Sunday, 2-20-11
Start: Palm Coast 802
Titusville Marina 879
Broken new head - check
Fuel leak - check
After returning from the Bahamas Wed. night, we scurried up until 9:00 PM last night trying to get Sundance ready to head back south to Marathon. We actually had a long day, but a great warm and windy. Passing through Daytona was fun - we could hear the cars from the Daytona 500 buzzing around the track, and the sky was full of planes with banners and two blimps. Moved right along with the current against us the whole day, at times only 5 knots. We were on the ICW by 6:50 AM, but did not get to Titusville until 5:45 AM. I did finally learn something very important today, no matter if we had a 100 foot boat, or a ten foot boat, Crew's favorite place is right under my feet. Oh yes, he was not even trying to be cooperative when we tried to stick him in the bag to lower him from the bridge, and forget about getting him on and off of the boat which was about 2 ½ feet from the dock because of large external pilings, but all is well........
Start: Palm Coast 802
Titusville Marina 879
Broken new head - check
Fuel leak - check
After returning from the Bahamas Wed. night, we scurried up until 9:00 PM last night trying to get Sundance ready to head back south to Marathon. We actually had a long day, but a great warm and windy. Passing through Daytona was fun - we could hear the cars from the Daytona 500 buzzing around the track, and the sky was full of planes with banners and two blimps. Moved right along with the current against us the whole day, at times only 5 knots. We were on the ICW by 6:50 AM, but did not get to Titusville until 5:45 AM. I did finally learn something very important today, no matter if we had a 100 foot boat, or a ten foot boat, Crew's favorite place is right under my feet. Oh yes, he was not even trying to be cooperative when we tried to stick him in the bag to lower him from the bridge, and forget about getting him on and off of the boat which was about 2 ½ feet from the dock because of large external pilings, but all is well........
Early AM crabbers
Marsh
Birds playing follow the leader
Crew on pirate watch
Lots of slow zones - luckily our fastest speed still does not exceed slow zones speed
Air traffic over Daytona 500
Guy on sandbar and home made house boat
Monday 2-21-11
Titusville Marina 879
Loggerhead Marina - Vero Beach 949
Another long day, on the water at 6:30 AM. We would like to get an earlier start but have to wait until there is enough light to see. The best part about leaving early is the beautiful sunrises over the water, and this morning's sunrise did not disappoint, though it was followed by skies that filled in with clouds, followed by fog - you never know what you will find morning to morning. We had a slug fest all day with both tide, and winds up to 20 knots against us. We usually do not head out on a weekend, but not only did we leave on Sunday of this weekend, it is a long holiday weekend which means boat traffic today all out celebrating "Hail to the Chief !" We made it into the marina around 4:00 PM. Now, marinas are both our blessing and our curse. The curse is always getting into an unfamiliar slip, and today was quite the challenge between the wind, and trying to lasoo tall pilings off of our stern that I was not prepared for. Once secure, we wrestled Crew who refused to go into the bag, so we just kind of heaved him down the ladder - we have got to find a better system for all of us ! The blessing of a marina, is once in, we do not have to dinghy to shore for Crew, we sleep soundly at night not worried about a dragging anchor, and it's fun to meet other people at the marinas. So for now, we spit in the face of the curse, and revel in the blessings.
Titusville Marina 879
Loggerhead Marina - Vero Beach 949
Another long day, on the water at 6:30 AM. We would like to get an earlier start but have to wait until there is enough light to see. The best part about leaving early is the beautiful sunrises over the water, and this morning's sunrise did not disappoint, though it was followed by skies that filled in with clouds, followed by fog - you never know what you will find morning to morning. We had a slug fest all day with both tide, and winds up to 20 knots against us. We usually do not head out on a weekend, but not only did we leave on Sunday of this weekend, it is a long holiday weekend which means boat traffic today all out celebrating "Hail to the Chief !" We made it into the marina around 4:00 PM. Now, marinas are both our blessing and our curse. The curse is always getting into an unfamiliar slip, and today was quite the challenge between the wind, and trying to lasoo tall pilings off of our stern that I was not prepared for. Once secure, we wrestled Crew who refused to go into the bag, so we just kind of heaved him down the ladder - we have got to find a better system for all of us ! The blessing of a marina, is once in, we do not have to dinghy to shore for Crew, we sleep soundly at night not worried about a dragging anchor, and it's fun to meet other people at the marinas. So for now, we spit in the face of the curse, and revel in the blessings.
