2001 - 4/4 - 4/18 - Home - Marathon

2001 - This was my very first major cruise. I was extremely fortunate to get 3 months off. Also my first attempt at writing a 'log' which I will now enter into our blog. It was also the first time I used a digital camera. 


Wayne had his work cut out for him in the last few months before departure.  Some work was truly necessary.  Some, he just always wanted to do but never seemed to get ‘round tuit’. So, like most men, being “under the gun” made it the perfect time to accomplish these tedious tasks. (Replaced the exhaust elbow and installed an exhaust over-temp switch, adjusted the valves and installed a bypass lube oil filter on the generator.  Also installed an automatic fresh water flush system, replaced the reverse osmosis elements and pressure vessels as well as the boost pump on the water maker. Meanwhile, a palm frond fell on BLUE MAX – one of the teak hand rails had to be replaced.  There was more…but won't bore you. 
 I had my own work cut out for me as I had the monumental

Preparation - I haven't a clue where to stow everything

job of educating Meredith in being proficient at all I do (not difficult as she was the brightest co-worker I ever had), planning a network of people so my mom’s needs would be met and working together with Wayne to provision the boat.  I came home on my last day of work extremely excited, just like a little kid again.
Thursday, April 12th -Summerland Key - The good news, Captain Wayne was successful in getting BLUE MAX out of the canal & anchored in Niles Channel. The bad new - Wayne left me a message - “The dingy won’t go into forward…” he was stranded but that wasn’t all. While waiting for me to get home, he opened the port lazerette and found a steady stream of water pouring into the bilge! There was a broken bolt on the swim platform bracket. (probably a result of backing BLUE MAX down to retrieve a snagged fishing line in big seas on our way home from Ft. Lauderdale last Christmas) Fortunately, we had not yet put my boat, TIGER TOO, in storage so I was able to use her as a dingy. This seemed to be yet another bad omen…was “someone” really trying to tell us not to go?  The dreaded, Friday, the 13th - OK, for the sake of brevity,  I’ll summarize what happened on Friday the 13th .  The dink motor was taken to Marathon for repair. Wayne hitched a ride back to Summerland with his friend, Bob Lloyd; My car remained in Marathon; I closed the house up and hauled the last of the provisions out to BLUE MAX. Next, we took our fishing boat, TIGER TOO to Keys Sea Center on Big Pine for dry storage.Our neighbor,Tom, picked us up and drove us home. Jim, another neighbor took us out to the boat on his boat.   Well, this was it!!!
                 LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN !!!!!
Saturday, April 14th  Wind, SE, less than 10 knots, clear skies. At 1040 we proceeded out in the Atlantic about 10 miles. I had a troll line out but no luck. For some reason, one of the depth sounders was not reading. The seas were rough and confused in the Gulf Stream.

Beautiful Bahia Honda State Park

We arrived at Bahia Honda anchorage at 1430; put the dingy in and went ashore. I rowed. Meredith was working her 2nd job. She helped secure our lines, got some water for Molly and offered some smart ass comments about me having to row shore (God, I’ll miss her). We explored the park and took the old road up to the bridge…Wayne’s first time up there. (now that’s a first – I’ve been, he hasn’t) We used the digital camera for the first time. Now I have to figure out how to get the pictures off the camera & into the computer. 
Easter Sunday -15th - Calm, in the 80’s.  Gorgeous day.  We left Bahia Honda even though we would rather stay here than in a boat yard but we called ahead and Keys Boat Works suggested to come in on Sunday night so they could haul us first thing on Monday.

On the lift at Keys Boat Works - Marathon

I got my car and spent the afternoon with my mom and took her to dinner. Wayne stayed aboard and changed the oil in the main engine. Later, we joined Bob, Annabelle and Mable - mom too - poolside at Sombrero Resort for happy hour and live music.  April 16th - Calm and warm. Another beautiful day in paradise but, unfortunately, the Gods were against us once again – trouble with the travel lift which delayed the haul out until Tuesday.  Meanwhile, Wayne picked up the outboard for the dink, hopefully, repaired.  They said the linkage had come out of adjustment. Cost: $41.  He took the depth sounder to Jon Johnson for evaluation and repair. We spent another $100 or so at Publix on more last minute shopping.  April 17th  - Calm and warm.   Hauled BLUE MAX just before noon.Wayne changed all the zincs and replaced the Genset through hull intake screen with a larger one. I went to surprise mom at the senior’s meal center and to meet Bob and the rest of the ‘gang’ she hangs out with everyday.What great people!! (they fed me too)  I brought mom over to see the boat.  The broken bolt was replaced and the boat was back in the water by 5 pm. Cost: $542. Ouch! We went to Faro Blanca for happy hour then to Banana Bay Resort for dinner -Wayne’s favorite place in Marathon. A beautiful resort. I had been there only once and only to the Tiki hut. By the time we got back to the boat yard, the wind had picked up significantly and a commercial fishing boat, ROBERTO JR., was cross-ways in the channel. We were directly in her path if she came completely loose. Wayne called the Coast Guard, who, in turn, called the Marine Patrol. I flashed the Q beam around in an attempt to get someone’s attention. Finally, someone showed up and secured the boat. (the gods were still playing with us)  April 18th - Brisk North winds: 20-25 knots. Cold.  Wayne picked up the depth sounder. (another $117, but it works better than ever) We took the car home, grabbed a few things we forgot and put away things we overlooked. Will we ever be ready to go? Bob Lloyd and family picked us up with their van which was filled to capacity with provisions for IRRATIONAL’s trip to Ohio. (Wayne owned IRRATIONAL for 10 years before selling it to Bob) When we got back the North wind was so strong that BLUE MAX was pinned to the dock.  It looked ominous for our planned departure in the morning.Thursday, the 19th -North winds @ 25 knots; whitecaps in the bay and cold. To leave or not to leave today – that is the question. After much discussion and in consideration of my depressed state for only being in Marathon, we left at 2 pm.