CRUISING Archives — Page 16 of 20 — Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada

United States’ Most Southern Destination, Key West, Florida

After three grueling days camping out on Kismet in the boatyard, putting bottom paint on, we arrived at our most southern destination for our winter 2012 boating season, Key West – Stock Island actually, one island up from Key West. We'll be docked for a month at Key West Harbour. Stock Island is close enough to Key West to have fun in the popular tourist town when desired and far enough away to enjoy a relaxed marina setting with beach and pool amenities. This year we procured a slip in the outer basin which is lined with mangroves. We are nestled into…

Boat Yard Blues – Part Two

February 29, 2012
Jim Favors
•KISMET UPGRADES, •TRAWLER RESEARCH, FLORIDA, Florida Keys

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, I applied acetone to the hull to assure that all wax, from when the hull came out of the mold, was completely gone. After a good washing, I taped the hull off an inch below the boot stripe then applied a very light 220 grit scuffing followed by a final washing in preparation for the painting, which I…

Mah Jongg Crazy

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 hopes of bumping into someone who'd like to play or learn to play. It's a crazy game with lots of weird procedures and rules but once you get the hang of it, it's a fun game to play. I had taught Jess to play during the Ranger Tug…

2012 Third Annual Looper “Sunset Celebration”

February 26, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA, Florida Keys, REN-AGLCA–Great Loop, RENDEZVOUS

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 event and providing Loopers in the area with an opportunity for this fun reunion.

Tug Nuts Reunite in Marathon

February 25, 2012
Lisa Favors
•POCKET TRAWLER MEETS, CRUISING, FLORIDA, Florida Keys

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 Rendezvous in Marathon. We had all recently met in Fort Myers Beach during the First Annual Ranger Tug Southern Rendezvous. We communicated often as we were traveling different routes down to the Keys with the hope a get-together would be possible – at least for a few days. As luck would…

Bridge Walk – Seven-Mile Bridge

We got up early this morning to do a four-mile walk on the Seven-Mile Bridge, two miles out and two back. It's a fun walk, we almost always see some aquatic life in the water below while walking. Today we saw several stingrays. The Seven-Mile Bridge is a famous bridge in the Florida Keys. It connects Knight's Key (part of the city of Marathon, Florida) in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. Among the longest bridges in existence when it was built, it is one of the many bridges on US 1 in the Keys,…

Happy Hour Special – Stone Crabs at Keys Fisheries

Amazing as it seems, Jim and I have never tried stone crab claws, so, off we go for the well-known happy hour at Keys Fisheries Restaurant in Marathon. This is a good way to try this seafood special at a great price and we love the atmosphere. We've been here before for lobster Reubens, another unusual treat for boaters from the Great Lakes. We're glad to report the claws, along with the tuna sashimi we also ordered, were absolutely yummy.

Dining in the Keys with Crew of Chip Ahoy

Dinner in the marina tonight with friends Scott and Cyndi Perkins, on Chip Ahoy. It's always a pleasure to bump into this couple whom we met on our first Great Loop boat trip in 2006. Also from Michigan, Scott and Cyndi sail down Florida's West Coast to the Keys every winter. Cyndi is a talented writer/editor (Cyndi has also written chapter's in both of our books When the Water Calls and Women On Board Cruising). Scott is a gifted musician and performer. Click on the CD covers below to read more about and listen to some of Scott's excellent boating…

2012 MTOA Gathering in Marathon

February 22, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA, Florida Keys, REN-MTOA, RENDEZVOUS

Another fun party in Marathon. Ken Chumley, on Mosey, organized the 2012 MTOA Gathering on the docks of Sombrero Dockside Marina (the same spot as our Tuesday night potluck a few days ago). It was a good time with lots of food and conversation. Lorenzo (Little David), Lisa, Ellen, and Roy (Our Turn) (below) are trying to hide from the sun under that sad little palm tree at 1 Palm Tree Ct. It was a hot one but we don't look to be suffering too much. We also got to meet Pete Donnelly (above - member 0001 - First member…

