head sail back on fore stay, the Honda outboard on the stern rail, flush the Nissan with fresh water and stow it in the locker and secure the dinghy in the davits. Cushions back in the cockpit, buy fresh groceries, and then … D takes the truck back tomorrow and takes greyhound bus back next day, quick turn-around!  As Anne and Laura say, “get out fast, vamonos!” before the next storm delays our sail.  Enough with the delays.

Good always comes from these exercises, so we are grateful to be in a safe harbor in the event of a hurricane, and we plan to be safe in the Bahamas, too.  There are fewer hurricane holes and more low level islands, so we got on our charts and gave it some serious thought.  Andros has some protection and Ships Channel in the Exumas has some high ground, but we thought – how about being close to Florida for a quick run to shelter given a big storm?  If you get a chance, look up Walker's Cay, the northern most island of the Abacos and Bahamas – it’s got a great hurricane hole and its close to Florida.  Prevailing winds are easterly, so theoretically, a pleasant long day sail to coast of Florida, and safe harbor in Titusville.  Then back to the Bahamas to explore the south islands after the season.  

Who knows Mother Nature may continue to smile upon us the rest of hurricane season.  Let’s hope so!

Captain Iggy and The Big Fish

 Captain Iggy

Daryl made friends with the iguanas by feeding them bananas, and one quickly learned our cockpit was the source of all bananas.  We now feed them in the parking lot and they don’t board Fly Away anymore.  

It’s all about the food!

Just ask Cinnamon or Sawks.

The Big Fish

Fishing on Fair Winds, a 41 foot Out Island sailboat with outriggers, Jeannie caught this bull dorado, also known as a dolphin fish, or mahi-mahi on the menu, in 400 feet of water about 10 miles offshore.  I saw it leap to take the ballyhoo bait and it jumped 2 more times. What a fighter! What a beautiful fish!!  We ate it that night and it was delicious. 

It’s all about the food! 

Just ask me, Daryl, Gordon, or Jeannie. 

Tropical Storm Erika

We are sailing into peak hurricane season.  We are safe sailors and take all precautions, but living in Florida we cannot avoid all hurricane risks, therefore, we prepare and minimize our risks as best we can. 

Our plan in Marathon is to clear the decks of all canvas and sail, stow the extra fuel cans, lock Fly Away up, put the dinghy and Honda motor on the truck, and drive north to Orlando.  The marina requires we move the boat from the floating dock to the mooring ball field.  We will tie special hurricane lines to several cleats on the boat and to the base of the mast for extra measure of security. 

When we are in the Bahamas we will be alert for weather systems and have our hurricane hole scouted out and within sailing reach.  We will use our inventory of anchors, chain, and rode to secure our boat, and most likely, we will stay with the boat, as the islands probably will not have shelters or hotels, but if they do, we will make prudent use of them! 

   

The good news is that TS Erika is weakening (from 50 to 45 mph) and forecasted to move in a more northwest direction and stay off the coast of Florida.  Yet the National Hurricane Center forecasts her to become a hurricane (75 mph) by Monday morning.  Because of the uncertainty of hurricanes, one must not become lulled by favorable forecasts, so we remain alert and ready to go into evacuation mode. 

We returned the truck to Orlando and planned to ride with our friends, Gordy and Jeannie, back to Marathon, and then head to the Bahamas, distant anchorages and deserted islands, and all that.  TS Erika changed those plans, and here we are with the truck in Marathon.  When TS Erika passes and hopefully, all settles down to normal, Daryl will take the truck back and return next day on the bus. Then with a good weather window, we will head east to the Bahamas. 

Meanwhile, I had a mini-vacation in St. Petersburg.  The first thing I noticed when I entered my little condo was how HUGE it had become in my absence!  The rooms were so large, the counter tops spacious, the sinks huge, and my bed was king size!!  Ok, not really, but comparatively, for sure.  So to make your home larger, try living on a boat for 2 ½ months. 

