I have been a Giants fan for my entire life.  I grew up with my Dad yelling at the games on TV, and later on Mom becoming a huge fan too.  This is the best!  Way To Go Blue!!!

I promise to go back to regular blogging in a few days, but I'm going to savor this for a while first.

We've settled into our winter routine here in Marathon, and are making some headway on the Endless To-Do List.  We've had great weather - mid 70's and sunny most days, and this week has been up around 80.

More important than our usual talk about projects is the 100th Anniversary of the Florida Overseas Railway which was just last Sunday.  Henry Flagler spent his own money to build bridges to connect the entire chain of islands that make up the Keys - known as "Flagler's Folly".  Lucky for us Mr. Flagler had such amazing vision and resources, otherwise the Keys as we know them today might not exist!

The Overseas Railway was completed in 1912, and was sadly destroyed by an unnamed hurricane in 1935 that wiped out the train trying to carry people to safety from Key West.  After that the train tracks were removed and a roadbed was installed on the concrete bridges.  That roadway served until 1982 when a completely new set of bridges and roadway was completed.  Most of the old bridges are gone now, though some were left as fishing piers.  The old bridges were difficult to remove because the concrete was so tough!  Even 100 years later, the old concrete is in better shape than the new bridges built in the early 80's. 

We arrived safely in Marathon on December 1.  A nice welcome back to the Keys comes in the form of wildlife - lots of it!  There are sanderlings and herons on the dock, ospreys chirping overhead, pelicans, egrets, and cormorants.  My first job was to give the boat a good bath since she hadn't been washed in a long time and she was pretty salty, but this manatee kept coming over to drink the fresh rinse water from my boat washing. 

It has been quite a year for us - lots of ups and downs.  The holidays were difficult (emotionally and logistically), with a long road trip that included stops in Virginia, Maryland and then briefly to NJ to see my brother and wrap up some estate issues.  He's head of the detective bureau in the town where we grew up, and I'm pretty proud of him. 

Thankfully the holidays are now behind us, we're back in our beloved Florida Keys, and now we're working on winter projects and boat maintenance.

We covered a lot of water miles this year, and we had more than our share of car miles too, but we'll focus on just the water miles - they are the best kind.  We left the Keys on March 7 and returned on 1 December, traveling a total of 5215 nautical miles from here all the way to the northern part of Nova Scotia, and then back down the Eastern Seaboard to the Keys.  (A nautical mile is 6760 feet and a statute miles is 5280). 

In that time we bought 4,124 gallons of diesel fuel.

While we're on the topic of statistics, since we retired in the summer of 2007 we've traveled 17,754 nautical miles.  We put an additional 4000-5000 miles on the boat before we retired, before we got the chartplotter system that tracks our miles traveled.  Since we bought ADVENTURES in November of 2002 we've made 11 trips up and down the ICW between Florida and the Chesapeake (or beyond). 

So far, we have lived aboard ADVENTURES full-time for 7 years, which has been wonderful, and we have no desire to live on dirt again!

I apologize for not blogging more often, but our days have been very full.  We were running long days to get to the Keys, our winter home, and we've been busy since we arrived.  Yes, we are now in Marathon after 5214 nautical miles over the last 9 months. 

It's wonderful to be back in our beloved Keys, but the last leg of the journey through south Florida is worthy of a blog entry.  The wind continued to be strong and conditions for ocean travel were not good, so we ran the south Florida segment on the inside (in the ICW). 

From Jupiter down through Miami and Key Biscayne it's striking to see the incredible amount of wealth concentrated in a relatively small area.  I think we found where most of the 1% live, between all the amazing mansions and the huge yachts!  The homes are just breathtaking, and the landscaping is really gorgeous.  The only sad thing is that we rarely saw people out enjoying their property.

We made the run from Lake Worth (N. Palm Beach) to Key Biscayne (below Miami) in one long day.  We have 24 bridges that have to open for us, and most are on a strict schedule.  Jim is a wizard at setting up waypoints so we can pace our travel from one bridge to the next in rapid fashion. 

