December 31, 2015
Left Marathon this morning.
Currently underway up the Hawk Channel towards Miami.
Underway decision today to keep going across the stream to West End, Grand Bahama overnight rather than wait until tomorrow; Should arrive there around 1400 1/1.
Periodic position updates here on the blog.
Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Marco Island
December 22, 2015
We have been docked at Rose Marina in Marco Island for a little over three weeks - longer than we usually stay here. The length of our stay was based on a few personal matters that we needed to deal with and some strong weather.
We arrived in early December expecting to stay for at least a few weeks and got a great deal on dockage for a month making the length of our stay flexible.
Typically Marco is a quick stop for us where we get provisions, fuel, etc. and continue on our way. It is easy to run out of things to do within walking distance of the marina in this upscale community, so we splurged on a rental car for most of our stay. It has really made this a fun stop!
We caught a few movies - most importantly (to me anyway), 'Mockingjay - Part 2'.
The burrowing owls are still living near the marina in the middle of all these big houses They are so cute!:
We went to two Collier County museums - most interesting was the 'Pioneer Museum' (Roberts Ranch) in Immokolee http://www.colliermuseums.com/locations/immokalee_pioneer_museum. This is a well preserved cattle ranch dating back well over 100 years ago. Many people do not realize the importance of the cattle industry in Florida, both in the past and today. Drive up through the center of the state and you will be amazed by all the cattle.
We went to a high school basketball game (boys and girls) between Marco Island Academy and Everglades City. Neither team had great records, but were evenly matched. Everglades City won hard fought games in both the boys and girls contests. Everglades has about 160 students in total in grades K-12, so they are a very small school. They had no cheerleaders (compared to Marco's 15), but the girl's team formed a great cheer section for the boys game - they were a blast to watch - they had so much fun. We rooted for the 'country kids' from Everglades City where we have visited for over 25 years.
We also decided to make a trip north to Orlando for the 'Florida Sunshine Classic' women's basket ball tournament where the Miami Hurricanes were playing. In the first game on Saturday the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes faced 4th-ranked Baylor. It was a great game with the lead going back and forth for most of the game; unfortunately Baylor's superior height prevailed in the fourth quarter as they won 88-81. Miami played great and we were very proud of them!
On Sunday, Miami faced Indiana in a tough match, winning 89 -75. In the beginning of the game we were afraid that the Baylor game the night before had taken too much out of Miami (it was Indiana's first game of the tournament) but the gritty Hurricane's prevailed!
While in Orlando, we went to see Wakiwa Springs (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Wekiwa-Springs) - one of the many natural springs in Florida. In all the years we have been coming to Florida, we have never seen a spring - most are in northern Florida. I didn't know quite what to expect, but the outflow from the spring was impressive! Near the spring, you could see big 'boils' of water coming to the surface; if you look closely to the following picture, you may be able to see them in the foreground.
We hope to leave Marco right after Christmas and make our way quickly to the Bahamas (Abaco).
Tom
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
We have been docked at Rose Marina in Marco Island for a little over three weeks - longer than we usually stay here. The length of our stay was based on a few personal matters that we needed to deal with and some strong weather.
We arrived in early December expecting to stay for at least a few weeks and got a great deal on dockage for a month making the length of our stay flexible.
Typically Marco is a quick stop for us where we get provisions, fuel, etc. and continue on our way. It is easy to run out of things to do within walking distance of the marina in this upscale community, so we splurged on a rental car for most of our stay. It has really made this a fun stop!
We caught a few movies - most importantly (to me anyway), 'Mockingjay - Part 2'.
 |
| Go Katniss Everdeen! |
The burrowing owls are still living near the marina in the middle of all these big houses They are so cute!:
 |
| Picture from 2013 |
 |
| Peek-a-boo - Grass is higher this year |
 |
| What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis? |
We went to two Collier County museums - most interesting was the 'Pioneer Museum' (Roberts Ranch) in Immokolee http://www.colliermuseums.com/locations/immokalee_pioneer_museum. This is a well preserved cattle ranch dating back well over 100 years ago. Many people do not realize the importance of the cattle industry in Florida, both in the past and today. Drive up through the center of the state and you will be amazed by all the cattle.
 |
| Main Museum - Formerly the church on the ranch |
 |
| Bunk House - available without charge to cattleman driving herds through the area. |
 |
| Florida cattle |
We went to a high school basketball game (boys and girls) between Marco Island Academy and Everglades City. Neither team had great records, but were evenly matched. Everglades City won hard fought games in both the boys and girls contests. Everglades has about 160 students in total in grades K-12, so they are a very small school. They had no cheerleaders (compared to Marco's 15), but the girl's team formed a great cheer section for the boys game - they were a blast to watch - they had so much fun. We rooted for the 'country kids' from Everglades City where we have visited for over 25 years.