Single pelican and sun rising
Then the fog came rolling in
Finally fog clearing
Crew being sweet - he must want something
Along the ICW
And here come the gnats
This guy was on a 22 foot sailboat with a great dane, and towing what looked to be his belongings
Sandbar party
A happy captain
and a happy Crew
Tues. 2-22-11
Loggerhead Marina - Vero Beach 949
Admiral's Cove Marina - Jupiter 1005
Off right on schedule at 6:30 AM. The best part of the morning was the two hours I spent underway pulling splinters of wood from the docks last night out of the lines, because if any one can get a honking huge splinter lodged in the finger, it would be me ! Started out with tide gods with us doing about 7 knots, but then we became engulfed in pea soup fog which meant we had to slow way down, and we actually flipped the radar on just to be on the safe side. We only had two boats pass us in about a three hour period. It is extremely eerie being on a boat in thick fog, where your visibility is less that one quarter of a mile. Because you can not see anything, your ears strain to hear the slightest change. Jon and I both did not take our eyes off of our path because in these conditions, the more eyes and ears the better. Finally around 9:30 AM, the fog began to clear out and made way for a partially cloudy day, with building winds again. It dawned on us today that it is actually a big vacation week this week, never mind long holiday weekend, and I think every person on vacation this week is on a boat on the intracoastal in Florida, and many of those people on boats are first time boaters ! We managed to get our daily rocking by a large 50 foot sport fishing boat that flew by us at about 20 knots - all I can say is "jumping jeeze johoseaphart" and hold on for dear life and wait for the rocking to subside ! I remain amazed at how discourteous some boaters are. I fantasize about having a 100 foot boat one day, just for one day, finding each and every boat that has left us in their wake rocking and rolling, and, well....... it's only a fantasy because we all know it is better to forgive, that's my story and I am sticking to it ! We arrived at early around 2:30 PM at the Admiral's Cove Marina which is a gorgeous large community - think pool, tennis courts, golf course, marina, three restaurants, 2 fitness centers, spas etc..... - so we plan to take advantage of it including dinner out tonight, early to bed, then on to Boca Raton tomorrow.
Loggerhead Marina - Vero Beach 949
Admiral's Cove Marina - Jupiter 1005
Off right on schedule at 6:30 AM. The best part of the morning was the two hours I spent underway pulling splinters of wood from the docks last night out of the lines, because if any one can get a honking huge splinter lodged in the finger, it would be me ! Started out with tide gods with us doing about 7 knots, but then we became engulfed in pea soup fog which meant we had to slow way down, and we actually flipped the radar on just to be on the safe side. We only had two boats pass us in about a three hour period. It is extremely eerie being on a boat in thick fog, where your visibility is less that one quarter of a mile. Because you can not see anything, your ears strain to hear the slightest change. Jon and I both did not take our eyes off of our path because in these conditions, the more eyes and ears the better. Finally around 9:30 AM, the fog began to clear out and made way for a partially cloudy day, with building winds again. It dawned on us today that it is actually a big vacation week this week, never mind long holiday weekend, and I think every person on vacation this week is on a boat on the intracoastal in Florida, and many of those people on boats are first time boaters ! We managed to get our daily rocking by a large 50 foot sport fishing boat that flew by us at about 20 knots - all I can say is "jumping jeeze johoseaphart" and hold on for dear life and wait for the rocking to subside ! I remain amazed at how discourteous some boaters are. I fantasize about having a 100 foot boat one day, just for one day, finding each and every boat that has left us in their wake rocking and rolling, and, well....... it's only a fantasy because we all know it is better to forgive, that's my story and I am sticking to it ! We arrived at early around 2:30 PM at the Admiral's Cove Marina which is a gorgeous large community - think pool, tennis courts, golf course, marina, three restaurants, 2 fitness centers, spas etc..... - so we plan to take advantage of it including dinner out tonight, early to bed, then on to Boca Raton tomorrow.
