April was not kind

Well this was a bad month, what could go wrong did. It started out with the generator the water pump failed parts ordered and $287.00 later up and running again. Then the battery charger went. Contacted a local electrician who recommended that I replace the charger  with a new Inverter/charger combination 100amp charger with installation cost $2200.00. Then two days later my outboard gave up working Kendall, and Owen tried to replace the water pump but the shaft is seased in the engine and will not come out. So a search began for a replacement $250.00. If that was not enough the batteries failed had to order new ones a D8 and D4 thank god for Owen because I could not lift them. cost $350.00 and then the next morning the computer failed and had to be sent for repairs. another $100.00. Everything is working well now but I may have to ask everyone to send money for my airline ticket back home. Will be leaving Marathon on the 12th for south gulf cove will try to keep you undated. Despite the problems have not had a day of rain in two months and it remains in the mid 80's every day.Donnie arrives tomorrow for 10 day's looking forward to a good time. Wait until the southerns get to hear a real accent.

Another Great day with Great friends

Well they say there is always a party in the Keys and you can;t drink all day if you don;t start in the morning so we are trying to keep it true. My cousin and girlfriend Joy with Blair and Marsha and friends from the marina all went fishing on Sunday. another great day

Learning Curves

Well until you spend time living on your boat you don't no what to expect.You think you are prepared and you have been planning it for years. But until you reach the southern climet and see the toll it takes on your boat you can't prepare for that. Sometimes I think we have it easy for the 6 weeks we have at home. In order to keep up, maintenance has to be done every day. Some day's only an hour or days like today 4 hours in a hot engine room. When company comes you do the tourist stuff and the maintenance takes a back sit, when the company leaves you have to get back at it right away. Thank god the Canadian dollar is strong and the cost down here is much less then home. example I had a diver put on a new shaft anode he clean the shaft and rudder for 10.00. Mooring ball every thing included $ 250.00 per month. Even with the maintenance problems I wouldn't give it up, Man its fun,fun,fun.  Well in for a swim to cool off and miller or bud time will follow.

Can't get any better

SUNNY SUNDAY

Hi All,
It has been a busy few days.  On Friday Jimmy (Scott's cousin), Joy, Blair and Marcia arrived in the afternoon (from Port Charlotte area).  They came out to the boat and we all dinghyed over to the Dockside for supper.  A lovely evening.  On Saturday we all went out to go fishing and snorkelling (along with Kendall, Dianne, Paige and Chris) off the reefs by the lighthouse.  Fishing didn't go too good - Scott was the only one who caught a fish!! But the snorkelling and swimming was fun - although it was very choppy (boat did alot of rolling).  Poor Blair and Joy did not fare so well.  But they were fine once we got back.  We all went to Castaways for supper.   Today the six of us took the bus to Key West to do some tourist  stuff.  We took the trolley tour which was fun. We had lunch at Bobalou's (fabulous) and then Scott and Jimmy hung out in Hogbreath's while Marcia and I shopped (I didn't go overboard!!).    Just got back here at 7:30 so it has been a long day.  But a great one nevertheless.    Tomorrow is my last day (sigh) so I will soak it up from dawn to dusk.  Hope all is well at home. See you soon.

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY

Hello all!  Another stellar day in Florida.  Sunny and in the 80's.  Scott and I and our friend Dianne dinghy'd over  to Sombrero beach for a couple of hours this afternoon.  .  Had a lovely frolic in the water.  Didn't miss home at all.  Scott had an electrician over today to check out our electrical system.  Seems we need a new battery charger/inverter.   Yuck!  Always something.  Guess we also need to think about a DC fridge.  Anybody looking for an apartment size refrigerator????? Works great on shore power!!  However the tropics takes its toll.  Oh well. (Wayne, you were right - once again I owe you another loonie!!.  I must be up to a toonie now.)  But we will do what we must to make it right.  By this time next year we should have all kinks worked out but maybe not paid for.  Nobody said boating was cheap!!  However it is still a great life!!  
PS  - Hope Chico is well and missing me a little!!  Be in touch soon.  love Scott (brown as a nut) and Carol (getting there).
PSS - no pictures available of Carol in a bathing suit!!  Luckily Scott forgot the camera!!

TUESDAY APRIL 5TH

Hello everyone.   A beautiful hot sunny day in Florida -- is there any other kind of day in Florida?  About 85 degrees.  Scott and I swam off the boat for a bit.  Got to see some dolphins frolicking.  A nor-easter blew in around mid afternoon. The winds came up like crazy and a bit of rain but it passed very quickly.  A beautiful sunset this evening so tomorrow promises to be a lovely day.  We had Kendall and Dianne over for cocktails and another couple dropped by for a drink.  Pleasant evening.   Tina - I told Scott not to throw away that stick -- you know what I mean - wink wink.   We plan on going to the reef on Thursday and are looking forward to Joy and Jimmy arriving on Friday.  Tomorrow will be a few groceries and a load of laundry.  Vacation or not clothes just keep getting dirty!!  Scott enjoyed a barbeque at the marina on Saturday and the Barnacles hosted the bbq with Country Kendall playing a set.  Scott had a few people back for cocktails later.  He is such a social butterfly!!   Large crowd.  Take care and will keep in touch.

CAROL'S BACK!!!

Hi all,  I made it!  My flight to Toronto was uneventful.  But only had one hour to catch my flight to Miami.  Still in line at Customs behind about 100 people with 5 minutes to my flight.  Let me tell you I had a sweat goin' on!!  But , they held the flight and I made it to Miami only one hour late.   Scott was there waiting and it was soooo good to see him.  The drive back to Marathon was 3 hours but I loved it.   It was good to see Esperanza again. We had a great day and look forward to an even greater night (wink wink).  I  am so glad to be here and know we will enjoy a w0nderful week together.  Give my best to Chico (I miss my buddy so much),  Will stay in touch.  Looking forward to spending time with Jimmy and Joy this coming weekend.  love Carol and Scott