I'll put some pictures on this post as soon as the people who took all the pictures (my sister and Linda) send me some. I am a slacker picture taker and have not much more than the Bahia Honda Bridge and the Miami skyline.

7-13
Opened the engine room to see what’s going on with the engine room bilge pump running periodically. A fitting on the A/C had worn out and a trip to West Marine and another half hour of work had us back in business. It was HOT in the meantime! Late day we wanted to take the dinghy to Keys Fishery for some fish to bring back and grill. The dinghy engine would NOT start…..Eventually we went to the pool for a swim and back on board I found shrimp in the freezer so we got by with a little jambalaya.

7-14
Harold greeted the day by telling me that when he gets a new motor for the dinghy it is going to be electric start so we don’t have any more pull start problems. Late day, John, Linda, Ray and Suzy arrived and got checked in at Blackfin, the resort next door. We got together for cocktails and a swim (their pool is even hotter than ours!) then went to the Hurricane for dinner – it was wing night and they are always mobbed. But we got a table and ate a lot of wings and French fries then made plans for tomorrow.

7-15
Up early getting the boat ready for our adventure. Harold stowed the dinghy under the dock. The gang arrived with gear and food and drink and we were off the dock by 9 am. We headed first to Looe Key (which is not a key at all, but a reef area ). It is about 20 miles south of where we go under the 7 Mile Bridge. We snagged a mooring ball and got in the water. There were quite a few boats there, including several tourist boats. We were kind of disappointed in the bottom, as we were evidently quite a ways from the actual reef, but there were tons of beautiful fish. Back on board we had lunch and then headed back north toward Sombrero Reef. It is right off Marathon. Snagged another mooring ball and back in the water. Linda actually came in this time (weeny!). Same deal – no reef but lots of fish. Back at the dock, we all went for a drink and a swim in our pool, then got cleaned up and went over to John’s marina for pizza delivered by Papa John. By the time the mosquitoes started, it was time to come home.

7-16
John and group were here right on time at 10 am. We loaded our gear on his boat and headed for the ocean to explore Molasses and Monkey Keys. Pretty much nothing. Cruised down and crossed under Bahia Honda Bridge and headed back north. The restaurant we were headed for is apparently not waterfront, so we headed for the Island Fish Co. We had a good lunch and then headed through Vaca Cut. We cruised several canals – looks like most of those people are doing just fine. John had spotted a reef that he wanted to explore, but we didn’t know exactly how to get there, so we went back to Sombrero Reef. John had a fair amount of trouble with his boat – there is an incredible amount of sea grass both in the bay and the ocean and it gets sucked into the jets of his engines. They finally figured out that when the intakes get clogged someone has to go under the boat with a mask on and pull the crap out of the intake. Back at the boat we showered and changed and by the time Suzy called with dinner plans, we politely declined, jammied up and ate our leftover chicken wings.

7-17
John and I went to Publix for a few staples (beer). He said Suzy was down for the count and she and Linda were going to chill today, but he and Ray were going to find the Little Palm Resort. We were up to go along, so about 10:30 we shoved off. Hadn’t gone far before that whole sea grass thing became a problem again. So instead of inside, we went out in the ocean, but it wasn’t much better. We got almost to Big Pine and called for local knowledge for a restaurant, got a reply and were headed in Pine Channel when there were bigger issues of water in the bilge. One of the side problems was that a latch broke over the engine cover. Unfortunately, if that hatch can’t stay down, the starboard engine won’t start because that latch controls the kill switch….Ray sat on the hatch up to the restaurant, but that is not a feasible solution to coming back 40 some miles. The boys figured out what was going on and we got to the restaurant, Parrotdise, where we had an excellent lunch. A lobster Reuben – awesome! And over lunch, the Boy Scouts figured out a solution to the latch problem which worked perfectly! Back at the boat, we took a swim and cleaned up and later the gang picked us up to go to El Siboney for a wonderful Cuban meal. The gang will be pulling out in the morning and we will follow on Tuesday. Busy day tomorrow getting stuff stored for travel.

7-18
Got the dinghy up in her cradle first thing this morning. Stowed the motor for the dinghy in the cockpit ready to hand off to Big Hal on the way home. I stowed all the life jackets and generally put things away. Two sailboats left this morning, we leave tomorrow, and Ken and Diane leave Wednesday. Hope there will be a lot of lobster seekers coming in! Went to the Hurricane for pizza and beer with Dan and Biddi and their visitors, Candy and Hulgr. Our new neighbors, Wes and Cookie, came in and joined us. We all made it back for sunset with Ken and Diane.

7-19
Larry came and pumped us out and we said good bye to Ken and Diane, loosened the lines, and were off the dock at 9:30. We trawled up the inside until after lunchtime, then ramped her up and continued on to Key Biscayne. It was a nice ride and really nice to cruise under the new bridge over Jewfish Creek where we once had to sit for an hour waiting for the old bridge to open. We had rain off of Key Largo and again out in Biscayne Bay. By 5 pm we were anchored off of Key Biscayne with only one other boat. We had cocktails and black beans and rice on the sundeck, watched a movie and crashed. 85 nm

7-20
Harold was in the engine room checking things out when Big Hal called a 7 to tell us that the ocean looked like a mill pond. The minute we stepped out onto the sundeck we were covered in mosquitoes! The wind had switched to the west overnight and they must have blown in from the Everglades. We pulled anchor at 7:30 and were out Government Cut in the ocean by 8:20. Big Hal was right! It was smooth as glass, but rolling. We had a beautiful ride! By noon we were almost to Lake Worth Inlet and the sea had started to pick up to 1-2. We came in St Lucie Inlet and were at the dock at the Jensen Beach Marriott by 2:45. Dockmaster Richard helped us fuel and get docked. The Everglades mosquitoes must have spent the trip in our dock lines because they were still awful as we fueled! Harold washed down the boat – she was SALTY! I alerted Judy and Jan that we would be home tomorrow. We went to the pool for a swim (and a Mudslide), came back and showered then went to the restaurant for dinner. Their menu has changed and we were a little disappointed. Back on the boat we put in a DVD and I don’t think either of us got through the opening credits! 99nm

7-21
We puttered around, Harold checked out the engine room, and we pulled out about 10:30. We trawled up to Ft. Pierce, then picked it up and had an uneventful cruise back to home port. Ralph was very excited to see us! Jan and Alan bought pizza and we shared our adventures. 69 nm

7-22
Let the laundry begin!