When I was in the planning stages of putting together our book, Women On Board Cruising, an acquaintance introduced me via email to Pat Erhman, a long-distance cruiser, along with her husband Rick on their boat, Sea Gator. I was so happy for the introduction because Pat and I corresponded…

When leaving Key West by water, heading east to Marathon, there are two Intracoastal Waterways (ICW) route choices. There is the un-obstructed, direct route of Hawk Channel which runs parallel to the Keys and cuts into Florida Bay at Marathon. Hawk Channel is somewhat protected from the coral reefs that…

Time to move on, but we were a little sad to leave Key West Harbour and Stock Island. It was a great month, we met a lot of neat people, met up with some friends we hadn’t seen in awhile and had good weather. What more could anyone ask for?…

One last walk around Key West before we start heading north up the Keys, through Florida and finally home to Michigan. Key West is a visual delight… We met Anne and Hank, Queen Anne’s Revenge, on our second Great Loop boat trip. We were happy to see them again and…

We can’t say enough good things about Key West Harbour, on Stock Island. Our second stay here, for the month of March, was ideal. Great slip right by the tiki hut on the outer rim, open air showers under the hut and a spot to enjoy happy hour under the…

Just for you Rob! We left Key West Harbour early in the morning – with calmer waters and clear skies forecasted, we thought it was time for a little excursion to the Marquesas Keys. The Marquesas sit 18 nautical miles west of Key West and are uninhabited. Our thoughts were that it…

On this particular day we had had a huge lunch a our favorite Cuban restaurant, El Caney, on Stock Island, later that afternoon, we drove to downtown Key West to take a long walk and watch the sunset. We really weren’t hungry for a dinner, but we thought maybe we’d…

Not only did the fishermen “bring home the shrimp,” but we also brought it home, to the boat that is. Freshly caught shrimp for dinner tonight, what could be nicer? Fresh seafood all within a mile of the marina. Fishbusterz usually has a full array of fish and shellfish available….

We’re all dock mates from our long-time homeport of Charlevoix, Michigan (the only people missing is our dear harbormaster, Hal and his wife Mary Ann). Although we have not been back to Charlevoix by boat for many years the friendships have endured. Our first get-together this winter was hosted by…

One of our favorite haunts this winter was the Stock Island Lobster Co., just a short walk from our marina. Unfortunately the whole month of March was very windy and the boats did not get out to get their catch like they, and we, would have liked. Some days they…

Not only does it boast a colorful, tropical splendor but Key West is a little unconventional with its kooky signs and unusual, creatively painted or put together, bikes and vehicles. Here is something new we saw in Key West this year. Not sure what to call it but doesn’t it…

Ever since we arrived for our month-long stay, it’s been very windy and this has inhibited our plans to explore the surrounding area of Key West by boat; we were getting itchy to push away from the dock. We’re usually not interested in taking random boat rides, so when we…

We met up with our friend Rick at A & B Marina, in Key West and a few days later we inducted him into the Turtle club.      

During our walk to the fish market ,on Stock Island this morning, we watched a shrimp boat unloading its fresh catch. From the looks of it they made a good haul.

Our first walk in Key West produced these beautiful tropical flowers (they had fallen below the tree just as you see them here). Apparently they are from a Pink Bombax, Shaving-Brush Tree, this deciduous tree is native to tropical Mexico. The tree is mostly leafless this time of year, better to see…

After three grueling days in the boat yard, we arrived at our most southern destination for our winter 2012 boating season, Key West; well, Stock Island actually, one island up from KW. We’ll be docked for a month at Key West Harbour. Stock Island is close enough to Key West…

I am truly in the swing of things on day two in the boat yard. The good news is the On & Off product helped de-wax the hull, one of the steps needed to properly prepare the hull for bottom paint. Next, and it was probably overkill, I applied acetone…

After the AGLCA Sunset Celebration came to a close, Cheryll (above-left) and Jess (above-right) and I decided we still had plenty of evening left to play a few games of Mah Jongg in the boater’s lounge while the guys watched TV. I always carry a miniature game on board in…

The 2012, Third Annual Looper “Sunset Celebration” was a huge success with over 120 in attendance. It was a little windy (not a problem for Loopers) – lots of good food was shared along with a chance to reacquaint ourselves with old friends. Thanks Patricia & George Hospodar for organizing the…

Just a few days before our week-long visit at the Harbour Cay Club in Marathon came to an end, Mike and Jess (below-middle), on Illusions (shown above) and Rich and Cheryll (below-right), on Roam (both couples own Ranger Tugs) joined us and before we knew it, we were having a mini Ranger Tug…