Andrew and Sallyann from "Freedom" come for a visit by kayak.
Pat and Al waiting for the launch that will take us to "Little Palm Island"
A "Key Deer" walking toward the restaurant on "Little Palm Island". This is a species of deer that is only indigenous to the Florida Keys. When fully grown, it is about the size of a large dog.
The same deer sneaking up on some unsuspecting beach -goers.
Pat and Al arrived late on Saturday afternoon, and we welcomed them with cocktails on the aft deck and a steak dinner cooked on our outside grill. The next day, after a tour of the grounds here at Banana Bay in the morning, we had a great burger lunch at "Burdine's" on the Boot Key Harbor waterfront. During lunch we had to keep moving our picnic table farther and farther under the tiki roof since a veritable "monsoon" hit with pouring rain and wind that did not let up for almost an hour. When we left we had to make our way around the floods on the roof where we were sitting and in the parking lot. The sun came out shortly afterward and we continued with our driving tour of the sights of Marathon.
We returned to the boat in time for naps, reading, and the San Diego Chargers vs. Jets football game. The whole marina was aware of who George and Al were rooting for during the proceedings as they coached, yelled, and clapped at the T.V screen. Happily, the biggest roar went up from our boat at the end as the (N.J.) Jets bet the heavily favored Chargers! Later that evening we had a phone call from our friend, Joan Shields, who, we were happy to learn, arrived safely at her winter residence in Duck Key after a late start from New Jersey.
On Monday morning another old friend, Werner Lohmann, from our many mutual years as members of the Bristol Sailing Club, knocked on our door! We haven't seen him in many years, since he and his wife, Grace, moved here to Marathon from New Jersey 17 years ago. They invited us to have dinner with them on Friday, but we could not yet commit, since we were waiting to hear from our Gulfport, Mississippi friends, Ray and Caryl Houle, who will be coming for a visit here some time this week.
In the afternoon we took Pat and Al out on "Reflection" for our "3 Hour Tour" into the Gulf, through 7 Mile Bridge, out almost to Sombrero Light in the Atlantic, through Sister's Creek, around Boot Key Harbor, and back to our marina. We arrived back in time to make "Happy Hour" at the "Keys Fisheries" where the snow crab claws are $1.00 apiece between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The place was jammed, but our guests didn't mind standing at the wall counter on the upper deck and enjoyed picking crab claws accompanied by cold beers. Later on, Sallyann and Andrew joined us for dinner at picnic benches downstairs at the water-front.
On Tuesday, our guests toured Crane Point Hammock, where they took a guided trolley tour of this fascinating local museum and nature center. We have taken out a membership there, which will allow us to share this wonderful historical habitat with our guests. Later in the evening we all went to the Key Colony Inn for a delicious dinner where we all greatly enjoyed the singing and dancing in their piano bar.
Since Pat and Al were leaving on Thursday, we went for lunch to Little Palm Island on Wednesday. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we were seated at a perfect corner table on one of their decks over-looking the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The food was delicious and the ambience superb!
Pat and Al left late the next morning after a great visit. We then set about doing wash and boat chores for the rest of the day. After a phone call from Caryl Houle, who said that she and Ray would be coming to see us on Saturday, we called Werner and Grace and told them that we would be delighted to be their dinner guests at the Marathon Yacht Club the next evening.
On Friday night we had a terrific cocktail hour and meal while catching up on old times with Werner and Grace. The Marathon Yacht Club is a lovely facility which we have not seen in many years, and by the end of the dinner, we were seriously considering applying for membership in this club. There are many benefits to our becoming members that we could enjoy not only while we are here in Marathon, but also as we travel up and down the Intracoastal Waterway with reciprocal yacht club privileges. So, we got an application package, and Grace and Werner graciously agreed to be sponsors for us, should we decide to apply.
On Saturday, the Houles drove up from Key West where they have been on vacation, and we went out to "Herbie's" for lunch and conch chowder. They are still getting adjusted to life on land after their 10 month trip completing the "Loop". Even now, just being in the Keys is making them hear the "siren call" of bringing their boat over here, though it is up for sale right now in Mississippi. We're going to stay tuned to see how long they stay off the water! After lunch and a short tour around town, they left to make their way north to Fort Myers to visit with Caryl's dad. We then "chilled out" for the rest of the day after our very busy week!
We returned to the boat in time for naps, reading, and the San Diego Chargers vs. Jets football game. The whole marina was aware of who George and Al were rooting for during the proceedings as they coached, yelled, and clapped at the T.V screen. Happily, the biggest roar went up from our boat at the end as the (N.J.) Jets bet the heavily favored Chargers! Later that evening we had a phone call from our friend, Joan Shields, who, we were happy to learn, arrived safely at her winter residence in Duck Key after a late start from New Jersey.
On Monday morning another old friend, Werner Lohmann, from our many mutual years as members of the Bristol Sailing Club, knocked on our door! We haven't seen him in many years, since he and his wife, Grace, moved here to Marathon from New Jersey 17 years ago. They invited us to have dinner with them on Friday, but we could not yet commit, since we were waiting to hear from our Gulfport, Mississippi friends, Ray and Caryl Houle, who will be coming for a visit here some time this week.
In the afternoon we took Pat and Al out on "Reflection" for our "3 Hour Tour" into the Gulf, through 7 Mile Bridge, out almost to Sombrero Light in the Atlantic, through Sister's Creek, around Boot Key Harbor, and back to our marina. We arrived back in time to make "Happy Hour" at the "Keys Fisheries" where the snow crab claws are $1.00 apiece between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The place was jammed, but our guests didn't mind standing at the wall counter on the upper deck and enjoyed picking crab claws accompanied by cold beers. Later on, Sallyann and Andrew joined us for dinner at picnic benches downstairs at the water-front.
On Tuesday, our guests toured Crane Point Hammock, where they took a guided trolley tour of this fascinating local museum and nature center. We have taken out a membership there, which will allow us to share this wonderful historical habitat with our guests. Later in the evening we all went to the Key Colony Inn for a delicious dinner where we all greatly enjoyed the singing and dancing in their piano bar.
Since Pat and Al were leaving on Thursday, we went for lunch to Little Palm Island on Wednesday. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we were seated at a perfect corner table on one of their decks over-looking the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The food was delicious and the ambience superb!
Pat and Al left late the next morning after a great visit. We then set about doing wash and boat chores for the rest of the day. After a phone call from Caryl Houle, who said that she and Ray would be coming to see us on Saturday, we called Werner and Grace and told them that we would be delighted to be their dinner guests at the Marathon Yacht Club the next evening.
On Friday night we had a terrific cocktail hour and meal while catching up on old times with Werner and Grace. The Marathon Yacht Club is a lovely facility which we have not seen in many years, and by the end of the dinner, we were seriously considering applying for membership in this club. There are many benefits to our becoming members that we could enjoy not only while we are here in Marathon, but also as we travel up and down the Intracoastal Waterway with reciprocal yacht club privileges. So, we got an application package, and Grace and Werner graciously agreed to be sponsors for us, should we decide to apply.
On Saturday, the Houles drove up from Key West where they have been on vacation, and we went out to "Herbie's" for lunch and conch chowder. They are still getting adjusted to life on land after their 10 month trip completing the "Loop". Even now, just being in the Keys is making them hear the "siren call" of bringing their boat over here, though it is up for sale right now in Mississippi. We're going to stay tuned to see how long they stay off the water! After lunch and a short tour around town, they left to make their way north to Fort Myers to visit with Caryl's dad. We then "chilled out" for the rest of the day after our very busy week!
No comments:
Post a Comment