Tuesday Night Pot Luck – 1 Palm Tree Court

Tuesday night was the first of three boat parties this week in Marathon. It will be followed by an MTOA get-together on Wednesday night (same spot as tonight – on the docks at Sombrero Dockside Marina) and a Looper Sunset Celebration at Banana Bay Marina on Sunday night. The 1 Palm Tree Ct. gathering (a private event – by invitation only) is held weekly by several of the boats docked close to the restaurant at the marina. Every year they put together a "boater's lounge," so to speak, right on the dock under a sad-looking, half-dead palm tree. They bring…

Initiating More Turtles

Jim couldn't wait to initiate Louis and Robert into the Turtle Club (below). Remember the post we made while in Tarpon Springs when Ed initiated us into the club, Turtles Inc.? So if you happen to see Louis or Robert don't forget to ask them, "Are you a turtle?" We had lunch with a group of boaters who are staying at Sombrero Dockside Marina. Diane and Louis, on Bella Luna (left), Phil, on Wonderland (center), Robert and Kay, on C-Life (right), and Alice, also on Wonderland (right in sunglasses). Wade and his daughter Shauna, on Shady Lady met us one morning to…

Arriving at Harbour Cay Club

We are ultimately on our way to Key West but we're stopping in Marathon for a week to visit with a group of Looper friends who are staying at Sombrero Dockside. Last year when we brought a friend's boat down to Key West for him we found out about this little boat club on the Florida Bay side of the island, we stayed a few days and really liked it. So, back in January, we checked into the possibility of securing a slip for a week in late February. Our chances looked good since a few members would be traveling…

Caught Having a Mid-Day Snooze

February 16, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

How cozy these alligators look – we found them taking a mid-day snooze under the blistering hot sun just along Tamiami Trail in the Everglades. We were towing our boat to Marathon today and decided to stop at this Visitor's Center to see the alligators. They seem to have eluded us during our boat trips through here (probably because it was cold at those times) – I have to say the view we got of them today, from the walkway above them, was excellent. We found them sunning in this drainage ditch in front of the Visitors Center only feet…

Leaving Goodland Early A.M.

We arrived back at Goodland yesterday afternoon and anchored in the basin next to the marina and hauled the boat out early this morning and tried to clean the bottom up a little. We're hoping to get to Marathon early enough to relaunch and get settled at the marina.

Going Back in Time at Everglade City’s Rod and Gun Club

Our mission today was to leave our anchorage in Russell Pass somewhat early in the morning and head over to Everglades City (located along the Barron River on the boundary of Everglades National Park), about a seven-mile run. We've been hearing about the Rod and Gun Club since our first Great Loop boat trip in 2005. We never quite made it there during our other two trips through the Everglades due to an unalterable schedule. One of the nice things about having a trailerable trawler is you can get to places quickly with a lot of flexibility. The club has…

On Our Way to Everglade City

We've been through the Everglades twice in the past six years but we've never made it to Everglade City. Today that will change as we are headed there to have lunch at the infamous Rod and Gun Club. A beautiful day to cruise in the Everglades, calm water and clouds that look like jumbo, puffy, cotton balls.

Thanks to all the “Ted’s” Out There

Recently we made a post about meeting Ted, on Manatee (below - left), a very friendly boater whom we spent only about an hour's worth of total time with. We first met Ted while we were both traveling south on the GICW (we slowed down for a short conversation about where we were headed), we finally met up with each other in Goodland, Florida where we anchored near the Calusa Island Marina where Manatee was docked. In an hour's length of total time, I don't think you could say we were good friends but good enough for us to know Ted…

Valentine’s Day Dinner in Russell Pass – Everglades National Park

February 14, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

Not many women get an opportunity to enjoy a romantic Valentine's Day dinner with their sweetie in a remote setting like our anchorage tonight in Russell Pass – Everglades National Park. It might not appeal to some but I have to tell you I'm lovin' it. We're anchored tonight with two sailboats, one in front of us and one behind us. Showers outside this afternoon and an early dinner on the back deck of Kismet (early because we want to eat outside before the bugs come to eat us). We didn't see any alligators or turtles during our stay, it's…

