2/11/16 Thursday West Palm Beach, Fla

What a georgeous day here in Palm Beach!!, from what I hear, all are telling us not to hurry home as the weather is still very cold!!, Ha 

We still wore blue jeans and a light long sleeve shirt today but a great sunny day!! We traveled on the bike over to the Flager Museum of history on the other side of the waterway. After we arrived we discovered our boat was docked just across from the museum! Every street in this town is loaded with Palm trees!! Duh!! Palm beach Ha !! Millions of them!!

The Flager museum was absolutely beautiful!! It really compares to the Biltmore house in Ashville, NC just a bit smaller in scale. We received a handheld set that as you moved from room to room you put in the number at the door of the room and it told you all about the room!! It was really worth the trip!! I had to leave my backpack and camera at security as no photos are allowed. And I guess they are afraid you will still something so no backpacks allowed either!! As we entered the outside area after I picked up my things I do have a few pics to share. We went into town before the museum opened and had a nice breakfast at a place called Testa's. Expensive place but good food and service! 

After the museum we took a route back on the bike called the Lake bike trail!! What a treat, as we went by several old historic homes along the waterway. I do have some pics to share. 

We came back to the boat and then walked to town and caught the trolley again and went to City Park. It's really an upscale outside shopping mall with many restaurants. We enjoyed the walk and the atmosphere, and enjoyed a cone of ice cream, strolled through Publix for coffee for Rod, but none to be found!! Oh no!!! we may run our of his coffee before I can get to a Walmart!!! That could be a disaster!! Ha  He will need to limit his coffee intake for a few days!Ha 

We were talking this afternoon while sitting on the back deck as to how many people God sent us to talk and minister to today!! People love the name of our boat, and what we do for a living, and Rod loves to talk about our mission work in the Ukraine!! Sure makes for good conversation. We were also blessed by a couple that stop to talk and they were from here but came up to our area fairly often. awhile we were talking we ask if there was a hardware store around as we needed a piece of artificial grass for Lexie's Potty patch on the front of the boat as ours blew away last night. They were like no not here in town but maybe 3 miles or so! They said we will be back in about and hour with you a piece!!! Would not except our money just wanted to do a good deed!! We felt so blessed!! Sure enough in and hour or so they brought us a 2X3 ft piece of artificially grass and still would not except any money!! Lexie is a happy camper!! Hehe

We will be leaving Palm Beach tomorrow and heading north again!! Should make it to Vero Beach if all goes well tomorrow!! 

Please continue to pray for our safe journey!! We love you all!!  Fran & Capn Rod 

Entrance to the Flager museum

And this was the museum and their home!

Our breakfast waitres at Testa's restaurant this morning!! Ashley!! A sweet young lady!

These were used for transportation around the Flager estates as Mr Flagler did not allow any horse and buggys or cars!! Now that's a tamdum bike I could love!!! Hehe

Mr Flagers private train car!! It was considered very elaborate for its time! And it was elagant! !

This was a shot of our boat sitting across the waterway from the museum!! I took this in the court yard of the museum!

This tree was on the bike trail we took home from the museum today! hughmongous!! This pic just does  not show the magnitude of its size!

Sunset over Palm Beach this evening.

Music in the park right in front of the Marina!! We enjoyed walking around and listening and had some of the food offered there! Every Thursday night weather permitting they have this music festival. Called Clematis by Night!, Clematis is the Main Street through town!! 

A big slab of ribs !!! Fall off the bone tender! 

2/10/16 Wednesday West Palm Beach, Fla

We pulled up anchor this morning in Ft Lauderdale at Sunrise Cove about 7:30am. Gues im surprised why it is called sunrise cove there was not much to see at sunrise!, ha

We traveled on up to West Palm Beach which only took us about 4 1/2 hours and docked at the City Marina. What an incredible view of the city!!! We got the boat all settled and tied up here in this strong water current it took several lines and several fenders just to keep the boat off the side of the dock!!! 

Walked Lexie and let her do some sociellizing and we took off on the bike to explore the town. We decided Chinese was going to be the food choice tonight and we would ride the trolley around town and decided what we would do tomorrow. 

