After landing in Key West, FL about 9:30 am, we picked up our rental car and collected some of our checked luggage. We contacted Joel and Debbie VanderWaal and arranged to meet at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West Florida for a tour of the U.S. Naval Station. Joel is a naval aviator, retired Commander and their boat Watermusic (a 40’ Fathom) is docked at the Boca Chica Marina at the naval air station.
With his military I.D., Joel had offered to give us a tour of the base, and we were thrilled. So, with our ID's presented at the gate, we were allowed to entered the secured area. For those of you who haven’t followed my earlier posts, Joel and Debbie are AGLCA loopers from Bloomington, Minnesota. We met at the Fall 2012 AGLCA rendezvous and have kept in touch for the last year or so. The planes we saw, today, are all planes that were flown and landed off naval aircraft carriers.
Commander VanderWaal flew the A-4 Skyhawk, in static display below. It is painted in the Soviet colors of an adversary squadron and participated in maneuvers off the coast. This naval air station is a combat training center and has an air combat maneuvering range off the coast of the Keys with the telemetry to replay the combat on video screens for the pilots after the fight.
Behind a chain link fence with signs posted prohibiting photography, the F-18 and the F-5 aircraft were all positioned on the tarmac. So, no pictures were taken of this area!
The F-5 is a small plane, with short span wings and twin engines, used to simulate the adversary or aggressor aircraft in maneuvers.
The picture below is of an F-18 Hornet in flight. This plane, designed as a fighter and attack aircraft, is highly maneuverable and reaches supersonic speeds. It has served as the premier fighter jet for over 30 years and was the plane of choice for the Blue Angels.
It was lunchtime, so we left thenaval station and drove up the
Overseas Highway to Mangrove
Mama’s, a lovely laid back and
funky restaurant, on Sugarloaf
Key. The story goes like this...
the key was named from the
sugarloaf pineapples that were once
grown here. This landmark restaurant
has served fresh seafood for
over 30 years. The buildings were
built about 1910 originally as a rail
stop for Flagler's overseas railroad.
With the highway replacing the
railway, this became an oasis for
travelers. What a great place to enjoy
delicious seafood and conversation
while sitting under the banana tress
and coconut palms.
Steve and Mary ordered fish tacos and they were fresh and tasty! Joel and Debbie ordered Conch and quesadillas- also very good! Below is Mary's version of fish (Mahi Mahi) tacos-gluten free. Yum!
Reports are that this tropical, open air restaurant has the best Key Lime pie in the Keys. :)
After lunch, we drove the Overseas Highway to Marathon where Dream Chaser was waiting patiently for our return. After a stop for provisions, we finished our evening with a two mile walk on the bridge to Pigeon Key-our favorite bridge walk at sunset.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
This morning, we met two more AGLCA loopers on the marina dock. Don and Anita Gulseth on Limelight, a 31ft. Tiara, had arrived at the marina while we were traveling during the last few weeks. Gulseths are from Cato, WI, so we had the Midwest and "cold weather back home" in common.
After a quiet morning of completing tasks on the boat, Joel and Debbie VanderWaal dropped by to tour Dream Chaser, take a dip in the pool, and join us for happy hour at Sparky's Landing on Key Colony Beach. A terrific spot for $.25 wings and shrimp!Just remember...
"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook" Julia Child
Then, we were off to Key Colony Beach Park to discuss our planned trip to the Bahama's and watch the sunset.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
This morning, we picked up a new rental car in Marathon, returned the previous rental car to the Key West Airport, picked up Mary's checked bag that finally arrived at the airport (yeah!), visited a Marine Store, and found a great "crack in the wall" Cuban cafe on White Street in Key West for lunch.
Sandy's Cafe sells the original Cuban Sandwich,is open 24 hours a day, and shares the building
with the M&M laundry. You can enjoy a meal
while you wait for your laundry! A great time saver!
Notice that Steve is relaxing on the far right of the picture while he is waiting for our food order.
Steve is thrilled to have found Sandy's Cafe
because the food is great, there are large portions, and the daily special, chicken
fricassee was only $7.99! Mary fell in love
with Cuban café con leche!
