A detour to a little piece of paradise

Once in a while, it is good to get stopped on your planned adventure, and allow life to deliver you into a completely new and wonderful detour. In our charted course, we were supposed to be anchored out by Rodriguez Key, awaiting a great weather window to jump the stream into Bahamian waters. That was the plan, the reality however, was that our alternator was not pumping voltage into our batteries.

Now I am sure that somewhere in the world there are old salty dogs that would not care about batteries and alternators, but this sailing chik is NOT one of them! I tend to like fans and lights and refrigerated food, cold drinks and toilets that, you know, flush!! All of those wonderful things need electricity. Ray installed two solar panels which can pretty much keep up with our fridge, but the fans and lights will pull the batteries down quickly too. Our engine can more than compensate, however, we are not getting any juice to our batteries soooooooo the much needed stop in Key Largo. We found a small haven here called The Upper Keys Sailing Club which allows transients to join the club and stay on their finger dock. We gladly paid the dollar membership and the 50 dollars a night to stay in paradise. We hooked up the AC and walked up to join the Friday night happy hour at the club house. Everyone was so friendly and wanting to chat with the newbies.

I laughed when we were introduced as transients! I guess it does have a piratey ring to it?? The commodore smiled and amended her description to guest travelers. I replied that transient fit pretty well since we had not been off of the boat in five days!  We spent three hours socializing and listening to stories of fellow sailors. It was an amazing night to feel such a kinship with people that we had never met before, but are now forever written in our life book.  I wondered, as I saw the glimmer in the eyes of the older sailors as we talked about our impending trip to the Exuma islands, if they noticed the glimmer in my eyes while they talked about the years they spent sailing the world. 

Ray and I made our way back to the boat after a long day sailing and a long night listening to stories and spinning some of our own. The bunk was so inviting and we were soon sleeping to the gentle rocking of the waves on our hull. The next morning we rented a car so we could explore the island and get the parts for NuTrix that we needed. We drove around taking in the sparkling water and fighting the crazy traffic on US 1. After visiting West Marine, CVS and a laundry mat, we headed to find some yummy food. We had stopped at Islamorada Shrimp Shack back in 2013 and decided to go back for more. We were not disappointed!

The fish was so fresh that we had to smack it in the face! The service was fast and friendly and we both ate more than we should have. They even have homemade banana bread with honey butter. Heavenly day!!! We will definitely put it on our places to return! Well worth the drive and the price is spot on! We had intentions of going to John Pennekamp Park, however, the day got away from us. We came back to NuTrix and watched the sun go down over the bay. Then I got to catch up on my reading until the heat and fun of the day made my bed call so loudly that I had to go answer!! 

On Sunday, we were going to take a snorkeling trip out to the reef. The boats pick up from John Pennekamp and take you out to the reef where the snorkeling is amazing. It is 28 dollars each which is not so bad. The park does charge an admission also, but I have been wanting to go for a long time.

Before we left, we found the Theater of the Sea in some brochures. There you can see turtles and dolphins and other sea life as well as educational shows. That seemed more interesting since we would be snorkeling for free everyday in the upcoming weeks. We decided first to go have lunch somewhere and the guys sitting out on the porch of the sailing club suggested Snook on the bay, so that is where we went. We found chairs on the bar which was actually the railing around the bay. We sat down and started chatting with the couple next to us. They were down for her sister's wedding all the way from Charlotte, NC. They were a charming couple and we chatted the afternoon away sipping on rum runners and having some yummy fish. I will NEVER tire of fresh fish!!

One of the best parts of traveling, for me, is meeting all kinds of new people. Everyone has such a great story and I enjoy hearing them all. They had been to Ireland, which is where my daughter is going next month and it made me feel better to hear how friendly the people are there and how beautiful they found the country. Craig's mother is a part-time worker for Disney and so is my daughter. Small world that we inhabit!! Finally they announced they had to get going to Miami. They were flying home and had to make the flight. Interestingly enough, they both said that the pull to leave Charlotte was getting strong. Beth said that she got itchy when she stayed somewhere too long. WOW... it is cool, to me, how we happened upon two people so similar to ourselves! We said our goodbyes and Ray and I turned our attention back to the water and the upcoming plans that we hoped to keep this time! 

Back to the club, the characters had returned from a day on the water and as I sat typing, I could not help but smile at the stories and half truths that were flung around the building, permeating the walls and forming memories that would take hold here and be heard as whispers by generations to come.

I sat unseen in the corner becoming a part of the world long gone through the laughter that flowed from person to person. I love it here! I long to become part of this rag tag community of people who share the love of sailing, travel and adventure that capture the heart of Ray and I. I know, though that tomorrow, barring any other engine difficulties, Ray and I will throw off the lines and head toward Angelfish creek. We are crossing our fingers that the winds will become favorable for a Wednesday crossing. The Bahamas beckon and the wanderlust grows so that it is sometimes unbearable. I long for long days of hiking and swimming, relaxing and reading all while enjoying the company of my pirate. What a beautiful life we have.