and the fogs rolls in again - pea soup fog
starting to clear
clearing a bit
Loading docks at Lake Worth
large cargo ship with pilot boat escort
At marina - Crew pondering how he is going to make the jump up from the boat to the dock
Day is done....
Wed. 2-23-11
Ed’s place – Boca Raton 1045
Another uneventful day, which for us means, great day ! One thing this trip has made me consider is the possibility that I may become a wrestler when I grow up. My practice starts when Jon and I have to go into tag team mode to tackle Crew, then manhandle him up the ladder. Next, I have to tackle 50 feet of heavy yellow electrical cords, and then roll them up wound tight enough to store in a box with an opening of about 18 inches by 12 inches – for those of you have never experienced this – it is just short of trying to wind up a python. Next, I have to get all of the lines recoiled, and ready to go, followed by the fenders I have to get off of the sides, drag them down a small passage way barely wide enough for me to fit through. Finally, time to go to the bridge for coffee. I sit up in that bridge for several hours, pondering, fearing, the next task I must complete which would make the most fearless amongst us quiver, I have to make the d**n beds ! Our beds are single bunks, in the V-berth. The bottom third of the beds has about only 18 inches of space between the mattress and the ceiling. I have to make each bed separately. I start the process by staring down each bed, and I repeat to myself, today I will not be intimidated by those leopard sheets of yours ! I then tackle trying to straighten the sheets out. I have to lie on one end of the bed, pull the sheets back on, which promptly results in the other end flying up in the air and hitting me in the behind. I then have to turn around, then squeeze into the tiny space at the foot of the bed, pull the sheets back down there, which results in the head of the bed popping up and hitting me again in the behind. When I get the sheets secure on both ends, I roll off of the bed which promptly results in both ends popping up, and the mattress is now in the shape of a “U”. Next, I have to get the blanket on, this adds some weight which somewhat flattens the ends of the bed out, but as often as not, the ends flatten out, but the sides roll up resembling a long hot dog bun. At this point, I have had a workout rivaling a session at the gym, so I get a drink, then turn to face the other bed, repeat the process, and remind myself that as long as we can get into the bed, all is well. I spend the afternoon recovering from all of the morning trauma, then we get ready to dock. Now I have to wrestle with all of the lines, and get them organized so I can grab them, leap in the air, land on a dock, and wrestle the boat to the dock and cleat her off. Then I have to retrieve the python electrical cords that I jammed into the storage box, back out of the box – they are as resistant to coming out of the box, as they were going in. Just when you think I am ready to join the World Wrestling Federation, there is one last match of the day – Crew vs Jon and I trying to get Crew back down the ladder. Crew has gotten worse about this task, and has become much more clever and adept at how to spread his legs, so that it is near impossible to squeeze him back down the hatch. I will not be surprised if we are not reported to a local agency for this task, but I assure you, the only ones that get the work out here, are my tag team partner and I. I guess it is true that the Lord works in mysterious ways, but if this is his idea on how to prepare me for a second career with the impending loss of my current job, I am ready to go homeless.
Well, once we arrived today, we were met by Ed who was extremely kind and generous and let us tie up at his dock, to leave the boat while we came back to PC for a couple of days. Jon is flying north for a meeting, Susan’s mom is coming for a visit, then our journey starts again on 3-2-11.