Although the homes are impressive (like the small mansion in the photo above), the yachts, mega-yachts, and super-yachts are mind-blowing.  We start with some 80-125' yachts in a "small" marina...

Then the 100' yachts dwarfed by the 150-200 footers at Pier 66 Marina...

There is the 280' yacht that makes the 150-200 footers look dinky...

And finally the Uber Super Yacht - this one in lower Miami is 438' long!  Who are these people?

We had a nice little pause in Morehead City, NC and then went back to pushing the miles pretty hard to get south.  Leaving Morehead City we had the only nice day to travel out in the ocean for the southern part of the trip, and it was great to be out in the deep blue for a while!  In Myrtle Beach, SC we ran into Dick and Elle Lassman on SUMMER WIND and had a great evening catching up and laughing until the restaurant closed.  It's these little unexpected treats that makes the trip so much fun.

Jim kept reporting that the weather for outside running was not good, so we decided to aim for the commercial fuel dock in Brunswick, GA to take on another 500 gallons.  They're closed on weekends, so we had a bit of a schedule to get there on a weekday, and then to time the tides to get through several areas with very shallow water.  We saw a lot of these (sunrises) since daylight is short this time of the year!

But the truth is that often the most beautiful light and color is in the short time just before dawn or after sunset, so there is a reward for the long running days and getting up on chilly mornings to pull the anchor in the dark.  As we travel the type of terrain and scenery changes constantly, and each kind is beautiful in its own way.  These SC marshes don't offer much protection from strong winds, but they are vast and they teem with life - birds, alligators, dolphins, even otters. 

Besides all the wildlife, humans also provide some interesting sights along the way - we've seen bright purple houses, giant giraffe statues, mannikins standing on docks... I don't know what this is, but it made us laugh!

We had two days of fog going through Charleston, SC and beyond so the radio was busy with safety calls.  We heard our old Power Squadron friend Ben Fulton on the radio, one bridge behind us, so we had the chance to catch up with him a little. 

Passing just below Savannah, GA is a boat yard that specializes in mega-yacht repairs.  Their basin had about 7 yachts 100' or bigger, and an enormous sailboat that had to be almost 150' long with a mast probably closer to 200' tall.  The wealth along the waterway is impressive many places, but there are also some tiny, scruffy old homes and even some trailer parks sitting on some prime real estate. 

Georgia waters means that we see a lot more shrimp boats, and they like to run with their outriggers almost horizontal even when they're not dragging their nets. I think it helps to stabilize their boats for a better ride, but it makes things a bit more exciting when we're trying to pass them in narrow waters.

We made our schedule to get to the commercial fuel dock and we got lucky with high tide coming at convenient times for us when we really needed deep water. We finally got into Florida waters (yippee!) even though there's still a long way to go to the Keys.  We decided to pause in Palm Coast for a little break, and to see friends.  We were invited to an "orphan's Thanksgiving" dinner with old and new friends, and it was just lovely - our hosts couldn't have been more fun. Plus, it's good to be in FL and wearing SHORT SLEEVES!

We wrapped up our chores and errands in Baltimore and the weather finally settled down so we could continue south, but not until we endured cold temperatures and a rain/snow storm.  At least we were in a marina with plenty of power for heat!  We left early on a dark, chilly morning and watched the sun rise over the busy Port of Baltimore.

It's nice to be in familiar waters - our cruising grounds when we were working and only had weekends to get out on the water - the Bay Bridge and Thomas Point Light are like old, familiar friends.

We stopped in Solomons for a day to visit Ted and Nancy - we had a great time and a lot of laughs!  From there we cruised down to the mouth of the Potomac River to Olverson's Marina (where we paused in the spring) to pick up my Sunfish sailboat.  It was two-fer night at Luna's Italian Restaurant, so we went to dinner with MTOA friends and had another great evening. 

The weather was changing fast, and we had one good day to travel before the winds would howl for a few days, so we decided to leave Olverson's at 0400 for the long trip down to Norfolk & Portsmouth, VA.  We got one of the last spots on the free docks in Portsmouth and settled in to enjoy the town while the wind blew.