I struggle to remember that even back home in Punta Gorda, I live a charmed life with the one who loves me so much. Our day to day lives are enriched by children and grandchildren, siblings and parents..... family!! They truly keep us grounded as we struggle to fly though our lives from adventure to adventure. It is great to have a safe landing spot because that gives us the freedom to go and explore, to live and dream. It is a big beautiful world and I hope to meet as many family members as possible before my trips around the sun are over!!!

Bahamas, here we come!!!

Another crazy sail for the Keys

    Ray and I had such an amazing sail from Sanibel to the 10,000 islands. The sun was high and the water sparkled as the wind danced on the top of the teal blue mirror. I saw two very large turtles breech the surface for a huge gulp before descending once again into the deep dark unseen parts of the Gulf.

We had music playing as we passed far offshore. With our binoculars, we spied families wading into the warm waters, parasailers screaming with the wind carrying them high above the waters and fisherman weary from sun, salt and sadness. Our boat took to the waves, heeled over and took the wind with stride. We made great time sailing down the coast. We finally arrived in the 10,000 island when the sun was starting to play with the horizon. I remembered when the year before, we anchored off shore and were terrorized by mosquitoes. Our boat looked like the scene from a horror movie the next morning! Blood covered the top of our boat where we had swatted at the little bastards all night long. The morning sun had not even breached the horizon when our anchor was up and our sights were on Sanibel and air-conditioning!! Soooo we thought maybe we should anchor a little farther out. Indian Key has a wonderfully protected anchorage which we had used numerous times; however, our thoughts were on bugs instead of protection….

BIG mistake!!!! We anchored, enjoyed a wonderful evening with dinner, sunset toasts and music. THEN after crashing in our bunk, the wind picked up, the waves pounded and our boat rolled and tossed with the beat of the gulf. I love roller coasters!! I can ride them over and over, HOWEVER, rolling, turning and tossing for 10 hours straight is more than even this daredevil can handle. My stomach finally said, “ENOUGH!!”…… When morning came, the wind was still out of the west and still kicking up the seas. We pulled the anchor with me clutching my Rescue Remedy and Ray at the bow with the waves bouncing the boat up and down so much that I couldn’t see him when the waves receded. I gripped the helm so hard that my knuckles turned white. There was no way to hear over the wind, the waves and the engine. My mind kept going over scenarios of how to get Ray out of the water before an alligator found him. My heart rate always speeds up and I literally cannot breathe normally. Finally the anchor is up and Ray points to the way that I need to take NuTrix out. He comes back to the cockpit and tells me how wonderfully I preformed and all I want to do, is throw up!! The wind is out of the NW and Ray and I pull out the sails and turn off the engine. NuTrix is in her glory!!

She heels over and takes the waves like a lover‘s kiss. It is an impressive run for about two hours, but then my legs start to ache from the leaning. I cannot go below because my stomach has not recovered from a long night of being tossed and turned. I want to make lunch but all I can manage is grabbing Pop- tarts from the stores. I finally take a Benadryl and try to pass out on the starboard settee. The wind is high and we are making sometimes 9 knots down the coast. I finally came to and went into the cockpit to look around. To the south, I see a big black cloud looming. I said to Ray that maybe we needed to go closer to shore and anchor. It doesn’t matter if no one believes me, because I believe in myself, however, I can feel when the weather is about to get bad. Ray keeps telling me that it is going north of us, but I keep reminding him that I know these things and it will be on us quickly. I am not sure why he always forgets the crazy intuition that I have been given, but he puts the thought out of his head and presses on toward the Keys. It is not any time before the storm is on top of us. Lightening popped around and the rain blew sideways. Ray is an amazing captain and turned the boat into the storm. We had unplugged all of our electronics which meant he was navigating with the compass. The storm got worse and worse until we both thought that we were done. I was below and using all of my prayer and thoughts to send the storm away…. I watched as the rain hit him and the lightening came closer and closer. Ray stayed at the helm and kept me safe. He is amazing like that. I will always be grateful for such a powerful love and an amazing captain… crazy though he may be!!!  We made it through the storm!!!

We anchored in Fiesta Key near a campground. We were both too tired to try and go to shore. I made us a plate of cheese, crackers, carrots and dip. We ate in the cockpit and watched the sun go down. My body ached from all the traveling and Ray was beyond exhausted from standing at the helm for 12 hours. We fell into our bunk and slept like the dead. When conditions are right, a night on the boat is the best sleep that you can imagine. The wind was pouring down the hatch, the water was calm and our dreams were of the Bahamas. Soon the morning sun swept over our bunk and awoke us with a gentle reminder that we were in paradise. Ray made us coffee and we sat in the cockpit listening to music and enjoying the life that we have chosen.