Thurs. 3-3-11
Ed's Place, Boca Raton 1045
Crandon Marina 1092
We had a busy spell back in Palm Coast, and drove back to the boat last night in Boca Raton. Ed joined us for evening libations, then early to bed for us, and early to rise this morning. While we were in Palm Coast, I ordered a lifting harness for Crew, that for a $150.00, I thought should do the trick. Well, I quickly realized the weak link in my new scheme is not the harness, but getting Crew into the harness – OK – back to the wrestling career……
When we got up this morning it was really blowing, but we decided to head out anyway. I would not say that this was exactly a mistake, but…… Just know that in 25 knot winds, Sundance with it’s canvas enclosed bridge thinks it a sailboat. This is fine except at the 1,0000 bridges we had to go through today, with Sundance thinking she is a sailboat, and trying to show off by going sideways towards the bridges, as Jon tried to rein her in until the bridges opened – Jon will tell you this is his version of wrestling…
Our plan is to head on to Plantation Key tomorrow, then arrive in Marathon on Sat. however, if this wind keeps up, we will probably hunker down at Crandon because high winds on the large open bay, with skinny water in a trawler that thinks she is a sailboat, is not in the book called, “The Joy of Boating.”
Ed’s place – Boca Raton 1045
Another uneventful day, which for us means, great day ! One thing this trip has made me consider is the possibility that I may become a wrestler when I grow up. My practice starts when Jon and I have to go into tag team mode to tackle Crew, then manhandle him up the ladder. Next, I have to tackle 50 feet of heavy yellow electrical cords, and then roll them up wound tight enough to store in a box with an opening of about 18 inches by 12 inches – for those of you have never experienced this – it is just short of trying to wind up a python. Next, I have to get all of the lines recoiled, and ready to go, followed by the fenders I have to get off of the sides, drag them down a small passage way barely wide enough for me to fit through. Finally, time to go to the bridge for coffee. I sit up in that bridge for several hours, pondering, fearing, the next task I must complete which would make the most fearless amongst us quiver, I have to make the d**n beds ! Our beds are single bunks, in the V-berth. The bottom third of the beds has about only 18 inches of space between the mattress and the ceiling. I have to make each bed separately. I start the process by staring down each bed, and I repeat to myself, today I will not be intimidated by those leopard sheets of yours ! I then tackle trying to straighten the sheets out. I have to lie on one end of the bed, pull the sheets back on, which promptly results in the other end flying up in the air and hitting me in the behind. I then have to turn around, then squeeze into the tiny space at the foot of the bed, pull the sheets back down there, which results in the head of the bed popping up and hitting me again in the behind. When I get the sheets secure on both ends, I roll off of the bed which promptly results in both ends popping up, and the mattress is now in the shape of a “U”. Next, I have to get the blanket on, this adds some weight which somewhat flattens the ends of the bed out, but as often as not, the ends flatten out, but the sides roll up resembling a long hot dog bun. At this point, I have had a workout rivaling a session at the gym, so I get a drink, then turn to face the other bed, repeat the process, and remind myself that as long as we can get into the bed, all is well. I spend the afternoon recovering from all of the morning trauma, then we get ready to dock. Now I have to wrestle with all of the lines, and get them organized so I can grab them, leap in the air, land on a dock, and wrestle the boat to the dock and cleat her off. Then I have to retrieve the python electrical cords that I jammed into the storage box, back out of the box – they are as resistant to coming out of the box, as they were going in. Just when you think I am ready to join the World Wrestling Federation, there is one last match of the day – Crew vs Jon and I trying to get Crew back down the ladder. Crew has gotten worse about this task, and has become much more clever and adept at how to spread his legs, so that it is near impossible to squeeze him back down the hatch. I will not be surprised if we are not reported to a local agency for this task, but I assure you, the only ones that get the work out here, are my tag team partner and I. I guess it is true that the Lord works in mysterious ways, but if this is his idea on how to prepare me for a second career with the impending loss of my current job, I am ready to go homeless.