We had a late breakfast so Rod was hungry around 4pm so decided on eating an early supper. We enjoyed ginger beef with green beans and lemon chicken along with egg drop soup and wonton soup. Most of it came home for lunch another day!! What a feast!!

We caught the trolley around 6pm and with a map we decided on some things to do tomorrow that looked like fun. One is the Flager museum (of course we have to do some historyHa) and then to city park!! I'll fill you in tomorrow evening!! It was a great travel day and another safe one!!! 

Love and blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod

Our choice of supper today!! Nice place!!,

Soup!!! It was yummy!!!

Supper!!! What a plate of food!! Enough for two meals!!

The city lights taken from the front of our boat!

Our home sitting right in the downtown area of West Palm Beach. Beautiful docks!

Enjoying West Palm Beach!

2/9/16 Tuesday Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

We untied our boat from the Key Largo Marina this morning about 7:45am and off we went!!! We both talked about what a great time we have had in the Keys this year!! 

We traveled all day, about 8 1/2 hours 4 of them were crossing Biscayne Bay. It was a fairly good ride across, only a couple hours of some choppy waves that I did not like much!! We have had worse to travel in!! Ha Lexie was disappointed that we did not even see 1 dolphin today!! It was 70 degrees most of the day and sunny skies, but windy!!  We always have so much to see coming through Miami and Ft Lauderdale as every mile is filled with multi million dollar homes and yachts!! And all the cruise ships are incredible!!

We found a nice cove just north of the main downtown area here in Ft Lauderdale and decided to throw out the anchor for the night!! It's called Sunrise Cove and I an hoping to get a good pic of the sunrise in the morning. Had a nice leftover supper of chicken enchiladas, my home made apple pies and ice cream!! 

We resting up, shower taken, jammies on, and to bed early as we will be up and moving by 6am!!

Please continue to pray for our safe journey!!!  Love and Blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod 

Only pic I took today!! A new Hard Rock Cafe being built right on the waterway in Ft. Lauderdale 

2/7-8/16 Sunday & Monday Key Largo

Well I got texted this morning early from my sister in law that I did not write the blog last night!!! Hehe

Actually I was reading a good book and before I knew it it was 11pm and I was sleepy!!! Ha

Yesterday was a work day!! Cleaned house washed clothes and Rod had some chores to get ready to take off on Tuesday. So nothing really exciting!

Today, Monday, we decided to play all day as it is our last day in the Keys!!! So hard to leave this wonderful place!! It's a little chilly today only got up to about 70'degrees, but the skies are blue and beautiful. But the wind is what has kept us here another day!! I just did not want to cross Biscayne Bay to Miami in 20 MPH winds. Tomorrow is predicted to be some better and we will have the wind pushing us so that will be a big help!! And it makes a smoother ride also. 

Today we decided to take a bike ride into town and just enjoy the last day we have here. And we thought we would stop by the Winn Dixie for a few things. As we were leaving a group of 6 others rode with us on their bike from here at the Marina, we looked like a bike convoy crossing the bridge! (pic attached). They all stopped at the Winn Dixie but we rode on to find a late lunch and just ride a little before we stopped at the store. We had heard about a restaurant called Evelyn's so we decided to check it out!! I ordered a Cowboy Burger the waitress suggested, and wow what a burger. The thing was 5 inches tall!!! I barely could eat half and the rest came home for supper. Rods philly cheese steak looked like a snack next to this monster!! (Pic attached)  We enjoyed a nice bike ride and picked up coffee creamer and ice cream for my homemade apple turnovers I made earlier, and back to the boat.

Boat is ready to take off tomorrow morning, water tanks filled and our bike loaded!! We will be somewhere north of Miami tomorrow afternoon.

Pray for our safe travels!!! We love you all!! Fran & Capn Rod

We are heading north so time to winterize the windows for extra warmth!! Rod does this every year, it really makes a difference.

The bike convoy into town!!

A great place for lunch!

This monster was delish!!! You really need to be a big cowgirl to eat this Cowboy Burger!! Hehe

I also found Achmed playing at Evelyn's!!! LOL

Cutting up squid for fish bait!! Lexie watching every move!! She knows they are headed for the dock to fish!!

Oh!! And my home made apple pies!!!

