2014 - June - July - some August - Summerland Key

We moved BLUE MAX to the house on 6/12. We need a high tide to  navigate a narrow & 'V' shaped span between Niles Channel & our canal - rocks on one side, 2 inches of water on the other. We're always anxious. We cross our fingers & anything else that can be crossed. 

Actually, the cottage is the 2nd structure in from Niles Channel-behind that trailer at the point

She bumped a bit, but otherwise, a safe landing at the cottage. We were greeted by a smiling Pete & June who helped us tie off. The four of us chatted about lots of things since it's been quite awhile since we've seen each other. Time for dinner...Pete was longing for Dion's 'quick-chick chicken' (the best fried chicken I've had-especially from a gas station) - Wayne wanted to go to the Wharf - I didn't care since either choice meant I didn't have to cook! 
The DSL hadn't been working in the house for some time - Pete called AT&T. They replaced the old & failing wires from the pole to the house  no charge. I called to get a discount of sorts for months of non-use...They gave me a month's credit....&, OH, by-the-way, I was told there was a special going on where, for $2 more than I was paying, I could get U-Verse for a year. They installed that on Sat. - what a difference-fast, fast, fast.  I can now connect to it when the boat is at the sea wall.
The A/C unit in the living room was leaking in the house instead of outside...thankfully, it was only a blocked discharge hose & was easily cleared. We found other little projects that we'll deal with when everyone leaves. 
Tom & Susan arrived on Sunday bringing with them lots of fresh veggies & other nutritional foods. After they unloaded the car, we rested for happy hour then the 6 of us went to Mangrove Mamas for dinner.

We planned to go fishing on Monday, however the wind picked up & we knew it would be a bit rough out there. It was but BLUE MAX can handle it better than other boats - we did deploy the paravanes & birds. Just by-the-way, the Keys are seeing a greater amount of Sargasso (sea weeds/grass) than ever before. When these weeds are clumped together & in a line, it's the best fishing especially for Dolphin (not Flipper). Even though there were grass lines, much of the weeds were scattered everywhere making trolling difficult as the weeds catch on your hook & we have to bring in the line often to clear it. I was the only one who caught anything, unfortunately it was a Barracuda & a Tunny tuna - nothing for dinner.  We anchored in Niles channel. The next day we had thunder storms most of the day which made it a very lazy & cozy day. We usually play Mexican train dominoes well into the night so it was unusual to play in the daytime. 
The high-light of the visit was to snorkel Looe Key. Susan was psyched as she is a Master Naturalist.

Susan

Yellow Tail Snapper - now THAT'S what I wanted for dinner

Tom

We were delighted to see, what seemed to be, healthy Staghorn coral

The majority of the fish on the reef are Yellow Tail (great eating) & Sargent Majors.

The fleck-like substance in the water you see in the pictures is some sort of a bloom. Not sure if it's tiny animals or particles of coral.
We anchored by Picnic Island for two nights...everyone to the beach...great food &, of course, games of dominoes. 

Jack said, 'don't put me down again'

Scupper's lovin it

Susan & Tom

Tom & Susan tried to swim to the island using the noodle, but the current was stronger then they were - we rescued them & towed them to & from the island. Tom lost his bathing suit along the way but I won't show you that picture. 

The last night, we chatted on the fly bridge. To me, there's nothing like being able to be yourself around good friends.

Tom's glowing glasses

Sadly, the week of fun with good friends & good food ended on Friday. We said our good-byes to Tom, Susan, Pete & June. The tide was too low for us to get in so Wayne & Tom loaded the dinghy with their belongings - it took two, fully loaded trips from the boat to the cottage. 
Kathryn called...she & Cari are driving down on 6/27 - with their 3 pups - YIKES! Glad we'll be at the house. 
We stayed anchored in Niles channel where we took advantage  of steady, tropical breezes & when too hot, jumped in the water.
On 6/23, our friend, Eric, & his 2 brothers, Allen & Bruce (from Ft Myers) arrived to do nothing but fish for 5 days. We stayed on anchor to give them privacy, but the last high tide to get back to the cottage was on 6/26. It was great to see Eric again & to get to know his brothers. 