Well, once we arrived today, we were met by Ed who was extremely kind and generous and let us tie up at his dock, to leave the boat while we came back to PC for a couple of days. Jon is flying north for a meeting, Susan’s mom is coming for a visit, then our journey starts again on 3-2-11.
Thurs. 3-3-11
Ed's Place, Boca Raton 1045
Crandon Marina 1092
We had a busy spell back in Palm Coast, and drove back to the boat last night in Boca Raton. Ed joined us for evening libations, then early to bed for us, and early to rise this morning. While we were in Palm Coast, I ordered a lifting harness for Crew, that for a $150.00, I thought should do the trick. Well, I quickly realized the weak link in my new scheme is not the harness, but getting Crew into the harness – OK – back to the wrestling career……
When we got up this morning it was really blowing, but we decided to head out anyway. I would not say that this was exactly a mistake, but…… Just know that in 25 knot winds, Sundance with it’s canvas enclosed bridge thinks it a sailboat. This is fine except at the 1,0000 bridges we had to go through today, with Sundance thinking she is a sailboat, and trying to show off by going sideways towards the bridges, as Jon tried to rein her in until the bridges opened – Jon will tell you this is his version of wrestling…
Our plan is to head on to Plantation Key tomorrow, then arrive in Marathon on Sat. however, if this wind keeps up, we will probably hunker down at Crandon because high winds on the large open bay, with skinny water in a trawler that thinks she is a sailboat, is not in the book called, “The Joy of Boating.”
Dock party
So this is where the bananas come from
Wondering if theses cruise ships will clear the 30 foot bridge
Haulover canal out ot the ocean
Another day is done
Crew's first trip to Crandon, 3 months old
Crew back at Crandon at 2 1/2 years od and 55 pounds - so much for a small boat dog
Sun setting with Miami in background
Sundance relaxing
Crandon marina
More at Crandon marina
When I see the sun shining through a hole in the clouds - I call them "God's eye"
Jon and his supervisor
Shades of blue
The color of the water
Great God's eye
Morning salutations
Boy - you buy your dream boat, travel 1,000 miles, then someome ends up right behind you with the same boat....
This is a narrow channel
A prop's worst friend - crab pots everywhere including the channel
Heading in to some rain
Tuesday, March 8 2011
Marathon - Banana Bay Resort - 1193
We ended up spending a second day at Crandon Marina due to the high winds as predicted. We then left Saturday, and went to Plantation Key. In case you were wondering, yes, in 30 knot winds on your beam, trawlers do rock !! We enjoy Plantation Key because it is urrounded by parks, and recreation including a big pool, so there is always lots of activity going on. Finally Sunday, we pulled into Banana Bay around 11:30 AM. It is like coming home, greeted by friends we have made over the past years, and is familiar and comforting. We spent the afternoon doing boat chores, then headed to the gathering "Spot" for sunset bevvies and conversation. We then went to Hurricanes for dinner, our annual tradition on how we spend our first night. They have a fantastic crispy thin crust pizza on the menu this year, so another delight for our taste buds ! Monday we took a long 5 mile walk to check the area out. Headed to Sombreoros for lunch, but we learned they were closed fo another week due to kitchen renovations. This did not prevent Jon, Crew and I from bellying up to the bar for a roundof ice teas, and a double h2o for Crew. With Sombreros closed, we headed back to Hurricanes, which has the best selection of $5.00 lunches around ! Today is shaping up to be another busy day - out to lunch with friends, and well, out to lunch with friends - a busy day for our boat life here in Marathon !