2/6/16 Saturday Key Largo Anchorage Marina

Well here we are again a week later back in Key Largo!! It was so hard to leave Islamorada this morning we sure did have a great time there. We traveled the 35 miles or so to get back to the dock in Key Largo in about 4 hours today. We docked here around noon and got all settled in and tied up good as there is high winds expected again tomorrow and 90% chance of rain. We rode the bike down to the Winn Dixie and bought a few groceries and decided to indulge in another one of their fine ribeyes!!! 

We got back to the boat then Rod and Lexie decided to fish a little. They were catching fish every time they put the hook in the water!!! Ha   Lexie was in heaven!!  We were hungry so we had a late lunch or early supper about 4:30pm!! Yummy!! That great ribeye, a salad and we split a baked potato!!

Then it was so warm out we decided to go for a swim in the pool here at the Marina. It's heated and was delightful!! Then of course you have to hit the jacuzzi !!! Ha  We had a nice relaxing evening. 

It started raining about 7pm so we came inside doing chores 

We will probably do some inside things tomorrow here on the boat as it is suppose to rain most of the day!! May be a good book day or I could finish getting my taxes ready to file when we get home. 

We have been blessed with another good day!!

Love and blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod

As we came up the waterway this morning we watched this guy souring across the water. Man was he fast!!  When he caught the wind he rode up out of the water for several minutes!!! 

Lexie is so excited as Rod prepares to go fishing!! She knows what is going to happen!

She stands and patiently waits for a fish!

And finally she gets one!! Haha

Both of us enjoyed the pool!!!

We then relaxed in the jacuzzi!! What a great way to end a winter day!!! Haha

2/5/16 Friday Islamorada Fla Keys

Our last day here in Islamorada and we woke up to 25 MPH winds about 4am to thunder and lightning!! Needless to say Lexie was a wreck!! Phosphorus 30C done the trick!!! It's good stuff and it really calms her very quickly!!! Back to bed for a while and got up again around 8am,  rain had stopped but the wind was still about the same. Here in this Marina they have a golf cart with a sewer pump out tank they come around and pump out all the boats. So they came and did ours this morning. We then took off and had some eggs, bacon, and hash browns, Rod had grits of course !! We took off on the bike and went back to the Guy Harvey Island history museum to spend the day. We went by there the other day but they are only open Thursday- Sunday. It was very interesting and lots of history of how the islands here came to be so popular and how they have been preserved and protected over the years of commercialism. 

We then went to the small grocery store here on the island, and most of all it really made me appreciate the prices at Walmart!!! Haha We had our last meal here at the Marina restaurant of Stone crab chowder and we shared a conch sandwich!! Yummy!!! 

We will pulling out of here in the morning as soon as the tide is high enough for us to have enough depth to get our boat out without dragging the bottom!! We have loaded the tamdum bike!! And we were happy to leave the 2 folding bikes here as a young man came by and bought both of them this evening!! We have had a for sale sign on them since we have been here!! So glad we don't have to take them back with us!!!

I ask for prayer for a safe journey for us tomorrow!!!  We will only be traveling back to Key Largo to the Marina we stayed at a few weeks ago. We don't want to cross the big Biscayne Bay mid day, so we will spend the night at the Marina just before we have to cross it. It takes a good 4 hours to make it across and then you are in downtown Miami so we need enough time to get across and then up a ways to find anchorage for the night. 

Sad to leave the Keys!! We have had a grand time here!!,  But we will be making our way back to Georgetown slowly!!

Much love to all, Fran & Capn Rod

This museum was built and supported by Guy Harvey!!

Guy Harvey has a big resort here also!! It would be a fine place to spend a vacation!!

This was a shot of the beach area at the Guy Harvey resort!! Is this not beautiful!!!

2/4/16 Thursday Islamorada, The Keys, Fla

Another great day in the Keys!!! We got up around 8am this morning and packed us a picnic lunch and headed for The Theater of the Sea. It's so similar to Sea World, no rides, just sea mammals, turtles, and a Parrott Show. I only took 64 pics today!, ha  So wish I could share them all, BUT I will difinitely share my pic of being kissed by a dolphin!!!! I was picked out of the crowd to participate!!! I was so excited!! All the shows were fantastic and we had a wonderful day there!!! We took only a short break all day to eat our lunch. It was only a  2 mile bike ride ther and well worth it!!! We spent 5 hours at the park. 