Eric, Allen & Bruce

BLUE MAX was loaded with salt so the first thing Wayne did was to clean her again. I helped too.

I think he looks good in a Speedo - so do my female neighbors! (tee hee)

The 'boys' caught tons of Yellow Tail - They invited us to join them at the Wharf grill where their cooks cooked them to perfection! YUM!
Kathryn, Cari, Duncan, Pepe & Trixie arrived early afternoon. They brought enough food, booze & clothes to stay at least a month. Once settled in & relaxed from the 5+ hour drive, we sat out by the canal for happy hour. Dinner consisted of left over fish, chicken wings & other left-overs.

Haven't see a frog around for a long time - I almost didn't see this one in our palm tree

TV was the entertainment for the night. We've all been together before so we're aware of our individual routines - all except the pups.

Kathryn & Trixie

On Saturday afternoon no one wanted to anything so we got the raft, the noodle & the dogs & jumped in the canal, other neighbors joined us. 

Cari, Pepe, Kate, me, Scups, Jack, Duncan & Trixie

 

Cari & her pups, Pepe & Duncan

Cari slow-cooked a pork roast, I made potato salad...another yummy dinner. Kate & Cari went to Key West on Sunday & brought back Fillet Minon & bread for dinner...I made caramelized carrots. We've done almost nothing but eat & eat for weeks & weeks! Life is good.
We got together with our friends, Bill & Mary at the Square Grouper. We met them many years ago in the Dry Tortuga's when they were living on their sail boat. (Sorry about the terrible picture - taken by the server with my little, underwater camera. not my normal quality)

So...now the work begins. The reason for staying at the cottage was for Wayne to take apart the engine/transmission for maintenance & to repair a few leaks.

Repairs were going smoothly until he tried to remove an old, leaking hose that goes into the oil filter adapter (??huh?) when the end of the old hose broke off in the adapter. (I should have known something would happen cuz it usually does- but I try to keep up a positive attitude) Turns out they used 2 metals that don't like each other & they melt together (so to speak) For a week, he tried different techniques to free the piece that was stuck - even the guys at Ace hardware tried. Unfortunately, he had to order a new adapter. The engine work was done on 7/19 just in time for us to join a birthday party across the canal. 

Finally, someone broke open the

Piñata

Everyone in the water! This was only a small portion of people who were swimming. Wayne & the dogs joined in too

 For about a week, we've had daily rain showers, sometimes with thunder & lightening, & just long enough to water the shrubs & trees & clean off the boat. We got established with a new family doctor as ours left the state. (we've been gone that long?) I was very comfortable as the Nurse Practitioner, Pat Perry, is an old friend. Labs drawn, new Rx & we were on our way. We had lunch at the Warf with a couple we met a year ago, Joyce & Joe. They just finished remodeling a house on Little Knockemdown Key (Google it)which is just north of the cottage. It's an island with no utilities & shallow water all around. They don't live there full time  - yet. 

On 7/24 we unplugged the electric cords, threw off the lines & left the sea wall. We were anchored out in Niles Channel by 9AM. While at the sea wall, it's was extremely hot with little breeze  - that's why we had the A/C on.  Anyone who knows me knows I don't like being in air conditioning, however, having it for over a month & now anchored out, I missed it - well , almost. It's taken a few days to get used to being without it. Having all the awnings deployed & fans running helps a great deal. Being in the middle of the channel allows us to swing into the breeze so it's not too bad. We've been hanging out on the raft & noodle in the water every afternoon. 

On Sunday, 7/27, we took the dinghy & the pups north on Niles channel then west around TopTree island then south to Little Knockemdown Key to visit with Joyce & Joe. As we approached their landing, a cloud of mosquitoes swarmed us. I haven't moved that fast in a very long time. We raced up the path to their cottage & into the house. After a rub-down with alcohol & some cold water, I felt much better. I'm the one that doesn't get bit! Wayne always gets bit but this didn't seem to faze him - go figure. The remodel was amazing & we were immediately drawn to the quality of items used. The original beams were in place & it has a few telephone poles & pilings from the old Mallory Square pier. It's one room. The walls & ceiling are white; they have a large, dark wood Murphy bed that is a focus in the room. It's minimalistic but Joyce's choice of furniture & vivid colors dominate the room.  They have a very advanced system that keeps them off the grid. We were mesmerized.