Our Garmin was giving us problems as well as our alternator. I am sure that the passage between Cape Romano and Cape Sable is part of the Devil’s Triangle. Every time we come through, we end up with problems with our electrical systems! I know that some of my friends will blame me because, well, I have issues with electric and my emotions…. But really, every time??? Soooo once again we were in the same place where we always have issues. Ray wanted to go to Marathon, but I just said that Marathon was a black hole and if we went there, we would be there for two weeks. We both decided, thanks to his kind of understanding with my emotions and the weather that we would go to Key Largo. We had no sooner turned NuTrix for Key Largo than a large waterspout formed over the way we would have gone towards Marathon. Again….don’t care if you do not believe!!! Anyway, we outran storms from Channel 5 bridge up to Key Largo.

We laid to the dock at the Upper Keys Sailing Club. No sooner had we tied on the dock lines than the squall line hit and our boat was heeling. The wind blew so hard that I thought our fenders would pop and we would smash into the dock. Below deck, the AC kicked on and the beautiful coolness swept away any worries of storms. We had had a beautiful run up the ICW with the sun playing through the clouds and the VHF screaming warnings  of potential storms all around us. I had made us lunch underway and we enjoyed the humid call of the mangroves as our boat passed through. The gulf side is a whole different world. The water is a strange greenish blue color swirling with the sun and playing off of the clouds. We spied some dolphins who played hide and seek with our boat as the day dragged into the afternoon lull. The beauty of the watery world made our dangerous start a distant memory. The light played off of the water and lulled us into a complacency that which was what we had both been needing for months and months.

Here we are and frankly, we do not know how long we will be here. The weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating for a jump across the Gulfstream. After 2010, I will never cross that part of water without pristine conditions!! Mother Nature is no one to fool with! She will kick your butt and go to dinner without a care in the world. I respect her and I am no fool…

. Crazy, but no fool. The area around here is nice and we have restaurants, shops and even places to swim and snorkel should we feel the need. I am in no hurry. Maybe I have been subjected to the disease that is Island Time??? I hear there is no cure and yet, I am not worried. For too long, I have let the worries of my job, my bills, my house, my life… dictate my well-being…. Well, no longer!!!! I have released the pressures of life and embraced the “what will be will be”….. Bring on adventure!!! I am ready…… Life is waiting and I am tired of keeping her at bay!!! Soooo I go….

Bahamas 2016 first stop

I read in a cruising blog recently that “comfort is the killer of dreams”.  I must say that I have to agree! We were supposed to throw off the lines at noon, but, and there is ALWAYS a butt, we kept thinking of things that we needed. Baskets and bins, towels and shampoo, oh and cheese. The other things, I suppose we could live without, but cheese, I mean really! Let’s not get crazy on our first day out! But I digress. The things that we use daily, our comforts, needed a space and on our boat, space is a limited commodity!  We finally squeezed, squished, pushed and shoved it all in places that we will probably forget about. Last year, we found a case of Fresca on the last week of our trip. I had taken to drinking plain water… perish the thought….and when Ray went to grab a tool from  the hanging locker, low and behold, the heavens parted and the angels sang as he pulled up a case of FRESCA! Let me tell you that was a joyous night akin to Christmas morning when you realize there is no hard candy in your stocking AND you got the actual Nike shoes and not the Kmart knock off brands!!! Yes sir…..  Who knows what we will find at the end of this trip but it is all here. 

I will enjoy, as the days melt into weeks, our needs dwindling away with the stress that has built up since we got back last year. As we dropped the anchor tonight, I smiled knowing that I do not have anything pressing other than toasting the sunset.

There are no news stations, no traffic, no TV and limited internet. What we need, will change over the next couple of months and that makes me happy. Our 41 foot boat is so much easier to clean and maintain which leaves time for snorkeling, sailing, fishing, beach combing and exploring! Back on land, it is easy to get caught up in fear, to give in to the notion that the world is a horrid place, but I will not allow that. Here on NuTrix, the world is ours to explore.

Tonight we are anchored in Cayo Costa.    

          

The sun is setting, the breeze is whisking down the hatches, our favorite jazz music is playing through the radio and our sundowners are waiting on the bow. This is the life that we have chosen. This is our chance to see the world, even if it is a small part. This is the time that we will make memories.  Tomorrow we sail, hopefully, for Sanibel. The ocean is calling and NuTrix is so ready to feel the salt spray, to let the wind catch her sails, to dance upon the water again. Ray and I once again get to be on an adventure. Where we will end up and who will meet, is written in the stars. A good captain can navigate by those stars… and so we go!!!!  Adventure waits…