June 7, 2011 Day 3

Slept in alittle longer than planned. Up about 7....coffee...cereal with leftover peach cobbler in it for breakfast- Yummy!! I think Dean & Dad have decided that is a must for 'blah zay' cereal. I suppose I will have to keep it as a staple on board!

First @ the wheel this morning....Katie & Klyde

In preparation for departure Dean found that the raw water strainer for the engine was leaking. Luckily it was just the wing nuts on the cover for cleaning was loose. Quick fix!!

We hoisted anchor @ 8:45a & had sails set @ 9:35a. Its mostly sunny with 12 knot winds & 1-2' waves.
11:45am - Relaxing, working on blog, Dean is navigating. We're cruising along @ 5-5.8 knots.

Our visitor....

Just before he zipped away....

I rigged up Dad in a life jacket & tether because it's alittle bouncy for my taste to let him be out there incase he gets a fish on! He is relaxing, reading, & keeping an eye on his pole! Do you think there were no fish because one lone Porpoise was following us? He made a short appearance...enough for 2 pictures then off he went!

Let's try again....

The Mighty Fisherman

Capt' Scruffy & his Amigo....

Mid morning I sat smiling at my husband in the cockpit and said, "The First Mate requests that the Captain shaves....He is lookin' rather Scruffy & gives very prickly Kisses!!" Apparently he wanted more kisses since he went down below & returned with a smooth baby soft face. :)

Seas  &  wind rising....waves rising to 3-4 ' and winds built to 15-17 constant with gusts up to 30knots.

Lunchtime!! We decided on P & J sandwiches for a late lunch. I think our late big dinner last nite stuck with us.

Tethered & Safe!
Our Way Too! has a GREAT fishin' deck! ;)

Dad diligently fished....but was skunked today. About 1:40p he had a good hit, but....it got away! He spent a good 2 1/2 hours sittin' out on the sunpad watching his pole. He got alittle too much sun on his skinny lil legs!

 Dean took a little nap about 2:15p. I have proof! ;)

My PROOF!!!

Our view of the scenery is beautiful turquoise seas, Hawk Channel, the Keys, the long bridges, and the parasailors! Sure can't beat that on a gorgeous sunny day out on the water. We are loving this! A great BIG Thank You to Jim & Jane for teaching us how to sail (even tho we still have alot to learn!) and encouraging us to follow our dreams! They took us out sailing all the time back home in MI on Lake Michigan and inspired another True Love within each of us...."Sailing"!

We are getting more comfortable with our new home! And we are getting better every day at trimming the sails. It just takes practice!! And we are definitely getting some practice this trip!! ;) We ended up pulling in the head sail as the wind was directly behind us. Keep losing the wind. Hummmm...

The water pump is running all the time even when we are not using water! Wondering what that is all about??? Another little hic-cup we will watch.

We also now know what our friend Randy means by "puckering" your butt cheeks when going under a bridge!! Holy Sh__!!!!! We need 63' to clear the mast and antenna's & we had a 65' bridge! Looked like alot less clearance to Dad & I. We still awaited the "ting, ting, ting" of the antenna's & lightening dissipater.

Marathon, FL Bridge

Sqeeee.....zzzee of the butt cheeks!!
Whew....we made it!

So.....we decided to do the bridge clearing as practice and do it one more time! Now it will be 3 times! (Third Time's A Charm!) ;) As we turned around and headed back to a Boot Key anchorage because Dean wasn't comfortable with the anchorage we had originally chosen heading us north to Marco Island. It wasn't protected at all with the winds that were forecasted and we just really need a good sleep without worry.

Anchor was set @ 7p in about 11' of water. Dean looked at the charts for tomorrow's run, then up toward Tampa where we pick up the rest of our crew....Capt's Rob and Randy and I baked a loaf of Beer Bread to have with our cheater's cans of Chili. (Which I must say aren't too bad!) Dad relaxed & helped me prepare for morning coffee. We ate and also Skyped with Tammy Annie for a few minutes. I miss all my kids....it is nice to be able to share this with them through this blog at least since they can't be here!

We showered off the salt after dark on the transom and danged if the wind didn't steal my bathing scrunchie as a donation to Mermaids that live in the Keys! ;) Then we hit the hay. Fresh air and long days are catching up with us! :) We love it!!

