Observer

Leaving Faro Blanco (photo courtesy of AC Stebel) Thurs. 1/11   Off the dock at 9:30. Jim and AC got some great photos of us leaving Faro Blanca.  We crossed under the Seven Mile Bridge and are now on the East Coast.  We had a 45 mile run south down to Key West.   It was a beautiful sunny day but the seas rocked us a bit as we made our way south.  We arrived at Galleon Marina about 3:00 where we will be for a month.  We took a little walk around.  Our buddies Reenie and Greg from Thistle are here in the marina.   Approaching Key West Fort Zachary Taylor Beach This is the remains of a 90' coast guard research vessel which smashed against the marina seawall during Irma More remains of a different vessel. our view to the port stern starboard stern starboard from the fly bridge starboard bow We all went out to Vahevala (on a mooring in the harbor) for docktails.  We had not really exercised full preparedness for t

Wednesday 1/10   Off the dock @ 7 and through some dense fog following our tracks from the previous day on the chart plotter and using the radar for an added benefit.  We are headed to Marathon tag teaming with Hour Plan.  It's about an 90 mile run and we have a light breeze off our stern out of the North.  The fog lifted about 9:15.  We had pretty flat seas and a bit of a tail wind and we really had to push Observer to make this run in daylight.  We arrived at Faro Blanca Marina at 5.  It's a beautiful location we many Loopers spend month(s) at a time; as will Hour Plan.  After attending to some chores, we joined docktails with some fellow boat owners and caught the sunset - picture perfect.  As we are only in town for one night, we deferred to Jim and AC  for dinner recommendations and they suggested Burdines, about a 1/2 mile walk away.  It's a very casual spot on the water.  Burgers were the specialty, so that's what we had.  Unfortunately they are also famous for

Tuesday 1/09   Millie fell in the water getting back on the boat this morning after her walk. It's a short step from the dock to the swim platform.  She has to step then turn and I had not pulled the boat in yet and she jumped, turned and fell in the water- She was not happy.  For about a minute she would not get back on the boat, but then she remembered she was just about to have her 'yum yum' aka bully stick and she composed herself and stepped gently on Observer this time.  At 11:00 we pushed off the dock and within a couple hours we were at Marco Island Marina.  It was fun going past many of the landmark properties we used to pass by when we visited here for many years.  AC and Jim met us here and we invited them on our dinghy for a little tour around Marco. We all piled in and headed our of the marina when our outboard engine started racing so high in rpms we had to shut it down and row back to Observer.  Not sure what the solution is. . .have to do a little rese

Sunday 1/07.   At low tide yesterday mid morning we were sitting in the mud.  The dockmaster suggested we head out by 8:00 am, so we did.  We still hit a bit of mud going through the channel exiting the marina.  The wind was blowing 15 knots. ENE; the waves hit us in the stern starboard quarter but were not too bad as they were coming off land.  We entered Gordon Pass about 11:30 and made our way up the inland waterway of Naples to the Naples Boat Club.  We have a prime spot with great views of the river boat traffic.  Tim got out on the bike to tour around the Naples bike trails (very bike friendly).  We have spent quite a bit of time here in Winters past as Tim's parents had a house in Marco Island and we visited Naples frequently.  It is a very wealthy and beautiful community.  Two examples I had to adjust the upper price limit to four million on my Realtor app to see what properties were on the market AND we saw our first Bentley SUV (starting price $230,000).  We hit an artist