Monday, January 11, 2010
1/6 - Marathon, Florida
We are back into our regular routine of George taking his early morning walks, followed by his shopping, ordering parts, and making repairs or improvements aboard. Besides the regular work of keeping up a home aboard, Pat is busy on the computer, keeps in close touch with her mother, and organizes the paper-work of our lives. She has also started to research a possible Alaska Cruise Tour for us and our friends, Ernie and Kay Giordano for August. Since George and Ernie are train buffs, we would like this trip to include substantial train travel.
1/5/10 - Marathon, Florida
The Ianniellos left this morning at 8 a.m. for Fort Lauderdale to look at a few boats there before having lunch with a friend and then flying home to New Jersey. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit here with us, and hope that they can return again sometime this winter. We spent the rest of the day doing laundry, taking down and stowing our Christmas decorations, and doing boat chores.
1/4/10 - Marathon, Florida
Since today was Lou and Judy's last full day here with us, we took them to one of our favorite places in the Keys, Little Palm Island. This lovely 5 acre island is located 3 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and was the location for the film, "PT-109" because it has the appearance of being in the South Pacific.
Only accessible by boat or sea-plane, the resort is known as a special "escape" with secluded oceanfront bungalows, spa, pool, and highly-rated restaurant on terraces over-looking the beach. No one under the age of 16 is allowed at the resort, cell phones must be on "vibrate" only, and no telephones or T.V.s are located in the rooms. (Pictures will follow the next time we visit here - the batteries in our camera died.)
We had a reservation for lunch, so we arrived at the resort's reception center at Little Torch Key at 11:15 a.m. in order to take their launch, the "Truman", to the island. After our 15 minute ride, we were met on-shore by the concierge and escorted to our table. The view was spectacular, and we even had a key deer that came up from the beach to our table. Judy fed him some flowers which the waitress brought to her to let the deer enjoy. Our meal was wonderful and the ambiance and company superb! Afterwards, the concierge gave us a tour of the resort's facilities before we boarded the launch for our return to the main-land.
When we got back to our boat, Lou disappeared for a short while. Upon his return we were delighted to find out that he had put his name down on the waiting list for a slip here at Banana Bay for next winter! Obviously he liked our location - now he just has to get the boat!
Later on in the evening we went to a new restaurant, "Lazy Days South", where we had a lovely final dinner with Lou and Judy, and Lou finally had the Stone Crab Legs he had been craving!
Only accessible by boat or sea-plane, the resort is known as a special "escape" with secluded oceanfront bungalows, spa, pool, and highly-rated restaurant on terraces over-looking the beach. No one under the age of 16 is allowed at the resort, cell phones must be on "vibrate" only, and no telephones or T.V.s are located in the rooms. (Pictures will follow the next time we visit here - the batteries in our camera died.)
We had a reservation for lunch, so we arrived at the resort's reception center at Little Torch Key at 11:15 a.m. in order to take their launch, the "Truman", to the island. After our 15 minute ride, we were met on-shore by the concierge and escorted to our table. The view was spectacular, and we even had a key deer that came up from the beach to our table. Judy fed him some flowers which the waitress brought to her to let the deer enjoy. Our meal was wonderful and the ambiance and company superb! Afterwards, the concierge gave us a tour of the resort's facilities before we boarded the launch for our return to the main-land.
When we got back to our boat, Lou disappeared for a short while. Upon his return we were delighted to find out that he had put his name down on the waiting list for a slip here at Banana Bay for next winter! Obviously he liked our location - now he just has to get the boat!
Later on in the evening we went to a new restaurant, "Lazy Days South", where we had a lovely final dinner with Lou and Judy, and Lou finally had the Stone Crab Legs he had been craving!
1/3/10 - Marathon, Florida
Key West was our destination today (by car) and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery along our route south even though the day was cool and cloudy. We first stopped at "Divers Direct" so that George could purchase his new wetsuit and snorkel. Then we headed to the "Half Shell Raw Bar" along the waterfront for lunch, followed by shopping around town.
Judy made some purchases at "Fast Buck Freddie's", and then we stopped at "Captain Tony's" (the original "Sloppy Joe's" where Hemingway actually hung out) for a drink. We returned to "Reflection" in the late afternoon, and after our day's activities we all got so comfortable and relaxed watching football on T.V., reading, etc., we decided to order another Chinese dinner delivered to the boat instead of going out or cooking aboard! (They now know us so well at the "Panda House" we don't have to tell them where to deliver the food.)
Judy made some purchases at "Fast Buck Freddie's", and then we stopped at "Captain Tony's" (the original "Sloppy Joe's" where Hemingway actually hung out) for a drink. We returned to "Reflection" in the late afternoon, and after our day's activities we all got so comfortable and relaxed watching football on T.V., reading, etc., we decided to order another Chinese dinner delivered to the boat instead of going out or cooking aboard! (They now know us so well at the "Panda House" we don't have to tell them where to deliver the food.)
1/2/10 - Marathon, Florida
Today the first in a line of "cold" fronts arrived. Though it was sunny, the temperatures were in the 60s, instead of the 70s and low 80s we had in December.
We took Lou and Judy on a tour of Marathon's many marinas to show them what kind of facilities are available here when they purchase a boat, as they hope to do in the near future. On our trip we stopped by Marathon City Marina to introduce them to Richard and Carol Walker, our friends aboard "Holiday VII" from Memphis, Tennessee. The Walkers have spent many winters here and are serious divers and snorkelers, and they advised George on where to buy the wetsuit and new snorkel he should purchase for his future lobstering plans. Richard wants to take George out to the marine sanctuary aboard his boat in the next few weeks to show him his favorite dive spots.
