A certain magic occurs when a boat has been stationary  more than a few days so….no surprise, this extension. Not only do we continue to wait on Yanmar to.. can I say this? Shit or get off the pot, we have time to kill before needing to return to Miami Beach by Dec 19. Tiny progress has been made and finally on Thursday, one week after we got here, the southern distributor gave the go-ahead to enter the work ticket in the system. If Yanmar gives the OK for the seals to be replaced (it’s a bad thing to have both drives with the same problem) Marathon Boat Yard will fit us in next week; hopefully Tuesday or Wed.

Boot Key Harbor is an easy, pleasant place to be. Everything, except a good nightlife is here, much of it within a mile’s walk north or south on AIA. Bicycles are the preferred mode of transportation for the cruisers here; 5 bike racks are filled at all times, and that doesn’t count the bikes kept aboard. Bus service is available; for $4 one away you can ride from Marathon at mile marker 51 all the way to mile 0 at Key West. There you will find the night life and superb people watching you can’t get in Marathon. Plans for a Key West jaunt on Friday got squashed by too great a chance of rain.  The boat parade is Saturday evening, Sunday has showers so Monday could be our day in Key West. See why you need so much time to accomplish everything? 🙂

Key West and boats aground remind us of our friends Chris & Tracy on s/v Sanuk.  Key West was their favorite place and going aground was simply another opportunity to kick back and toss down a few shots! We miss having instigators of fun times nearby.

Speaking of fun times, I finally gave in and did laundry. The machines at Marathon Boat Yard are only $1 on the honor system, so I’d planned to spend some quality time with them. Forget it, plus with my luck we’d get there and the machines would be out of order.  The City Marina has 6 washers and 6 dryers at $2 per load. You have to get a money card at the office; no lugging quarters here. The washers take forever, the longest time I’ve encountered at any marina. Oh, I can hear the groaning now. Yeah, you all should have such problems. I’m smilin’.  The washers do a fine imitation of certain hi-rise bridges- oh speaking of bridges- I have to confess that I love, love Jeff Bridges’ song, “Fallin’ and Flyin’”, from the almost as good movie, Crazy Heart. Anyway, when the washer display shows 35 mins, don’t believe it. I forgot that and had time to kill waiting around. Met a newbie cruising couple who are also new to sailing. See, we aren’t the only crazies out here.

This sight warmed up my sleepy camera

Thursday looked like new pilot training day as two military planes (correct me if I am wrong) spent five hours flying in huge ovals over Marathon. Marathon airport is a few miles north of the harbor. We caught a better look when we walked into town and the planes seemed to fly in low as if they were going to land, but then they lifted again and made another circle around. Taking those lessons one step at a time, kinda like me with dinghy practice. I am now able to start the outboard, a major accomplishment, although I need to pull 3 or 4 times when the outboard is cold. Heck, that’s the easy part. Forward, reverse, left, right, the wind, the waves- ugh. I came up with “right away” which tells me that if I want to go right, I have to move the handle away from me. Maybe when I’m 80 this will be second nature.