Thursday, April 5, 2018

The Admiral has Passed


Lily, our beloved 16 year old Springer Spaniel, and our trawler Moondance’s Admiral has passed on…The worse part of making this final decision is that physically she still looked so good…  (Until you watched her take more than one try to stand up…or her constant panting after the smallest bit of exertion or for no reason, or her accidents as her kidneys weakened???) 
Our hearts are so broken…We won’t get another dog for now; if at all. She was my eighth dog in my lifetime. Losing them just doesn’t get any easier…So many of you know what I’m saying…they truly become a part of your family and your life…
As you have probably heard before, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then I don’t want to go there.” 


Here’s our photo tribute to Lily…

Napping with Dad, a favorite past time

Hanging out with Houdini

Getting a Ride to Shore for a Potty Break

Hanging with Davy Crockett

Even while on the boat, we had to find time to play

During rough weather we found the Salon floor to be the best!

Helping mom with the locks

She was always up for a party, more love!

She wasn't crazy about the dingy though

She did love new places and people

If she found good grass for laying down, she did.

Where we were, she was...

Fan Hog for sure!

She loved a road trip when she could sit on mom's lap


She tolerated the raincoat

She was such a beggar...

Where did everyone go?

A selfie with mom

I'd like to think she is already watching over us...


Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Naples Sailing and Yacht Club

May 30, 2017

On Memorial Day we returned to Everglades City with little elements to contend with except the heat and bugs. Mom turned on the Genset/AC in the salon as we turned into Indian Pass; so it would be cooler for me and them when we got to the Rod and Gun Club. When we docked this time dad decided to turn the boat into the current and some nice man came out to help us.  The bugs started their attack as soon as we arrived, so we were really happy that we had closed everything up!

We no sooner hooked up to our electric and WIFI, and mom and I paid our bill, than the WIFI went down??? What the heck? Mom found someone to talk to and they claimed that since the building was so old, they left nothing on when they leave each day??? Really??? What about their refrigerators and such??? Oh Well! M & D were able to call Sara and Mickey who were meeting them for dinner tonight. They got cleaned up & fed me before taking off to the World Famous Oyster House in Everglades City, FL Another really??? No leftovers for me to try, but they said the food was good.

See here is the Sign...it can't be wrong?!
Evidently, it's part of Miller's World?
They are definitely into their hunting and taxidermy down here
Obviously, they believe in More is More when decorating!!!
May 31, 2017

Mom decided to try something different this AM, she put on the Genset so we could run the AC in the main salon when we left. Everglades City has such a big bug problem because they can only spray from a truck; not by plane or helicopter. It's located so far into the Everglades National Park that it's against the law here. I personally was all for this change. She made us egg, bacon & cheese sandwiches for breakfast which means I got my own breakfast and an egg in addition! YIPPEE!

Thankfully, it was another calm, clear, but hot day with little breeze at first...A darling, tiny male Goldfinch hopped on for a bit of a ride...We were about three miles off of Marco trying to avoid all the shoal fingers coming out from the coast there. Watched parasailers off the coast and kept a sharp lookout for fishing boats.
Parasailing off Marco Island
We were grateful for the overcast day since it was hot enough as it was
Just about the time we entered Robert's Bay to head into the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club, https://www.thensyc.com the wind picked up with a vengeance...While we are traveling the winds don't bother us that much, but when we try to dock, we become one big sail. Amanda, our dockmaster was extremely experienced at getting us in safely, but it was still a challenge! It took M & D plus Amanda, getting lines across and muscling us in against the winds. Whew!!! What a challenge! Once again, Mom had turned on the Genset, plus AC; so I was able to enjoy the ride from the comfort of the salon.
Coming in Robert's Bay


Spotted this Bald Eagle along the way...look at the dead tree in the middle


Some of the tiny homes along here? Not so sure I'd be that fond of pink but it is Florida

Check out some of these fancy homes, not to mention the yachts...Our 43' boat looks like the servant's quarters. How the other half live...Sara and I were talking about that when we were at Marco Island


This yellow cottage? was more to my liking
Mom got me off as quick as she could. The grass here was so luxurious I was thrilled!!! Mom and I went to Amanda's office and it was so cool!!! I was happy mom stayed to talk to Amanda for awhile since it was so hot outside. Turns out Amanda and her hubby are both boat captains and used to work as Captains on a 90' yacht..WOW! When mom and I got back to the boat, dad was finishing up top and we were all so hot and tired, we took a nap before M & D cleaned up for dinner.
Of course they fed me before leaving for their fancy dinner here!