Thurs. 3-10-11
No adjustment needed here from going to our busy lives, to spending our first couple of waking hours just thinking about what to do during the day, then perhaps actually doing it, or may be not. Tuesday night we went to our neighbors with the intent of playing dice. I saw Jon grab my Crown Royal bag from last year, and start emptying rolls of quarters into it. I got upset and told Jon I did not want him to add any money to the bag because I wanted to keep my big winnings in the bag from last year so I would know if I was staying ahead of the game. This is when Jon told me there was only .40 cents in the bag. I was honestly shocked because my memory had the total at about $200.00 - I think he could have broken the news to me a bit more gently. Anyway, by the time we had cocktails, and caught up on everyone's lives from the last year, we decided to just go out for dinner. In the end, I managed to end up with a bag full of money, and it jingles as well as if I had won it playing dice ! Before we left Palm Coast, Jon decided to take our table off of the boat because he thought it was to heavy and took up too much room. I did not think about it much at the time, but it quickly became clear, this was a problem because all we have to set anything down on is a folding table tray. So, I got onto Amazon.com, and had a butcher block table overnighted. Now, I am not saying that this table is heavy or big, but, Jon probably would have been best served by just leaving the original table on board. I also guess I did not notice that the table needed to be sanded, stained and varnished - hhmmpphhh....... Good thing I do not know how to do any of the three. I think my pizza diet is catching up to me - so, this morning I went with a bunch of ladies here at the marina to the town marina for a yoga class. Just perfect, me in my all black work out clothes, doing yoga in the noon day sun on a sticky 1/10 of an inch yoga mat laying on concrete. I am not a yoga girl under the best of circumstances, so after being blinded and roasted by the sun, then every boney prominence, well - fat covered boney prominence on my body being ground into the pavement, back to Amazon.com, and voila - new one inch yoga mat and light colored work out clothes, over nighted. I am not sure how this stuff arrives so quickly - all I know is that Jon got a new card from Amazon, this box comes up that asks if you want it overnighted, and I check it yes. I hope I get everything I want before Jon gets the bill, because I am thinking that all of this overnight delivery is not complimentary !We had a heck of a system come through this afternoon complete with the palm trees bent over with coconuts flying and rain pouring down sideways. From down here on my bunk, it looks chilly outside now - 78 - 80 degrees. Hopefully it will warm up enough for cocktails outside .....
Marathon - Banana Bay Resort - 1193
We ended up spending a second day at Crandon Marina due to the high winds as predicted. We then left Saturday, and went to Plantation Key. In case you were wondering, yes, in 30 knot winds on your beam, trawlers do rock !! We enjoy Plantation Key because it is urrounded by parks, and recreation including a big pool, so there is always lots of activity going on. Finally Sunday, we pulled into Banana Bay around 11:30 AM. It is like coming home, greeted by friends we have made over the past years, and is familiar and comforting. We spent the afternoon doing boat chores, then headed to the gathering "Spot" for sunset bevvies and conversation. We then went to Hurricanes for dinner, our annual tradition on how we spend our first night. They have a fantastic crispy thin crust pizza on the menu this year, so another delight for our taste buds ! Monday we took a long 5 mile walk to check the area out. Headed to Sombreoros for lunch, but we learned they were closed fo another week due to kitchen renovations. This did not prevent Jon, Crew and I from bellying up to the bar for a roundof ice teas, and a double h2o for Crew. With Sombreros closed, we headed back to Hurricanes, which has the best selection of $5.00 lunches around ! Today is shaping up to be another busy day - out to lunch with friends, and well, out to lunch with friends - a busy day for our boat life here in Marathon !