We walked all around High Street, visiting the great little gourmet kitchen store to restock our favorite scone mix, and we poked around the little shops and galleries.  We explored the side streets with historic homes decorated for fall, and we went to a movie at the historic Commodore Theater.  In sea boots.  You see, the wind was so strong that it pushed a lot of water into the Elizabeth River and the docks flooded at high tide.  This photo shows water just covering the dock, but it was ankle-deep at the height of the tide cycle.  You could spot all the boaters in town by their tall rubber boots!

It's always so interesting cruising through Norfolk/Portsmouth, with huge Navy and commercial ships moving around, and a flurry of tugboats to help them maneuver through the tight spots.

We stopped for fuel - taking 600+ gallons to fill the boat, which will last us until we get to the northern end of Florida where we'll take on another 500+ gallons.

We've been surprised at the number of boats migrating south - usually most of the snowbirds would be ahead of us this late in the season.  While we were fueling there were 12 boats (from 100' down to 40') waiting for a bridge to open!

Occasionally the waterway stretches are a little boring - just straight canals, with lots of trees and stumps along the sides - stay in the middle and watch for eagles and hawks!  Even the boring parts can be pretty - it's all about one's attitude.

The nights have been cool but the days have been getting warm and nice.  Now we're taking a few days to pause in Morehead City, NC to do some chores, get mail, and see friends.

We had one last surprise before we left Staten Island, NY.  There is a group of Italian gondoliers who have come to the U.S. each of the last few years to commemorate the 9/11 tragedy in some way.  They ship a 43 year old wooden gondola over from Italy, and last year they rowed it some distance up the Hudson River.  This year they shipped the 1100 lb. gondola to NY again and took several days to row the 36 miles around Staten Island for their tribute.  Even more amazing is that these 5 gondoliers are 70 years old!

We happened to be going ashore just as they entered Great Kills Harbor with a FDNY Fire Boat shooting water cannons as an escort - the pace and vigor of the gondoliers was really impressive. 

Despite waiting for improved weather we still had a lumpy ride down the NJ coast to a very pretty anchorage in Atlantic City.  It's just across Absecon Inlet from AC, a marshy area with lots of wading birds.  Nature on our doorstep and the bright lights of Sin City reflecting on the water...

We had a favorable current to run through Cape May, up the Delaware River, and through the Chesapeake & Delaware (C&D) Canal into the north end of the Chesapeake all in one long shot, so we made a 16 hour run.  There was still a bit of floating debris in the water from all the heavy rain so we had to keep a careful watch, especially when it got dark.  It was a fine ride and we managed to avoid any hazards, anchoring in the Sassafras River around 11pm.  The weekend was starting and we wanted to avoid all the heavier recreational boat traffic so we slept late and then headed up the Chester River to hide out for a few quiet days after the long run from NY.

We've seen so many beautiful places and the scenery has changed so much in the many miles we've traveled on this cruise.  Since we used to live on or near the Chesapeake for so many years it's easy to forget how beautiful the Bay is.  The rolling hills, forests, and farm land on the Eastern Shore are very pretty, and we were sorry we couldn't spend more time exploring new places and visiting familiar favorite spots. 

The only thing spoiling the quiet was the constant honking of huge flocks of Canada Geese.  Ah yes, the sound of Fall in the Bay!

We had to stop in Baltimore for some annual doctor visits, and we were able to see Jim's brother Richard and his wife Carol (pictured below)...

as well as his sister Margaret and her husband Rene. 

The temperatures are falling fast and we are heading south to warmer places!

We had such a great visit to the NYC area.  We spent a lovely day with my brother, his wife, and their dogs, and we took some time to play tourist in the City and see some friends. 

Even though I grew up across the river from NYC, I had never been to the top of the Empire State Building... it was one of those things I always wanted to do.  We didn't care that the cost was silly and the lines are usually horribly long - we were going!  We ended up getting there later in the day than we intended, but who would have guessed that the line would be very short and painless at 7pm on a Friday night?  The views were magical...

Another day we met up with friends who showed us the High Line park/walking path on an old elevated railroad - it's very artsy and interesting with lots of natural landscaping.  And it was great to see Roger and John and finally go into the City together.

