Hi All,
I was ready to ditch this blog thing but thought I would try again.
We have been here in the Key West mooring field for about a month, it is open to the north. We have had high winds, 20-30k almost every weekend from the north with 2-3’ waves. We said we would have an adventure and we are. It’s a long 20” ride intoGarrison Bight where the dinghy dock is most times Mike’s right arm and knee are soaked!
The first time a front came through we left the boat and stayed with a generous friend but Mike was anxious most of the time so now we just stay on the boat when there is a front. There have been boats that have gotten loose with their mooring attached in the steady winds so we have kept a sharp eye out and our VHF on.
On the fun side we borrowed our friends car and drove to Marathon to the Turtle Hospital. It was great fun to get a an anatomy lesson in the different species. Most of the sea turtles are released after their issues are resolved but they also keep those who are disabled permanently.
We have gotten our exercise walking as it is 3/4 mile to our favorite dining spot and then we walk around to other spots we like and then back.
We are planning to return to Maine this summer and will try to leave here this week to start the trip north.
Let us know you are out there by commenting.
Warm regards,
Ivy

Hi Family, Friends and lurkers,
Christmas has spurred me on to blog. Let me begin by telling you Mike and I are well and continue to enjoy our watery lifestyle.
We sold our Robinhood 36 last March, which entailed a road trip to Annapolis. Survey, sea trial etc. went well despite the high winds and snow flurries.
We returned to Abner E in Vero Beach and never got any farther south. Enjoyed our time there with our friends on CAT. Finally started our trek north in May.
We summered in Maine, got as Far East as MT. Desert. I was entranced by Thuya Gardens in Northeast harbor.
We caught a lobster trap on our way to Burnt Coat harbor on the Cape Dory cruise and a very kind and on the spot lobsterman helped us out.
The trip back south was a challenge due to hurricanes and south winds. Every where we stopped we stayed a week, New Bedford, Port Washington and a month in Annapolis. We have a new dodger and bimini and a full enclosure which has saved our hides from the cold.
We are now at Lady’s Island Marina, in order to visit our son and his 6 sons in Illinois and our other son and daughter in Jacksonville, FL.
We will get along south after New Years and move quickly to Key West.
We wish you good health and much happiness in the new year.
With love and warm wishes to all,
Ivy and Mike

Hi folks,
Sorry it's been so long. We did eventually make it out of Maine between the hurricanes. Stops at New Bedford and the whaling museum, Block Island and Annapolis. We stayed in Lady's Island Marina from Nov. to January putting on new equipment and staying warm. We did have snow there, first time in 25 years. Icicles on the boat and snow on the boat and the dock. I loved it and we did stay warm in our cozy cabin.
We moved south to Brunswick, GA and took a side trip by car to Gainesville to see my Aunt Lois who is 90. Stopped by for a night with Stasi and her two dogs, Vegas and Presley.
On our way from St. Augustine to Vero Beach we saw the heavy rocket lifting the Tesla car from the ICW. Pretty impressive and seeing two of the boosters come down landing perfectly I was told.
It is finally warm up to 80* today. Mike's fingers feel better and we are excited to be heading to the Bahamas with some friends later this month.
On the way we had Christmas with Jess, Greg and Kevin and Ben. Always nice to be with family.
I will try to blog a little more when we get along.
Sending our best for an early spring for those up north.
love Ivy and Mike
s/v Abner E

Dear Friends,
This will be short. We did not go anywhere out of the cove once we got to Robinhood. Mike went to Michigan for a funeral, I went to Charlotte to help Jess and Greg pack up, and then Mike and I went to Annapolis to steal our watermaker from the Robinhood 36. Kevin came for a few days and went up the mast to retrieve the main halyard and then Ben came. They are both getting very good at the dinghy, Kevin can even pull the start cord.
We have seen many of our boating friends that keep their boats here and one evening we ate at a nice restaurant in Casco Bay(driven by friends).
Check out the pictures.
We are leaving tomorrow as it is getting cool and we are headed to Annapolis for the boat show. Then further south for the winter.
Enjoy the fall.
love to all,
Ivy
s/v Abner E

Hi Gang,
Well, we made our escape and a month later we are in New Bedford, Mass. The sailing has been really good and I think we have sailed this new boat to us on all points of sail. We definitely need to work out the spinnaker set up because we have done some down wind work without and it's not as good as it might be with the right sail.
The stop in the Berry Islands was very nice. Beautiful beaches and we saw an octopus, see pictures.
Our stop in Bimini went smoothly and our crossing the Gulf Stream to Lake Worth did also.
We saw some friends in Vero Beach and restocked the pantry and went back to Ft. Pierce to get out into the Atlantic.
We did make it to St. Augustine and then tried again the next day to sail to Beaufort, NC. Great sailing and had a buddy boat along, thanks to Blue Highways for AIS assistance and friendly VHF voice.
Our stop in Annapolis was good, the Robinhood 36 is still not sold. She got a cleaning and some varnish coats and we hit most of our best loved spots in Eastport and Annapolis.
We left Annapolis last Thursday and had a very hot ride up the East River. Photos of skyline, Statue of Liberty, planes landing in East River,Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge finally taking a mooring in Port Washington where we met some new friends from last year for lunch. Thanks John and Nancy for a lovely visit.
As I said we have had good sailing, the west wind off the land was appreciated and when we came around Rhode Island yesterday we were close hauled and had a nice ride, but cool.
Check out the photos, they are more fun than the words.
Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there and ones who mentor like Dads.
On to Maine next...
love Ivy

Hi All,
Well, a quick catch up.
We have loved Hopetown and then made a sojourn to Marsh Harbor and tried to get to Eleuthera. The wind direction was iffy but we got out 17 miles and a squall came up and brought the wind directly in front of us. Then the question continue on or turn around? The waves were big so we decided we would turn around, in 2+hours we were back in calm waters and I could clean up the dirt from my plant that had upended.
Sooooo we went back to Hopetown and are again leaving tomorrow for a trip to the Berries and a marina we haven't been to yet.
It has been a good time meeting old friends and making new ones. Nevertheless I think we are ready to make our way stateside, and see to our other boat in Annapolis.
Check out my turtle picture, there are many here in the Abacos.
best to all,
Ivy