Stuart Great Trip

We had a great trip up the river arriving in Clewiston at 7pm. Ruth steered the last hour in the dark. she was a little nervous at first but got the hang of it. Stayed at Rolands Marina and headed across the lake in the morning ariving Stuart 4pm. Could not get a ball so had to anchor out for two nights even with the high winds only draged the anchor once and had it reset before dark.
Stuart is a nice the downtown is within my walking distance but major shopping Walmart, Publex is a distance and taxi service here is hard to get.

Two Days on the Water

Yes we have completed two days, weather has been great and seas calm. We are anchored outside the Westen hotel in Glover Bight and will be heading up the river to Clewiston in the morning. Well I lied the boat worked great but the injector pump that i had repaired the last two years has started leaking again. That will be another $1000.00 bill when we stop. But the sun is out and warm. Ruth walked the beach yesterday collecting shells and played with a dolphin for 20 minets this afternoon. Up and out early in the morning. The boat has been rebuilted repainted and spit and polished lets hope for a good year. so you want to be a live aboard watching the sunset tonight I still say yes

Back in Florida Nov. 2013

Well its been three weeks,and I am sorry for not keeping the blog updated but this is the first time that I have had a minute to write. Ruth and I have been very busy trying to get Esperanza ready for the season.
Lets just say that the boat will be plugged in next year, the mold was everywhere - it took Ruth two weeks of cleaning, while I was sanding and painting the bottom.
After two week of cleaning we launched the boat only to have a seazed alternator, we did find one the same day and replaced it and were under way to Riverside Dr. {Jims property} where we are still doing repairs and renovations. Well the aft head finally quit for good and a new one ordered, while waiting for the Aft toilet the forward head decided to quit as well so I took it out and rebuilt it again. So, the last two days have been shitty to say the least. The painting of the deck is proceeding well and looking great. We hope to be underway by Friday. Heading to the east coast where we will to meet Ruth's son and his girlfriend on Dec 18th. They will be joining us for Christmas!

Back in South Gulf Cove

We arrived back in SGC 10 days ago. After a nice trip across central Florida.
It takes as long closing the boat as it does launching the boat in the fall.
We decided to haul the boat this year. The bottom was not as bad as I expected but I still would like to have it totally redone next fall and have the suffing box repacked before relaunch.
We been having a great time with Rae, and Jim ( my cousins } Their hospitally is just great!! We've enjoyed meals out with friends and at one restaurant Ruth was thrilled to see Alligators in the pond off the deck!!

Back in Stuart

Yes we made it back to the Town of Stuart on Wed.evening  Where Ruth's adventures all started. She has learned alot about boating over the time she has been on board. Donald and Susan arrived last night and we spent a great evening together talking about the Bahamas and Esperanza adventures or should I say the lack of adventures, other than repairs and our cruise down the ICW and thru the Keys.
I ended up trading my two spare outboards to Kendel for labour on the boat and wouldn't you know it, the mercury started giving me problems this morning. We are tring to cut new gaskets for the carburator. So my four days of everthing running great has ended. I must say that the new dingy worked wonderfully.
Leaving here tomorrow to cruise across Lake Okeechobee. Ruth is looking forward to seeing Gators - lol!
Cheers!

                                          Dolphins riding our wake on way into Miami

                                         Going from tranquility of Keys waterways to......

...seeing the huge city of Miami looming before us!!!

On the move again

Yes belive it or not Esperanza in on the move again. She seems to be working better then ever. Running cooler and faster easy 8 kts at 2000 rpm. We drove her hard the last two days arriving Bota Raton this evening a long two days from Marathon. The generator is running better then ever with the new mixing valve and Kendel's reworking the coolant side. Had to perchase a new tender the day before we left Marathon because while taking of the motor off, prepairing to leave the dingy must have come in contact with the deadly mussels on one of the pilings and cut another hole in her. no time to fix {and she had enough glue for two space shuttles already} so we decided to get a new one. It has not been in the water yet but looking forward to trying her out when we meet Donald and Susan tomorrow..

Esperanza won't give up

After all the recent repairs to the exhaust systems, both the engine and generator, she still will not release us from Marathon . Kendell repaired the drive shaft but discovered a fuel leak in the injector ( yes again) So we are hoping to have that problem fixed by monday, chris the diver will be here tomorrow and hope that goes well, in the mean time ruth and I are enjoying each other and our time together. Ruth rescued a carrier pigeon tonight that flue into our window and ruth decided that it would be a great adder to our chicken soup so she showed me how to clean it and placed into the soup.
Oh...he's in trouble and such a lier!!!! I made a lovely Homemade "Chicken" Soup to help Scott with his cold and as we were sharing the soup with our friends, a Carrier/ Homing Pigeon flew into their glass patio door. After rescuing it first from ferocious Taz, the Chiwawa, it went under the house. I called the Bird Rescue Society and a girl came and got it - from the tag on it's leg she could tell it came from Cuba and was 2 years old! It was tired and very thin. Rest assured I did NOT add it to the soup!!!!!
Despite problems still trying to keep a smile on our faces.
So you want to be a live aboard?
Yes we do!

 After not catching the crane and still needing meat for her chicken soup Ruth looked elsewere.....

                                                      How about an Iguana? Ha ha ha!

