23 January 2023
When we attended the SPAM-o-Rama at Faro Blanco on Saturday, we heard that the folks there planned a dinghy trip to lunch and invited us to attend. Wind prevented us from doing the event on Sunday, but Monday's (today's) weather looked good for a ride. We were told we were headed to a restaurant called Sparky's but we ended up at the Island Fish Co. restaurant instead. Since Clark and I have never been to either, it made no difference to us where we ended up.
We were told that the dinghies would get together at the Faro Blanco Lighthouse at 10:00 a.m.
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| Passed Cormorant Birds galore when leaving Marlin Bay |
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| Clark at helm but "Look Mom no hands" |
Entering Faro Blanco Marina, someone on shore took our picture as we came in.
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| Coming in to Faro Blanco Marina |
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| Greeted by plenty of pelicans at Faro Blanco |
We arrived about 5 minutes before 10:00 and saw no dinghies but our own. Clark wondered if the event was cancelled, but when we rounded the corner into the basin, we found them all collecting there. As we were coming in, they started to file out so we got some pictures of the group as they left.
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| Collage posted on FaceBook by participant |
We had calm waters on the bay side of Marathon. One couple organizing this event came from the ocean side where they said they dealt with 2 foot waves on the beam as they made their way to Faro Blanco. They started out at 8:00 a.m. to be at FB in time for the 10:00 ride.
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| Calm on the Bay side |
It was a bit start and stop at the beginning of the run. Clark said that, with 13 dinghies and 28 people, he expected to have some issues, and we did. Two dinghies had to return to Faro Blanco due to such things as engine issues. Worrying that the restaurant needed a heads up, Phil called to let them know to expect 28 people for lunch in about one hour. Surprisingly, the restaurant said, "No problem! We'll be ready."
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| Approaching restaurant from the water |
Climbing out of the dinghy at the dock was a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, they had a ladder, so Clark dropped me off there and then I helped him tie up to the fixed dock where he climbed out.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I still thought we were at Sparky's as I was told nothing otherwise. Even as I looked at the menu, I still had no idea as I looked at the food choices inside not the name of the place on the outside.
When I mentioned to one of my fellow diners that "I've never been to Sparky's." The reply I got was basically, "You still haven't because you're at the Island Fish Co.!" Then I looked at the menu cover!
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| Menu shows restaurant name! |
We took up 3 big tables with seating for ten at each.
The food was delicious and I would hurry back for another meal here anytime. They had a good selection, and I went for the lightly-blackened grouper. Yummy! Clark had a seafood wrap made with Mahi-mahi which he too enjoyed.
I thought it might be interesting leaving the restaurant with all the dinghies wanting to leave at the same time. While Clark stopped in to the restroom, I went out to watch the fun.
The original plan for the trip was bay side to the restaurant then through Vaca Cut to the ocean side for the return trip. Hearing that the waves were a bit steep, and given we have "been there, done that" in the past, Clark said we were going back on the bay side. Some folks either went the ocean route or at least "stuck their noses out for a look" (don't know which) as we split up with some heading for Vaca Cut and others, like ourselves, heading back on the bay side.
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| Exiting restaurant ... |
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| Suddenly they hit the throttle and were gone! |
When we got back to Marlin Bay, the birds were there to greet us.
With the big event of the day completed, we had the afternoon to relax. Clark decided to pull out the guitar and sit on the dock to play. I was waiting for him to play "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay", but he never did that I heard.
24 January 2023
With the 25th being my birthday, Clark and I planned to go out for a meal to celebrate. I suggested we invite Sandy and Bill to go with us. When I asked Sandy to join us, she immediately said yes. I told her, "Great! You drive and pick the restaurant!" They have a car here; we don't.
Sandy loves to take us places and always comes up with somewhere we have never been before. When we get in the car, we have no idea where we are going, and it is no use asking because Sandy won't tell. Then she holds us captive until she decides the day's outing is completed. We love not having to worry about any planning, and she loves taking us about - a match made in heaven.
Today, she drove us to Key West. I swear Sandy knows where to find every restroom in the Florida Keys. Since we were not sure how far we would have to walk in Key West, she decided we should stop at the Burger King before we got into town. As we started to get out of the car, we noticed that the door had a big chain holding it locked shut. Whoops - not going in here any time soon. Clark said it looked like they might have had a fire as he saw a lot of black.
Never fear! Sandy had a Plan B in her pocket. She said she had another place in mind, and once again, she kept mum about where that might be. Such games she plays with us! It turned out to be West Marine.
We all got out of the car to go in and look around. I figured there was no way four boaters could go in and come out empty-handed. True to form, Clark found some bolts he needed and picked them up. He said he hadn't remembered he needed them until he saw them, but it saved him a bike trip in Marathon later on when he would have remembered on his own.
Fortunately, we got a parking spot in Key West without having to drive around forever. We parked near the water at Key West Bight and ate at the Conch Republic Seafood Company restaurant.
The only problem we had was the weather. It decided to rain as we drove to Key West. The weather cleared, but then it rained again when we were walking to the restaurant. With the wind and a wet jacket, it felt downright cold out. We had planned to eat outside. The restaurant was open-air in design until they closed the plastic curtains on three sides to keep out the chill. We lost some fresh air but were grateful for the wind block to give us some warmth.