Shame we didn't take one picture with all of us together. 
7/30 & 7/31 Lobster madness is here!! The 2-day mini season is the last Wednesday/Thursday in July. Thousands of people come to the Keys to create havoc for the locals but it also gives us a huge boost to our economy. It's a love/hate situation. Gas stations, boat ramps (the few we have) grocery stores & restaurants are packed - not to mention bumper to bumper traffic on US1, about 126 miles of mostly a 2-lane road, which is our only road in & out of the Keys.
How does one get those tasty 'bugs'? You need a lobster permit (there are a few exemptions-if over 65 you don't need one). You need appropriate gear: good mask, snorkel & fins & gloves; a tickle stick which is pencil thin, about 3' long. This is used to gently urge the Lobster out of his hole.

You must have a measuring device used to see if the bug is big enough to keep & you must measure him in the water. The body must be 3" measured from the eyes to the end of the carapace. A good, deep net with a handle about 18-20" long - you usually always need the length to reach into around the holes & a deep net to assure he's securely in the net.  Some people carry a net bag in which to store their catch until they return to the boat.  Now that you're overloaded & juggling all this gear - go get em!

No camera with me - I had enough gear to carry so I copied this from the web

Florida, spiny Lobster mostly live in protected crevices & caverns of coral reefs, sponge flats & other hard-bottomed areas. They can't see behind them, so they back into the holes that's why their antennae stick out. Many of these holes have a 'back door'. It's a prudent move to search all around with your tickle stick - if there is an opening behind the lobster, you put your net there, then gently tap on the lobster's head & he'll move backwards, hopefully into your net. The whole process is great fun & exhilarating but also frustrating & exhausting - but also, a great work out. 
Back in the early 90's, after Frank & I bought the cottage, David's friends came to help...I towed several people behind the boat & slowly trolled the area near the cottage. When someone spotted the tell-tale antennae, they let go of the rope & remained in the spot until the others came to help.                                  

1994

1994 - David & friend with just a few bugs

I drove the boat because my son, David, was my 'go to' guy to get those yummy bugs. He & his dad are 'sinkers' meaning they could dive down & stay down - me? I'm a bobber or floater. With much effort, I can dive down, but once down, I bob right back up. Therefore, today, I must search for the tell-tale antennae in 3-4' of water.                                     
I haven't gone "lobstering" in many years so I was happy to still be 'home'. Hundreds of boats sped north towards the bay, mostly going to the Content Keys, about 10 miles away. They used all that fuel when they could have gotten their limit right here in Niles channel. We took off in the dingy to snorkel the area where we were so successful all those years ago. I managed to get 2 'shorts' - bah-humbug. (get it? humbug?)

One of the shorts

I swam back to my spot - I turned around & there he was - the big boy- out of his hole - out in the open staring at me. I was psyched! 

 

The yucky part - cleaning

You have to clean them. First, 'wring' the tail from the body, then "Break of one of the antennae to use in removing the "waste track". Using the wide end of the antennae, stick it in through the anal cavity at the bottom of the tail. Since the antennae have small, one directional spikes, when you remove the antennae, the waste track will be pulled out clean. Removing the waste track on a lobster is similar to de-veining a shrimp". So, there you have it. (I used information from the web as they could describe it much better than I could -I would have never called it the "WASTE TRACK" How proper). 
On 8/1, the commercial fishermen begin to set their traps. Most of the guys have thousands of traps which they set both in the Atlantic & the gulf. It's a tough life for them. They can return on 8/6 to see what they got then, off to market.

Our friend & neighbor, Bobby Piller - he's famous!!

 The official season opens 8/6 & ends 3/31.