 |
| Both games were very physical with a lot of 'floor-rash' |
We also decided to make a trip north to Orlando for the 'Florida Sunshine Classic' women's basket ball tournament where the Miami Hurricanes were playing. In the first game on Saturday the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes faced 4th-ranked Baylor. It was a great game with the lead going back and forth for most of the game; unfortunately Baylor's superior height prevailed in the fourth quarter as they won 88-81. Miami played great and we were very proud of them!
 |
| Coach Meier leading her team to a near upset over 4th-ranked Baylor |
On Sunday, Miami faced Indiana in a tough match, winning 89 -75. In the beginning of the game we were afraid that the Baylor game the night before had taken too much out of Miami (it was Indiana's first game of the tournament) but the gritty Hurricane's prevailed!
While in Orlando, we went to see Wakiwa Springs (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Wekiwa-Springs) - one of the many natural springs in Florida. In all the years we have been coming to Florida, we have never seen a spring - most are in northern Florida. I didn't know quite what to expect, but the outflow from the spring was impressive! Near the spring, you could see big 'boils' of water coming to the surface; if you look closely to the following picture, you may be able to see them in the foreground.
 |
| The constant 72 degree crystal-clear water makes great Florida swimming in the Summer - not when we were there :-) |
We hope to leave Marco right after Christmas and make our way quickly to the Bahamas (Abaco).
Tom
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Christmas 2015
December 8, 2015
We are at Marco Island and have just put up our Christmas decorations.
When we moved on to the boat, we selected a group of Christmas decorations that met three criteria: they were memorable or significant to us personally; they were small; they were relatively sturdy. Well, all our decorations have survived to see their fifth Christmas on boat, in spite of a 'bath' courtesy of a leaking water heater.
Christmas on boat always changes and always stays the same....
It always changes because we have been in four different places for Christmases past and we don't really know where we will be this year. Year 1 was a delightful time at Everglades Community Church in Everglades City. Year 2 was in isolated Shroud Cay in northern Exuma. Year 3 was in Bimini where we attended a tree-lighting ceremony that featured great speakers and singers that focused on the real meaning of the season and ended with a Junkanoo 'Rush-out'. Year 4 was in Marsh Harbour in Abaco with our family at Grace Baptist Church. This year we would like to be back in Marsh Harbour for Christmas, but the weather will make that call.
It always stays the same because of our focus on the true meaning of Christmas (and our precious collection of decorations that bring back so many memories).
One of our favorite non-traditonal Christmas carols is "Let It Be Christmas" by Alan Jackson. We think it should be a 'classic'. Listen on the following YouTube video (not responsible for the ad that may precede the video - you can skip it after a few seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YBHZ5Y7ZI
Have a blessed Christmas!
Tom & Joyce
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
We are at Marco Island and have just put up our Christmas decorations.
 |
| Our Christmas Wreath (no room for a tree) |
When we moved on to the boat, we selected a group of Christmas decorations that met three criteria: they were memorable or significant to us personally; they were small; they were relatively sturdy. Well, all our decorations have survived to see their fifth Christmas on boat, in spite of a 'bath' courtesy of a leaking water heater.
Christmas on boat always changes and always stays the same....
It always changes because we have been in four different places for Christmases past and we don't really know where we will be this year. Year 1 was a delightful time at Everglades Community Church in Everglades City. Year 2 was in isolated Shroud Cay in northern Exuma. Year 3 was in Bimini where we attended a tree-lighting ceremony that featured great speakers and singers that focused on the real meaning of the season and ended with a Junkanoo 'Rush-out'. Year 4 was in Marsh Harbour in Abaco with our family at Grace Baptist Church. This year we would like to be back in Marsh Harbour for Christmas, but the weather will make that call.
It always stays the same because of our focus on the true meaning of Christmas (and our precious collection of decorations that bring back so many memories).
 |
| 'Sled-bear' |
 |
| 'Jingle-bear' |
 |
| A handmade ornament that always reminds us of a certain Christmas with family |
 |
| A 25+ year old music box ornament that still plays (sort-of) |
One of our favorite non-traditonal Christmas carols is "Let It Be Christmas" by Alan Jackson. We think it should be a 'classic'. Listen on the following YouTube video (not responsible for the ad that may precede the video - you can skip it after a few seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YBHZ5Y7ZI
Have a blessed Christmas!
Tom & Joyce
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
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