Happy New Year everyone!
New Year's eve we took the boat out to an island for the afternoon. It was a short 30 minute trip I got as close as I dare with Daddy then we dropped the anchor let the dinghy in the water and fired her up. The boys climbed in with wet suites, fins, and mask and off we went to the island. Charlene stayed back to lay in the sun and keep an eye on the boat. On the way to the island two Dolphins shot out of the water to catch their breath and then back under. What a beautiful animal they popped up several times giving everyone a good look. Once we got close enough to the island the boys jumped in and snorkeled with the current. This is a dream come true!! New Year 'eve floating around on the ocean by an island with the family. Around 4pm we had to head back in for dinner. We pulled into Largo harbor following the glass bottom boat Key Largo Princess. I'm starting to feel at home here I know most of the commercial boats and keep a mental note of their schedule and location. These guys are on the clock and you don't want to get in their way. They have all been very professional and good safe captains in total control of their ships! There are a few boats so big we would not be able to pass them if we met at the wrong place so we use the VHF to talk with each other and it works out well. After we made the turn at "Crash Corner" the boys were on the bow making the lines ready for our dock and a few girls yelled at them as we passed Sharkey's. That had to make them feel good. The boys have had a great time one evening they came back from the pool and said it was so cool dad. They were talking with girls from Canada, Spain, and France all in one conversation. It is great for the boys to see the world outside of our small town we love back home!

After we tied up daddy we got cleaned up and headed to our favorite fish place Encore for dinner with Howard and Diane. It has been great hanging out with them on Thursday night they cooked us a great fish dinner on the grill with fresh Stone Crab from the market man that was good!! After dinner we went back to the boat and hung out by the pool looking at the stars and reflecting on the year. We sure mad the most out of this one!

First day with the family in the keys. We had a cool morning but by noon the sun was out and mid 70s. This picture of Brad on the bow about sums it up. We dove French Reef later in the afternoon and back for dinner with Howard and Diane. What a great day.

"Someplace on the Horizons far away from the Neon sky I know there is something better and I can get there if I try� Joe Walsh. This lyric often passes through my mind and today as we pulled into Key Largo it did once again. Its times like this I wish I was a poet I just can't find the words express the feeling of accomplishment and at the same time the marvel over the Caribbean atmosphere down here.

We ran on the Atlantic side of the Keys inside Hawks Channel through the reef today. There are very few makers and you just have to pay attention to the Chart Plotter! The boat and crew did great! It was a little choppy occasionally 3 foot waves with 20mph winds that blew the water over the top of the boat making it seem worse than it was but nothing compared to yesterday. About 45 minutes from Key Largo the sun came out and the waves all but went away. Nathan noticed how blue the water was and that you can see the bottom in 23 feet of water. In some places there was a lot of Sea Grass covering the bottom making the water look dark blue and other areas with just sand and they show up as a lighter blue green. It is unlike anything I have seen on a Lake or River. It just feels like there is a living reef underneath the boat waiting to be explored. We passed several of the common dive sites and they looked to be packed with dive boats. Nathan and I dove here earlier this summer and we cant wait to go out again on our own boat!!

Marina Del Mar is a small marina at the end of a very narrow channel and we are extremely lucky to have a slip here (Thanks to Howard for the suggestion on this place!!). We share a narrow channel with several dive boats, a very big glass bottom boat, fishing boats, charter sail boats, and the real African Queen from the move! We are right next door to very nice Dive Shop / Restaurant and have access to 4 pools and 3 hot tubs at the three hotels that encircle the marina. Over the back of the boat is a tall Coconut tree almost close enough for the Coconuts to fall on us! This is a boaters paradise!

Now the fun begins! We will be returning for long weekends to boat and dive in the keys over the winter.