We walked around town a bit. After our delicious seafood at the restaurant, Clark said the only thing he needed was some ice cream to make the day complete. Sandy asked if Gelato would do, and we heartily agreed to that. Clark and I shared a Cookies-n-Cream gelato which was quite delicious. Bill and Sandy shared one of mango and chocolate.
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| Wet streets in Key West |
After our walk around town and before the drive back to Marathon, we took a tour of the public restroom at Key West Bight. I thought I'd be smart and follow Sandy's model of jacket drying; however, the hand dryer at the public restroom was broken. After drying my hands on my pants, I had a wet jacket and wet pants.
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| Sandy enjoying the view at Key West Bight |
Sandy knows all the great places to get fresh seafood. Before heading back to Marathon, she made a stop in Stock Island to buy fresh fish. She came prepared with an ice chest to carry it home in.
As Clark, Bill, and I sat in the car waiting for Sandy to buy her fish, Bill pointed out a nearby fishing boat. "Does he have enough antennas on that boat!?"
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| "One More Fish" He needs 4 braces to hold up his tower! |
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| Keys Seafood |
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| Sandy buying very fresh snapper |
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| Pair of Pelicans doing their own fishing |
On the drive back from Key West, we got a clear view of "Fat Albert". As we drove along he disappeared into the clouds.
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| Appeared very bright white against the dark clouds |
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| Then the clouds started to hide him ... |
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| and finally he was well hidden. |
25 January 2023
Ev's Birthday
With all the fun activities and food eaten on Monday and Tuesday, I decided I needed to just kick back and relax on the boat for my actual birthday day. I played games on my tablet; I read; and I did crossword puzzles. Adam joked with me that I was holding true to my commitment to relax as every time he passed by I was sitting in the same place doing "nothing".
Whatley stopped by to wish me a happy birthday and brought me a present - one I have never received before! He gave me a bag of doggy treats.
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| Whatley |
Clark was happy when I said that I wanted to "veg" on my birthday. He had some chores he was anxious to get on with. A boater at Faro Blano gave us their satellite TV equipment to try out on our boat. Clark spent the majority of the day putting it together and checking it out to compare against our existing system.
When he received the new bicycle tire in the mail that he had been waiting for, he went to work replacing the tire. I got to watch the action while trying to talk on the phone with my son who called to wish me a happy birthday. Clark wasn't noisy until he used the compressor to put air in the tire, and then I had to leave due to the noise.
It is pretty amazing that Clark knows how to do all the stuff he knows how to do. I would not know the first thing about replacing a bike tire. If I got it off, I would not know how to get it back on or have the strength to do it.
The bike tire replacement was a win, but the satellite tv was basically a fail. It worked sort of but had a different set of issues than our existing setup. Clark decided we were better off with our original arrangement. Now we have to get rid of the other equipment as it is not useful to us.
27 January 2023
I did not attend the art workshop at the library on Tuesday, partially due to the Key West trip, but today I made up for it by attending two workshops at the library. Since Clark had physical therapy this morning, I was worried I would not be able to get off the boat to go to the library. Before he left he tied a rope around the pole by the boat so I have something to grab when getting off. It worked like a charm! I grab the rope and step on the dock while feeling like Tarzan swinging from a vine!
The first library session I attended was photography. Today 3 other folks from Marlin Bay attended - Debbie and Tim from "Table 6" and Karen from "Arabella". Plus we had two others in attendance, so for once we had a pretty full class. The class leader, Maria Gonzales", decided that we should walk across the street and take pictures of the lobster traps, etc.
My assignment was "picture composition", i.e. deciding what should be in the picture. Maria told me to take pictures at various zoom distances to see how that changes what the viewer focuses on.
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| Ripped tarp hanging from ceiling |
The photo session ran well over time, so I did not get back to the boat for lunch until going on for 2:00. I had signed up for the jewelry making class at 4:00, which meant I had to leave the boat again at 3:45 to get there on time. I invited DeAnna from "Saltaire" to go with me. She works during the day but said she could get out early on a Friday to attend.
We made earrings using a Cricut ("cricket") machine. We picked the pattern from a catalog and then chose our faux-leather materials. Then the instructor used the machine to cut the patterns out for our assembly. I have made earrings before but never using a Cricut. For DeAnna, this was a first all around.
Our finished works ...
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| My earring creations |
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| Mine shown with DeAnna's |
DeAnna said hers looked like an ice cream sundae. I am not one to wear large earrings and these are definitely large in size. The end result was inconsequential. Having a good time was the goal, and we definitely had a lot of fun and laughs together while experiencing something new.
While we made our Cricut earrings, the younger students in attendance made jewelry out of the plastic beads that are melted to make a design.
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| Bumble bee earrings |
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| Backpack chain - made by a teen girl |
As we walked back to our boats, DeAnna who had worn her new earrings had to take them off due to the wind blowing them around too much. I had put mine in my bag ahead of time. The wind was brutal but the sunset was pretty. I braved the wind to get the view.
