Plans made in gravel instead of stone

My last post laid out our plans to remain in Sarasota for the summer. BUT, yesterday, we were working on a plumbing problem and while looking under the floor in the master stateroom, we noted some damage to the fiberglass hull which is a result of when we hit bottom coming out of Marco Island some weeks back. Based on that, Ed didn't feel comfortable leaving Great Mates without having her pulled out and having her inspected. So, we contacted the Snead Island Boat Works who has a 75-ton lift) as they had been referred to us by dear friends Craig and Kim.

We were told that if we could have Great Mates II at the yard by Friday, they'd get us pulled out. SO, plans changed, and we pulled out about 10:00 a.m. from Marina Jack in Sarasota and headed up the ICW to Snead Island. It was a good cruise except pulling in the wind picked up, kicked the stern around and I was headed right towards a sailboat and pylons. Long story short, we made it, tied up along side a dock and made a few strong cocktails.


To change the subject, I'd like to share an observation. As I've stated before, in a Christians life, there is no coincidence. Ed and I have experienced that a few times in the last few months.

1) While still at dock in Ft. Myers, we were outside washing down the boat and a young couple walked up to ask a few questions (like people normally do when they see Great Mates II) and we struck up a conversation. Come to find out, they are both from the southside of Indianapolis, she graduated from Greenwood Christian School and they are preparing to get married this coming summer. They are contemplating buying a boat to live on in FL as that's where his job is.

2) One of the marina workers, Bill had taken me to Best Buy to purchase a new computer and through our chatting, I discovered that his wife had graduated from Greenwood High School and grew up on Wiley Street which isn't far from where sis Jan and hubby Don live.

3) At Marco Island, we met a guy on the boat next to us who had a dog "Bob"....a Great Dane no less, and he was originally from Gary IN.

4) In Ft. Myers, the marina dude who came to help us tie up when we arrived was originally from Attica IN and he had made plans to return to IN in April to take his wife to St. Vincents Hospital for some surgery. (I had served on the board of St. Vincents for 10 years).

These kinds of "coincidences" continue but here's the latest.

5) Once we pulled into Marina Jack at Sarasota, Ed met the couple a few boats over, Steve and Lynn. He thought they were a nice couple so a few days later, we invited them over for cocktails. While sitting in our salon visiting, he mentioned that he was retired from practicing law but at one time had tried a federal case in Indianapolis. I asked him who the judge was. He said, Sarah Evans-Barker. I said, who was the counsel you worked with in Indy and he said, a fellow from a law firm called Barnes Thornberg. I said, I knew several lawyers there, who had he worked with and he said, a guy name Mike McCrory. Ed and I broke out in laughter. He said, whats wrong? I said that Mike and his wife Pat were friends and that I served on the Boy Scout Board with Mike, etc., etc. So, I called Mike on his mobile to tell the story and he was on his way in to a Boy Scout Board meeting but took time to reacquaint with an old colleage. We decided we'd all have to meet in Key West at Fantasy Fest later this year. What a hoot!

I'll close now but wish all readers of this blog a contemplative upcoming Holy Week. May God guide you, bless you and show you His way for your lives.

