Well… we are technically on Virginia Key not Miami, but with our awesome view of the Miami skyline who’s going to argue?!
We plan on spending the week here.
I hope that we can see the fireworks from here.
And I’m ready for it to be dark so I can see the city lights!
We have left Key West in the search of more keys. We are currently in the waters just outside of Boot Key HarborAKA Marathon. Unfortunately our plans were slightly changed this afternoon when we got to entrance of the mooring field and could not continue on. There are three high lines strung across the water and after calling the mainland we were told that they are at the same height as our mast. So we have thrown anchor instead. Not a major plan change but we would have liked to have been more in the middle of things. We have heard that this is a great cruiser community and Ryan was hoping to be able to discuss plans and ideas with some people that have “been there and done that”. We plan on taking Chase into town tomorrow so maybe he will still get a chance to visit, while Marilyn and I cruise the one of the countries largest dollar stores. Daffy Doug’s Discount Dollar it is reported to be a city block long with over 20,000 dollar items, everything from fishing tackle, souvenirs, groceries, office supplies, beachwear, clothes, and hardware – WooHoo!
After a lot of encouragement from Ryan, I have also recently started a page to offer some of my photographs and possibly later artwork. Del has agreed to display some of them in his gallery in Key West and I am talking to a couple other galleries in Oklahoma and Texas to see if they would be interested.
You can check it out here:
http://www.Artwork-by-Jennifer.blogspot.com .
If you know of anyone interested please feel free to give them the address. Then I could afford to LIVE in the Dollar Store!
While we were in Key West we made some new friends, went snorkeling and sailing a few times, hung out at Del’s house for a few days, made some more friends, Bought a harmonica, ukulele, and djembe drum, and in general just enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Del for your hospitality and for being you, Bo & Magic for being so much fun to hang out with, John & Gabby for coming to visit, Vikki, Patrick, & everyone at the boat house – wish we had spent more time with you guys it was fun, and to Glen, Keri, & Brittney for the ride to the grocery store – You guys are awesome!
Over the last few days Ryan has been practicing really hard and is learning to play the ukulele, Marilyn is learning the harmonica, and I got a drum so that I wouldn’t have to learn anything –I just bang on it. :) We are not very good but we sure are having fun. And y’all thought that karaoke and home videos were torture, you haven’t seen anything yet!
That’s all we have to report here. Hope your enjoying your summer.
Del invited us to stay a couple days with him. I think we may never leave! He has a great house with such personality.
-Thanks Del, we LOVE it.
Our honeymoon suite!
The space at the top is a little loft with sky lights and the bathroom is around the wall, you can go either way.
I thought these were really cute hooks.
This is the front porch to our “Cottage” it is also the kitchenette.
A little mini pool just around the corner.
And all the rest of the rooms are just as wonderful as ours! It is such a neat place to stay. And it is just a few blocks off Duval Street and walking distance to Mallory Square. It doesn’t get much better than that. If you plan on visiting Key West this is THE place to stay. Del calls it his “Bed & Breakfast minus the breakfast”.
Thanks again for inviting us and being our tour guide. I had no idea Key West had such history.
Ryan has been diligently cleaning the bottom of the boat since we have gotten into pretty waters. At first I thought that he was just worried about the bottom paint and keeping growth off. But after joining him one afternoon I found out the real reason he has been spending so much time in the water.
It is pretty, it is quiet, and the water is the perfect temp.
This guy wanted his picture taken. He kept coming up to me and posing. Once he even kissed the camera. Unfortunately I didn’t get that picture because it has a 3 second delay. – That is the bottom of the Sandy Dreams above and behind him.
One afternoon and I was hooked, so Ryan and I took Chase out to see the reefs it was only about 6 miles from our marina. It was beautiful! There were fish and plant life and the water was so clear. It looked like you could reach down and touch the ground with your hands but it was at least 10’. Unfortunately once again pictures don’t begin to do it justice.
This picture was taken from Chase before we got in the water.
We snorkeled for an hour before going back in. It was so pretty and Ryan picked out the perfect spot. While we were there we saw several of the “Dive Key West” Boats.
The water was so clear that it looks like we could touch the bottom but really it was a couple more feet below us.
Then while everyone swam and played Ryan cooked the burgers that John & Gabby brought. (Thanks guys that was so nice of you and they were delicious.) This part of the reef wasn’t as pretty as the place Ryan and I went but it was still pretty.
Then after lunch we sailed back to the marina. On the way we had a few dolphins swim with us for a while. Once again, I wasn’t fast enough for the camera. When we got back we cleaned up and all went downtown for awhile. Then Ryan talked/tricked J & G into coming back to the boat and singing Karaoke. (He is turning into a monster!) We stayed up late singing and laughing at those that can’t sing (Most of us.)
The whole day turned into such a great time.
-Thanks J & G for everything!
We hope you come visit us again!
Wow, time just keeps flowing. It doesn’t seem like a week since the last time we wrote, but I guess that when you no longer look at the time and just glance at the calendar it is easy for the days to slip away unnoticed. While reflecting on this past week nothing remarkable stands out as far as news worthy. We have enjoyed our days and are happy to be here.
Marilyn got herself an AC unit for her office and room. So now Ryan and I rarely see her. The heat is getting to Sis as well, so she stays on the boat in front of the fans or if there is a breeze she lays on deck in the shade. We finally get somewhere that Sis is allowed to go almost anywhere and she is too big of a baby to leave her fan. Figures. Actually, she would still like to go but Ryan and I worry about her overheating. We took her with us one afternoon and every time we came to a palm tree she would walk over to it and plop down in the shade. It took us forever to get to town. Then the next day she was stiff and sore from all the walking. Poor baby.
Ryan has been plotting and working out where we will go to next. I think he has decided on heading to Luperon in the D.R. We will of course stop in the Bahamas on the way down but would like to head on a fairly straight course. We do not want to get caught up in hurricane season. He has talked to several people and has made plans for a slip while we are there. We are looking at staying a few months. Anybody been there before?
Other News. Marilyn’s cousin Del lives here in Key West and owns an art gallery. He asked if I had any work to display. At the time I did not but Ryan and I discussed it and if he is still interested I am going to try to get some things together. We will see.
Not much else I can think of.
Hope your summer is as worry free as ours.
Sissy hogging the hammock
(She slept in it for several hours)
