MIDORI ADVENTURES

It's been a few weeks since I last posted. I find it easier to post a quick note or a photo to Facebook and I get behind on the blog. And now that the cool weather has passed, we've been rather busy:

Monday, February 23rd: We went to Sombrero Reef on Gene and Charlene's m/v TWO-CAN along with Mike & Tammy from s/v TAUREAUX. Everyone got in the water which was 75.4 F. We were just nicely out of the water when Charlene heard someone yelling "help". Two snorkelers had drifted and could not get back to their boat which was attached to a mooring ball. Gene and Mike went over in the dinghy to help them get back to their boat. The two male snorkellers were adrift and the current was taking them out to sea. Without help, they could have drowned!

Tuesday, February 24th: The Charlotte Harbour Boat Storage (CHBS) group got together for a BBQ at the Chiqui Hut. Everyone brought their own meat and a dish to pass. There were fourteen of us: Steve and Mary Ann from s/v LIVING WELL, Van and Lauren from s/v GRATITUDE, Don and Cathy from s/v SAUNTERER, Mike and Tammy from s/v TAUREAUX, Al and Rosie from m/v NAUTILIS, Gene and Charlene from m/v TWO-CAN.

Tuesday, February 24th: Lloyd and Caroline on s/v AMELIA ROSE arrived from the Fort Myers Beach area.

Wednesday, Feb. 25th: Brian and I took a taxi to The Elk's Hall where my cousin Bob and his wife Fran were doing a "gig" and met their son Jared, wife Jen and their four kids. It was a fun evening and we got to see a special moment, when Bob, Fran, Jared and 9 year old Joel performed together (for the first time).

Thursday, Feb. 26th, Brian and I, Mike and Tammy participated in a splicing party. It was a learning experience as well as a very productive night where several cruisers helped splice mooring lines for the many marine sanctuaries in The Keys. Van and Lauren depart back up the west coast of Florida.

Friday, February 27th, twelve of us took two vans out to Sparky's Landing to get the best "Happy Hour" peel and eat shrimp and wings at .25 cents each. This was also a goodbye for Mary Ann and Steve, on s/v LIVING WELL , who departed on March 2nd back up the West coast of Florida.

Al and Rosie have organized a few lunches for the CHBS group by simply announcing it on the Cruisers' Net in the morning.

Saturday nights are usually pot luck "meet and greets" at the Cheeki Hut, followed by musical jam sessions. Our very own talented "Louisiana" Mike likes to bring out his guitar and sing a few songs.

Sunday morning is always breakfast at the American Legion.

Last Sunday, we slipped off the mooring ball and participated in "Sail Away Sunday" with several other boats and got some pointers from Gene, who used to own a Gemini catamaran. MIDORI was overloaded with eight adults aboard, but it was a fun day! If we get a chance, we would love to go out again and get Gene's help to fly the spinnaker.

This past Friday, we took MIDORI out to Sombrero Reef to clean the growth off of the bottom.

Yesterday, we participated in the Boot Key Harbour Clean Up - mostly flotsam and jetsam in the mangroves......a lot of plastic! It was fun and hard work.


Life is Good

First Mate Lynn