While we ate our lunch, roosters, hens,
and baby chicks were running loose under
the tables and in front of the building.
This rooster is very colorful, but watch out
because he appears to be very territorial and
has an ATTITUDE!
After lunch, we stopped for provisions at
the Publix grocery store in Key West, and
we noticed this man with his dog in a pouch!
We've seen strollers for pets and bicycle
baskets for pets, but never a "pooch pouch"!
Only in the Keys!
It was a warm afternoon, so upon returning to Dream Chaser, we donned swimsuits and headed to the pool. It was a perfect day for a swim with warm temps and glorious sunshine!
Perhaps, it was Steve's huge chicken fricassee lunch that was the reason for his determination to take a long walk. The solution was to walk the bridge-four miles to Pigeon Key and back. The breeze was wonderful and, of course, there was that inspiring sunset!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Today was a day of projects and relaxation. Steve worked on the windows in the upper helm and Mary worked in the galley and salon. Today, our walk took us 2 miles past Sparky's Landing on Key Colony Beach. It was a warm day with temps in the high 80's, so it was a perfect day to hit the pool about noon. With such a marvelous pool, where is everybody? The pool will be full this afternoon!
About 4:30 pm, we headed to Sparky's Landing to meet our new friends Dave and Arla Railsback who we had met during our Pigeon Key bridge walk. They are originally from New Richmond, Wisconsin, have been visiting Marathon for years, and now own a house in the area. Over shrimp, chicken wings, and rice & beans, we were informed of local parks, nice beaches, a great fish market, bike and walking paths, and interesting kayaking areas. We shared stories and experiences of northern MN and WI- skiing, snowmobiling, canoeing, and exploring.
On returning to Dream Chaser, it was another quiet evening of viewing the Winter Olympics.
Go U.S.A. !
Friday, February 21, 2014
Another perfect day in the Keys!
Pull on your t-shirt and shorts and get outside to enjoy the bright sunshine and temps in the 80's.
About 9 am, we hopped in our rented Chevy Cruz and headed up the Overseas Highway to Islamorada and Key Largo. After purchasing some provisions at the local Publix, gravitating into West Marine, and checking out some local shops, we met Mark and Lu Chase, Steve's brother and his wife, and their friends, Dick and Linda, at LazyDays in Islamorada for lunch. Located at Mile Marker 80, this award winning restaurant offers the freshest seafood in town! Our reserved table was on the outside deck overlooking the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Beautiful! So fun to meet new friends and catch up with Mark and Lu who were visiting from Massachusetts.
After visiting more of the shops in Islamorada and finding a Cuban café con leche, we stopped by Worldwide Sportsman, the premier fishing store in the world. Housed in what looks like an old southern plantation with a wide porch and white rocking chairs, the store has a killer view of Florida Bay. Inside the building, we returned to see the sister boat to Hemingway's "Pilar" which is displayed in the middle of the store. Very Cool! Even if there is nothing on your "to purchase" list, their large fish tank (along one wall which contains local fish) is worth the visit.
We found two rockers and relaxed while we enjoyed the view of Florida Bay!
When sufficiently rested, we walked next door to Islamorada Seafood Market. Along side their dock is a pen where you can find tarpon swimming. Check it out.
On our return trip to Marathon, we pulled off at Hawks Key and investigated the area including Duck Key. What a beautiful area with lovely dream homes.
We returned to Dream Chaser at about 6 pm and were invited to docktails next door on Salina O, a 42' Oceanic, with Sal and Ina Oliveira. We also met two other looper couples: Bob & Martha on Field Trip, a 36' Grand Banks, (yes, they were both teachers) and Dennis & Carol Barkow on Reunion, a 40' Marine Trader. These docktail gatherings are a great opportunity to hear looper stories, gather information about trip destinations, get to know the loopers better, and have some laughs.
