Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Back in Burlingame

Well, the phone call arrived from Chris Keydon, the Capt. that will load Vita Bella on the ship. I made all of the arrangements necessary, looked at Joe and picked the phone up and called Jet Blue to change our flight to Saturday. We made the boat ready for her trip to Ensenada in a rain storm and took our soaking wet bodies to the shower. We changed, kissed the boat goodbye and drove the short 3 miles to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport.

Sitting at Chili's we had a light dinner and waited to board the plane. A short 5 hours later we were in Oakland, having watched Direct TV all the way across the Nation. The Coyote Point Yacht Club's Christmas party was being held, so after Diana picked us up, we went to the Club and said hello to everyone.

Joe is headed back to Grass Valley, the boat is sitting in Dania Beach, Florida and I am in Burlingame. I will be heading to the Valley this week, getting back into the groove here and watching my e-mails for word on when I will be needed in Ensenada to take Vita Bella off the ship.

While I really enjoyed the Odyssey, it is also good to be home with Diana, Kaitlyn and Bailey the Cocker Spaniel.

I will keep the blog updated as to the boats progress toward Ensenada and being back home, I am looking forward to saying hello to everyone in person.

Thanks to Larry, John Bob,Mike,Joe,Wayne & Matt for helping me get the boat the almost 2000 nautical miles we have put under here keels.

Ross

Yet another delay!

Vicki left very early this morning and Joe & I decided to drive across the State to Naples. We traveled the Alligator Alley Highway through the Everglades. We took a short walk on the beach and then had lunch at an Irish Pub. Naples reminded us both of Carmel. High end shops and fancy restaurants.

When we got back to the boat and looked at my e-mail, I found that the Ship is not expected until 12/12 and that there could be delays beyond that. I have decided that I am going to hire a service to put the boat onto the ship and head back to the West Coast.

More Later

Ross & Joe

Ft Lauderdale lazy day

We spent the early morning on the boat and started to look for a lunch place at about 11am. We drove to the Ft. Lauderdale beach area and found the area that we had been to last week when we were in ft. Lauderdale on the boat. After lunch we walked the beach for a while and then went to the Discovery Museum. We took a trip to Mars, flew many types of airplanes and enjoyed the many exhibits. We are going to have dinner on the boat and wish Vicki a safe trip home. She will leave us early tomorrow morning.

We are hoping that the ship will be on time, so we can get home.

Ross with Joe & Vicki

Back on the Boat

We enjoyed the color and fun of Key West all morning and then jumped into the rental car and made the trip back through Miami to Daina Beach. We had breakfast in a local haunt that had been there almost 100 years. All over the town we saw chickens and hens running around. Joe discovered a hen with 7 or 8 chicks rooting for worms and bugs to eat. Key West is a very laid back place.

I enjoyed Jimmy Buffet's store, bought a few shirts, but we did not stay for lunch. We were told that Jimmy was in town and would be there for lunch, but the call of the road led us back to the boat.

One surprise was a boat that we had seen in Coinjock, NC was tied up on the waterfront and was offering cocktail cruises for $49.00. The "Hindu" crew that we had seen in Coinjock were all blasted, so I am sure that the cocktail cruise was a lot of fun.

We are sitting having coffee, and trying to decide what we will do today. Vicki leaves us tomorrow morning and then Joe & I will begin the process of getting the boat ready for her trip to Mexico.

More Later

Ross, Joe & Vicki

Key West

0821am with "Santa Claus is coming to town" playing on the church bells.

Vicki has arrived and we had a quiet dinner ashore at a little Italian Restaurant. After a good night's sleep we set off for the "End of the Road", Key West. We checked into the Ocean Key Hotel & Spa which is at Key West's "ground Zero" Mallory Square. We walked Duval Street and observed all of the South Florida Beautiful People. We had a beer at Capt. Tony's Saloon, and dinner at a Fish Restaurant, "Red Fish, Blue Fish".

I have been eating lots of fish in salads, the best has been the Ahi Caesar salad in a little place in Key Largo. We in fact stopped there yesterday for lunch. When the boat was in Key Largo, we frequented the place.

We will troop back to Daina Beach where the boat is and begin the process of getting her ready for the trip to Ensenada. The ship has been delayed again until the 10th or 11th. I am anxious to get her aboard and to get Joe & me home.

We will do more sight seeing in Key West this morning, I will get more pictures and send a Key West report when we get back to the boat this afternoon.

Ross

with Joe & Vicki

Lunch with the Beautiful People

After we did some boat chores, we jumped into the speedy Nissan Altima and headed to South Beach. Even with the navigation system in the rental car, we had to ask 2 people how to find the "golden mile" Joe has great parking karma and we were off to find a salad for lunch. Diets are really boring! It was a bit of a freak show combined with a models runway. we surmised that every town has a bunch of weird people that gather for the amusement of the World. Miami is no exception.

We are back on the boat waiting for Vicki to call from the airport. We intend to have dinner ashore at a little Italian Restaurant we spotted. More from the crew as we head to Key West tomorrow. When we get back, we will have serious work to do to get Vita Bella ready for her trip through the Panama Canal.

More later,

Ross,Joe and soon Vicki

Lazy Sunday

10:30 am EST Our plan today is to figure out the fuel transfer pump and to do a little more cleaning. We made our reservations for the Hotel in Key West and will run shortly to find a Sunday Paper. The little flying wings with teeth are here in this marina as well, so I can't venture out of the boat without a really good spraying of Cutters. I think my only relief will be a seat on a West bound plane ;-).

