Key West or Bust or - the best way to spend Christmas

We spent Christmas in Key West this year. We were there in 2008 as well. Last year we did not go away at all and there was no way we were going do that this year – winter is just too miserable. We flew into Miami International and rented a car to travel down the keys.

We got to our condo and settled in to a week of fun, sun, palm trees and blue skies. Now palm trees are my favorite – they are so pretty and they just signify warmth. And most people who know me know I hate winter and cold. The weather was typically great – sunny and in the 80’s. Now, the Keys in general seem to have more boats than cars and Key West is a real boating place. The harbour is one of our favorite places – with its combination of tours boats, luxury mega-yachts, deep sea fishing boats and pleasure crafts there is always something to see and lots going on. Not to mention the bars and restaurants that line the harbour.

We (Nat, Will and I) rented a 17 ft Hobi-cat and had a blast sailing in a decent breeze. We tried real hard to fly a hull but the wind was just not quite strong enough with 3 on board. But it was a fast wet ride and the water is so warm.

We took a Jet Ski tour of the island. That worked out real good. We took the first tour in the morning and it ended up we were the only customers to show up (too much partying for the others?). So we got a personal guided tour. It took a bit to get sorted as to who should be driving and who should be hanging on. We ended up doing the majority of the tour with Willy Full Throttle driving and Nat hanging on for dear life and me driving with Mary-Liz as passenger. It was a blast. At one point in a calm channel we were hitting 55 mph. Now I know there are faster machines out there but that is still moving on water. The tour took us out to the Atlantic side which was really rough that day (at least for Sea-Doo’s). So we changed riders – Nat came with me and Mary went with Will and we cut back through the mangroves. We came around one mangrove island in very shallow water (following the guide and Will I might add). As we rounded there was a group of kayakers on a mangrove eco-tour. Off the throttle to not swamp them and guess what – these things DO NOT steer. So we basically stopped turning and went straight into the adjacent mangrove island – all within about 20 ft of the eco tour. We could just hear them snickering and cursing the Sea Doo’s. Our guide came back to check we were OK and not stuck in the mud. We had drifted clear and thumbs up – no issues. We started to motor away and gee – we were stuck on the bottom. So Nat has to slide off the back and push. The bottom was apparently a slimy gooey mud that she sank into up to her knees. So there were squeals of disgust – again more entertainment for the eco-tour tree huggers. Anyway – we were finally on our way back to the harbour. It was almost a 2 hour tour and a blast. Personally I have to say that was enough sea-doo for me but Will says he would never tire of one of them.

The day we had to leave we left early for the airport to take some time to explore a bit of the other keys. We stopped at a marina on Key Largo that was beautiful. Not a big marina but really nicely maintained with wide docks, and great facilities. And it’s in the keys so you can boat all year. Did I mention by the way that I hate winter…..? As we walked the docks we saw a Carver with a 16E registration and with a closer look I glimpsed a Canadian flat on the stern (she was bow in). The skipper was on the bridge so we shouted up “are you from Canada”. He looked up and said yes and then noticed my Put-In-Bay t-shirt and came down to chat. Imagine our surprise when we realized it was Paul and Paddi who we had met when we visited Boblo Island on Vacation in 2010. They had just arrived a few days before and were doing some repairs before heading off for Cuba, parts of South America and then through the Panama Canal. Now – that is the way to retire. They had done a 9000 mile trip a few years before in this same boat down to Venezuela. What a small world. They asked if were down with our boat too …..I wish! Apparently he burns about 4 GPH at 6 knots and at that has about a 2000 mile range (he carries around 1400 gals). Unfortunately we (I) didn’t bring the camera on the marina walk-about.

I have to say I love the Keys but my hope is when we retire we can spend winters around Naples area. I think you would get a bit stir crazy on the Keys. Keep our fingers crossed the condo is a good investment.

We had just finished 2 hours on jet skis when this was taken - right after the "mangrove incident of 2011" as it is now known

Nice Hatteras at anchor. What a playground for boats!



Bahia Honda State Park

View from the dock at our condo as the sun goes down in paridise

I just love the LED lights. Back-lighting the name is cool and I really want some blue underwater lights for PLAN B now. This is in Key West Harbour.

Sea Ray Girl and Lid (Mary) at Schooner Warf Bar.