I completed a list of to-do’s when I was in St. Petersburg and got to catch up with friends.  Candy made spiralized zucchini pasta for Sunday dinner – beautiful, delicious and healthy.  She and I got to do some yoga with Barbara Scion. I walked the beach with Amy and we celebrated her birthday. Visited with Ann and Ralph who are always on the go and doing well.  I ran each morning and pledge to take my running shoes no matter where I go.  I swam some laps in the pool and generally tried to get some good exercise.  I spent leisurely time on the phone with my distant friends, Anne, Laura, and Kay.  I also got a sailor’s haircut from Paul and a much needed facial with Georgette.  Plus Dr. Kasia gave me a clean bill of health!  So all is right in my world.

It’s good to be back on the boat, and we shall see what the next few days will bring.  Stay tuned.  

No-end-to-it start* of the open ended sailing trip

Sailing is being one with delays.  I cannot believe I can wait for over 2 months in a harbor to sail to the Bahamas when in my whole life, I never had more than 3 weeks to get there, have fun, and get back!  

It has been a luxury to have the time to finish the projects, and yes, they are all done!  We got the last must do project done Friday – we picked up and registered the new dinghy.  Now we return the truck to Orlando and hop a ride with friends, Gordy and Jeanne, and get back to Marathon.

We will be leaving by end of August with the next fair weather window.  Of course we are watching Tropical Storm Danny which is forecast to be a hurricane by end of week. It is currently south of us and 1600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles headed west.  That may affect our plans to drive north and leave the harbor. 

We will leave Boot Key Harbor in Marathon and anchor overnight at Matecumbe, sail to Angel Fish Pass where we will cross the Gulf Stream to Bimini.  There we will no longer have phone communication and only occasional internet connections. 

We did purchase a satellite communicator, DeLorme Inreach SE, which will allow for 2-way communication anywhere in the world.  It has texting and emails.  We can send up to 160 character messages and it also sends our location, so you will be able to see us on a map.  The purchase was a difficult decision because on one hand we hope to disconnect while in the distant anchorages on deserted islands, but with current technology making it possible to connect, why not?  We can always turn it off!   It is good to have options. 

*Laura named this blog entry 

Mini Lobsters; Sport Season

For two days in July before the lobster season opens, lobster divers and snorkelers can hunt lobsters in the keys - subject to certain license, rules, regulations, and limitations.  This year 30,000 lobster divers and snorkelers bought licenses and came to the keys with small and medium size boats to get their 6 lobsters per day; 12 over the 2 day season.  It’s commonly called mini lobster season.

Laura asked ‘Can you eat twice as many mini lobsters?’ Good question, but it’s more accurately called the mini season for lobsters!

I had heard of it, vaguely, and D had participated in his youth, so we considered it; then thoughtfully, we decided to avoid the craziness, chaos, and fun.  On the first day I rode my bike to the famous 7 mile bridge at dawn to see the action.  From the bridge I saw boats everywhere – at each of the columns under the bridge, boat to boat on the horizon, and near each shoal in between.  There were thousands of boats.  Each boat had the requisite red and white dive flag, and I am sure each diver had his/her tickle stick and measurer.  The tickle stick is to get the lobster out of its hole or structure, I am not sure actually how it works.  The measurer is to make sure no lobster is taken that is not of legal size. Legal size is more than 3 inches on the carapace, or the rigid upper shell of the lobster.  From reading the rules, I sense the intent of no harm to the lobster, so no spearing and you need to use the orange gloves, and you can’t poke the tickle stick with intent to injure.  You can’t take pregnant females, lobsters with eggs under their tails.  Then there are the geographic limitations!  Then there were the law enforcement boats going boat to boat to check licenses, equipment, and lobster limits. Monroe County Sheriff Department, Florida Marine Patrol, Fish and Wildlife Commission, and US Coast Guard (for safety only) were all out in force. The really good news is no reported deaths or serious injuries.  Over the past 10 years there are 1-2 deaths per season, usually due to lack of preparation by the divers according to the local news papers. 

We saw lobsters in the water gathered at the docks by the Keys Fisheries near the marina.  Little did they know what was coming and what was in store for them and their colleagues!  I am sure the lobster nation was trying to raise a white surrender flag.