Haul Out – Driving to Goodland, Florida to Relaunch

February 13, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

We've completed almost two Great Loop boat trips (a circumnavigation of the Eastern United States from the Heartland Rivers to the North Atlantic Seaboard, Canada and the Great Lakes) and both times we bypassed a few stops we wished we had had time to include in our schedule while in southwest Florida. The first is the little town of Goodland, Florida, just south of Marco Island and the second is Everglades City, at the mouth of the Barron River, on Chokoloskee Bay, just inside of Everglades National Park. Today, we pulled the boat out at Fort Myers Beach and drove to…

Playing Around in Fort Myers Beach

February 11, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING

Time to play around a little and enjoy the beach, located just a short walk from the marina and through the little beach town. The sand on Fort Myers Beach is so fine, clean, and white and it provided a fun way for the crew on Kismet to get some much-needed exercise.

Up Early for the Farmer’s Market

February 10, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

In true boater tradition, Ranger Tug owners still at the rendezvous, Carol, Jess, Cheryll, and I got up early to hit the Farmer's Market about two blocks away from the marina under the San Carlos Blvd. Bridge. It was a small affair but we all found something we needed.

Cheers with Good Friends

February 8, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

CHEERS... Here's to Here & Here's to There. Whenever we meet up with boaters from our homeport of Charlevoix, Michigan, we have a special toast, and it's always the same. The HERE is always where we currently are and the THERE is always where we love to be and it's always the same... Charlevoix. We've been meeting up with Hal and Marianne (above) in Florida for the last few years. (Hal is our harbormaster in Charlevoix, Michigan and they are both dear friends.) This year they decided to try the Cape Coral area so it worked perfectly with our schedule. Before we left home, we…

Art Fair in Fort Myers this Weekend

February 3, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

We enjoyed seeing the progression of the chalk drawings during the contest on Saturday. Some very talented young artists (and a few teachers) spent most of the afternoon on these amazing works of art.

Fun Times in Fort Myers, Florida

February 3, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

Kismet was dwarfed by two larger boats in the Fort Myers Yacht Basin Marina. This is a fun spot to spend a few days or more. The downtown is vibrant with more shops than ever. It's a quick walk to the grocery store from the marina and they have a Joe's Crab Shack just a few blocks away. To top it off there is a great farmer's market under the bridge every Thursday. As it turned out we ran into another Looper, docked right next to Kismet, we'd recently met John & Kay on Admiral's Choice at the 2011 Fall AGLCA…

Cape Coral Anchorage Near Tarpon Point Marina for a Rendezvous with Friends

February 2, 2012
Lisa Favors
CRUISING, FLORIDA

Just a little jaunt over to Cape Coral this morning, approx. 30 miles to Tarpon Point Marina where we threw the hook out within sight of the marina. Spent the afternoon catching up on the blog and bills until it was time to dinghy over to the marina so friends, Andy and Mary could pick us up for dinner at their rental located just a few miles from the marina. We met Andy and Mary in Charlevoix just before we began our second Great Loop boat trip in 2008. Always a fun time when we see Mary and Andy (above-left)…

Women On Ranger Tugs —Women Ranger Tugs Owners Discover Boating As A Rewarding Lifestyle Choice.
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Upside Of Downsizing To A Trailerable Trawler —Learn about the inherent benefits of owning a trailerable trawler.
Flexibility, Mobility & Affordability!
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Women On Board Cruising – Want to inspire your wife, girlfriend or partner to do the Loop with you? Have them read this book. Twenty-five veteran women boaters share the trials, tribulations, helpful tips and humor about their long-distance cruising adventures. SEE MORE!

When the Water Calls… We Follow – Reflections On the Great Loop Adventure. Read how these “Loopers” prepared for the trip, overcame obstacles, also see what they enjoyed and learned while undertaking their Great Loop adventures.
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