Will and Mary on the front Veranda. You just have to love that view every morning

View of anchored boats and of course my favourite palm trees from the screened porche.

Now that is what I call a dingy dock!

Console boats are so popoular down here. This one is about 32 ft and sports 3 - 350 HP outboards. We saw a couple with 4 - 350's hung on the back. Those transoms must be massive. I guess there is no substitute for power!!!

This stunning toy must have been in 80 - 90 ft range.

Nice 52 Sedan Bridge. There were quite a few Sea Rays but there are a lot of the real mega sport fishing boats down there.

Nice "little" 48 Sundancer.

This is a video I put together from our 2008 trip down to Key West. The reference to Sir Paul is Paul MacCartney and the 150 footer was called Lady Linda. Oh and by the way. "Lid" is Mary;s nickname - long story but we never call her Mary!!

Mid-Winter Update - but not much boat stuff

I realize there has been no blog activity here for far too long so, here is a mid winter note.

First, it is mid-February and I just have to say I passionately hate this month. Now I know so far winter had been pretty easy on us and I was not minding the cold with no snow and the weekly warm-ups. But in this neck of the woods we just got through a week-end of snow and flurries through the week and cold and damp and grey skies and it seems that it was months ago since really nice weather and months till we get back to spring so it just plain sucks. I end up wishing half the year away and that is really really stupid with such a short time to enjoy this life.

OK, moaning over for the moment.

So, what have we been doing? Well, first, we purchased a new house back in October. It is a “one floor detached luxury condo” in a small complex called the Sanctuary and it is about 3km from where we live. Here is the link.

http://graystonegroup.ca/sanctuary/PresentationCentre.html

The builder is a custom builder so there has been a near infinite choice in what we have inside – the outside of course is architecturally controlled. We have been so busy picking everything from tiles, flooring, custom cabinets, granite, etc etc. It is amazing just how much time it consumes – not to count how much the upgrades cost. We did choose this development as an investment. Since we have owned our current place 10 years it has increased in value 80%. Now this is WAY better than our mutual funds have done. So we figured we would build a luxury condo and live there for the next 10 years. When I retire – or at least hopefully don’t work full time we sell and have some more of a nest egg. And the condo means no grass or gardens to look after which hopefully means more boat time. On the down-side we will have a mortgage again – we paid the last one off 3 – 4 years ago. However, we have to live somewhere so it may as well be here and only time will tell if it works as an investment strategy. Now, we purchased firm on October but only put our place on the market in January on the advice of our agent. It sold in 2 weeks with an excellent offer so we can relax again. Closing for the Condo is April 5th and we arranged for the house closing April 11th so we have a week to coordinate an orderly move. And just as important, get it all over before launch. It will make finding time for spring boat projects a bit challenging. Say tuned.

The new condo - taken Dec 2011

Sea Ray Girl inside - Feb 2012 in what will be the kitchen. "Are you sure they have marked the island in the right place?

Boat stuff? Well, really nothing yet. I did buy new V belts for the big boys last week so that is a start. I have to check the motors before ordering some oil lines that are leaking. Apparently we have either a fuel cooled version or a VTS system. I have pictures of both so I just need to check before ordering the lines. The actual project list is rather short this spring:

New V belts
Replacement oil lines on both engines – they are both dripping.
Repair the helmsman’s wiper – remember the shaft sheared last fall.
Remove and re-seat the deck hatch in the head.

I do want to get the blinds installed in our cabin but that can be any time. I also want to start to re-paint the bilges but again I can work on that through the season.

Oh – and I also have to order bottom paint since we are doing the full bottom this year – not just a touch up.

Boat shed fire scare: On Dec 20th, just 2 days before we were to leave for Key West a boat shed went up in flames, taking out 70+ boats and some antique cars. Now, we always feel bad for any fellow boater loosing their boat in such an incident. But what made this a bit more heart stopping for a least a short time was that the initial report that came out said the inferno was in a boat storage shed in St Clair. Now, just a minute – we are stored in the only indoor storage facility in St Clair……Then the story said St Clair county, Ontario, then Lampton County. It ended up being right next door to Ecarte Marina, where we stayed during our 2010 vacation. Rumour has it that a couple of Bridgeview boats were there including a stunning 48 Sedan Bridge that I would just love to have.

That would just be sickening to know your boat was in there!