1st Jan to 5th January 2012

Hi there Blog Followers,
Well we have had an interruption with this due to family circumstances, which I will explain later.
Jan 1st:
We had a lovely day in Key West cycling to the trolley bus site on Key West Island and taking the tour hop on and off bus ( just like the one in Washington DC ) and first visited the Kye West Butterfly Santuary.Absolutely fabulous ! Well worth a vist. Then took the bus while listening to the driver give us facts about the island. Had a great Cuban style sandwich lunch. Also went to visit the Harry Truman Litle White House where Truman and several other US presidents have stayed during their time in office, including John Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. Finished up with visit to see the Ernest Hemmingway House.
We relaxed back at the boat ,opened a bottle of champagne for the New Year, then cycled off to the local excellent waterside restaurant called the Hog Fish Grill. I tried the hog fish tacos recommended by the dock captain at our marina. Delicious!
Jan 2nd:
Due to the weather forecast changing and the prospect of severe winds expected that evening, we changed our plans and left a day early to travel the Gulf of Mexico to Marco Island. Fortunately the cold front had not hit yet so we had a few good hours before the winds got up and the sea changed. All in all,it was only the last hour where we had to slow down and deal with a choppy sea.
Got into Rose Marina around 2.30pm.Very friendly dock master , lovely floating docks and we got to park side on to the dock always the nicest option. Shortly after we had a visit from a couple we had met while docked at Key Largo. We invited them for drinks later in the afternoon.Boating people are friendly that way!Had a wonderful dinner at Arturo's a wonderful Italian Restaurant across the street. We both had the house special, a large pork chop filled with cheese, mushrooms and other goodies! Perfect for the colder weather we were then experiencing.
Jan 3rd:
During the night we had received a very sad call from Mark my younger brother and Carol his wife, to say our older brother Roy had suffered a severe heart attack and was going to be put into an induced coma. We spent the day in limbo as were our poor family back in New Zealand.
We decided to take our bikes out and explore the area.Checked out the big Marriot Resort on the beach side. Lots of white sandy beaches in this area. Later we had an afternoon drink at a cute little bar called the Snug Inn on the waterfront. It had live entertainment all afternoon. Dinner was again in walking distance of the dock at a place called the Dolphin Tiki Bar and Cafe, another fun place.
Jan 4th
We decided to head up to Naples for the night. People had been recommending it was a good place to stay for a night. Only 12 miles away so an easy jaunt. We stayed at the Naples City Docks which was very central and within walking distance of the town. We had a walking tour of the area and decided to try out the Tommy Bahamas Restaurant for dinner.This is the original Tommy Bahamas site and he has been very successful, making casual men's wear almost the Hawaiian look with flowery shirts. While at dinner we got the call from Mark to say Roy was not going to make it so we immediately made plans that evening to head down to NZ as soon as possible.Little tricky as our passports were back in Virginia.
Jan 5th
Early morning we left Naples and drove the boat the 5 hour journey to Sarasota so we could leave the boat there while we were going to NZ. Fortunately , there is a very nice couple on the adjoining dock who offered to watch our boat for us; especially with the falling and rising tides and concrete fixed dock .That was a relief! our friend, and Graeme's former boss, Doug got us to the airport an hour later and so we began our 6 flight journey down to Hawkes Bay and the family.
So I will be suspending this blog until later in the month.
Best Wishes, and thanks for your support already received.
Erica and Graeme.

Off to Key West ,last day of 2011

Hi Family and friends,
Well what can I say , another beautiful day here in the Keys.We set off at 10.30am ,and had a great ride down the coast.I short journey of 2 hours to get here.We are staying on Stock Island a part of Key West but not on the main island. The Marina , the Key WestHarbor Yacht Club and Marina is in a sheltered cove , just off the ocean and has a new club house ,swimming pool and free kayaks for guest use to explore the area. Once settled with the boat ,we decided to venture over to the heart of Key West ie Duvall Street, the main drag!We were able to walk to a bus stop near the West Marine Store and for $2 got a ride into town. It's only 50 cents if you are a senior ie over 60 yrs! Many people about in the town and we wandered the shops mainly looking in the art galleries, then to Mallory Square to watch yet another fabulous sunset and the final famous green flash as the sun went down.Lots of street performers were in the area,using fire and balancing feats to entertain the crowds.For dinner we tried out the Conch Republic Restaurant in the harbor area .Got a tip from a customer at the bar to ask for royal red shrimp( not on the menu)We were not disappointed, they were delicious!
Afterwards we wandered the streets. Duvall Street is shut off for the evening from 6 pm.We saw some interesting sights, nothing too outrageous .One guy was wheeling his cat around in a small stroller.That was a first!Dogs yes ,but cats never! By 9pm we had decided to go back to the marina, and enjoy the comfort of the boat to see the New Year in .We watched the ball drop at Times Square in New York on TV.Blair and Danielle called to wish us Happy New Year , then we went to bed.We boaties don't have the staying power with all this sea air!
Hope you all had a great New Years Eve and will enjoy a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012.
Over and out ,
Erica and Graeme.