Sombrero Light off Marathon sits atop Sombrero Reef Wild Life Refuge - an excellent snorkel and dive spot.
Ernie and Casper relaxing aboard "Reflection"
Paddock and starting gate at the pig races.
The contenders
. . . and they're off
One of the losers. He was delicious.
After race dining in the "club house" - sort of..
On Monday our friends and next-door neighbors, Ernie and Kay Giordano, along with our favorite dog, Casper, arrived for a visit. We had cocktails and dinner aboard that evening, and on Tuesday we took them out for a 4 hour tour on "Reflection" to Sombrero Light on the ocean side and around and through Boot Key Harbor. The waters' colors were magnificent with shades of blue and aquamarine that were almost surreal in their beauty.
On our return to the gulf side, we couldn't believe it, but a fog bank came in! Because we were used to foggy conditions from our years of boating experience on northern waters, it was not a big deal to us (though a bit unusual for Florida!), but when we returned to the marina, many of our boating neighbors expressed that they had been concerned about us and were awaiting our return. Though there have been a number of transient boats in our marina, there are also numerous boats who also have never moved since they arrived here. We are one of the few boats to make frequent day trips in and out.
That evening we went to "Cabana Breezes" on the ocean in Key Colony Beach for dinner. Even Casper joined us! Florida allows dogs to accompany restaurant patrons as long as they dine at an out-door venue. So, we all had a great time as we ate at a table beneath the tiki torches accompanied by the sound of the surf lapping only a few feet away.
On Wednesday the weather began to deteriorate as another cold front was forecast to come through with lots of wind and heavy rain. After lunch at "Burdine's" where we enjoyed terrific burgers and fries (yes, even Casper!), Ernie and Kay decided to beat the bad weather and returned to their winter residence in Naples before conditions went down-hill.
On Thursday while doing laundry, Pat met Kathrine and Jim aboard "Flawless 'D'", a Hunter 45 sailboat from the United Kingdom. They had arrived yesterday with engine problems, and had spent a horrible night at their dock near the marina entrance bouncing in the waves produced by the cold front that had come through. When Pat found out that they were also out of food and supplies, she volunteered to take them to the local supermarket, as their bike baskets were not nearly big enough to handle the amount of purchases they needed to make. When they returned from the store with a completely full car trunk and more, they invited us to come aboard later for cocktails, but since their boat was still rocking, Pat invited them to visit "Reflection" later on instead.
We had a hilarious evening with them, and found out that they were actually fairly new sailors who had taken some sailing lessons in Gibraltar, and then decided to buy a boat here in the U.S. She owns a jewelry enterprise in London, and he was a drummer and back-up singer for punk rock bands who is now an aspiring comedian. According to them, they are "bopping around" Florida and will stay here until the conditions calm down.
On Friday we attended the "Pig Races" at the "Stuffed Pig". In honor of "National Pig Day" on 2/28, this restaurant was hosting a week-end of activities and food to benefit the Grace Jones Day-Care Center in Marathon, that had been demolished in Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
They are in the process of re-building, and needed to raise money to obtain a grant to finish this endeavor. The races were held at an area with bleachers and a track set up behind the restaurant, and there were 3 heats for the races which were held several times each day. Bets were taken on your favorite pig in each heat: Baby Pigs (60 lbs.), Adult Pigs (250 lbs.), and Potbelly Pigs (300+ lbs.). We had loads of laughs, bet on the winning pig in the second heat, and enjoyed a great sparerib meal surrounded by everything "pig" - mascots, stuffed toys, T-shirts, etc. We even saw some human "pigs"!
After attending Sunday Mass at San Pablo Church where we had a conversation with the pastor, Father Gerry Morris, who is also a sailor and fellow member of the Marathon Yacht Club, about Pat's church music activities and her brother, Father Tony, we had breakfast for the second Sunday in a row at the Marathon American Legion Hall. Their members offer 6 platter selections that are not only delicious and generous in size, but are very reasonably priced, thus, it is always crowded with locals and boaters alike.
Today we also awaited the arrival from New Jersey of Pat's cousin, Steve, his wife, Chris, and their daughter, Stephanie. Though not boaters, they accepted our invitation to visit us aboard "Reflection" during our stay here in the Keys. This coming week is Stephanie's "Spring Break" from Villanova University, where she is a freshman, and a member of the school's Dance Team, so this was a perfect time for them to join us. We're anxious to see how they handle the "boating life"!