Yesterday, the dogs were barking like crazy - we thought they saw Dolphins. We went outside & saw our friend, two other boats & a bunch of traps in the water. (see a few in picture above) Knowing something was wrong, Wayne jumped in the dinghy to see if he could help. Turns out our friend & Bobby's brother, Scottie, was setting traps in the Gulf. His boat was overloaded. He was heading home & near our boat when he discovered he was taking on water thru a small hole in the aft cockpit. Wayne returned to Blue Max & quickly searched for something to block the hole. It worked & Scottie's brother, Bobby (our neighbor) towed him to the house. 

The excitement didn't end there. All day, we had huge, dense & black clouds all around us with distance lightening & thunder - we were in a clear, cloudy hole- but no rain.      

     

Every once-in-awhile, we experienced an increase in wind which was most appreciated. About 10 PM while watching TV, the wind really picked up, it started to rain really hard. (I was glad I had the water collection hose inserted in the water tanks) The lightening was going cloud to cloud, the thunder was very loud & right on top of us. Now, normally, this was not unusual & would last - maybe an hour. This storm lasted for hours & well into the night. As scary as it sounds, I felt very safe - the boat was closed up, awnings down so we could open up the port holes in our cabin - we turned on an exhaust fan in the forward cabin & the breeze flowed from the port holes forward. I slept with a light sheet-blanket on.

Ever wonder why we love living aboard our boat ?

 We've been anchored out for over two weeks enjoying the breeze & the privacy - skinny dipping everyday...but it's time to head north up Florida's West coast. The tides were high enough on 8/10 to safely navigate North via Niles channel out to the Gulf. This shortcut eliminates the need to cruise to either Key West or Marathon saving many hours & fuel. There's also the bonus of a full moon so we can cruise at night if we want to. Personally, I'm not fond of that, especially since all the lobster traps have been set which are hard to see at night.
We dropped the anchor near Sawyer Key about 1:30 - time enough to snorkel a bit.  
http://fms.ws/IYbbb/24.72397N/81.52139W
This is the link from the 'findmespot' but don't know if it will open?? We planned to leave early AM, but, as usual, plans change. We moved the boat a bit south so we could get Internet service, putting us west of the Tarpon Belly Keys. These Keys are part of a group of islands just north of Summerland. This island is just north of Knockemdown & Little Knockemdown where our friends cottage is. (Google it) We've anchored here before but was at night. We saw a 'beach' & couldn't resist exploring & taking the pups to shore. Fascinating spot. I've lived there 20 years & never knew this existed. The water landscape looked like a perfect place for tons of Lobster. We agreed to stay the night. With snorkel gear in hand & the pups by our side, we returned to shore. (From the web)
"During a vacation in the Keys, Bill Hannum watched shrimp drifting on the current between the islands and thought that it might be possible to farm them commercially. In the late 1960s he decided to put this theory into action and created a company called Sea Farms. Bill got some investors and was able to purchase two islands in the back country, the Tarpon Belly Keys and Raccoon Key. By the end of 1967, he had dug two canals on the Tarpon Belly Keys and began to farm raise shrimp. Thus Sea Farms became one of the first companies in the US to attempt to commercially farm raise shrimp".

Tarpon Belly Key & man-made canal

Looking for Lobster in nooks & crevices - alas, none to be found

I didn't know Scupper dove in to swim with me - scared the hell out of me!!

Rubble from construction of the shrimp farm

 

 

This is kewl...I almost never have pictures of me

 What was I thinking? to think no one else knew this sweet spot for lobsters was here. I'm sure it was cleaned out the first day of mini-season. 

We also have a clear vision of "Fat Albert" a super secret spy balloon that keeps tabs on Cuba as well as serving as a lookout for shipping traffic in the Straits of Florida. Of he's usually flying high in the sky.

We moved the boat back out to Sawyer Key (the Gulf) & left the area at 7:15 am on 8/12. We anchored at 6:15 pm at one our favorite spots with a beach. It's at the South end of Keewaydin Island - which is South of Naples & North of Marco Island. In 2012, we spent NY eve on the beach with my grandson, Anthony, & friends Mike & Laura. Probably the best NY I've ever had. 

* * * * Well, thanks for reading & joining in on our adventures * * *