Thurs. 3-10-11
No adjustment needed here from going to our busy lives, to spending our first couple of waking hours just thinking about what to do during the day, then perhaps actually doing it, or may be not. Tuesday night we went to our neighbors with the intent of playing dice. I saw Jon grab my Crown Royal bag from last year, and start emptying rolls of quarters into it. I got upset and told Jon I did not want him to add any money to the bag because I wanted to keep my big winnings in the bag from last year so I would know if I was staying ahead of the game. This is when Jon told me there was only .40 cents in the bag. I was honestly shocked because my memory had the total at about $200.00 - I think he could have broken the news to me a bit more gently. Anyway, by the time we had cocktails, and caught up on everyone's lives from the last year, we decided to just go out for dinner. In the end, I managed to end up with a bag full of money, and it jingles as well as if I had won it playing dice ! Before we left Palm Coast, Jon decided to take our table off of the boat because he thought it was to heavy and took up too much room. I did not think about it much at the time, but it quickly became clear, this was a problem because all we have to set anything down on is a folding table tray. So, I got onto Amazon.com, and had a butcher block table overnighted. Now, I am not saying that this table is heavy or big, but, Jon probably would have been best served by just leaving the original table on board. I also guess I did not notice that the table needed to be sanded, stained and varnished - hhmmpphhh....... Good thing I do not know how to do any of the three. I think my pizza diet is catching up to me - so, this morning I went with a bunch of ladies here at the marina to the town marina for a yoga class. Just perfect, me in my all black work out clothes, doing yoga in the noon day sun on a sticky 1/10 of an inch yoga mat laying on concrete. I am not a yoga girl under the best of circumstances, so after being blinded and roasted by the sun, then every boney prominence, well - fat covered boney prominence on my body being ground into the pavement, back to Amazon.com, and voila - new one inch yoga mat and light colored work out clothes, over nighted. I am not sure how this stuff arrives so quickly - all I know is that Jon got a new card from Amazon, this box comes up that asks if you want it overnighted, and I check it yes. I hope I get everything I want before Jon gets the bill, because I am thinking that all of this overnight delivery is not complimentary !We had a heck of a system come through this afternoon complete with the palm trees bent over with coconuts flying and rain pouring down sideways. From down here on my bunk, it looks chilly outside now - 78 - 80 degrees. Hopefully it will warm up enough for cocktails outside .....
The winds were a howling
Lunching at Hurricanes with Steve, Jill and David
Yes, Banana Bay does have banana trees
A real cutie wth his new bubble blower
The nightly sundowner gathering
Palm tree mast
Jon smiling with joy while sanding and staining my new table
Again, a joyfilled Jon working on stone crab claws
Not great on the teeth, but still a solution for cracking
Monday 3-14-11
Fun weekend !
Used my new fat mat at yoga Sat. AM - good news - nice and cushioney, bad news - it is so thick that anything involving balance on one leg has become challenging without being able to be flat on the ground. In the end, comfort always wins out and rather be comfy and "imbalanced."
Jon and I then spent the afternoon at the Marathon annual seafood fest. I must say, even though it is a seafood fest, the best offering were the home made potato chips - double yum factor. On our way out we decided to buy a big bag of five pounds of stone crab claws, seemed like a great idea at the time - but more on that later. We joined the daily sundown ritual, then were joined on Sundance by Don and Patty for post sundowners. The post sundowners were so satisfying - never did make it to dinner !
Today rolled around, lazy Sunday. Jon worked on staining the new table, and began the varnish process, this will be a another 2 -3 day project by the time he can get enough varnish on this table. I do not think Jon is very happy with me about the whole table thing and having to sand, stain and varnish it, so I do not have the heart/nerve - to tell him I do not think the stain is dark enough.......
