Kayaking

Hello again after a month of getting Ivory Lady ship shape and personalized. A lot of time that could have been spent blogging was devoted to doing our tax returns - UGH!

Good weather has finally reached the Keys and we decided to launch the kayaks on their maiden voyage. These are Hobie Mirage sport boats with pedal drive units, rudders and lots of accessories for fishing and sailing. We're still thinking about the sails.

After wrestling them into the water, getting the parts and pieces assembled and gracefully climbing aboard, we were off to test their seaworthiness. The Gulf was a little choppy, but these boats cut right through it. Pedalling and paddling at the same time yielded plenty of speed and a great cardio workout. We only had time to travel about 2 miles, but what fun.

The next adventure with these babies will be flyfishing for bonefish. In the mean time, we plan to take them north with us to the Carolinas and enjoy them in the mountain lakes around our cabin.

Blessing of the fleet

Today, after a spectacular brunch at the Marathon Yacht Club, we enjoyed the annual "Blessing of the Fleet" ceremony. A local minister walked the docks and blessed each boat for the season. We were "Dressed" for the occasion. For Ivory Lady, that means full flags displayed. Perhaps the blessing will keep us safe and trouble free for this next year.

Of course, it's not going perfectly all the time. We discovered that the clothes washer is dumping lots of water into the carpet and storage lockers under the galley floor. Time to invoke our Mainship warranty! We can't seem to find access to the back of the washer and dryer. Hope it's not a skill saw job!

Otherwise, the weather finally is beginning to feel like the Keys. We're looking forward to some cruises with the boating group here at the club. We've met several of them and like them very much. The next cruise is to Key West in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned.

Sunday night and Jann has flown from Key West to go back to work. We arrived in Marathon on Friday after a delightful cruise down from Tavernier Key. Ivory Lady is home for the winter and we couldn't be happier with our slip at the Marathon Yacht Club. Had dinner last night with the commodore and his wife and the immediate past commodore and his wife. The members we've met are all very friendly and welcoming. Another of those nasty cold fronts came through yesterday which started lots of complaining by the locals. I guess we still are oriented toward the weather we left in North Carolina. It didn't seem too bad to us.

Jann's work schedule will limit our cruising for the next month or so, but we have already signed up for a trip with the cruising group from the club to Key West later in March. Meanwhile, I'm outfitting Ivory Lady with the toys we bought at the Miami Boat Show. Lots to do to keep me out of the club bar which is a bit to close to the boat. We'll see how disciplined I can be.

Many friends already have plans to visit us here in the Keys. It's a great place to escape the snow for a time. C'mon down. The conch is wonderful. There's a little fish market and restaurant only a block from the club that serves the best stone crab soup I've ever tried.

Stay tuned. We'll get some pictures of the boat as she gets fully outfitted.

February 22, 2010

The Admiral & I continue south toward the Keys. Today we travelled from Jupiter FL to Ft. Lauderdale. Arrived in time for a visit from good friends. Cocktails aboard and then out to dinner. Our first guests aboard! Lots of slow travel through Palm Beach and North Lauderdale, but made it to Coral Ridge Yacht club by 1545 before the dockmaster went home.

Ivory Lady is behaving very nicely and we're happier by the day that we found her. Even the washer & dryer are first rate.

February 23, 2010

Took delivery this morning of one of our new kayaks that we bought at the Miami boat show. Second unit (Jann's) will be shipped to Marathon. We didn't depart Ft. Lauderdale until about noon, but made it to Coconut Grove and the Coral Reef Yacht Club by 1600. Uneventful day on the water. Lots of money tied up in waterfront property and large yachts along this stretch of intracoastal. Downtown Miami is really impressive from the water, even on a mostly cloudy day.

Walked the Grove and reminisced about 20 years ago when we stayed near here on our first boat "The Golden Dawn". We had good friends who lived in the Grove and also met some new friends who have remained so through the years. Good memories!

Feb 24, 2010

Finally we got to excercise Ivory Lady as we hit the open water of Biscayne Bay headed for Key Largo. She was a dream at 17 knots even with a moderate chop. We dodged thunderstorms and generally had a great day on the water. Arrived in Jewfish Creek, the intracoastal gateway to the keys and are starting to feel like we're home.

Also arrived early enough to give the boat the cleaning she has needed since leaving the boatyard in Stuart. She looks great! Tomorrow, we take the final leg to Marathon and settle into our winter digs at the Marathon Yacht Club.

For more pics of Ivory Lady, check out the slide show at www.yachtpics.com/new_boats/43-117_mainship/index.html .

IVORY LADY'S MAIDEN VOYAGE, PART 1

Feb. 21, 2010

Just took delivery of our new dinghy and lashed her to the transom for our trip from Stuart, FL to Marathon, FL, our winter home.

She's been in the boatyard for about a week getting some bottom paint and her propellers balanced. The last of the minor repairs required before we get underway are complete.

Our first trip will be short; only about 30 miles to Jupiter, FL on a pretty Sunday afternoon. The selling dealer has given us a fine orientation on the boat's systems and we find that she's much less complicate than our last boat, "Passages". However, since she's newer, lots of things are now electronic including the engine controls and guages. The captain is an old dog who likes his mechanical guages. Well, the Captain didn't know how to blog a week ago either.

Stay tuned.