Log #87 Lost In Cyberspace
3/27/08
By now most of our readers are probably wondering what in the cosmos has happened to us, since no log has been posted in well over a month. That’s not from lack of interest, or lack of time, or even lack of inspiration. No, sadly our last log is floating somewhere out there in cyberspace, presumably never to rematerialize.
An interesting month-long log that told of our pleasant stay here in Marathon for the last couple of months, a visit to the local Turtle Hospital, a group bus trip to Key West and the fascinating Butterfly Conservatory there (all complete with photos) quietly flew out of our computer when we had an e-mail snafu and Jim erred in attempting to save our documents prior to reinstalling a new MS Office program. Such is life.
Suffice to say we’re still on this planet, we’re still in Marathon, and we’re still aboard Caloosa Spirit. Of all the places we’ve been Boot Key Harbor has had the most to offer us. Here we’ve met numerous other cruisers, many of whom we plan to stay in touch and hope to meet up with again somewhere. The price is very affordable for a very secure mooring ball in a very protected harbor. Two months have flown by. Of course, if anyone remembers our last log, we had suggested that we would be underway for the Bahamas approximately one month ago. Obviously, that plan has been coming together for several more weeks. Such is the cruising life.
At this point, though, we’re just about ready to leave, and, God willing and the creek…er, ocean…don’t rise, we’ll be headed for the Abacos (the northern Bahamas) in another week. We plan to leave Boot Key Harbor in a couple of days to head for Key Biscayne outside of Miami. There we’ll wait for the right window (hopefully at the end of next week) to make the Gulf Stream crossing. We’ll be traveling in company with Bruce and Dawn on Lady Hawk, some of the delightful cruisers we’ve met here at Boot Key. As much as we’ve enjoyed Marathon, we’re ready to move on, and we’re happy to have some boat buddies to do that with.
Here are a few of the photos that I was able to resurrect.
Turtle Hospital resident
Butterfly Conservatory resident
Boot Key Harbor mooring field
Oh, and then there’s this picture. I thought those of you who, like me, have never before seen Jim with facial hair might appreciate seeing what he’s looking like these days. I rather like the salty look.
The old salt—getting younger
3/31/08
Here we are at No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne just south of Miami. We actually arrived yesterday afternoon after two long days of motorsailing (with an overnight at Rodriguez Key), but the weekend warriors were still inhabiting the small harbor, so we opted for a night outside in the bay. It was a rather rolly night, but this morning we found room among the other cruising boats, most of whom are presumably on their way to somewhere.
No Name Harbor sunset
This afternoon we were welcomed by a local manatee who made numerous appearances near our boat. Of course, when I went to get the camera, that was his/her cue to plumb the depths indefinitely. Maybe she/he will make a return visit and actually pose tomorrow. Oh, I forgot—tomorrow is April Fool’s Day. If the manatee would happen to appear, surely he/she would just be teasing.
4/2/08
No, we haven’t seen the manatee again. We’ve been too busy with preparations to notice, anyway. It appears that a weather window for a Gulf Stream crossing is due to open on Friday night, so that’s what we’re preparing for. With luck we’ll be in West End on Grand Bahama Island by mid-day on Saturday. Oh, yes, we’re definitely getting excited! Maybe our plan (for the last several years) to tour the Bahamas—well, the northern Bahamas, anyway—will actually come to pass this year.
Our internet and e-mail service will be somewhat spotty for the next couple of months. We’ll only be able to use cybercafés (and wi-fi when we can get it), since our Verizon air card won’t work from the Bahamas. (Neither will our Verizon cell phones, for that matter.) But hopefully with our next posted log we’ll begin to share our experiences in a totally new cruising ground. Stay tuned.
Fair winds and a faithful wake until next time,
Alice & Jim Rutherford
s/v Caloosa Spirit
Posted Wednesday April 2, 2008
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Great update. Cannot wait to hear about your trip across. Good luck, and we’ll be hoping for great weather for you.
— Kitty Bennett 04/03/2008 09:04 AM #
Maureen
— Maureen O'Brien & Dan 04/08/2008 11:31 AM #