We took an afternoon break around 2:00 PM, set the stern up for a picnic of crab claws, bloody mary's and nice jazz music playing. The perfect setting and great idea quickly deteriorated. It started when I removed the bag of claws from the cooler. It took me awhile to notice there was a hole in the bag which promptly emptied about two pounds of smelly crab claw water all over the deck rug and me. No problem, I tried to tell Jon that if we just squirted allot of lemon juice every where, the smell would pass. Well I don't know if it was the crab claw juice or the lemon juice, but darn, those small pesky barely visible but bite like hell black flying jaws showed up. So, hard to imagine but Jon is starting to get a little irritated with me. I just sweetly smiled, and took out some crab claws on put them on his plate. Now, when we bought these, we were assured they were pre cracked. I don't know what their idea of precracked was, but there was not a single crack in one of these claws whose shells were so hard, I now know why they call them stone crabs ! I started getting one of "those" looks from Jon, so I told him that having to crack five pounds of crab claws was just part of the fun. As we had neither crackers or picks on board, McGyver Blake rummaged through a tool box and produced a huge adjustable wrench - cracking problem solved - kind of. I don't know if you have ever tried to eat crab claws but trying to get 1/4 teaspoon of meat out of each claw is strenous manual labor. Jon cracked and cleaned two claws and declared he was not having fun, was no longer hungry, and for me to feel free to have at the remaining 50 crab claws - yeah, thanks for that...... Well, I was not about to let him spoil my picnic, so somewhere around 3:00 Am this morning I finished cleaning the last crab claw, and was so exhausted, I put the last 1/4 teaspoon of meat from the last claw, in the container I used to collect all of the meat, then put the 1/2 cup of crab meat in the refrigerator. I do not know who on earth has the job of cleaning crab claws, but I do know that God has a special place in heaven for those folks.
Fun weekend !
Used my new fat mat at yoga Sat. AM - good news - nice and cushioney, bad news - it is so thick that anything involving balance on one leg has become challenging without being able to be flat on the ground. In the end, comfort always wins out and rather be comfy and "imbalanced."
Jon and I then spent the afternoon at the Marathon annual seafood fest. I must say, even though it is a seafood fest, the best offering were the home made potato chips - double yum factor. On our way out we decided to buy a big bag of five pounds of stone crab claws, seemed like a great idea at the time - but more on that later. We joined the daily sundown ritual, then were joined on Sundance by Don and Patty for post sundowners. The post sundowners were so satisfying - never did make it to dinner !
Today rolled around, lazy Sunday. Jon worked on staining the new table, and began the varnish process, this will be a another 2 -3 day project by the time he can get enough varnish on this table. I do not think Jon is very happy with me about the whole table thing and having to sand, stain and varnish it, so I do not have the heart/nerve - to tell him I do not think the stain is dark enough.......
We took an afternoon break around 2:00 PM, set the stern up for a picnic of crab claws, bloody mary's and nice jazz music playing. The perfect setting and great idea quickly deteriorated. It started when I removed the bag of claws from the cooler. It took me awhile to notice there was a hole in the bag which promptly emptied about two pounds of smelly crab claw water all over the deck rug and me. No problem, I tried to tell Jon that if we just squirted allot of lemon juice every where, the smell would pass. Well I don't know if it was the crab claw juice or the lemon juice, but darn, those small pesky barely visible but bite like hell black flying jaws showed up. So, hard to imagine but Jon is starting to get a little irritated with me. I just sweetly smiled, and took out some crab claws on put them on his plate. Now, when we bought these, we were assured they were pre cracked. I don't know what their idea of precracked was, but there was not a single crack in one of these claws whose shells were so hard, I now know why they call them stone crabs ! I started getting one of "those" looks from Jon, so I told him that having to crack five pounds of crab claws was just part of the fun. As we had neither crackers or picks on board, McGyver Blake rummaged through a tool box and produced a huge adjustable wrench - cracking problem solved - kind of. I don't know if you have ever tried to eat crab claws but trying to get 1/4 teaspoon of meat out of each claw is strenous manual labor. Jon cracked and cleaned two claws and declared he was not having fun, was no longer hungry, and for me to feel free to have at the remaining 50 crab claws - yeah, thanks for that...... Well, I was not about to let him spoil my picnic, so somewhere around 3:00 Am this morning I finished cleaning the last crab claw, and was so exhausted, I put the last 1/4 teaspoon of meat from the last claw, in the container I used to collect all of the meat, then put the 1/2 cup of crab meat in the refrigerator. I do not know who on earth has the job of cleaning crab claws, but I do know that God has a special place in heaven for those folks.