april 18 2008

IT BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE OUR LAST POSTING. THE PHOTOS YOU SEE ARE FROM KEY WEST WHERE WE WERE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

SINCE WE DEPARTED THE DOG RIVER IN MOBILE ON 11/27 WE HAVE BEEN TO PENSACOLA , FORT WALTON BEACH, PANAMA CITY, APALACHICOLA, & CARABELLE ( THE RED NECK RIVIERA , A WOMAN SMOKING A CIGAR IN THE BAR THERE TOLD ME). ALL THESE TOWNS ARE ON THE NORTH PART OF THE FL PANHANDLE. WHILE I WAS AT CARABELLE WE BOUGHT A 40 LB BAG OF OYSTERS & A 10 LB BAG OF SHRIMP & COOKED THEM UP ON THE MARINA GRILL FOR ABOUT 20 PEOPLE THAT WERE CRUISING WITH US. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE HAD A GOOD HAPPY HOUR OR HOURS.

FORM THERE WE MOTORED DOWN THE WEST COAST OF FL STOPPING AT STEINHATTCHE, ANCHORING OUT AT THE CRYSTAL RIVER, AND STAYING A FEW DAYS AT TARPON SPRINGS WITH ALL THE GREEKS. FROM THERE WE CRUISED TO THE CLEARWATER YACHT CLUB AND SPENT A FEW DAYS WITH OUR FRIENDS LEE & CAROL WHO ARE ALSO DOING THE LOOP. THEN WE WERE ARE OUR WAY TO PALMETTO TO VISIT WITH OUR FRIENDS JOE & DOT, WHOM WE MEET IN JOLIET IL WHILE THEY WERE DOING THE LOOP.

WHEN WE FIRST GOT TO PALMETTO WE ANCHORED OUTSIDE THEIR HOME FOR A FEW DAYS USING OUR DINK TO GO TO THEIR DOCK TO VISIT. OUR PLAN WAS TO GO TO FORT MEYERS TO CATCH A PLANE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT OUR STAY SHORT WITH JOE & DOT. JOE SUGGESTED WE CHANGE OUR PLANS & LEAVE OUR BOAT IN A MARINA NEAR HIM & FLY HOME FROM TAMPA. WELL THAT'S WHAT WE DID. THIS GAVE US MORE TIME ENJOYING THEIR COMPANY.

WE FLEW HOME ON 12/19 FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A 3 WK STAY. WELL CRUISERS ALWAYS SAY OUR PLANS ARE WRITTEN IN THE SAND AT LOW TIDE. THE DOCTOR FOUND A CANCER GROWTH IN MY BLADDER & WITH SURGERY, CHEMO & ALL WE DIDN'T LEAVE LONG ISLAND TILL 3/25. I AM DOING FINE & WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHECKUP IN LATE JUNE. I EVEN GOT USE TO THE COLD WINTER AFTER A WHILE. ON A POSITIVE NOTE OUR GRAND DAUGHTER ALEXANDRA WAS BORN ON MARCH 11 TO THE PROUD PARENTS OF OUR SON MATT & HIS WIFE LIZ WHILE WE WERE HOME.

WHEN WE ARRIVED BACK IN PALMETTO WE STAYED ABOUT A WEEK WITH OUR FRIENDS JOE & DOT AGAIN. ALL DURING OUR STAYS JOE HAS GIVEN US HIS HUMMER TO USE ALL WE WANT. HOW NICE IS THAT?

FINALLY WE WERE ON THE WATERWAYS AGAIN CRUISING SOUTH. WE STOPPED AT VENICE, FT MEYERS BEACH (WITH THE SPRING BREAKERS), NAPLES ,WERE WE VISITED WITH MY FRIEND RICHIE, & ANCHORED OUT IN THE EVERGLADES @ THE LITTLE SHARK RIVER WITH THE CROCS & GATORS ON OUR WAY TO KEY WEST.

WE STAYED IN KEY WEST FOR A FEW DAYS. WITH HIGH NORTH WIND FORECAST WE MOVED ON TO MARATHON & A PROTECTED DOCK SLIP FOR A WEEKS STAY. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW ENJOYING THE POOL AT THE CORAL LAGOON RESORT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW FOLKS. WE WILL BE HEADING OUT AGAIN SUNDAY MORNING TO CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE.