Hi there,
I decided I needed to add this today at least it's not going to be as long as the last one!Well maybe!!
Graeme rented car for the day and we went north up Key Largo Island ( Cay is the Spanish word for Island , I guess same as the word Key?) We had an appointment to see The Anglers Club a kind of yacht club like CYC, our one with commodore and officiers. They also had a few tennis courts ,and a croquet lawn which seems a popular pastime in clubs in the south .Nice bar area and restaurant.We met Bill through a friend of ours and he showed us round.It was small and old style and very nice.People join the club for family holidays , they have an inn with many rooms also the marina thatcan accomodate boats of all sizes. Next we met up with the Darnell's over at The Ocean Reef Club.Both clubs are gated and strictly controlled to make sure no undesirables get in ! The Darnells took us on a wonderful and full tour of the area in a golf cart Everyone seems to own a golf cart and it is the perferred mode of transportation.Some of the carts were like fancy cars , just to be different!We have never seen anything like this place anywhere in the world!It had everything! Even an airport and own private plane to take guests in and out.The wealthy bring their own planes in of course !
Two banks, a hospital,library,an arts center,shops, including a small grocery store,3 golf courses (all 18 holes),huge marina and also a boat yard for boat repairs,car rental business ,numerous swimming pools and restaurants.Even house services eg plumbers and interior decorators are on site.We spent a lovely day taking it all in, having lunch and checking out the marina.Which at $6.50 per ft to bring your boat in for one night if you are sponsored by a member ,was not cheap.We on average have been paying about $2 per ft per night! We finished the tour, with a delicious ice cream and watched the Darnell boys trying their hands at ice skating on an artificial synthetic surface. Not easy to do ,but fun for us to watch.
We headed back to the marina and finished off the day at a very nice restaurant we had spied on a trip in the car with Barbara and Stephen. Ballyhoo Restaurant is named after the small flying fish that frequent the Pennekamp Reef area. we saw several on our boat ride.Meal was delicious, best place we found to eat at in Key Largo.
Our last day in Key Largo had been fun.we enjoyed this place.Apparently there is an old movie called Key Largo.Might like to check it out.Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall featured in it.
Over and Out,
Erica.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Post Christmas the last 7 days
Hi Family and Friends,
Well we had another wonderful Skelly/Wheatley Christmas Week from 20th to 27th December here at the Del Mar Marina in Key Largo in sunny Florida. Danielle ( Blair's girlfriend ) was able to join us from the 24 th to 27 th December.This time of year turned out to be a real bonus, less people around, lovely warm weather and plenty of time to relax.The Skellys had hired a car so they were able to go for a short two day overnight trip south to see Key West. The evening they left ,Graeme and I met up with the boys at a restaurant called the Conch House. Conch is a sea creature which lives in the Caribbean and is closet to an abalone (paua for Kiwis) in texture ,but is a white not black in color Jon had the conch fritters which are very popular and Blair branched out and had lionfish.The lionfish have become a real menace now in the reef areas .These are are beautiful looking fish with delicate tendrils above and below, but have poisonous barbs at the ends.Fortunately the chef had got rid of thise before cooking the fish! The next day Blair and Jon Skelly headed up to Miami to pick up Danielle and they had a wonderful evening there enjoying the big city ,before they all came down to join us on Christmas Eve. With everyone away for a couple of days Graeme and I got out our new folding marine type (guess that means they dont rust as much!)bikes and cycled off to visit Blair and Jon's hotel where they had some resident Manatees. So far on our journey we hadnt seen one , so we're interested to get a look at these strange creatures.They are attracted by running fresh water and will drink from a hose if you bring one to the waters edge.Unfortunately there was no hose to attract them this day but eventually one came up beside the dock area and we got a good view.They have big round bodies, with a platypus type tail , two large round nostrils and big round eyes.On their backs they seem to have all sorts of marine growths. they are slow and sluggish.This one had some v shaped chunks out of its tail , no doubt from a boat propeller .No wonder there are so many signs on the ICW warning boaters to go slow.Speed is not on their side!
We had a couple of meals on board Christmas Eve and Boxing Day which was such fun.Amazing that we can get 7 of us around our little salon table! Chirtmas Day we went out for cocktails at the Sunset Bar then dinner at the adjoining Restaurant called the Big Chill owned by Jimmy Johnson of Us Football Fame .I think he managed the Cowboys and the Dolphins Teams.
Christmas Day Graeme and I decided having our own Church service on the boat in the morning would be a good idea.I had researched the local area for churches and service times.It was all too difficult , either few services or too far away. So we had the Christmas story from Luke 2 read by Graeme and Stephen, we did the Acts prayer formation with silent prayer time for each of us in between,I did a reading from Our Daily Bread , using Dec 23 rd for those that use this daily booklet.Blair,Danielle, Jon and Barbara did the Bible readings that accompanied it.We all said the Lords Prayer together and to finish ,attempted to sing Hark the Hearld Angels Sing. It was wonderful we all got to participate for this blessed day!
We decided to take the boat out to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef for lunch and a swim.They have mooring balls you can pick up as you are not allowed to anchor in this area. Day looked promising but as we got further out it was a bit too rough.But we had fun, Some got to drive the boat and we headed back to calm waters and had lunch on the boat back in Del Mar Marina.Afternoon was spent around the pool relaxing , reading and swimming. On Boxing Day at 8 am Blair and Danielle went off on a dive boat to check out the reefs.The rest of us took a glass bottom boat at a more convenient hour 10am to the same area. We got to look through large glass panels at the reef system.We saw lots of fish and soft corals including pretty purple ones.Blair and Danielle got to see a Nurse shark up close and a dolphin display on the way back .They apparently were jumping and flipping near the boat.Dolphins are such fun , the clowns of the sea!So there was a mass exodus on the 27 th ,when everybody left for their respective homes.Blair and Danielle had the day in Miami leaving in the evening for New York.The Skellys left for their wintery Ottawa just before midday.We decided to have an extra two nights here before heading south.
Graeme and I went off bike riding after lunch,then late afternoon had our neighbors from Belmont, the Darnells over for drinks and to show them the boat, fun to catch up in a different place.
So that's the catch up for the last 7 days.Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and time with your families. On 28 th we went up to visit the famous Ocean Reef that every talks ,about but that will be tomorrow's blog.Sorry this has been a lot to read .I will try to keep it shorter!
Til the next one,Bye.
Well we had another wonderful Skelly/Wheatley Christmas Week from 20th to 27th December here at the Del Mar Marina in Key Largo in sunny Florida. Danielle ( Blair's girlfriend ) was able to join us from the 24 th to 27 th December.This time of year turned out to be a real bonus, less people around, lovely warm weather and plenty of time to relax.The Skellys had hired a car so they were able to go for a short two day overnight trip south to see Key West. The evening they left ,Graeme and I met up with the boys at a restaurant called the Conch House. Conch is a sea creature which lives in the Caribbean and is closet to an abalone (paua for Kiwis) in texture ,but is a white not black in color Jon had the conch fritters which are very popular and Blair branched out and had lionfish.The lionfish have become a real menace now in the reef areas .These are are beautiful looking fish with delicate tendrils above and below, but have poisonous barbs at the ends.Fortunately the chef had got rid of thise before cooking the fish! The next day Blair and Jon Skelly headed up to Miami to pick up Danielle and they had a wonderful evening there enjoying the big city ,before they all came down to join us on Christmas Eve. With everyone away for a couple of days Graeme and I got out our new folding marine type (guess that means they dont rust as much!)bikes and cycled off to visit Blair and Jon's hotel where they had some resident Manatees. So far on our journey we hadnt seen one , so we're interested to get a look at these strange creatures.They are attracted by running fresh water and will drink from a hose if you bring one to the waters edge.Unfortunately there was no hose to attract them this day but eventually one came up beside the dock area and we got a good view.They have big round bodies, with a platypus type tail , two large round nostrils and big round eyes.On their backs they seem to have all sorts of marine growths. they are slow and sluggish.This one had some v shaped chunks out of its tail , no doubt from a boat propeller .No wonder there are so many signs on the ICW warning boaters to go slow.Speed is not on their side!
We had a couple of meals on board Christmas Eve and Boxing Day which was such fun.Amazing that we can get 7 of us around our little salon table! Chirtmas Day we went out for cocktails at the Sunset Bar then dinner at the adjoining Restaurant called the Big Chill owned by Jimmy Johnson of Us Football Fame .I think he managed the Cowboys and the Dolphins Teams.
Christmas Day Graeme and I decided having our own Church service on the boat in the morning would be a good idea.I had researched the local area for churches and service times.It was all too difficult , either few services or too far away. So we had the Christmas story from Luke 2 read by Graeme and Stephen, we did the Acts prayer formation with silent prayer time for each of us in between,I did a reading from Our Daily Bread , using Dec 23 rd for those that use this daily booklet.Blair,Danielle, Jon and Barbara did the Bible readings that accompanied it.We all said the Lords Prayer together and to finish ,attempted to sing Hark the Hearld Angels Sing. It was wonderful we all got to participate for this blessed day!
We decided to take the boat out to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef for lunch and a swim.They have mooring balls you can pick up as you are not allowed to anchor in this area. Day looked promising but as we got further out it was a bit too rough.But we had fun, Some got to drive the boat and we headed back to calm waters and had lunch on the boat back in Del Mar Marina.Afternoon was spent around the pool relaxing , reading and swimming. On Boxing Day at 8 am Blair and Danielle went off on a dive boat to check out the reefs.The rest of us took a glass bottom boat at a more convenient hour 10am to the same area. We got to look through large glass panels at the reef system.We saw lots of fish and soft corals including pretty purple ones.Blair and Danielle got to see a Nurse shark up close and a dolphin display on the way back .They apparently were jumping and flipping near the boat.Dolphins are such fun , the clowns of the sea!So there was a mass exodus on the 27 th ,when everybody left for their respective homes.Blair and Danielle had the day in Miami leaving in the evening for New York.The Skellys left for their wintery Ottawa just before midday.We decided to have an extra two nights here before heading south.
Graeme and I went off bike riding after lunch,then late afternoon had our neighbors from Belmont, the Darnells over for drinks and to show them the boat, fun to catch up in a different place.
So that's the catch up for the last 7 days.Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and time with your families. On 28 th we went up to visit the famous Ocean Reef that every talks ,about but that will be tomorrow's blog.Sorry this has been a lot to read .I will try to keep it shorter!
Til the next one,Bye.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
We have arrived in Key Largo!
Hi Bloggers,
Well we left Miami Beach Marina at 11 am in sunny weather,much later than our usual departure you will notice.Graeme had been concerned about the seas getting up, the marine forecast had said seas were going to get to 6 to 8 ft even though they are referring to 20 miles out . As we had to definately go outside in the ocean this time we had to be cautious.Graeme called the Key Largo Marina and they had said 4 to 6 ft maximum seas for their area .We had a smooth trip down through the Biscayne Bay (the inside track) and then cut through a canal to the ocean just before the start of Key Largo Island.The sea turned out to be calmer than we had anticipated so had a good run for about an hour to the entrance of Key Largo Marina.The color of the sea reminded of the Bahama waters.Clearer and a pale green color than further north? We had to go through a winding canal to get to our dock and Bill the dock hand helped us get sorted with all the lines .This Marina is less swanky than some we have been in but it is cozy and right next to all the facilities eg.restaurants,pool , and fitness center,It is more old style Florida.We even have breakfast included ,a first for us while staying in a marina.Lots of boats in our marina are for dive or snorkle trips,fishing trips or for the less adventurous, glass boat boat trips.We are right near the John Pennecamp Resort a big dive area in Florida.It has a concrete large Statue of Christ underwater. Barbara, Stephen ,Jon and Blair arrived late afternoon from Miami and we had drinks and a meal on board and a nice bottle of wine or two.So starts our week here in the Keys with the traditional Skelly / Wheatley Christmas celebration. Blair and Jon are happy to be out of the cold!
Over and Out.
Well we left Miami Beach Marina at 11 am in sunny weather,much later than our usual departure you will notice.Graeme had been concerned about the seas getting up, the marine forecast had said seas were going to get to 6 to 8 ft even though they are referring to 20 miles out . As we had to definately go outside in the ocean this time we had to be cautious.Graeme called the Key Largo Marina and they had said 4 to 6 ft maximum seas for their area .We had a smooth trip down through the Biscayne Bay (the inside track) and then cut through a canal to the ocean just before the start of Key Largo Island.The sea turned out to be calmer than we had anticipated so had a good run for about an hour to the entrance of Key Largo Marina.The color of the sea reminded of the Bahama waters.Clearer and a pale green color than further north? We had to go through a winding canal to get to our dock and Bill the dock hand helped us get sorted with all the lines .This Marina is less swanky than some we have been in but it is cozy and right next to all the facilities eg.restaurants,pool , and fitness center,It is more old style Florida.We even have breakfast included ,a first for us while staying in a marina.Lots of boats in our marina are for dive or snorkle trips,fishing trips or for the less adventurous, glass boat boat trips.We are right near the John Pennecamp Resort a big dive area in Florida.It has a concrete large Statue of Christ underwater. Barbara, Stephen ,Jon and Blair arrived late afternoon from Miami and we had drinks and a meal on board and a nice bottle of wine or two.So starts our week here in the Keys with the traditional Skelly / Wheatley Christmas celebration. Blair and Jon are happy to be out of the cold!
Over and Out.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
On our way to Key Largo, God Willing!
Hi there Everyone,
Well we made it to Miami the part of Florida where anything goes! We left in the morning and it took five hours to go down this sector of the ICW.Many bridges in this stretch and several in a row under 15' Also if you take into account unnatural high water levels right now, we have a few more to wait for .We are starting to get the hang of how to time between the low bridges especially when they only a mile or three or eight miles apart. Learning to get the perfect speed in between has been a fun exercise!Plus watching out for shoaling that comes up unexpectedly.Sometimes following another boat going a similar speed is the answer ,as you can tell the ones who have done this all before. Also on the radio you get to know the same boats and owners. For the last two days we had heard the Canadians on "Lady Belle" calling at each bridge. One chatty bridge operator called to us after we past under his bridge to say his daughter is called Erica so he decided our boat name was cool!We moored at the Miami Beach Marina.A fun spot right at the entrance of Miami harbor. We were able to eat at a local restaurant that overlooks the Marina. People watching is a favorite sport here as there are many interesting and unusual sights. This is South Beach , Florida. High rise condos and many out walking with little dogs or maids in uniform with children in strollers seems to be the theme.
Over and out
Well we made it to Miami the part of Florida where anything goes! We left in the morning and it took five hours to go down this sector of the ICW.Many bridges in this stretch and several in a row under 15' Also if you take into account unnatural high water levels right now, we have a few more to wait for .We are starting to get the hang of how to time between the low bridges especially when they only a mile or three or eight miles apart. Learning to get the perfect speed in between has been a fun exercise!Plus watching out for shoaling that comes up unexpectedly.Sometimes following another boat going a similar speed is the answer ,as you can tell the ones who have done this all before. Also on the radio you get to know the same boats and owners. For the last two days we had heard the Canadians on "Lady Belle" calling at each bridge. One chatty bridge operator called to us after we past under his bridge to say his daughter is called Erica so he decided our boat name was cool!We moored at the Miami Beach Marina.A fun spot right at the entrance of Miami harbor. We were able to eat at a local restaurant that overlooks the Marina. People watching is a favorite sport here as there are many interesting and unusual sights. This is South Beach , Florida. High rise condos and many out walking with little dogs or maids in uniform with children in strollers seems to be the theme.
Over and out
Monday, December 19, 2011
Another Day on the ICW
Hi Family and Friends,
We got up early anticipating another exciting phase of our boating journey on Sunday the 18th December . We decided to leave a day early for our destination to Key Largo because the seas are still not co operating and this meant we needed to take the slower option ,the ICW. We left just before 8.30 am in time for one of the many bridge openings we would be dealing with along the way.
At Lake Worth area near Peanut Island , we were stopped by the Coast Guard who wanted to check our documentation which fortunately was all in order This process took about half an hour! Bit of a pain , but the guys were very friendly and even gave us a restaurant recommendation .They apparently stop people at random most days to check for terrorist activities. Maybe they just wanted to look inside our boat!
We meandered down the ICW going mostly between 6 and 10 miles per hour, also stopping in a line with other boats to go under the low bridges. Bridges vary from 9' to 65' .Our boat has a 15 ' height restriction so not too bad most of the time .This is where the power boat has it over the sail boats on occasions! Again mansion upon mansion lined the canal ,many with boats parked outside some around the 70' to 90' length !We came to the realization that travelling the ICW in the weekends is not the best time to do so. Lots of pleasure crafts zip in and out and there are speed retrictions just for the weekends in the ICW. Our six hour journey finished at Hillsbro Inlet near Boca Raton at a delightful marina called Lighthouse Yacht Club. Reminded us a bit of CYC our yacht club in Maryland. Sam the assistant dock master was super friendly and helpful.
We decided to try out the Coast Guard recommendation and had a short ferry ride, across to Cap's Restaurant.The daughter of the original owner served us drinks in the bar. Apparently the story goes that the owner was into rum smuggling from the Carribean while running his restaurant and his brother was the local lighthouse operator so he could know when the coast was clear to bring in the loot!
Over and Out
Erica
We got up early anticipating another exciting phase of our boating journey on Sunday the 18th December . We decided to leave a day early for our destination to Key Largo because the seas are still not co operating and this meant we needed to take the slower option ,the ICW. We left just before 8.30 am in time for one of the many bridge openings we would be dealing with along the way.
