Summer Cruising

June Cruising - Cape Romano

It is June and we are back for a some summer cruising aboard Journey and getting ready for some visitors over the summer.  We are planning some short and long trips out of Port of the Islands.  June and July are Harley’s last trips aboard Journey and we definitely wanted to enjoy these last trips with her cruising with us before she moved permanently to live with our daughter in Virginia.

First up was Karen who came to visit in what might have been one of the hottest June weeks on record in South Florida.  We headed out to spend a few nights at Cape Romano and check out the blue water which we were not able to find due to the summer storms which had stirred up so we didn’t find any real clear blue water while out this trip.

Cape Romano was a cool spot where we could see the dome houses.  After spending some time on board and putting up our new sun shade.  We ventured out on Shelby to check out the island beaches, find some shells, see if we could snorkel, and get some video of Journey and the new sun shade.  Found some shells but the snorkeling was a no go this trip it was just too rough and cloudy even along the beach.

​We got some great shots of the dome houses and watched a beautiful sunset out over the gulf waters and an even better sunrise over the dome houses the next morning.  The heat drove us back to the dock.   We did some exploring around the area  and had some good seafood at Crabby Lady and took some fun pictures.  Funny enough we had to eat outside at Crabby Lady but they did have a big fan or really might have melted!  Seems that AC is hard to find along the water.  We drove out into the Everglades and stopped to do some alligator viewing.  All in all it was a good time despite the heat.

July Cruising - Florida Keys

July arrives and so do our good friends Bill and Angie.  They flew in on a beautiful night and the sunset from the marina was spectacular.  We took the first of many of our infamous selfies together.  The night ended and we prepared to pull out early and head toward the Florida Keys.

​We started early the next morning and found some rough seas heading down near Big Pine Key.  Although the seas started off rough in the morning, the seas and winds finally relented and the guys were able to grab some pompano for our evening appetizer.  Harley really liked the fish appetizer and we enjoyed hanging with her on the deck.  The sunset was perfect near big pine key and we were excited about getting our to Looe Key to snorkel the next day.

​Looe Key was clear and pretty smooth which made for a great snorkeling day.  We all enjoyed the snokeling and seeing all the colorful fish and healthy reef.  It was my first time seeing a Goliath Grouper.  A big big fish!  

Harley though did not find any of our snorkeling fun.  She hates anything especially people in the water.  She made it hard sometimes for us all to be in the water.  We headed out about lunch Time for Marathon and enjoyed a nice ride up the coast and was able to anchor just before a storm hit the area.  We cleaned up and headed to Castaways in time for Happy Hour to share Tuna Nachos with Bill and Angie. We highly recommend this appetizer along with the Ragoon Roll.  Yummy!  I should add that craft beers are half price during happy hours as well!  After happy hour we cruised out to Sombrero Reef on a sunset  cruise and then back to anchor outside boot key harbor for the night. 

The next morning we tucked under the seven mile bridge into the gulf side of the keys and headed up to Islamorada.  We anchored in Lorelei Bay as we call it and headed in for Happy Hour at Lorelei.  During the night a serious storm came across Islamorada and the bay.  Dee and I sat up in the cockpit to watch a lightning show like no other.  The next morning the anchor alarm picture was a sight to see with all the swinging around we were doing during the night.  The morning after the storm we headed out to see if we could snorkel at Alligator Reef but the waves were just rolling too much, but we did grab a mooring ball and just enjoy some swimming in the Atlantic Blue.  This was Angie’s idea but we had a blast.  We headed over toward Long Key to look for an anchorage for the night. Some dolphins joined us as we headed in and found a spot near Fiesta Key This would be an easy start to cross back over toward Naples the next morning.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a quiet night

Crossing back to Naples was much better than when we set out a week ago so it was selfie time again, and   everyone was able to take their turn captaining the boat including Harley - her last trip full time on Journey.  We enjoyed sunning on the deck before making the trek up the canal and back to Port of the Islands. Bill and Angie has a few more days so we headed out to explore in Shelby. As we headed down the canal looking for alligators or manatees we finally  spotted some manatees playing in the water. They as usually liked playing games with us and tried to move each time we tried to get near the last spot we saw one. They love this game.

We finally made it out to Panther Key and then White Horse Key for some exploring on the beaches.  These beaches are great for walking, shelling, and taking great beach photos including more selfies before heading back to the dock.
​Harley’s last trip full time on the boat has officially come to a close.  We will miss peeking out the window to catch her sunning along the side of Journey, but we know her life will be easier and happier and more of a routine which she likes.  Of course as I see this photo right now, I miss her so much.