The cousins arrived in the early afternoon, and after lunch they unpacked, made themselves comfortable, and headed for the pool. They told us that all they want to do this week is to relax and to get some sun. Despite the cooler than normal temperatures, it always seems to be warm at the pool here, which is very sheltered, so they should get their wish. Later on, after cocktails aboard, we headed to "Sparky's" in Key Colony Beach for dinner and then back to the boat for their first night aboard.
On our return to the gulf side, we couldn't believe it, but a fog bank came in! Because we were used to foggy conditions from our years of boating experience on northern waters, it was not a big deal to us (though a bit unusual for Florida!), but when we returned to the marina, many of our boating neighbors expressed that they had been concerned about us and were awaiting our return. Though there have been a number of transient boats in our marina, there are also numerous boats who also have never moved since they arrived here. We are one of the few boats to make frequent day trips in and out.
That evening we went to "Cabana Breezes" on the ocean in Key Colony Beach for dinner. Even Casper joined us! Florida allows dogs to accompany restaurant patrons as long as they dine at an out-door venue. So, we all had a great time as we ate at a table beneath the tiki torches accompanied by the sound of the surf lapping only a few feet away.
On Wednesday the weather began to deteriorate as another cold front was forecast to come through with lots of wind and heavy rain. After lunch at "Burdine's" where we enjoyed terrific burgers and fries (yes, even Casper!), Ernie and Kay decided to beat the bad weather and returned to their winter residence in Naples before conditions went down-hill.
On Thursday while doing laundry, Pat met Kathrine and Jim aboard "Flawless 'D'", a Hunter 45 sailboat from the United Kingdom. They had arrived yesterday with engine problems, and had spent a horrible night at their dock near the marina entrance bouncing in the waves produced by the cold front that had come through. When Pat found out that they were also out of food and supplies, she volunteered to take them to the local supermarket, as their bike baskets were not nearly big enough to handle the amount of purchases they needed to make. When they returned from the store with a completely full car trunk and more, they invited us to come aboard later for cocktails, but since their boat was still rocking, Pat invited them to visit "Reflection" later on instead.
We had a hilarious evening with them, and found out that they were actually fairly new sailors who had taken some sailing lessons in Gibraltar, and then decided to buy a boat here in the U.S. She owns a jewelry enterprise in London, and he was a drummer and back-up singer for punk rock bands who is now an aspiring comedian. According to them, they are "bopping around" Florida and will stay here until the conditions calm down.
On Friday we attended the "Pig Races" at the "Stuffed Pig". In honor of "National Pig Day" on 2/28, this restaurant was hosting a week-end of activities and food to benefit the Grace Jones Day-Care Center in Marathon, that had been demolished in Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
They are in the process of re-building, and needed to raise money to obtain a grant to finish this endeavor. The races were held at an area with bleachers and a track set up behind the restaurant, and there were 3 heats for the races which were held several times each day. Bets were taken on your favorite pig in each heat: Baby Pigs (60 lbs.), Adult Pigs (250 lbs.), and Potbelly Pigs (300+ lbs.). We had loads of laughs, bet on the winning pig in the second heat, and enjoyed a great sparerib meal surrounded by everything "pig" - mascots, stuffed toys, T-shirts, etc. We even saw some human "pigs"!
After attending Sunday Mass at San Pablo Church where we had a conversation with the pastor, Father Gerry Morris, who is also a sailor and fellow member of the Marathon Yacht Club, about Pat's church music activities and her brother, Father Tony, we had breakfast for the second Sunday in a row at the Marathon American Legion Hall. Their members offer 6 platter selections that are not only delicious and generous in size, but are very reasonably priced, thus, it is always crowded with locals and boaters alike.
Today we also awaited the arrival from New Jersey of Pat's cousin, Steve, his wife, Chris, and their daughter, Stephanie. Though not boaters, they accepted our invitation to visit us aboard "Reflection" during our stay here in the Keys. This coming week is Stephanie's "Spring Break" from Villanova University, where she is a freshman, and a member of the school's Dance Team, so this was a perfect time for them to join us. We're anxious to see how they handle the "boating life"!
The cousins arrived in the early afternoon, and after lunch they unpacked, made themselves comfortable, and headed for the pool. They told us that all they want to do this week is to relax and to get some sun. Despite the cooler than normal temperatures, it always seems to be warm at the pool here, which is very sheltered, so they should get their wish. Later on, after cocktails aboard, we headed to "Sparky's" in Key Colony Beach for dinner and then back to the boat for their first night aboard.
love those pigs!!!'
ReplyDeleteNancy:)