Back in Miami

Brady dropped us off in Key Largo to pick up the boat in Key Largo.  We made it back to Miami safe and sound.  We had to stop on the way and anchor at Gilbert for a while because it was raining so hard.  We decided to wait it out.... so glad we did!  Although the trip across Biscayne Bay was choppy it was rain free. 

 

Another dolphin siting... three so far this trip!

 

I think this is a boat float that will be in the Fort Lauderdale boat parade on Saturday night.  I would have loved to see that!

 

The blue bridge is usually up... this time a train was going by so we went under when it was down..... kinda unnerving.  

 

We tied up to Derrick and Stephanie our sailing friends at the Miami Yacht Club and had dinner and drinks with them.  Another beautiful Miami night photo!  I don't think I could ever get tired of this view!

 

 

This morning we were off to Dania Beach to take the boat off the water.

 

Saying goodbye to Miami!  Lots of photos along the way.  The houses and buildings are great!



 

The boat is officially off the water, on the trailer, and ready to come home!  We are hoping to make it in two days (14 hours each) with the new truck. 

 

Lots of lessons learned!  We have decided we are more weekend boaters then cruisers.... this trip was much harder then we ever expected.... it was definitely an adventure!

Key West

We were also in Key West for two days and made it to Mile 0 by car.  Bummed we couldn't make it by boat, but the weather was too bad to go off shore in the Hawk Channel.

 

Here we all are at the Southernmost Point.

 

 

My favorite building in Key West.

 

 

Cathy posing with the Catherine St.street sign.

 

 

Kermit's had some really good Key Lime pie!  I loved the gingerbread décor!

 

I loved the Christmas tree in the dinghy at the historic seaport!

 



 Brady and Corp decided to rent mopeds to see the island.  They loved them and so did Cathy!!!

 

All smiles!!!

 

Street performers at Mallory Square... although we didn't see sunset, the performers were great!  I liked the balancing guy Reed the best!

 

Time to return the mopeds... one last photo!!!

 







Back In Marathon

We spend two days in Key Largo and then we were off to Marathon for two days.

On the way, we stopped at Robbie's to feed the tarpon..... boy are they some big fish!

It was cute how the pelican would follow us down the dock.  They are pretty cute, but we were told they bite so don't feed them.

As Cathy was holding a fish to throw at the tarpon a seagull flew by and snatched it right out of her hand.  We were totally surprised!

Time for goofy photos!

 

 

Florida is the Sunshine State.  Here Brady and I are protesting that statement.  We have barely seen sunshine!!!  It's raining while we are taking the photo below.

Then we went to Aquarium Encounters.  The highlight for me was petting the sting rays!

 

Below the photo shows how they feed them.  They slap the bottle on the water and they come in.   

 



 The starfish was my favorite in the touch pool!  We could even hold them.  There were tons of suckers on it belly!

 

 More petting sting ray photos.

 

We also took them to Sombrero Beach for a beach day.  The sun actually came out for a while!  Cathy was busy looking for shells.... not many could be found. 

 

 

 





We noticed people setting up video camera and cameras all morning.  Looked liked an endurance game for a reality show.  Turns out they were videotaping a French reality show called French Trip.  We didn't stay for the actual contest, but watched them tape some footage with the host.

 

We did see some dolphins playing in the swim area off the beach.  Our second sighting of dolphins on the trip.

And The Rain Began!

We stayed dry the first half of the day.  We took family out in the boat on the ICW and boated about 20 miles.  Then we went to lunch at Gilbert Tiki Bar.  Brady posing on the front of the boat at lunch. 

After lunch Corp made arrangements for Brady and Cathy to go parasailing.  They had a blast!

Here the are way up high!

 

Coming down

All smiles when it was over!

Still smiling!

 

We got back to the dock just before the rain started and its been raining ever since.... really hard at times. 

 

We decided to get in the car and explore the Key Largo area.  We ended up at Hog Heaven in Islamorada for dinner. 

 

We got back to pouring rain.  Check out the radar below.  We are the red pinpoint in the middle of the red weather.  The thunder and lightening were incredible.

 

 

We are going by car with family to Marathon and Key West.  The boat will stay docked at John Pennekamp State Park for the next four days.  They are forecasting three days of rain and we just don't want to deal with it on the boat.