Peace, Lisa

Sarasota FL

Well, it's March 21st and we departed February 28th from Marathon Key. We traveled to Key West, spent one night, and traveled to Marco Island. On March 4th, we departed Marco River Marina and headed to Ft. Myers Yacht Basin. This was a very rough passage as the winds were from the NNW and we were taking on bow waves around 6'. The problem is that we got out of the channel, and hit shallow waters - hence the combination of 3' waters and 6' waves, we hit bottom. It was a horrible sound and I caved, handed the wheel to Ed and hung on while he got us back into the channel. We docked at Ft. Myers and much to our delight, our friends, Bill and Libby whom we met last summer in Green Turtle Bay came to greet us. They took us to one of their favorite restaurants and then bar and we enjoyed catching up since they left Kentucky Lake last October in order to purchase their home in Cape Coral. The next day, they picked us up and took us to the airport in order that we might fly home for the homecoming celebration of our son-in-law, Billy Scott after his year of service in Afghanastan.
we return to Ft. Myers on March 14th and on March 15th, our youngest daughter, Emma Katheryn joined us over her spring break from college.
On March 16th, we departed Ft. Myers Yacht Basin and headed to Sanibel. We arrived at the Sanibel Marina and found it to be quaint, surrounded by flowers and a genuine dock crew.
We walked the island, hunted for unique shells and laughed alot while enjoying one anothers company. What a blessing!
On March 18th, we departed Sanibel at 11:38 a.m. as we had to await high tides inorder to get out of the marina and it's sandbars. Note: Emma learned quick how to handle lines, tie off and flat coil the lines on the deck.
We cruised for about 10 hours and docked at Marina Jack in Sarasota at 10:41 pm.
All three of us were exhausted, we'd run aground about 4 times, but Capt Ed backed us off the sandbar and back into the channel. Capt Ed and First Mate Emma handeled the boat all day as I was very "green" most of the day. Once we got into the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) and was able to contribute. I went up top, and aimed the mega spotlight on the channel markers so we could keep track where we were.
Once we docked we got off the boat and walked to the Marina bar and threw down a few and then crashed for the night.
At 9:30 on March 19th, Crew member Emma K Prosser deboated to head back to Indy with a weeks worth of learning and journey under her belt. Well done Emma!
Ed and I had originally planned to continue our cruising after a few nights in Sarasota but found the town to be absolutely terrific and the marina right downtown so to be walking distance of many boutique shops, restaurants (too many to mention), art studios, etc. This is a neat town! So, we think we will leave Great Mates II here for a few months while we travel home for the spring. Note: Good friends, Kim and Craig just happened to be visiting family in Sarasota so we hooked up and enjoyed an evening to include dinner, drinking, telling stories, and LOTS of laughing. I have a grateful heart for these dear people.
God's blessings and peace,
Lisa

Sanibel Island - St. Patrick's Day 2010

We departed Ft. Myers yesterday and had a nice journey thru the Intercoastal Waterway to the Sanibel Marina. The day is overcast and cool and the water is naturally green for the St. Patrick's Day celebration.

We were greeted as usual with the marina staff helping us dock (in the very skinny slip)but I found the site of the marina to be pleasing due to pretty flowers, well trimmed shrubs and a quaint look in general. THEN, when I went to check in, the dockmaster told me that they would deliver fresh blueberry muffins and a newspaper in the morning. I asked if it could be a Wall Street Journal to which he responded, sure. Now that's good marketing.

Emma is enjoying all of the new photograph opportunitites with the homes, the landscaping, and

Workers of a different color.....

For my landlover friends and family, I want to share with you the unusual encounters with workers while here in Marathon FL.
This morning, about 9:30, I was cleaning the salon floor and heard someone say, "Ahoy, Ed, are you up?" I looked up and saw MARK, standing on the dock, doned in his wetsuit. Mark is the "Boat, Bottom Inspector". Truly!
The day previous he had gone down and inspected the bottom of Great Mates II while scraping off the barnicles, grass and checking the "zinks". Great Mates had barnicles but beyond that her zinks were all in good order.



Then came Laura and Bill. Laura and Bill are from up-state NY and they live-a-board a sailing vessel here in Marathon. They do chartering while also doing sewing work for those in need (like us) who may need a new biminy, table covers, seat covers, sails, etc. Late last year, the bimini of Great Mates was riped away during a storm so Laura is making us a new one. She and her husband, Bill came down to measure the fabric they'd cut to add the zippers so it may be installed.

Then came Dennis (from previous blog's, Dennis and Judy). Dennis has reincarnated a screen printing business that he learned while in highschool. He came down to pick up teeshirts that we've purchased (from my fav vendor, Lands End) to print our boat design artwork by dear friend, Vincent DeFelice) and text we wrote about her on some shirts. He carried them back to his boat, "Smokeena's Wish" to make the shirts...just ours.

Yesterday, Ed and I went for a bike ride. We rode up to All Keys Diesel, walked in to this tiny shop only to hear a woman talking on the phone in Spanish or Cuban to obviously a realitive,,, no one else around. Ed said to me, "I'm not going to be able to talk to this person". But; much to my amazement, the woman approached the counter and said, "hi, can I help?" Ed proceeded to tell her that he would like to have a diesel mechanic come to the boat to review the Cummins with him. She then started asking lots of quick questions indicating that this woman clearly knew what she was talking about. (stuff, I've never heard of and I live on this boat) Then, she said, I think I can have someone overthere this afternoon to help. How wierd is that. We walk into a place of business, tell them what we need and they come to our boat that afternoon.

The dude who arrived clearly knew what he was talking about and the end result was that he affirmed that we have one "kickass" engine and boat. And, Ed learned. Isn't that what it's all about?

Happy learning to all who care to share in our journey.

God's peace, Lisa

Pelicans and such

As Ed and I sat cuddled on the bow this morning drinking our coffee, Ed mentioned, "wow, the bird traffic is really active today". And, it was. The Brown Pelicans, the Herring Gulls, the Laughing Gulls, and others who's names I am still learning....they were flying, squaking, and diving for their meals.
But this afternoon around 3:30 a storm blew in and I watched in amazment out my "office" window the activity of the Pelicans. I think these birds are amazing. I tried to capture some pictures of them but need daughter Emma with her camera and photographic skills to do them justice.
When the rain came and the wind picked up, here came the pelicans swarming, and diving to catch their prey. God created them to be such incredible divers for their existance but I also find them a beautiful bird.
When Ed and I set out on this chapter in our lives, we said one reason we wanted to do this was to continue our life learning. Well, with the flight of God's creatures, we are doing so. How fun.

It's been too long...........

Yes, I am homesick and YES, and YES, I miss my REAL toilets and wonderful kitchen at our home but that's not why this is titled, "It's been too long". Simply, it has been too long since I've taken the time to write.

Since my last "post", we have been at slip 64 in Marathon Key, learning, visiting, eating, walking, bike riding, spending money, drinking (of course) but mostly absorbing this new life as a "live-a-board" boater.

What's happened? Nothing specatcular. But what's happened,.....everythink specatcular.

We've had friends from our campground in Bloomington IN come to hang out with us for a whole week. One might think that 3 couples on a boat would get "crowded". But not with this crew. Mark, Melodie, Gregg and Chris were all just great boatmates. Everybody pitched in, kept the boat clean, picked up after themselves but most importantly, enjoyed. The ladies would trade off cooking and the guys would fix things and then we cruised to Key West. The trip down caused 3 of us to toss up our cookies. While we planned to stay one night "on the hook" we ended up staying four nights at Conch Harbour Marina as the storms were coming in on Saturday evening and we just decided to play it safe. Well, it was better anyway because that way we could go where we wanted, when we wanted. And we did so. Saturday night was deemed "Pirate Night" so we all doned our Pirate wear and walked to Duval Street.

It will be repeated.."what happens in Key West, stays in Key West.

On the way back to Marathon on Monday we stopped in Sombrero Key and the guys tried on some snorkeling while the gals sunned and visited on the top deck. So fun. The, Ed decided he would take the dinghy back to Marathon to pave the way for Great Mates as well as help her to get back into her slip at the marina. Well, that wasn't a great choice for Lisa but it's all racked up to experience. Lest it be that Melodie and Chris are great crewmates.

All the while, my greatest blessing has been the people. Old friends and new friends alike. So to my new friends, Craig, Chris, Uula, Larry, Judy, Dennis, Rick and Christine, Andrew and Carol and John, I am especially grateful for your friendships. To my old friends, you know who you are....it's been too long.

To my children, I hope you are blessed and guided my our Almighty.

Learning to be a Captain; Lisa

Dock Friends - January 29, 2010

WOW - one of the greatest gifts of living on a boat is the way that relationships form so quickly. Why is that? Here's an example. Wednesday afternoon I was walking up the docks to the ships store and noted a new boat that had pulled in. A real beauty she was. A catamaran, blue windows, very cool looking. (see pix). The captain was checking out his lines so I said, "welcome, cool looking boat!"



