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!

Still in Florida

Yes, we are still in Florida, sorry to not write sooner but could not get a good internet connection for about a week! We left Fort Lauderdale last Sat. for Lake Worth to meet up with Ron and Jan who are travelling on a friends boat. Of course they had boat problems and did not arrive until wed. Thursday morning looked good to cross to Bahamas, but had a big front coming in late in the afternoon. We decided it was too narrow of a window and did not attempt it.
With the forecast bad for the next 7 days I decided to take Ruth for a little tour of the Keys. We had a great trip back down the ICW and are now in Miami just returning from a day at South Beach. Leaving for the Keys in the morning. Miami, according to Ruth, is just too huge and a very busy city as we found out moving with the crowds this lovely Sunday afternoon on the way to the Beach. Too dangerous too....that is shopping wise what with all the stores!!!! :)
Had a bad leak in the stuffing box but think I got if fixed. Had Ruth convinced the boat was going to sink last night - lol - I slept like a rock while she stayed awake and listened to the drip for awhile until it put her to sleep. (Such a cruel Captain!!!!)
Well it is happy hour here now and we are just waiting for Ron & Jan and their friends on the Costelle to arrive! Will attach a few pics from our Lake Worth visit - spent the day on Peanut Island - lovely beach and Ruth enjoyed beach combing and collecting shells. Lake Worth is big with lots of anchorage. Had rain storms a couple nights. Sunny days are much nicer!
Will have limited internet in Keys so till next time....gotta love livin aboard!! :)

Anchoring in Lake Worth.

Approaching Peanut Island

Shell collection drying on the Dingy

View of the Beach from Beach Towel

Rain clouds approaching at night on Lake Worth.