Marco to Marathon Key

Cats Paws is back in cruising mode again after a 3 week vacation in Marco Island.  Our time in Marco was spent mostly preparing and provisioning Cats Paws and Rhapsody (Rocky and MaryLee's beautiful Tartan 40 - Cats Paws long time cruising buddy), for their long awaited trip to the Bahamas.  While here we shared many lovely days enjoying our time with Rocky and ML - such generous friends who always make us feel at home in their beautiful house. Have to say it felt great to sleep in a bed for a few weeks!!  ML also made sure we had a secure berth for Cats Paws as she hooked us up with Dave and Sandy Dumas, who were kind enough to let us leave Cats Paws behind there house on a beautiful canal near Caxambas Pass.  First hour of arrival Dave took us for a power boat ride through the beautiful ten thousand islands and showed us his favorite fishing spots.

During our stay we had lots of laughs with friends Dave and Elaine who were staying at Rocky and ML's for the radio control sailing regatta. After a few Clementine infused vodka drinks they volunteered to take 3 bags of our winter clothes back in their car (great to get THAT off our boat!!).  We were so appreciative as it would have cost a fortune to mail back, and we did not want to lug it to the Bahamas!  We will definitely stop at their place now in Knapps Narrows on the Choptank River (Chesapeake Bay) on our way home.   Thanks Dave and Elaine!!!

Also met up with my cousin from Naples and her boyfriend; got to see Barb and Art Henry from OC; and met our dearest friend Carl Granieri who is planning to move to Naples to take on a new venture as music director for St. Elizabeth's Parish in Naples (we were so happy to see him and glad to attend mass with him during his visit - will miss him and Martie so much!!!).  As it turned out we were still here for St Patrick's Day and celebrated with Rock and ML at a fabulous St Patty's Day party on the 12th floor of the Summit House overlooking the Gulf of Mexico-so beautiful!!! This had to be the best corn beef ever!!!  Enjoyed running the beach, dining in our favorite Marco restaurants, morning swims, and of course shopping!  Thanks again to Rock and ML for making our time here fun as always!!  We did think about a trip home since we were (and still are) missing everyone so much - but so difficult to leave this tropical climate!!  Sorry everyone!!

Snook Inn - Night Before Marco Departure

Lunch at Marriott with Cousin Rachael

   

   

Cape Romano Beach South of Marco

                         

                     Cats Paws Anchored at Cape Romano                Cats Paws Berth in Marco 

   

Finally ready to leave Marco on Saturday, March 22nd.  It felt so good to sail alongside Rhapsody after all these years being apart!!! Just like old times!!  We sailed 58 miles southeast to an anchorage outside of the Little Shark River, Florida Everglades.  During this passage Fred was able to locate where water was entering our engine compartment (our bilge pump had been running but we could not find where it was entering).  As we motored along with the boat squatting in the stern, he was able to see water entering through the rudder post packing.  Another job and trip to West Marine will be on the agenda in Marathon!   Once anchored we again relaxed and  took in another Gulf sunset and then became amazed by the beautiful phosphorescence in the water that night!!  During the day they appeared to be filamentous creatures which scared us from taking a dip!!  So amazing!!

The next day was dead calm and the Gulf appeared as glass as we departed Little Shark for Marathon Key.  Arrived Sunday afternoon and were lucky this time to get two moorings side by side (we stopped here on the way down in February and the marina was closed for President's Day!).

The next day we went to Marathon Marine Center and was able to get new packing for the rudder post and once again Fred was able to fix it!! No more leakage!!  He also discovered a cracked shackle connecting our main sheet to the traveler - another trip to West Marine!!  Luckily he saw this now and not after it decided to blow out in the Gulf Stream!!!  All in all it has been fun once again enjoying the wonders of the Florida Keys - Burdines for fresh fish; Keys Fisheries for delicious and excellent priced stone crabs (ate these 3 times already); Stuffed Pig (Rocky and Fred's Breakfast place); and Dockside (Eric Stone's new bar-we heard him sing last night -better than the food!).
As I write this post we are still sitting in Marathon waiting for a good weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and make our passage to the the Bahamas.  It will be a week tomorrow and we may not be able to cross until next Friday!!   We have expanded our weather knowledge by subscribing to Chris Parker's weather email service, purchased a SSB radio, studying weather-track forecasts on the iPad and passage weather on the net and even called Chris Parker - the cruisers weather man ... Holy Moly we are experiencing Analysis Paralysis!!!   Will keep you all updated on our departure date!!