The entrance to the Club


Entrance Hall
Our dinner view back out to Robert's Bay with the Naples Yacht Club on the right

Inside bar and more informal dining room
Our personal Caprese appetizer
Love that most of the Yacht Clubs try to display your Yacht Club's Flag at your table
I'm a sucker for beautiful presentation & taste...I forgot to take photos of our entrees. WOW!
One of the rare times we had dessert, Peanut Butter Crunch Mousse! Delightful!!!
Moondance is in the middle, left here. 
Our sunset tonight 

What was really crazy is M & D ate their meal by themselves until one other couple came in...talking about people going North! WOW! They really enjoyed talking to their Dominican Republic/American bartender/waiter William. Very interesting immigrant who has made sure his own children have gone to college. Definitely a theme M & D have noticed along their travels.

As you can see, Lily the Admiral is doing well

Mom and dad had a wonderful surprise when they returned from a Yacht Club lunch, Debbie Murph Cisle from Hamilton, OH (now Naples, FL residents) stopped in to see us and Moondance.) What a treat!!! We are all going various directions this summer but hopefully, we can catch up with them this fall if not sooner...
Murph and Debbie Cisle
Their photo of us on Moondance
Came back from walking Lily and saw this sight...there was no other end? 
Our view of the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club as night falls ..."Day is Done,..."
Here's the rainbow from Moondance's bow...Simply stunning...
We plan to leave here early tomorrow, since we have about 65 nautical miles to return to Burnt Store Marina. M & D enjoyed reading and relaxing after the Cisle's left and I loved having them close by.

It's been a wonderful cruise and once again we are thankful for all that we have enjoyed! The new and old places we visited. The new friends we have made and our other friends who made time for us more than once. It's good to be part of the Moondance Crew!










Sunday, May 28, 2017

Faro, Faro Blanco Resort, Marathon, FL

May 27 & 28, 2017

I'm so thankful to report that the winds and weather have settled down and if all goes as forecast, we should continue to have a smooth, uneventful trip back to Burnt Store. Yesterday, we had a lovely, calm, clear; but hot day coming back up here from Key West. As soon as we crossed through Seven Mile Bridge, the water was so clear that we could easily see down to the bottom. I pointed out to M & D all the flying fish. It was crazy how many we saw skimming across the top of the water! Mom googled it and supposedly they are trying to escape prey.

Mom was also checking out the history of Standard Oil's founder Henry Flager's Overseas Railroad down to Trumbo Point, Key West.  It was started in 1905 and finished in 1912. Three hurricanes  threatened the project before it's completion and at one point over 4, 000 men worked on it. The final cost of building it was 50 million. Since it was completed around the same time as the Panama Canal, it was considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Railroad financially struggled and the Category 5, Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 (considered the "Storm of the Century") wiped out 40 miles around Long Key and killed over 400 people. Already bankrupt, they sold the remains of it to the State of Florida which used much of the infrastructure to construct Route 1 or the Overseas Highway.
Here's one website about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Railroad

One of our last sites before leaving Key West Bight Harbor. They were being so noisy even I could hear them!!!
Taken from the pool looking back out to the Gulf.

Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club http://www.faroblancoresort.com/restaurant took over 6 years to rebuild after it had set abandoned for a number of years. It's quite a lovely place now and they have magnificent grass, so I was especially pleased after Key West! M & D fed me and went to dinner here early. They found out through Tony & Nancy and also Phil & Lynne, the Lighthouse Grill does a Happy Hour special from 5-6:30 PM and all entrees are $19.95 no matter what they are listed on the menu. WOW!!! 
Mom and dad loved their meals bringing me nothing back...until tonight when mom came back with tuna and sesame noodles...It smelled divine!!! After lunch mom told me that they had the best Cuban sandwich that they had ever had...even better than the Columbia Restaurant. That's saying something!!!
You can just see Moondance in the background if you look over the women's right shoulder 
Mike, our lunch bartender was nice enough to turn on the Indy 500. Soon after we witnessed Scott Dixon's wreck. Oh My Gosh!!! Amazing that he walked away from that!!! 
When Mike wasn't hanging at the bar watching the 500, he was sitting in the pool keeping cool
Mom and Dad took me for an after dinner walk around the marina and look at the size of these lobsters! It's not lobster season so these guys are safe for now... 
One of mom's more unusual selfies...LOL! Look carefully... 
The beach next to us that we could have used
The sunsets both nights didn't disappoint either...