Fabrication of parts

                                      New Mixing valve and flex pipe made by Kendell

new mixing valve for generator made by kendell

                                         trip to Key West with Lane and Tina

                                        Lane and Tina's last day at beach

                               A Good day for all

Esperanza Troubles

We are still in Marathon, and repairs are almost completed - we are calling Esperanza the Bionic Boat - we can rebuild her!! After the Muffler issue it led to the replacement of the complete exhaust - from the Turbo Charger and including the Mixing Valve. Our friend Kendall who is a mechanic has been a great help and fabricated many of the needed parts - we will add pictures next time after we download them. Just taking advantage of a friend's internet as we don't get internet very often. Life as "live aboards". Next project is a new valve for the generator which is leaking and has mutinied along with the Muffler!!!

Meanwhile we are enjoying each other and a visit from Tina & Lane from home. We took in the local Sea Festival, and took the bus down to Key West with them for St. Paddy's Day - a good time was had by all. Despite not being able to go far on Esperana we had a successful "Sea Trial" yesterday. Ruth is still enjoying the Manatees, her Kayak, and of course the beautiful sunsets. Life is good!

New Problems

Well it took 2 days but I finally got the toilet fixed but, the vent in the holding tank is still clogged, I have to wait for Kendel to come over - we need one on the out side and one inside to get the through hull fitting. Ruth is not allowed to clean anymore as she always finds something wrong - she noticed rusty water coming out of the muffler under the bed. As this could be a potential dangerous leak - as in we don't want a water bed!!! we have to get that fixed as well. .... There is a boat in the Harbour called "Always Something" - we are beginning to think we should be called "Always Something Too!".

We are anxiously awaiting Tina & Lane's arrival on Monday and after Sea Fest next weekend, we will be heading South to Key West!!

Meanwhile we have enjoyed seeing 4 Dolphins playing near the boat, Pelicans soaring overhead, the company of good friends, lovely meals, sunshine when we have it, and being snug and warm on board when the weather recently dropped to 62 degrees and winds and rain prevailed. Ruth found it quite interesting last night when we could hear the shrimp eating the barnicles, etc. off the bottom of the boat!!! Such an interesting life....it's all good!!

Working on front head - again!!

Friendly Dolphins!

Marathon -Boot Key

Finally over to City Marina to use their internet - sorry to take so long. Ruth is back in Marathon and we are having a great time! Esperanza is working good, except for a few problems with holding tank - all fixed now. We took some friends out to the reef by Sombrero lighthouse to do some reef fishing. Diane was amazing pulling in one fish after another, Gord from Ontario was close second and Ruth caught a few. It was a bit rough that day so some people weren't moving around the boat so well - no names mentioned to protect the innocent.

Yesterday, Kendall cleaned and filleted our catch - some Corgis, and Ruth even tried her hand at doing one - ick! The Pelicans were hanging around, including sitting right on the dingy, enjoying the fish scraps! After an afternoon of Ruth Kayaking with the girls, and very sore shoulder muscles (what a work out!), we enjoyed a fish fry with the gang from Canada and our local friends Kendall & Diane hosted. We had tons of food besides our catch including shrimp, frog legs, and fresh pineapple. Enjoyed by all!

Today we are catching up on laundry, housekeeping and anxiously awaiting a visit tomorrow from Scott's parents: Bess & Doug and his cousins Ray & Jim. We'll head back over this afternoon to Kendall & Diane's for a Daytona 500 party - should be more fun again. We are so lucky to be here!!! The weather is amazing and the water temps warming up - Ruth swam from the boat across the canal to Kendall & Diane's place on land yesterday morning. Awesome! Some pics attached for your viewing pleasure (See I'm back!!)

Cheers!

Blue, blue waters

We are on our way down the Keys and enjoying each day, taking our time exploring every Key. We've gone from Pumpkin Key to Jewfish Creek, then to Tarpon Basin (Key Largo), and tonight in Matecumbe Bight. Meeting some wonderful people: Johnson, a 9 year old live aboard in Tarpon Basin, came over with a picture of Esperanza that he drew for us; and a Morings charter boat with a Journalist and a Photographer from France writing an article on the Keys ( they needed some help} came to visit. They came over to Esperanza with a bottle of French Red Wine and we had a great visit! In the morning they asked to take pics of Esperanza - they do an annual article on Trawlers so who knows, the old girl may be in a French sailing magazine.
Ruth is captivated by the beautiful blue waters as they change from a dark blue to aqua. The dolphins have been entertaining us each night at Jewfish Creek and Tarpon Basin - exquisite creatures. And Ruth got her first fishing lesson and caught a Jack fish - she was very upset it had a name and refuses to clean fish but ate it with pleasure!! We should be in Marathon tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures of our journey. :)

Scott & Ruth enjoying $1.00 Draft at happy hour at "Steamers"- Jewfish Creek

Local live aboard in Jewfish Creek - after awhile you become mummified!!! LOL

Jewfish  Creek hotel - space is limited in the Keys - lol - looks like highway goes thru hotel.

Mooring Power Cat - French Journalist & Photographer at Jewfish Creek.

After breakfast at Gilbert's - Jewfish Creek - Scott lending support to one of the locals. :)

Tarpon Basin - nope - not Ruth's catch - lol - see next picture.

Ruth's first catch - a Crevalle Jack

Sunset at Tarpon Basin - Key Largo - at 3 o'clock see the Dolphins putting on show!

Blue, blue waters of Florida Bay

Miami to the keys

Had a good trip down from Miami. Wind out of the North again { its been that way since the first on December} anchored behind Pumpkin Key for the night and continued on to Jewfish Creek today. Just a short trip but we were exploring along the way. Dingy over to Steamers happy hour 1.00 a beer so stayed awhile and Ruth got to see her first Manatee and rubbed its nose. then over to the second bar Gilberts but the prices were more there 2.25 per beer. So, Steamers it is next time. Plan on going there for Breakfast for $3.25!