We had some foggy mornings as we headed west through Long Island Sound.  The fog was usually patchy, and with no wind in the early morning it was nearly impossible to distinguish any horizon.  It was very pretty, and we could see just fine with radar so it wasn't a problem.  The photo shows a small red buoy and a small fishing boat.

We stopped in Port Jefferson - a very active harbor with some big ferries that run between Port Jeff and Bridgeport, CT.  The gal who ran the mooring launch was very friendly and helpful, and we found the town to be welcoming and really nice.  The best thing about this area is that you can find great ethnic restaurants all over the place, so we had a nice Mediterranean lunch.  And of course Jim found a bakery for some treats - this one was right across from the harbormaster's office and was so well-stocked that Jim was paralyzed by indecision!

Traveling on the Sound we had a hitchhiker - a little bird came and hung out with me on the flying bridge for two days in a row.  I don't know if it was the same bird both days, but it was the same type of bird - a northern parula warbler.  He sat on the wheel and around the nav computer, over by the kayaks, and a few other spots.  He was happy to eat some little flying bugs, and he chirped and was generally just cute.  A big tugboat pushing a barge passed us going the other way and he decided to switch rides.

We stopped at the Harlem YC to catch up on some chores, and we went ashore for some nice long walks since we had a little time before heading to Staten Island to visit my brother over the weekend.  From there we timed the tide and cruised down the East River, through Hell Gate at slack water, and along Manhattan into NY Harbor.  It wasn't a pretty day - overcast and cool, but it's still a thrill to see so much going on in one place.  The city bustles with cars and people, airplanes land at three major airports, the waterways are criss-crossed by fast ferries - big and small, tugs push barges, pleasure boats cruise along, and big ships lumber up and down. 

It always makes us feel small and insignificant as we cruise in our floating home through the midst of all this organized chaos!
As we were heading through the Verrazano Narrows a small squall hit, bringing some rain and a little wind.  Another larger squall was coming in and we were glad to have the current with us to help us get to the harbor in Staten Island before the bigger one hit. 

We were nicely secured on our mooring in plenty of time, but DeFever friends Ted and Nancy were a bit behind us coming in and they had to moor in the rain.  It was good to see them though, and we all headed ashore for a nice Italian dinner and some time to catch up.

We arrived in New Bedford, Mass. after a long, lumpy run down Cape Cod Bay into Buzzard's Bay.  New Bedford is a huge commercial fishing port, but it also played a significant part in the history of the whaling industry - ending in the early 1920's.  The Whaling Museum there is incredible - very comprehensive and very well done.

I thought the giant squid at the front entrance was a pretty neat touch... Jim and Jason don't look sufficiently intimidated, though.

Just as we saw lots of dories in use in Nova Scotia and down through Gloucester, we now see people rowing whale boats here and down through Mystic.  I think it's neat that people get exercise by celebrating their local history.

Our next stop was Newport, RI - though we only stayed one night because the weather would be deteriorating.  We wanted to give Newport another chance, but once again we found it to be a bit pretentious and overpriced.  It's a high-end serious sailing town, though wooden boat building is still taught in the area.

This is the kind of elegant traditional sailboat that makes my knees turn to jelly...

...and as we left early in the morning we passed by Cunard's elegant Queen Elizabeth on her way into Newport.

We had an easy cruise into Connecticut waters to one of my favorite places - Mystic Seaport.  We tied up at the Seaport dock and spent a few days enjoying the many exhibits and demonstrations.  It really takes a lot of time to see it all, and we had a blast.  We particularly loved the live music - sea shanties and traditional tunes.

The Seaport is very active - with a large youth sailing program as well as boats that you can take out and row or sail.  We went for a spin in a Crosby catboat - similar to what Jim wants to build for us to use in the Keys sometime.

Sadly, Jason had to head home Saturday, but we all had a great time together.

It's so special to be docked right in the Seaport - and it's a wonderful treat since I have great memories of Mystic Seaport from my childhood, and Jim and I have great memories from our visits as "big kids".