At Lake Worth area near Peanut Island , we were stopped by the Coast Guard who wanted to check our documentation which fortunately was all in order This process took about half an hour! Bit of a pain , but the guys were very friendly and even gave us a restaurant recommendation .They apparently stop people at random most days to check for terrorist activities. Maybe they just wanted to look inside our boat!
We meandered down the ICW going mostly between 6 and 10 miles per hour, also stopping in a line with other boats to go under the low bridges. Bridges vary from 9' to 65' .Our boat has a 15 ' height restriction so not too bad most of the time .This is where the power boat has it over the sail boats on occasions! Again mansion upon mansion lined the canal ,many with boats parked outside some around the 70' to 90' length !We came to the realization that travelling the ICW in the weekends is not the best time to do so. Lots of pleasure crafts zip in and out and there are speed retrictions just for the weekends in the ICW. Our six hour journey finished at Hillsbro Inlet near Boca Raton at a delightful marina called Lighthouse Yacht Club. Reminded us a bit of CYC our yacht club in Maryland. Sam the assistant dock master was super friendly and helpful.
We decided to try out the Coast Guard recommendation and had a short ferry ride, across to Cap's Restaurant.The daughter of the original owner served us drinks in the bar. Apparently the story goes that the owner was into rum smuggling from the Carribean while running his restaurant and his brother was the local lighthouse operator so he could know when the coast was clear to bring in the loot!
Over and Out
Erica
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Break from the blog
Hi Faithful Bloggers,
Sorry there has been a long break but we have been on land doing many things. Thanks to the generousity and hospitality of Bill and Nancy we have had a wonderful stay here at Admiral's Cove in Jupiter.The boat has been on their dock since 29th November and we have enjoyed the delights of being in this upscale lovely golfing and boating community.We have entertained with a couple of dinners on board, good practice for the Christmas week in Key Largo!
We organized a rental car couldn't believe the $10 per day ,including tax deal, go Hotwire! That enabled us to go places on our own, although Bill and Nancy again were very generous taking us places.We went to their church one Sunday, a lively Lutheran Church.We have played a little golf, once at Frenchman's Reserve ,Jupiter( a Toll Brother golf community, we have reciprocal rights with).We played with Karen and Hank (friends from Belmont)who were down for the week. At Admiral's Cove were were able to use the practice range and I went on the main course with Nancy , such a lovely groomed course .A real treat!We did get to kayak for three hours on the river of the Loxahatchee Reserve with Bill and Nancy which was fabulous. We have eaten at two of the club restaurants . All the staff here bend over backwards to help and they all have ready smiles.So what's not to love about this place!
We had a brief and somewhat hectic but enjoyable trip back to Virginia. Dinners, lunches and entertaining was the theme. Had a nice evening chez nous with neighbors and friends in Belmont, and on Monday I had the pleasure of hosting the annual Christmas mahjong and chili lunch at our house.Before we knew it we were packing up again and heading south to Jupiter for a rest! Our plan is to leave tomorrow to head south on the ICW again so will try to keep you posted On a more frequent basis.
Over and out.
Sorry there has been a long break but we have been on land doing many things. Thanks to the generousity and hospitality of Bill and Nancy we have had a wonderful stay here at Admiral's Cove in Jupiter.The boat has been on their dock since 29th November and we have enjoyed the delights of being in this upscale lovely golfing and boating community.We have entertained with a couple of dinners on board, good practice for the Christmas week in Key Largo!
We organized a rental car couldn't believe the $10 per day ,including tax deal, go Hotwire! That enabled us to go places on our own, although Bill and Nancy again were very generous taking us places.We went to their church one Sunday, a lively Lutheran Church.We have played a little golf, once at Frenchman's Reserve ,Jupiter( a Toll Brother golf community, we have reciprocal rights with).We played with Karen and Hank (friends from Belmont)who were down for the week. At Admiral's Cove were were able to use the practice range and I went on the main course with Nancy , such a lovely groomed course .A real treat!We did get to kayak for three hours on the river of the Loxahatchee Reserve with Bill and Nancy which was fabulous. We have eaten at two of the club restaurants . All the staff here bend over backwards to help and they all have ready smiles.So what's not to love about this place!
We had a brief and somewhat hectic but enjoyable trip back to Virginia. Dinners, lunches and entertaining was the theme. Had a nice evening chez nous with neighbors and friends in Belmont, and on Monday I had the pleasure of hosting the annual Christmas mahjong and chili lunch at our house.Before we knew it we were packing up again and heading south to Jupiter for a rest! Our plan is to leave tomorrow to head south on the ICW again so will try to keep you posted On a more frequent basis.
Over and out.
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