58.7 nm today

Hugs to all!~~
S/V Our Way Too! Crew

June 6, 2001 Day 2

Katie:
Happy Birthday to Uncle Bobby!!

Breakfast...Gotta keep the crew happy!

We were up so late last nite I was surprised I popped up like I did! Up...made coffee...had breakfast....did dishes...prepared to depart. Dad found some water on the floor in the forward-cabin head (for the nonboaters...bathroom) so he & Dean began to investigate. It didn't smell too good in there and the shower sump was rather funky! Another not-so-good sign! The seals on the toilet flush motor were leaking so Dean decided "we don't use until fixed" goes into effect immediately. We all will use the Aft-Cabin head until further notice!

We hoisted the anchor @ 0845 hr and were underway and out into the ocean within minutes. Had to motor about 2 hours as winds were dead on the nose & light @ about 5-7 knots. 1-2' waves

Pretty day! A bit overcast & in 80's. Cooler & a bit more comfortable.
Within the first half hour, with Katie @ the helm...we had a boat pull up beside us & and pay us a visit! "The US Customs & Border Patrol" They just asked where we are from, where we are going, and how many on board.  Thank you & have a nice day!! :)

Slowed down so Dean decided we needed to start the engine...so we started to motorsail @ 12:45p. I had spent most of the morning working at the Day 1 blog, trying to figure out how to add the photos so I figured I should feed my crew. We threw together Chicken salad,wheat crackers, sliced tomatos, string chez, & bananas. Hit the spot!

It was a pretty quiet afternoon. We watch for the wildlife constantly. Not sure but we think the let down of preparing for the trip and just being alittle nervous yet to know our boat alarms & such, we all feel tired and in need of naps. Short nights because if I hear something I get up & walk around the deck to check things out...then I wake up Dean & have him double check me. We are still learning about tides & such so we are sort of sleeping with 1 eye open! Dean's still fighting a nasty cold...wakes up coughing so I am sure that doesn't help him get solid sleep.

Back "Sail" @4pm. Dad decided to wet a line so we hung out on the sunpad for awhile. Dean hasn't had time to hoist my new Mother's Day Hammock yet so Dad & I are patiently waiting! ;) Really...we are just finding enough things to keep us busy! Other than Dad's magazine....we haven't even opened a book to read! And our friends Barry & Ruth sent a whole big bag along with us!!!

We arrived @ Rodriguez Key alittle after 6pm and set the anchor. 2 other boats not too far from us. We had a really strong breeze so Dad & Dean had to sit out on deck & hold the towel up so the grill would stay lit. We had our "celebratory dinner" I had planned for our 1st nite out on the 2nd nite instead. I made Grilled Ribeyes; Grilled Shrimp on skewers; Sweet Potatoes w/ Jalepeno, onion, maple syrup, yougart, & mayo; Snap Peas; & Peach Cobbler for dessert! I enjoyed using my oven for the first time! We all enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner, cleaned up dishes, finished our glass of wine while we chatted about our game plan for morning then showered on the back of boat & hit the hay! 10:30 to bed is certainly better than the 1am the nite before! I think I still need earlier!!!

55.3 nm today

My Daddy enjoying his sail.  Reading about fishing in the Keys!

Our first visit from The US Customs & Border Patrol

He works hard all day! Rigging the fishin' pole. :)

Is he thinking? Or is he napping? You decide.......

Readin', fishin', & enjoyin' the view!!

Katie found her & ALL her kids & Grandbabie's favorite spot!!
On "Porpoise" watch!

At anchor....sun going down.

Our Way Too!'s "celebratory dinner" (one day late).
Her crew went to bed with very full tummy's!!