That evening, about 30 folks from the Marina car pooled and went to a nearby restaurant. The new folks went along and we sat with them plus our friends, Larry and Ulla, Doug and Cathy, Rick and Richard, Jim and Robin, etc. As the evening progressed, Ed and I quickly discovered that we really liked STEPHEN AND ESTELLA. After dinner, we headed back to the boats and ended up on Larry and Ulla's boat, "Rough Life", along with Stephen and Estella "Zuri", and the six of us learned about one anothers life experiences, thoughts about politics, small business ownership, and why we have chosen to live on boats. Stephen and Estella are from South Africa but are American citizens. Their prospectives on the American government are amazingly like ours, and that of Larry and Ulla. Suffice it to say that we all are disgusted and look forward to a new administration.

The next evening, Larry, Ulla, and our other new friends, Craig and Kim (from Cleveland), and Ed and I got together on Stephen and Estellas "Zuri", had cocktails and continued the conversations. We all journeyed to The Fishery where Ulla taught me how to eat Stone Crab Claws. (YUM!!!!) Afterward we all came back to "Great Mates" and chowed down on a Pina Colada Bread Pudding I had made earlier in the day. Laughter, stories, cocktails, more laughter. What a grand time! You know, eight people in the salon of "Great Mates" is pretty crowded, but a boater doesn't worry about such things. We just celebrate new friendships and the moment.

Murky Day

I don't know how to spell "murky" but let it be said that the water was not clear.

We set out with friends and dockmates, Larry and Ula(see photos) on their dinghy to go lobstering. Never done it, don't know anything about it, but away we went. Our other dock mates and neighbors to our port side, Kathy and Doug went along in their dinghy (see foggy photo). We searched via the GPS, we checked "holes", and Ula kept telling Larry, "it's not clear, I can't see". (she's a perfectionist when it come to lobstering and other things I think as I see her cleaning their boat daily).

So we'd go to the next "hole". We would look for "white spots" and then a large dark spot amidst. That would mean that there was a cave or rock in which the lobsters hung out. Ula said, "look for the holes", and then, "look for tentacles."

Well, I was just amazed that I could see the bottom, grass, sand, rocks, fish, coral, etc.

It was unusually foggy as well. Here it was 12:00 noon or so and it was foggy. The fog would burn off and the sun warmed us. Then it would come again. The only explanation on the murky water was the recent cold spell. We passed lots of dead fish and a few dead manatees.

Then we've been seeing a few Portagese man-o-wars. They look like a zip lock bag floating. So interesting. Cobalt blue, then clear. Neat!

What I've learned -

Boat people get to know one another quick. Why? Cause we don't know how long one another will be here. It's not any different than life in the burbs but we just have a closer identification to it and hence build our relationships acccording.

God's peace,

Lisa

Friday January 22, 2010

Two weeks in Marathon Key and it's been good. Adjustments? Sure! Such as:

1) Learning that I don't have to do a task, NOW. We don't have a schedule so if I don't get the floors cleaned today - they'll be done tomorrow, or the next day.

2) Getting used to receiving our mail once per week. We walk to the ship store and check several times - "mail NOT in". What a simple thing to wait for.

3) Being invited to one boat or another to enjoy the sunset together:
"hey, we're doing sunset on our boat tonight", "yeah, what time?", "oh, key time." "Okay, we'll be there." And, we pack up a snack, our drinks and off we go. Some people just watch the sunset, some people photograph the sunset, and some people comment about the sunset and then some people just visit. Oh, and some people bring their conch shell and blow it and the sun sets. COOL! Carole (from Bermuda) and Andrew (from Scotland) had a wine and cheese gathering. Richard, from Memphis, had a varied mix and loads of conversation. We had mini hamburgers and beer. It's all so fun.

4) In Mooresville, about 4:30 a.m. I am usually awakened by the UPS jets going over head beginning their day. Here, I am awakened around 6 by the sounds of the fishing boats heading out through the channel to begin their day. Ed and I find it most interesting to sit on the bow seats (made by Sharon in KY) and watch the day begin while enjoying our coffee. I love watching the pelicans dive for their breakfast. Such neat creatures.

Then there are the things we've learned.