After lunch at "Herbie's" we drove around Key Colony Beach, Sombrero Beach, showed Lou and Judy the multitude of moorings at Boot Key Harbor City Marina, and even drove by the two houses we used to own here in Marathon. In the evening we decided to go to "Keys Fisheries" for dinner, but because it turned out to be too windy to sit on their outside deck, we changed our plans and instead had an absolutely wonderful Italian dinner inside the "Key Colony Inn". Judy even said that her dish was the best chicken dinner she had ever had!
We took Lou and Judy on a tour of Marathon's many marinas to show them what kind of facilities are available here when they purchase a boat, as they hope to do in the near future. On our trip we stopped by Marathon City Marina to introduce them to Richard and Carol Walker, our friends aboard "Holiday VII" from Memphis, Tennessee. The Walkers have spent many winters here and are serious divers and snorkelers, and they advised George on where to buy the wetsuit and new snorkel he should purchase for his future lobstering plans. Richard wants to take George out to the marine sanctuary aboard his boat in the next few weeks to show him his favorite dive spots.
After lunch at "Herbie's" we drove around Key Colony Beach, Sombrero Beach, showed Lou and Judy the multitude of moorings at Boot Key Harbor City Marina, and even drove by the two houses we used to own here in Marathon. In the evening we decided to go to "Keys Fisheries" for dinner, but because it turned out to be too windy to sit on their outside deck, we changed our plans and instead had an absolutely wonderful Italian dinner inside the "Key Colony Inn". Judy even said that her dish was the best chicken dinner she had ever had!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
1/1/10 - Marathon, Florida
Judy, Lou, and George set out for parts unknown into the Gulf of Mexico
Returning safely back to the mother ship.Today was another relaxing day with a late breakfast and lunch, and everyone chose to either lounge at the beach, read, watch a foot-ball game, ride around in the dinghy, or spend time on the computer. Late in the afternoon the predicted cold front was ushered in by heavy wind and rain for a short time, but when the air cleared, we went out for dinner at "Porky's", a local favorite of George's, for barbecued ribs and fried shrimp. We had a great time soaking up the "ambiance" of this shack on the water, where we sat at picnic benches with paper towel napkins, and ate great food while listening to Jimmy Buffett music performed by a local guitarist/singer. It was a terrific evening!
12/28 - 12/31/09 - Marathon, Florida
We returned to "Reflection" on Monday, 12/28, about 5 p.m. after a whirlwind 10 day trip home to New Jersey. During that time we put up Christmas decorations, took down Christmas decorations, purchased gifts, wrapped gifts, arranged for Pat's mother to move back to her apartment from the Health Care Center where she had been recuperating from her recent illness and hospitalization for almost two months, visited with various neighbors and friends, and shoveled our home out from a 22 inch snowfall (God's way of reminding us of how blessed we are to be spending the next four months here in the Keys).
On Christmas Day Pat sang and played the piano for Mass at Harrogate (her Mom's retirement community), and we hosted Mom, Pat's cousin Steve, his wife, Chris, daughter, Stephanie, and our nephew, Ken, and his wife, Nancy, for a Christmas dinner (including home-made Polish pierogies) completely prepared by George.
After packing our Chrysler Sebring convertible to the gills, we left New Jersey at 5:15 a.m. on 12/27, but after Richmond we began to encounter heavy traffic traveling south, and by the time we reached South Carolina we literally crawled our way to Savannah, where after 15 hours we finally reached our hotel. The next day was much better, and we made it to Banana Bay Resort and Marina in 10 1/2 hours.
The following two days were spent unpacking, shopping, and preparing the boat in anticipation of the arrival of our friends, Lou and Judy Ianniello, who flew down here to join us for New Year's. They arrived on 12/30 around 6:30 p.m. and we welcomed them with cocktails and a Chinese dinner.
On 12/31 Lou and Judy familiarized themselves with the resort and enjoyed the warm temperatures and the sun, and we made plans for New Year's Eve. We had reservations at "Castaways" for a late dinner, and then stopped by the Dockside Lounge at Sombrero Resort to see what was happening there. We couldn't believe how quiet it was - maybe the usual characters there went to Key West! At any rate, we returned to "Reflection" where we enjoyed champagne and chocolates to usher in 2010. Happy New Year!!!
On Christmas Day Pat sang and played the piano for Mass at Harrogate (her Mom's retirement community), and we hosted Mom, Pat's cousin Steve, his wife, Chris, daughter, Stephanie, and our nephew, Ken, and his wife, Nancy, for a Christmas dinner (including home-made Polish pierogies) completely prepared by George.
After packing our Chrysler Sebring convertible to the gills, we left New Jersey at 5:15 a.m. on 12/27, but after Richmond we began to encounter heavy traffic traveling south, and by the time we reached South Carolina we literally crawled our way to Savannah, where after 15 hours we finally reached our hotel. The next day was much better, and we made it to Banana Bay Resort and Marina in 10 1/2 hours.
The following two days were spent unpacking, shopping, and preparing the boat in anticipation of the arrival of our friends, Lou and Judy Ianniello, who flew down here to join us for New Year's. They arrived on 12/30 around 6:30 p.m. and we welcomed them with cocktails and a Chinese dinner.
On 12/31 Lou and Judy familiarized themselves with the resort and enjoyed the warm temperatures and the sun, and we made plans for New Year's Eve. We had reservations at "Castaways" for a late dinner, and then stopped by the Dockside Lounge at Sombrero Resort to see what was happening there. We couldn't believe how quiet it was - maybe the usual characters there went to Key West! At any rate, we returned to "Reflection" where we enjoyed champagne and chocolates to usher in 2010. Happy New Year!!!
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