Further Adventures of Saltwater Taffy

Vessel Name: Saltwater Taffy
Vessel Make/Model: Catalina 42 MK II
Hailing Port: Southport
Crew: Blanche and Mike
About:
We have begun a new adventure. During our marriage we have moved 20 times but this might be our most dramatic move. We wanted to take a pause in our routine before we finally settle down and to embark on this quest. [...]
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09 February 2017

False Start and Then We Go

We were all positioned and prepared to leave Biscayne Bay for Bimini on the 8th. We had shopped and shopped and shopped so all provisions were aboard. However during final checks on the evening of the 7th, we broke the handle on the thru hull. So back to Miami we went in search of a new thru hull ball valve. Found one and Blanche and I proceeded to change it out in the water. That meant plugging the hole on the outside and removing the thru hull on the inside...kinda scary to have a known hole in your boat. But we did it without much muss or fuss. Ready again, so on the 9th we took off for Bimini. We had light wind on our stern so we motored and sailed the whole way. Made it to Bimini about 3:30. Finally made it. The water is beautiful with its many various shades of blue and crystal clear. We took a marina at Bimini Sands Marina and clear customs.

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31 January 2017

Farewell Army and Nancy

We had a great three weeks in South Florida with Army and Nancy. They are very generous and easy guests. Eager to learn and pitch in whenever needed. So sadly we say goodbye to them for the second time on the Further Adventures of Saltwater Taffy. We enjoyed many good meals on and off the boat. Lots of stories and some good days of sailing and motoring. Army and Nancy both said they learned a lot about what "owning" a boat might mean in their future. We look forward to being guests on their boat one day. I hope they are still laughing!!!

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26 January 2017

And this is Cruising TOO!

Some days are just great on the boat. Nothing goes wrong all day. You get to sail in smooth water and you end up in a beautiful anchorage with a gorgeous sunset. This was one of those days. Second time to Rodriguez Key. A nice swim, shower and time to enjoy the view from the deck.

...
20 January 2017

The Mis-Adventures of Saltwater Taffy

Ok...so not everything goes as planned...well actually very little goes as planned on the cruise. On our trip from Miami to Key West we had three major mishaps. 1 - the water maker hose burst. Army and I took 4 trips to home depot in two different locations to sort that out...but we did. 2- The Auto Pilot when bonkers. Army removed a wire we thought was the problem...but no that was not it. We finally fixed it with a re-calibration of the transducer. 3 - we ran over a illegal mooring line. I had to dive under the boat and cut all the line off the prop shaft while holding my breath...took about an hour. No harm to the prop or shaft. I did have a bruise on my head and shoulder from repeated bumping on the bottom of the boat. Hey but the water was beautiful.

...
17 January 2017

Headed for the Keys!

We left Biscayne Bay after two night on the anchor waiting for the weather. Out the Florida cut south of Biscayne Bay and down the Hawk Channel. It would be a three day trip from Miami to Rodriguez Key, then on to Marathon and finally in to Boca Chica near Key West. Here we waited out another weather challenge with winds hitting 38 MPH. At Boca Chica we visited with my sister and her daughter. We walked the streets of Key West and generally had a grand time at the Marina bar and grill. They had the BEST fish tacos. One night we enjoyed the sounds of a steel drum band with an Island beat...turns out the two performers were from Minnesota and North Dakota. They were great.

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13 January 2017

Now this is Cruising!

What is Cruising? I thought cruising was weighing anchor each morning then setting out to where the winds might blow. Well it turns out that is not the case. Some days the wind blows too hard...the waves are too big and you just have to wait it out. Also some days you just dont feel like going anywhere on the boat...and other days cruising is getting in the dinghy and going ashore to explore your current location. It was on one of these weather wait windows that Army, Nancy, Blanche and I discovered the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. A beautiful garden in the south part of Miami. We spent the day exploring this natural wonder on our day of Cruising.

False Start and Then We Go

09 February 2017
We were all positioned and prepared to leave Biscayne Bay for Bimini on the 8th. We had shopped and shopped and shopped so all provisions were aboard. However during final checks on the evening of the 7th, we broke the handle on the thru hull. So back to Miami we went in search of a new thru hull ball valve. Found one and Blanche and I proceeded to change it out in the water. That meant plugging the hole on the outside and removing the thru hull on the inside...kinda scary to have a known hole in your boat. But we did it without much muss or fuss. Ready again, so on the 9th we took off for Bimini. We had light wind on our stern so we motored and sailed the whole way. Made it to Bimini about 3:30. Finally made it. The water is beautiful with its many various shades of blue and crystal clear. We took a marina at Bimini Sands Marina and clear customs.

Farewell Army and Nancy

31 January 2017
We had a great three weeks in South Florida with Army and Nancy. They are very generous and easy guests. Eager to learn and pitch in whenever needed. So sadly we say goodbye to them for the second time on the Further Adventures of Saltwater Taffy. We enjoyed many good meals on and off the boat. Lots of stories and some good days of sailing and motoring. Army and Nancy both said they learned a lot about what "owning" a boat might mean in their future. We look forward to being guests on their boat one day. I hope they are still laughing!!!

And this is Cruising TOO!

26 January 2017
Some days are just great on the boat. Nothing goes wrong all day. You get to sail in smooth water and you end up in a beautiful anchorage with a gorgeous sunset. This was one of those days. Second time to Rodriguez Key. A nice swim, shower and time to enjoy the view from the deck.

The Mis-Adventures of Saltwater Taffy

20 January 2017
Ok...so not everything goes as planned...well actually very little goes as planned on the cruise. On our trip from Miami to Key West we had three major mishaps. 1 - the water maker hose burst. Army and I took 4 trips to home depot in two different locations to sort that out...but we did. 2- The Auto Pilot when bonkers. Army removed a wire we thought was the problem...but no that was not it. We finally fixed it with a re-calibration of the transducer. 3 - we ran over a illegal mooring line. I had to dive under the boat and cut all the line off the prop shaft while holding my breath...took about an hour. No harm to the prop or shaft. I did have a bruise on my head and shoulder from repeated bumping on the bottom of the boat. Hey but the water was beautiful.

Headed for the Keys!

17 January 2017
We left Biscayne Bay after two night on the anchor waiting for the weather. Out the Florida cut south of Biscayne Bay and down the Hawk Channel. It would be a three day trip from Miami to Rodriguez Key, then on to Marathon and finally in to Boca Chica near Key West. Here we waited out another weather challenge with winds hitting 38 MPH. At Boca Chica we visited with my sister and her daughter. We walked the streets of Key West and generally had a grand time at the Marina bar and grill. They had the BEST fish tacos. One night we enjoyed the sounds of a steel drum band with an Island beat...turns out the two performers were from Minnesota and North Dakota. They were great.

Now this is Cruising!

13 January 2017
What is Cruising? I thought cruising was weighing anchor each morning then setting out to where the winds might blow. Well it turns out that is not the case. Some days the wind blows too hard...the waves are too big and you just have to wait it out. Also some days you just dont feel like going anywhere on the boat...and other days cruising is getting in the dinghy and going ashore to explore your current location. It was on one of these weather wait windows that Army, Nancy, Blanche and I discovered the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. A beautiful garden in the south part of Miami. We spent the day exploring this natural wonder on our day of Cruising.
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24 September 2016
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