June 5, 2011 Day 1

Daddy with his oldest & youngest

Barry & Ruth
Thank you for EVERYTHING you two!! Hugs~

Capt' Dean & Kewl Klyde

Dad relaxing & chatting to Mom

Sunset over Miami

Dad

It's been a great first day....Klyde is exhausted

Katie:
 Almost ready to cast off and Capt Dean decides to pretend he's at "Hurricane Harbor" (for those of you who don't know....that is a water fun park in Arlington, TX!)  He felt the need to cool off in the pool & being in a bit of a rush he tryed to avoid Ruth's camera at last minute to keep it dry....slipped on the tile...bounced down the first 4 steps to the landing...made a slight left turn and went down the last 3 to the dock. Now mind you this happened so fast...somehow he ended up on his left shoulder...head first! I didn't have time to yell or anything! He managed to avoid knocking Ruth off the landing and bounced right back up soon as he hit the dock! Dang...."Honey, are you OK?" He said "Yeah I'm fine! I only hit my head & my shoulder!" Well...he does have a hard head (I've seen him smack it pretty hard and it never phases him!) and a little bit of a scrape on the shoulder but I can assure everyone he is fine. He bounced right back up  and went about the business of Goodbyes and departure. Honestly, now as I look back at it I giggle cuz it reminds me of him going down a water slide at the park only head first! It was funny, but not funny, if you know what I mean!!

Capt' Dean, Admiral/First Mate Katie, Assistant Helmsman Klyde, Deck Watch Capt'-Katie's Dad "Al", and last but not least...."Edgar" (our auto-pilot named after Dad) cast the lines and departed "Marina Sol Bu" about 2 pm. Friends Ruth, Barry, and my baby sis Kristy were there to see us off & take pictures. (Kristy spent the first night onboard with us and was such a big help to me shopping & provisioning. We wish she was coming with us too! Thank you Kristy for everything!! We love you so much!!) We took our time out the channel...fueled up at Two Georges @ the Cove ($184.38 for diesel-much cheaper than our power boat used to cost us!!) and then begin to relax and feel at home. Working on gaining our "Sea Legs" as it has been awhile for us & Dad's first time on a sailboat! :) Therefore, Dad & I have decided we will not put a pole out today. Besides the freezer/fridge is full & I just know Dad woulda caught a whole school of em'!!

At 4:05p we enjoyed the cool breeze & turqoise water's  of "The Big Blue" (The Atlantic Ocean) She is gorgous today! Only 8 knots of wind...E/NE...good day to start out slow and acclimate to Our Way Too! Sails went up and off we go! Our maiden voyage is now officially in process! In the first hour, we seen a huge Sea Turtle off our bow...and a large school of Flying Fish! They are just too darn fast to photograph!!

Russ & Kristy spent time texting Dean....they wanted to set the SPOT up so that they and Mom can track us on a regular basis. (Like every 10 mins....sorry to the rest of you whom only need the every 4 hours or so!) Mom is missin' Dad I think!! Absence makes the heart grow fonder...50 years should say something huh? This is a totally new adventure for my whole family! They are learning technology!! ;) And...I think Mom & Kristy are addicted to the SPOT!!!!

Winds died even more so we motorsailed the rest of the evening. We received a call from our dear friend Ken whom just arrived in Maine from a winter in Nova Scotia. He left Whitehall MI last year and has been single handing around thru the St Lawrence Seaway to the East coast. Ken give us alot of pointers along with all the information from John (Our Way Too's previous owner & our wonderful new friend!) to help us along the way in our navigating the FL waters around to Tampa. While on the phone, I got all excited because I saw fins sticking up out of the water off our port bow....bunches of em'!! Sharks I think.....NOT! ;) It was our first encounter with Dolphins!! (Actually-Porpoise's) By time I hung up the phone and grabbed the camera I missed part of the show.  I thought we were gonna run them over! Dad and Dean saw the really Big Guy jump out of the water and roll to look at us 2' away from our starboard bow. He splashed our head sail bigtime!! There were probably about 10 - 12 of them. They crossed in front of us...and kept going. Again gone before we took pictures! We also saw a really big fish jump but it was way out in front of us and we couldn't tell what it was.

We watched the sun go down over Miami about 8pm while "Edgar" kept us on track.  We found our way into the anchorage John suggested (behind Fisher Island) and set the anchor @ 11pm. The only problem was our "marriage savers"(headsets-gift from John & Nelly) wouldn't work because of other radio interference. Dad relayed for us & we did just fine! We had a snack of cottage chez, sliced tomatos, & lettuce, a toast to our first great day with a cold Blue Moon beer, then to bed @ 1am.

43.1 nautical miles (nm)