Back home rested up, walked Lexie and had supper at the restaurant here at the Marina. We were about half way through supper when a couple walked up and said we were told this was the best place on the island to eat and see a beautiful sunset, but there are no tables available. Would you mind if we shared a table with you. Of course we said sure !!! We introduced ourselves and Rod being so shy it was really hard to start a conversation with them!!, NOT!!!! Haha We sat and talked to these guys Phil and Shirley Stil from Chicago for 2 1/2 hours.  He is a non conformist pastor in the Chicago area on a part time basis. They are here for some vacation time to get away from the cold. We exchanged information to keep in touch with each other. 

Another grand day!! We are still enjoying music every night here at the Marina!! Only have one more day here before we head on back north. 

I will have to choose just my favorite pics from today !!! 

Love and Blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod 

The entrance to the park!! The flowers and thousands of orchids everywhere !!!!

The dolphin show was great.

Never ever thought at my age I would be kissed by a dolphin!!! His name is Sherman. 

This Sea Lion "Clara"was absolutely wonderful. Sea Lions are always used to be such comedians!!

All the mcCaws put on a great show for us too!

The cockatiel was a real show off and loved the crowd clapping for his tricks!,

I took several pics of th orchids in the place!!, awesome!!!

A sea turtle with a life jacket!!! He is paralyzed and can't use his hind flippers!!

A glass bottom boat ride!!

2/3/16 Wednesday Islamorada Fla Keys

I was so sure I was going to sleep in this morning, but NOOOOO Rod was biting at the bit to get going!!! We took off on the bike and he headed straight to a place we saw yesterday he wanted breakfast. Bob's Buns is a local breakfast place just down the street from us. I devoured gravy and biscuits, and Rod had French toast and scrambled eggs!!! 

We then rode to the south end of the island and stopped at the Marina for fishing charters. All the boats were out, I guess fishing, but we enjoyed the ocean scenery and the wildlife there. We came back to the hughmongous World Wide Sportsman Center. It's really a big Bass Pro Shop. There is lots of merombilia of Ernest Hemingway, including his ship The Pilar. 

We then traveled to the north end of the island to a diving history museum did not look like something we wanted to spend time at so on we went. We then found the Guy Harvey island history museum and it's only open Thursday- Sun. So that will be a tomorrow adventure. We also found an aquatic mammal museum. That will be tomorrow or Friday. We then found a small restaurant on the ocean called the island cafe and I ate a Cuban sandwich, Rod had shrimp and grits!! We needed that for the 5 mile ride back to the boat. 

We spent the evening on the boat enjoying the music here at the Marina restaurant and ordered a bowl of that great stone crab soup delivered to us at the boat. We sat on the back deck and enjoyed!! Ha 

The water is so clear here where we are docked it's only 5 ft deep so Rod has spent some time watching the fish swim around and he is thinking seriously about pulling out the fishing rods after they close the restaurant, Ha  Does that surprise you?

We have had another grand day here on the island of Islamorada!!! Enjoying the keys to the fullest!!

Love and blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod

A locals favorite!!!

The Pelicans wait for the fishing charters to come back in as they kniow there will be leftover bait fish put back in these baskets!! 

A 3 story big boy chunky cheese!!! Ha

Rod enjoying the history of Ernest Hemimgway!!!

This is that small slot Rod had to back our boat into when we arrived!!! We have to get off the boat from the rear.

This is the view from our back deck!!! God's beautiful ending to a great day!!!

2/2/16 Tuesday Islamorada, Fla.

Well, as I ended the blog last night we were headed to Key West and made it to the lower end of Marathon. We spent the entire morning today calling every Marina and no space available anywhere in Marathon or Key West!!! And I mean None!!! Every place I called had a 2 week waiting list and everyone said there was not even any anchorage space available. I could not believe there could be that many people here. So we decided our only option was to go back to Islamorada and see if we could find something there for several days and just be happy with that plan!!! Disappointed not to get to the Key West, but all these islands are beautiful and lots of fun things to see and do. 