Yesterday, we went to lunch with Larry and Oola and Richard. We all piled in Larry and Oola's dinghy and went to Burdines for their famous burgers and fries. Larry and Oola taught us about lobstering. Larry reminds me so much of cousin Don Humphries from TX. He's a riot and has a heavy southern accent. Oola is from Sweden so she too has a unique accent. Larry shared, "you have to take the tickle stick and tickle them out of their caves." "They will move forward with their tenticles to figure out what's ahead of them, so you just have to gently tickle them out." "It's a delicate art, just like dealing with women." chuckle, chuckle

Then a few nights ago, we went to dinner with Jim, Richard, and Robin. Jim and Robin shared about diving - the different gases, mixes of gases, etc. What science!

Ed has purchased his wet suit to go along witht he "Brownie" third lung apperatus. He wants to be able to clean the bottom of the boat and take care of issues like line being wrapped around the propeller as well as exploration. Me? I'm not their yet. Still a little afraid.

Enough sharing for now. Life is good, and we feel blessed. But I miss our kids. It's all a part of it, I guess.

Gods blessing and peace, Lisa

Oh yes, and about peeing....

I met a woman from Flagstaff AZ today at the laundry. She was accompanying her husband who delivers sail boats for a living. Hence they had stopped here in Marathon. She shared with me in her brief conversation that they had come across some rough waters and she said, "how in the world do you pee when the boat is at a 30 degree tilt? I replied that I had only once, so far, experience this and it was damned difficult to do anything when the vessel is tilted that far and then to be sure, tilting to the other side quickly. One cannot open cabinets, refrigerators, or anything else when these rolls are taken. So, what do you do......
The best you can. Live on what you can live on food wise, drink what you can to live on and
pee when you can without making a mess.
That's all I know at this early stage of living a-board.

Peace, Lisa

How do you pee at 30 degrees?

Ed and I arrived aboard Great Mates on January 7th at her dock located at Marathon Key, FL.

My PC was in for repairs so I couldn't record our journey - but it's back....yippee!

This last week has been chilly and true sweatshirt weather yet not without learning and meeting all kinds of new folks and situations.

The first morning after arrival, we awoke to the gentle rocking of the boat and had our coffee afterwhich, Ed proceeded to the shipstore to find a newspaper. He was gone a good bit and returned excited to share with me a new story. While at the ship store a fellow said, "excuse me mate, can you tell me where I can find a ....... (some kind of tool) to which Ed replied, "well, there's a new West Marine just up the road, do you have a car". "no" Ed volunteered, "well, I have a rental car and I'd be happy to take you there". Hence the story continued. This fellow and his crew were taking a trip to deliver a boat to Mexico. So after the proper tools and quick repairs were made, Ed and I helped them push off and wished them well.

Next interesting meeting was a group of 6 fellows on a 65' Choey Lee (the maker of our boat) and they had pulled in for some "autopilot" repairs. They were on their way to the Cook Islands (near Austrailia). I baked them some chocolate chip cookies and wished them "God speed" and a few days later they were off. They anticipated a 3-month journey.

On Monday, our friend from Ed's work arrived for a few days and he was a great help to Ed in repairing some items. We took him back to KW in the rental car on Wednesday and turned in our "wheels". There's a bus that runs from KW to Homestead on a daily basis so we caught it and got off right outside our Marina.

Now on to our lives on Great Mates. It continues to evolve.

We've met people like Richard, from Memphis, TN, and Robin and Jim from somewhere (we can't tell you or they would kill us) and then some neat people from Bermuda, who have told us all about their business there as well as the politics there. How totally interesting.

And then the transients we've met. Cindy. She has lived and worked aboard since '98. A woman my age and such a delight. She's taken all kinds of certifications, from dive instructor to chef and from my best guestimants, does them all very well... She and her husband also raise Swiss Mountain Dogs on a small farm in Virginia. She shared with us all of the places they've lived as dive instructors and all the folks she has met and worked for as a result of working for a specific yaght company. What broad horizens this woman painted for us as we ensued the conversation.

Well, the next few months will be most interesting as the weather changes and we meed more people. As I told my mother in a conversation today via phone that I love this life...the experiences, the people we meet and definately living aboard. We are blessed.

God's peace to all who care to share in our journey.

Lisa