Dear Friends and Family,

Here we are again, wishing we had more time to write to everyone and say what’s going on.  We were quite busy the last few days getting ready, but we still haven’t left the Florida Keys.  It’s been a good deadline to be out of the USA by 01 Jan 2012.  Even with our hangovers we managed to leave Key West, but we’re currently riding out the strong winds brought on by the cold front today in Marathon. 

Having done the best we could preparing, we left Cape Coral Wed afternoon after saying goodbye to family and friends.  Matt’s mom came along for the trip down. 

Matt and his old Sailing Coach, Steve.

Matt and Edison Sailing Center Director, Ross Webb.  Ross sold us the boat back and help gear us up.

Our only friends from Nebraska John and Cindy stopped by with well wishes.

Everyone lined up on the dock to wave goodbye.

Matt saying goodbye to his Grandmother, we'll be sincerely missing her.

Sean and his dog Sunny escorting us out.

Here's a pic Sean took for us, of us sailing off into the sunset, which we love.

Upon anchoring in Key West, we had a celebratory toast (Thanks to Griselda and Mike for the champagne) and a fabulous steak dinner (Thanks to Gary and Sandy for the bottle of wine).  Exhausted and quite buzzed, we all enjoyed the sunset and a great sleep without the noise and vibration of the engine.   

Wandering around Key West was fun.  We did normal touristy things as well as picked up a bunch of things we needed.  Sunglasses, more line for the self steering, carb cleaner for the outboard, Ziploc bags (I quickly realized how absolutely vital these are on a boat), and tongs for grilling, water and fuel.

Highlights of the trip are of course, eating.  Our family’s favorite Half Shell Raw Bar on the marina has the most spectacular happy hour, 50 cent oysters and half off the whole bar!  We also had a good brunch with the roosters and chickens at Blue Heaven.  Florida lobster benedict was a bit pricey but delicious. 

Matt’s Mom Patricia took the Key West Express fast ferry back to Fort Myers on New Year’s Eve and we enjoyed the night around town with our friends Chris and Sara.  Considering happy hour started at 430, we were pretty lucky to make it to see the Pirate Wench drop from the mast at midnight at the Schooner Wharf.  2012, where does the time go?  Shortly thereafter it was a very quick dinghy ride back to the mothership where we stowed the outboard and got some much needed rest.  The alarm went off at 0630, like it does every morning and we were up and preparing to get underway.  We had kept up with the weather and so decided that Marathon would be a good point to jump off for the Bahamas after the cold front blew through.

So here we are, riding out the weather at the Marathon Marina OUTside anchorage.  We were 3^rd on the list for a mooring ball and the inside anchorage was entirely too crowded to be comfortable sleeping.  Matt is getting some rest, I’m baking some banana bread, and we are hoping that the weather won’t keep us from getting ashore and completing our chore list for tomorrow.  Dinghy Dockage is $13 a day/ $45 week.  They’ve got hot showers and free wifi.  We have some laundry to do, and a short grocery list.  It’s about a mile walk to Publix (which I’m REALLY going to miss) and a 5 mile walk to NAPA.  

I hope everyone had a wonderful and happy New Year, and that their resolution was to save money (so you can come visit us somewhere tropical)!!!