We had called the Marina yesterday in Islamorada that we had stayed at last year a few days and they had nothing available. So I started calling some others and we found 1 little Marina that had 1 dock space available for a few days!!!! We said "we will take it"!!! They said we could stay for 4 nights!  We arrived about 1pm and they had to send out a guy in a little boat to help guide us in as the canal we entered was tucked in around some mangrove trees!!! No markers, nothing to tell you it was there!!! Also the water depth was right at 5ft deep and our boat needs 4ft to float!!! OMG!!! We just turned off the depth alarm as it was going crazy!! Hehe  After we got to the place to pull in we saw that we would have to back in to the slot that was 14 ft wide and our boat is 13 ft wide!!! OMG AGAIN!!! Rod had to turn the boat around in a 50 ft area 180 degrees to back into this tiny little slot!!! BUT WE DID IT!!! Rod did a fantastic job and everyone on the dock cheered we we got it in place!!! Haha Going out will be tricky but easier than coming in!!! Ha  Even with the difficulty getting here it is a beautiful place and we have a big restaurant 20 ft from the back of the boat and they have live music every night!! Good music too!!!  The music definitely caters to our age group!! 60s and 70s tunes!!! 

Rod washed the boat (covered from all the salty water the last few days) and I cleaned and put everything away and in its place, we showered and walked off the back of the boat and sat down at a table on the beach and ordered dinner!!! My kind of place! Ha 

My birthday dinner consisted of a bowl of stone crab chowder (Rod and I shared), and a philly cheese steak and fries, and Rod had a conch sub and fries!! Both were Delish!!! 

We took off on the bike for a short ride just to get out a little. Again, as all the island do, this island has great bike paths!! Short ride saw a few things we want to go to while we are here and then back to the Marina. We enjoyed a cold Pepsi and great music sitting right on the back deck of our boat!!! It don't get much better than this!!! Ha 

Even though our plans had to change we are in a great place and having fun!! So I can't complain. We are docked at Islamorada Marina at Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar (Lorelei is the name of a Mermaid we were told) some history that I think we need to find out about!!! Ha 

We are Rested, full, relaxed and ready for bed shortly!! It's again been a good day!!

Love and Blessings to all, Fran & Capn Rod

I'm sitting at a table waiting for supper to be served to us and there our boat sitting at the dock!!! 

Lovin this!!

Our shared bowl of stone crab chowder!! Sorry no pic of our dinner we ate it and then said oh no we forgot to take a picture!!! Ha

This hughmongeus mermaid is at the entrance at the street of the Marina!!! 

Sitting on our back deck of the boat!! Watching everyone eat and listening to the music!! This is a small portion of the outside restaurant area, I bet there was 300+ people here!!!

2/1/16 Monday Marathon Key, Fla

First I have to say THANK YOU for all the many birthday wishes today!!! It has been a great day! Rod surprised me with 2 tee shirts that I had liked from the Marina in Titusville last week. 

We untied the boat around 8am this morning in the rain. It wasn't a hard downpour so not to bad of a chore. We have really enjoyed Key Largo but ready to move on and see something different. We decided to go to Islamorada for a couple of days and that is only about 25 miles so we just took our time this morning. We arrived around 12noon and to our surprise, NO ROOM AT ANY DOCKS in Islamorada!! We could hardly believe it!! We had plenty of time so cruised on down to Marathon. Guess what no dockage available here either. We do have 2 marinas we left messages with in hopes they will call us tomorrow. We found a great place to anchor in Fat Deer Cove right here at Marathin Key. We spent a georgeous evening sitting on the front of the boat enjoying the nice weather and sunset!! I prepared  Hugh salads for supper and we ate up on the back deck!! What a great evening!! My Birthday could not have ending any better!!!!

We will see what dockage is available here tomorrow morning and may have to make some changes in our route. We figure if there is no place to dock here in Marathon, will there be any in Key West!!!!!??

We will spend some time tomorrow checking all that out before we go any farther.

My love and blessing to all, please pray for a place to dock, I'm not ready to turn around yet!!!

Fran & Capn Rod 

My favorite pic of the day!!! Lexie enjoys a beautiful sunset too!!

What a view!!!

Salad pig out!!!! My Birthday supper!! I tried to get Rod to call and see if a Japanese chicken could be delivered out here!!! Haha!,