August Cruising - Back to the Keys but not the Dry Tortugas - Thanks Dorian

We are back by the end of August to catch up with our boat friends Scott and Mary.  They bought their Endevour months before us and we met them through a Facebook group. They have been so gracious to show us their boat, Salt Wife, and Scott has answered thousands of questions we had once we purchased Journey.   We had made plans after Scott and Mary’s retirements to head to the Dry Tortugas near the end of August.

Scott and Mary who were traveling from north of Tampa spend quite a few days on the water before they caught up with us at Tiger Key to prepare for the crossing.  Once we got together to watch the sun go down it was determined they wanted to slow down so we would not cross straight to the Dry Tortugas.  We decided on Johnson Key near Big Pine Key as our next stop.  We were able to grab some of my favorite pictures of Journey this night just along the Ten Thousand Islands.

We started out the next morning bright and early with coffee made and our first ever buddy boat trip.  It was kind of different to have a partner while traveling but was really great to know someone had your back.  I think we enjoyed just watching a boat like ours in the water.  Scott and Dee got started fishing and soon Mackerel was in both our boats and dinner was looking good for our future.   Mary made fish tacos and it was so yummy in our tummy.  Once again, the sunset was something to see.  We ate that night on their boat and checked out some difference on their boat from ours and one was this window shade that looked similar to ours but did not seem to function the same or so we thought.  You should watch the video just to see this part of our learning about our own boat.

We sent a video over to them the next morning and we laughed about it the entire trip.  We decided to head out to snorkel at Looe Key.  Talk of Dorian was beginning for the Florida area and in particular Tampa and Scott and Mary needed to decide whether to head back north sooner instead of crossing to the Dry Tortugas.  This was not going to be the time for that trip.  So we headed under the Bahia Honda Bridge and into the Atlantic. As we crossed under the bridge we found ourselves in some rough Atlantic waters and decided to pull in at Little Torch Key to anchor away from all the white caps that were pounding our boats.  After anchoring at Little Torch,  We headed over to Kiki’s Sandbar and found some more Tuna Nachos that are to die for!  We visited Capt Jack at Picnic Island.  We gather on Journey’s front deck to watch the sun go down and once again we were not disappointed by the evening, company and the sunset.
​
​The next morning provided better conditions for snorkeling and we headed back out into the Atlantic to Looe Key for some snorkeling.  We each grabbed a mooring ball and had to share our snorkeling stories later when we were together but it was some great snorkeling.  This is when Dee and I had our very close encounter with a reef shark.  He came up over the reef right under us.  Felt like we were almost face to face and he could have cared less about us.  After snorkeling we headed over to Marathon to have Happy Hour at Castaways and more Tuna Nachos.   We decided to head around to the gulf side to anchor for the night near Joe Rock for the night and not only did we watch a thunderstorm build but saw one of the most unique sunsets ever.

The next morning we looked out to find water as smooth as glass around us.  Scott got his drone out and grabbed some great shots of both Salt Wife and Journey.  These photos are some of my favorite because the water is so smooth.  After enjoying the morning, It was time to head back as Dorian was not looking good for Florida.  Dee and I decided we were going to make one more stop at Shark River in the Everglades.  We had been talking about stopping here and felt this would be a good time.  Scott and Mary decided they would not be left out and decided to join us in the Everglades for one more night.  So we pulled anchor and dropped the lines.  This time the fish was mine.  We pulled in early afternoon to the mouth of Shark River and got ready to explore.  We enjoyed exploring several canals off Shark River and just laughing while having a cold beer or two.  I know everyone is tired of hearing me talk about sunsets but Dee and I love sunsets and once again this one was one to share it was like the sky was on fire. ​

The next morning we said our goodbyes and headed out.  We plowed through but mostly around some thunderstorms and turned toward Port of the Islands. We watched Scott and Mary head on knowing they had to move fast over the next few days to get home to beat Dorian.  As we all know now she decided against Florida. ​

Preparing for Dorian

Although Dorian did not come across Naples or make the any of the real expected landfalls and paths across Florida, it did not mean that we did not see some of her wrath or prepare for her.  For about a week we prepared for her to make her way across Miami and Naples as one of her paths would have crossed Journey.  Thankfully, she did not make this path but here is some video we took as some storms from Dorian made their way toward us.  Let me end by saying God Bless the Abacos and the Bahamian people. ​