More later

Ross & Joe

Port Everglades

We departed Key Biscayne at 0800 and took the off shore route to Ft. Lauderdale and then South on the ICW to Port Everglades. The boat will stay here in the marina until she goes onto the ship sometime soon. I am waiting to get the date from Yacht Path. As soon as the date is set, we will schedule our return flight to San Francisco, only to be in Ensenada 16 days later to take her off the ship. As we entered the Ft Lauderdale channel, there were more cruise ships at the docks than we could count. I guessed that Saturday was the turn over day for the Cruise Lines.

Joe & I will spend time here in South Florida along with his friend Vicki who will be arriving on Monday. Our plans will take us to Key West by car, as we just did not get that far South on the boat.

Matt & Wayne are boarding their flight as we are putting this post together.

I hope that Matt and Wayne enjoyed their week on the boat and I am glad that the little No See Um's did not attack them.

More later

Ross & Joe

Crandon Park - Key Biscayne

We made our way up Biscayne Bay and were headed back to Miami, but poked our nose into Crandon Park Marina, across the bay from Miami to see if they had room for us. Marinas in South Folrida are somewhat like parking lots at Hillsdale Mall the 22nd of December. Lots of parking spaces but most are occupied. There are lots of marinas, with lots of slips, but all of the tackey people that own boats up North, are here for the winter.

I had trouble finding a spot for the 9 days that the boat will be in Ft. Lauderdale before she goes onto the transport ship. I was successful this afternoon, allowing us the freedom to explorre down to Key West while we wait to depart ourselves. We will slip Vita Bella into a slip there tomorrow.

We were buzzed by a photo helecopter this afternoon and they only want $250.00 for the photo, I don't think so!

The water is deep green, and the air warm. It is a real treat to be able to sit outside and enjoy the weather. I wish I could join the guys on the transom seat, however the little bugs are here too, and I will keep typing and keep the bite level to a minimum.

Enjoy your weekend, we are having a GREAT time, and while we put Matt & Wayne on the plane tomorrow afternoon, Joe & I look forward to Vicki's arrival and our trip to Key West.

Ross, Joe,Matt & Wayne

Overnight at Gilberts family Resort Marina

Nothing like the marina we were in for the last 2 days! Not a real marina, not a family place and not a resort by any imagination. It was a place to stay. We all went for a buffet at the marina restaurant and it was ok,not great. We had a lazy start to the morning. We had a leisurely breakfast and are about ready to get on the move back toward Miami. We will spend one more night out before we get Wayne and Matt back to Ft. Lauderdale. Joe and I will then get the boat to the marina from which she will go onto the ship, and set out by car to do some exploring down the Keys. We are planning to asphalt cruise to the end of the road in Key West.

The weather is great, but it did rain last night for a while. We are all in shorts and T shirts.

More later from South Florida.

Ross

with Joe,Matt & Wayne

10,371 no see um bites

Thank god for Lisa Weathers! While she was on the phone with Wayne, she suggested that I get a bottle of Caladryl Clear lotion. All 10,371 of my bites from the little wings with teeth are getting better. It is a drag to be swatting all of your extremities, just to miss the little bastards!



Today we left the little protected harbor on the Atlantic side of Key Largo and made our way North on the ICW side of the Key. We tied up at Gilberts family Resort Marina. I am not sure that it's a resort, a marina, or family that family is involved, but the bartender at the Tiki Bar makes a mean Rum Runner!



Tomorrow we are headed back to Miami, then on Saturday up to Ft. Lauderdale, where Wayne & Matt will head West. Joe's friend Vicki will fly in on Sunday. we are currently thinking that we will rent a car and head South to Key West, just to see some of Hemingway's 6 toed cats and of course pop into Capt. Tony's saloon as well as Jimmy Buffets restaurant.



Hope all is going well with everyone, It is bizarre to hear Christmas Music in the local stores when it is 85 degrees during the day.



More later,



Ross

with Joe, Matt & Wayne

The African Queen lives here

No, not the queen of an African Country, the real African Queen! On our walk to the dive boat yesterday we passed the real deal. She is in very so,so shape, but none the less she is here in Key Largo. We will be spending the day poking our nose into small coves and then may spend the night at a small marina on the ICW side of the Key.

While I was posting this message, Matt called his parents to give them the blog address. We all want to say hello to the Martells, in Murphys California.

Key Largo

5:53 PM 84 degrees. Joe, Matt & Wayne spent the morning getting scuba re certified, and then all four of us went out on the dive boat in the afternoon. I intended to snorkel, however I left my back up pair of contacts on the boat and not wanting to risk loosing a lens, I stayed on the boat.

The reports from the "bottom" are great, all had a great time. We are headed to the pool for a quick dip before deciding our dinner plans.

I have been getting eaten alive by the little flying wings with teeth (No See Ums). I remembered that I had a supply of benadryl on the boat and have started to pop them like crazy. Need to get the swelling down.

I will shoot something up after dinner.

Best from the Florida Keys

Ross

with Joe, Wayne & Matt

Key Largo

We arrived at Key largo this afternoon after a quick run from Miami. We are settled in and went to lunch at a local restaurant. The plan is to stay here today and tomorrow as well. Joe, Matt & Wayne will be recertifyinig their scuba skills tomorrow morning and then off for a 2 tank dive in the afternoon. Since I am not certified, I will go on the boat, snorkle and count bubbles.

I went to the pool associated with the marina. Joe met me on the way back to the boat to tell me that we had a line wrapped around the port prop. He quickly changed into a swimsuit and hopped in with a knife. He quickly cut the line off and we have a trophy.

I have started this edition of theblog as I could not get any other photos on the first.

More later

Ross

with Joe, Wayne & Matt