April 11, 2002

Greetings from Marathon! And you ask why we're still here. So do we! We sailed to Key West the week of Mar. 25. Anchored off and spent the week doing Key West. Then a Great sail back to Marathon to get rid of the car and begin moving the boat to Ft Laud and cross over to The Abacos (Bahamas).

Apr 4, drove to Ft Laud. to scope out a boatyard to haul Conquest in June for a bottom job. Stayed with Ken's brother, Jim, in their latest apartment on 7th floor overlooking Shooters and the ICW - great digs and view. Left car garaged for a couple of months and returned to Marathon in rental car. Spent the 6th cleaning and stocking up in preparation of Sun departure. Of course new front brought in a high pressure system on Sunday with 30-35 knots out of the east. The Keys run east/west (not north south) meaning wind on the nose with 4 foot seas in the channel to Miami. Today is Thurs, still blowing 25 out of the east - and that's why we're still here. Hopefully tomorrow, the wind will go a little SE and allow us to start for Ft Laud - a 3 day trip.

Pacer, a Tartan 40, has been in the slip next to us all winter and is accompanying us to The Abacos. We've had good times with Jan and Bill and look forward to their company. Bill is a pilot on leave from US Air and Jan is taking time off from a marketing job at Compac.

Ken's daughter, son-in-law, and 3 grandsons (7,8and 10) came for a few days in early Mar. The boys were great and really enjoyed getting to know their grandfather. They call him Capt. Gramp. The weather turned cool and a lot of time was spent fishing rather than swimming. It was a real pleasure to see a family who so enjoyed being and playing together. We even had a manatee next to the boat and the boys got into the dinghy and rubbed its belly. Which reminds me- 2 came by the other day with a newborn. It looks like a little torpedo -2 to 3 ft- and stays right under the mother. A wonderful sight!

Then I was off by bus to Ft Laud to spend a couple of days with my cousin, Carole. We tried to recreate our trips to Mangoes of last year, but alas, the music was too loud, too smokey, and too late. I hope I'm not growing up --no way!!

My friend, Chris, flew in from Houston and we spent another day in Ft laud before heading back to Marathon. Actually, she's my step-daughter-once-removed. Somehow I got stuck with her in the divorce and she shows up at least once a year. Luckily, she and Ken enjoy each other, although he would never admit it, especially to her.

We spent the day people watching on the boardwalk on Hollywood Beach and the evening doing Las Olas Blvd. Carole decided to return with us, so we turned in our rental car and headed for Marathon Sun the 10th.

Ken would never admit it, but he thoroughly enjoyed having three females on board. He was a great host and we all enjoyed our visit. Carole headed back Tues eve and Chris and I took off to "do Key West" the next day. Ken had his car shipped down late Feb, so we had wheels. We did all the touristy things while keeping Chris out of the sun as much as possible. She has serious reactions to direct sunlight and we constantly make sure no little beams sneak by.

Thurs night, Chris' last night, we planned to "do Marathon" which means heading down to Dockside to listen to Joe Mama. This is the big night out in Marathon and a "must" to see the real local color. Joe Mama is a cross between Jimmy Buffet and Willie Nelson. Dockside is a little bar and restaurant overlooking the harbor. There's live music 7 nights a week and usually, it's filled with local liveaboards (of questionable background), but on Thurs, everyone gathers from 6-9 to listen to Joe. There's a noise ordinance in Marathon which requires all outdoor music to stop at 9pm- which works out well for those of us in the retired boating community.

Somehow, when I wasn't looking, Chris got some sun and her arms were in trouble. About 5pm she and I decided to head for the emergency room ( my second time this winter) to get it looked at and hopefully a shot to get rid of the swelling and itching. We should be able to get in and out and meet the rest of the gang at Dockside by 7. As we waited for the doctor to finish up and write up all his prescriptions and directions (he didn't want to give a shot), it was getting to be 7pm and Chris wanted to get out of there. I told her I didn't think it would go over well to go to the emergency room and then tell them we had to get going to get to Joe Mama.

At about 7:30 we dropped off the prescriptions at the drugstore, but I told Chris she was going to live and we would have to pick them up next morning. After experiencing a night at Dockside, she agreed it was not to be missed. At one point, Joe sang a song he wrote for a local 80 yr old man who's wife died a yr or so ago. The man grows butterbeans and is very proud of them. Every week, while Joe sings Butterbeans, this fellow stands up beaming at the audience. This particular night someone passed out collard greens to all the women, and while Joe sang, the women all waved their greens back and forth. I mean this is big time and not to be missed!!!

Hopefully, we'll be able to cross to The Bahamas sometime in the next week. Mike, Lucille and Stephen Walsh, who join us every year, will meet us in Marsh Harbor in late May for a few days. Then back to Ft Laud and off to RI sometime in June.

SO, here we are waiting in Marathon. But it is Thurs and Joe Mama plays tonight!! Keep in touch. We'll check email once in awhile while in The Bahamas.

Jane and Ken