A new rule this year addresses lion fish, a spectacularly beautiful, poisonous, and invasive species that eats everything on the reef and has no predators at this time.  They eat lobsters, too.  There are various programs that are attempting to rid the area of lion fish.  In mini season for every 10 lion fish that a diver brings in, he/she can get 1 more lobster.  So the dive shops are promoting lion fish catch holders, creative looking traps and tools that catch the lion fish without endangering the diver, in addition to all those tickle sticks and measurers! The diver actually spears the lion fish and sticks it in the catch holder where it is contained with other lion fish and cannot prick anyone. One local dive shop, Tilden’s, is hosting spiny and spine dive tours.  Spiny for the lobster and spine for the lion fish.  We haven’t seen any lion fish – when we asked we were told that Marathon has been successful in pushing the lion fish far out to sea, but it’s still there, breeds year round and remains a threat to the local environment.  Supposedly, one diver has made quite a living from the bounty on lion fish.  There is a restaurant that advertises lion fish sushi, and it’s a hoot on the plate!! Come to think of it, Rumfish on St. Pete Beach serves lion fish chowder, I had it at the Chowder fest with Claire.

Now that the mini-season is over, it’s time for the professionals to move in. Marathon announces lobster season official start with a huge display of fireworks.  How did we find out?  They woke us up with the thunder and lights of nearby fireworks at midnight.  At midnight August 1, the lobster fishermen can start setting out their traps.  So the fireworks are the starting guns for the race to set out with boats full of traps.  If you had driven the keys in the past month, you probably noticed the many traps along the way.  Miles and miles of traps stacked 8-10 feet high.  They are now being loaded, boat after boat, trip after trip, until the stacks are gone.  D and I drove to Key Largo to pick up a cable for the AIS function, and got to see many lobster traps already set in the waters, and boats filled with traps headed out, and empty boats coming in for more. Our friend Tony at West Marine told us he has 3 commercial customers who will be putting out at combined 10,000 traps! The lobsters don’t have a chance! 

The lobster fishermen can start harvesting their traps August 6.  I love lobster! 

Cuba maybe? Maybe later!

D and I have always wanted (just as any other US sailor) to sail to the beautiful island so close yet so far, Cuba.  We have made the commitment to go only when it's legal for US citizens, which may mean we will be the last of our generation to go! With the recent opening of embassies in Havana and Washington, DC, we heard rumors of sailing without permission or license.  Several boats from Marathon sailed off; Eleuthera with my Spanish classmate, Jamie and her husband Steve, was one.  I wish them well.  Unfortunately, when I researched a bit further, I found it really isn’t open to tourism by visitors as we want it to be, so we will sail our course to the beautiful islands of the Bahamas and enjoy it legally without concerns.  And the added benefit – they speak English!! 

In honor of the improving official relations between USA and Cuba, and hopes of one day going to Cuba, I put effort into learning Spanish.  Marathon made it easy, the local library hosts a Spanish Class each Monday 4-6 pm, and I faithfully attended and studied and prepared.  The teachers had good lessons and were very bright.  Plus I am following up using Duolingo.

Here is one homework assignment that I will share with you:

Mi llama es Margarita.  Yo navigacion ilimitado en un velero.  Esa hay un tiempo y sin destino especifico.  Estoy haciendo esto lograr la meta de su vida, disfrute de la belleza, estar circa de la naturaliza, el agua es incolora (limpia agua), aren blanca, pacifico, y hay gente.

Yo navigacion lo antes posible. Dispues de completar los proyectes. Como madre naturaliza permiso. 

Yo navigacion para el anclaje de distancia, a las isla desiertas.  Yo navigacion a las Bahamas, quiza mas.   

To my Spanish speaking friends I apologize, and to my English speaking friends, here is what I intended to say:

My name is Margaret. I am sailing open-ended on a sailboat.  That is, no timeframe and without a specific destination.  I am doing this to accomplish a life’s goal, enjoy the beauty, be close to nature, clear water, white sand, peacefulness, and no people. 

I am sailing as soon as possible.  After completing projects and as mother nature permits.

I am sailing for distant anchorages and deserted islands.  I am sailing to the Bahamas, maybe further. 

Soon.

Our current status: All projects that must be done that we can do are done.  We are waiting for the dinghy to arrive, scheduled August 10 and ready for pickup 3-5 days later in Homestead.  Once we bring the dinghy back to Marathon, we need to finalize provisions on the boat, and get the truck back to Orlando, then get ourselves back to the boat, and then … off we go, sailing!