On the road again....

Well, we're off again today after being tied to the dock for a month.

Looking forward to anchoring out in some secluded spots and walking the gulf shore beaches.

The weather forecast looks good....a daily ritual when away from the security of the dock pilings!

Weather Forecasts....looks like a good week.

Forecast as of 3:59 am EST on January 18, 2010 Synopsis For The Coastal Waters From Bonita Beach To Suwannee River- Synopsis High pressure over the northwestern Gulf will move eastward toward the Florida Peninsula Monday and Tuesday. High pressure will move out into the Atlantic on Wednesday. A cold front will move into the northern Gulf on Thursday and into our waters Thursday night and Friday. Small Craft Advisory in effect until 10 am EST this morning Forecast as of 3:59 am EST on January 18, 2010 Tarpon Springs To Suwannee River Out 20 Nm- Englewood To Tarpon Springs Out 20 Nm- Bonita Beach To Englewood Out 20 Nm- Today Northwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet by afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tonight North winds around 5 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday Northeast winds around 5 knots becoming west in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday Night Northeast winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters smooth. Wednesday South winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters smooth. Wednesday Night Southeast winds around 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers. Thursday Southwest winds around 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Bay and inland waters choppy. Chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Thursday Night West winds around 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Chance of showers. Friday Northwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Slight chance of showers in the morning.

Back to work....not all fun and games

Polishing in paradise....

Dead fish everywhere

Still cold this morning at 35 degrees...too much for the fishies.

Went for a dink ride yesterday afternoon and there were dead fish on the bottom all over the shallows....others on the surface stressed out....a bit of a shame but that's nature!

Cold Effects

After three days of cold weather the fish have given up hiding an moved into the shallows of the marina. The last couple of days the nice silver Papano about the size of your hand have been showing up on the surface, dying due to the cold water. Today, there are hundreds of fish in the shallows of the marina and a few exotic fish dead on the surface including a nice sized angel fish...what a shame.

Mullet, catfish, schools of fish, fish I've never seen before. There are also lots of Snook and a few huge Snook that are coveted for their fight and flavor...unfortunately, they're out of season! Some of these snook look to be almost three feet long and the size of your thigh.

No Sheepshead though....??

We expect the prices of local produce to go up dramatically and were able to score a box of strawberries and tomatoes from a roadside vendor, picked before the freeze.

Freezing.... (3) Ice Report

Yes, there is even ice on the boat this morning!!!!!

Fresh Fish

I had an offer to go fishing with our landlord on Palm Island.

No trout but we did catch 7 nice Sheepshead. These fish feed on the barnicles of dock pilings, have an incredible set of teeth and a reputation for being tasty. Put 1/2 a shrimp on a straight hook and sink it along a piling to the bottom. These fish will steal your bait but if you have the "feel" you can get them. Nice fight and you have to be fast or they will wrap you around the piling. A few snapper and grouper were had but no size to them.

Good eating....today a chowder!

Freezing in Florida (2)

Well, last post was a joke, it was cold but....

yesterday we drove back from Burnt Store and it was 37 degrees in the afternoon.

Sunday morning shows 30 degrees on the boat thermometer.

Talking Heads are talking about record cold temps in FL

so it really is freezing in Florida

...brrrrrrr

Freezing in Florida….

 

No, we really can’t complain about the “cold” weather in Florida, particularly compared to the real cold weather up north.  This week includes freeze warnings which impact local growers.  Such is winter in Florida….much like Spain.  It seems we have a nice hot sun during the day when it shines, but cool at night.

The future should be much better as the temperatures right now are considered to be about 20 degrees below normal.  Another couple of weeks here, then we move on down the coast and on to Marathon in the Keys.

We are back on the boat doing some maintenance chores and taking some small day excursiona around the area as well.  We like the beaches along the barrier islands and have looked at some properties as we think about the future too.  Maybe a rental condo?  Who knows!

….but we do continue to like  this area.

Signs of Life....slow down and enjoy the trip, you won't egret it either!

As we start out a new year and new decade, I find a reflection on the past Decade.

We only get so many decades to enjoy on this earth and the past one has been a major one for us.

It was the Y2K decade starting. It also seems like 2001 was a very long time ago, what with the 911 terrorist tradgedy. That was a traumatic event that played in our minds.....many changes brought about.

This past decade has seen our nest empty out (some times with foot firmly planted!)

The sale of our lake home (cottage) after 15 great years there, trading for the floating Condo.

The deaths of loved ones, both young and old. Nephew and Parents, Vaughn's Grandparents

The marriages of our kids, first houses, new lives to live, their own worlds to create.

The birth of the first grandchildren, Benjamin James and Mia Anne. The Twins!

Our move to the condominium life. Early retirement. Spain trips.

Finding our boat and starting to Cruise...the Loop.

Wood fired ovens, Paella on the rocks.

The shallow and the deep.

Miles to go, we hope.

A new decade.

Friends

2010

Boca Grand Swing Bridge opening

Happy Loop Year - 2010

Just yesterday (last year) Vaughn was expressing her happiness about Cruising and Looping, particularly since we had our twin grandchildren down from Michigan for the holidays.

I thought that the following message excerpt from another cruiser yesterday was also worth sharing:

......And yes the cruising life is exceptionally good for us. Sometimes it is so great as to be almost unbelievable that this is really our lives that we are living and not some characters from a book. .......

It kind of sums up the way we feel on the good days!

Happy New Year - 2010, the new Decade too!

Every once in a blue moon there's, well, a blue moon. Every once in a long time (19 years) there's a blue moon on New Year's Eve. The next one will happen in 2028.

A Blue Moon for New Years Eve! Did you know that next one the Twins will be able to drink!

The start of the New Year brings us a measure of contentment as we have just finished the holidays with Benjamin James and Mia Anne, our 2 1/2 year old grandchildren. They are a treat to watch and enjoy as they navigate their way into the world at such a young age. Learning something new every day, it's a lot like boating!

The good and the bad, and the ugly.

Smiles, laughter and singing. Having fun and sharing things. Wonderment discovering new things, a world we learn enjoy at a different level.

Anger, crying, pushing, shrieking, temper tantrums. Being toddlers, terrible two's.

Jockeying for control. Winning and losing.

We had a lot of fun. Boat rides, golf cart rides, beach walks, shelling, swimming, fishing too!

New stuff to check out...Manatees, Pelicans, Snook, Redfish, Jumping Dolphins, Osprey.

And the first trip to the Magic Kingdom....first parades....Mickey Mouse!