Back on Dream Chaser, we were watching the Olympics when about a dozen paddleboarders came down the channel towards the bow of Dream Chaser. Steve slipped to the bow of the boat and waited in the dark for the paddleboarders to pass by. The boards had lights on the undersides which lit up the water about 20 feet around it. As a young lady paddled by with a small child at her feet on the board, Steve spoke from the bow of the boat, "That shark been following you very long?". Reacting with a shocked dazed look, she finally realized Steve was joking. Chuckles broke out from the husband or boyfriend following her on the next board. We have such fun!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
By 7:45 am, we were out the door, in our Chevy, and on our way to Islamorada to join THOUSANDS of people at the Rotary Club's Gigantic Nautical Flea Market in Freedom Park. This is a volunteer operation with all proceeds benefiting local youth to provide college scholarships. It is also a marvelous opportunity to get bargains on boating, fishing, diving, and nautical themed gear. For those not interested in boating or fishing, other items like jewelry, clothing, and food were abundant. We took a shuttle bus from the high school five miles away and, immediately, found the all-you-can-eat-pancake breakfast tent. Yum! The sun was shining brightly, the temps were high 80's, and the crowd was building. After purchasing a few items including gear for snorkeling, we exited the event while we could still escape, hopped the bus back to our car, and headed south.
The Rain Barrel, an artisan village,
was our next stop. With Blackbeard
guarding the entrance, all the valuables
were safe! After a stroll through the
tropical gardens, we checked out the
shops full of contemporary art and
American crafts. People are so talented!
Our next stop was in Marathon... lunch at Juice Paradise (shown above), a lovely, local little Cuban cafe with a juice bar, authentic home cooking (Cuban) by "grandma", and great Cuban coffee! The ladies greeted us with smiles, could speak English, and WOW did they cook! We chose two of the daily specials: chicken and shredded pork with rice, beans, fried plantain, and a salad.
choose from one of three tables
inside or several outside, and sit
back and enjoy the aroma of the
meal being prepared.
Warning! You may become addicted to their iced café con leche!
Back at the marina, temps were in the 80's, so we gravitated to the pool to relax and chat with fellow loopers and new friends from Wisconsin. Lots of Midwesterners are here to escape the cold!
At 6 pm, fourteen AGLCA loopers and a few locals gathered for a potluck at the at the end of the dock. Tables and chairs appeared, and a variety of wonderful dishes joined our roasted chicken and key lime pie. Delicious food, great music, interesting conversations, and perfect weather filled the evening. Fun Times!
Sunday, February 23
What a day! We woke to temps in the high 70's, bright sun, a minimal breeze, and sun promised for the entire day. It was a very quiet morning in the marina. Yesterday was a bit warm and when the humidity increased, the air conditioning went on. Even though we get a breeze through the cabin, the cool and drier air added to our great night's sleep.
At 9:30 am, we enjoyed a hot breakfast and inspiring service at Vineyard Church in Big Pine Key. We had attended a few weeks before- so nice to be back. After church, we stopped at the Pigeon Key information train car and purchased a book, "The History of the Keys". Fascinating!
(History taken from the above book)...From 1521 on, Spanish fleets filled with treasure would sail past the Florida shores. Piracy was at it's peak! Pirates would use shallow draft sailing vessels, shipping lanes were terrorized, and protecting convoys were useless. In the Keys in 1822, the USS Enterprise, a former New York Harbor Ferry but now part of the navy, towed gun barges into the shallows where the pirates hid and chased the pirate vessels out to sea. At that point, the navy would capture them or chase them to their bases in Puerto Rico and destroy them.
Lunch on Dream Chaser was (a new recipe) an avocado half with a scoop of chicken salad on top and a side of rice and beans. It's a keeper!
Everything on a boat needs to be in it's place, so time was spent organizing our "stuff" this afternoon. It becomes trickier to find homes for items with such limited space on boat. Hmmm...where to put the new snorkeling gear? With the Olympics over, we have more time to work on these projects.
At 3 pm, we joined about 80 AGLCA loopers at the Marathon Yacht Club, Gulfside, for the 5th annual Sunset Celebration. As the popular Key's band, "Five Sheets to the Wind" performed, loopers ate free hot dogs, shared appetizers, enjoyed their favorite drinks, and chatted with fellow loopers. For us, it was also a great time to gather more information for our planned crossing to the Bahamas.
Just before sunset, we stopped at the Marathon City Dinghy Dock where the boaters who are anchored in Boot Harbor access the shore and dock their dinghies (this is one of the areas).