Key West!! Never been so glad to "get there� in my whole life, we had a hard run from Naples. Everything was going as planned until we were 1.5 hours out. The waves started getting bigger at a rate of about one foot every 30 minutes by the time we were an hour out from Key West we were easily in 6 foot waves. The waves came in groups and sometimes so big it would take several minutes for the boat to climb to the crest and then over into the next one. It is amazing what this boat can take! As for Nathan and I, we did okay didn't get sick just a bit tense. When we got out of the deep 60 foot water back into 35 feet lobster traps showed back up and were a little harder to avoid in this surf!! What a great feeling it was pulling up to the fuel dock at Key West . The attendant asked where we came from and I said Naples. He asked how we like it out there and said another boat tried to go to Naples earlier today and turned back. I Smiled and said it wasn't that bad . . . but wouldn't want to do it again!

We had a great afternoon in Key West! I rode my bike to the southern most point in the United States and took this picture (Notice my red bike leaning against the marker). Nathan hung out at the pool by the marina and we met up later to watch the sunset at Sunset Plaza. What a fun place!!! Tomorrow morning we head out for Key Largo.

We made it to Naples and refueled by 2pm. 145 Nautical Miles good day. We just got back from dinner at Tin City great food and a bunch of little shops right on the bay. Naples has the most big boats and Condos on the water this far. People are a little stuffy. As Nathan and I rode our bikes to dinner one of the locals walking his dog told us to get off the sidewalk it's against the law. Gezzz..

Log
Date 2006-11-24 Time 05:10:57 Engine Start
Date 2006-11-24 Time 05:33:52 pushed out
Date 2006-11-24 Time 12:45:41 Arrived at Fuel Dock

Nathan and I flew back to Clearwater today to finish our journey. We had most of the afternoon to spend on the beach and ride our bikes what a beautiful day!! We head out tomorrow morning bright and early for Naples.

What a perfect day. We made it to Clearwater by 1:30 and had lunch at Frenchie's on the intercostal. Sorry this update is short we have been out on the town and its late. Truly beautiful place!!

We will be going home on Sunday. Next Leg from here to Key Largo will start soon.

Good run today. We left at a very comfortable time and arrived in Carrabelle mid afternoon. I captured this picture of C-Horse and Daddy this morning at Panama Cit Marina. Just before we pushed off a couple of divers came down to work on the boat in front of us. They were there to scrub the bottom and check the zinc anodes (ground plates). Turns out most salt water boats have this done every month or so. One of the reasons for taking the boat down here is to dive off the back with my boys. We have our dive gear onboard ready to go I wanted to get in and help him! The water temp here is 68 not too warm but warm enough for a short dive.

The run today was mostly through long cuts that look just like smaller versions of the rivers we run back home. We were lucky and didn't meet any tow traffic just a few fishing boats. Howard led today and got us here safe and sound! Once we got both boats fueled and tied up for the evening I decided to do a little diving. I jumped in with my mask and wetsuit to check the props besides seeing the diver this morning was driving me crazy. It's a good thing I did. As I was checking our starboard prop I found that the nut holding the prop was loose enough to turn by hand. That is not good, last thing we want tomorrow is a prop falling off or vibrating. Charlene helped me put my full scuba gear on and I jumped back in with a big wrench and a board she found to jam in the propeller to hold it still while I tightened the nut. It seemed to tighten up good and I think we will be fine tomorrow. Glad I decided to go for a swim! As I was getting out I noticed a few people watching me from across the marina I didn't think anything of it� Well as we were riding to dinner with JR from the marina he asked me if I was the diver behind the boat and I said yes. He said he was getting ready to come over and tell me to get out because of the gators that feed in the marina during late afternoon. I looked at him and said you're kidding right? "No sir, there is a large storm drain just in front of your boat they use to get into the harbor". Turns out 3 gators feed on ducks and other birds in the harbor most evenings. Good thing I didn't know that before I jumped in!!

Tomorrow is our big run across the gulf we will be 35 miles offshore weather is going to perfect and we are going for it!! We plan on leaving around 6am and should get to Clearwater mid afternoon.