Yesterday while it poured all the way until sunset, we did what any member of the Conch Republic would do during a storm - we donned our foul weather gear and made our way (which wasn't easy because roads were flooded) to Sloppy Joe's for bloody mary's and the best tasting nachos, topped with the famous Sloppy Joes, ever. We walked around Duval in the rain, just like everyone else, except coming off of a sailboat, we were much better prepared with our raincoats and boat shoes. We came back to the boat to rest and to weather out the storm, which stopped shortly before sunset. After a swim (we had the entire pool to ourselves) we saw a beautiful sunset. Went back to our favorite Schooners Wharf Bar on the boardwalk for dinner. Walked around the marina and talked to some of the participants in the World Kingfish Tournament, which we learned is for people who are wealthy...and more wealthy. The cost is about $10,000 to enter, then you have to have one of these fancy, million dollar plus fishing boats with about 7 crew (including a photographer to document the catch), many have another boat just for bait, and on and on. The top prize can be over a million bucks. Guess we will stick to our two lines we troll off of our stern!

Yesterday's weather was the calm before the storm. We rode our bikes in the morning, about 6 miles. We went over the bridge to see where Tom and Brady are moored, and decided that it is worth it to pay for the convenience of being in the heart of Key West, at a marina where we have electricity, pool, etc etc. We ended up at our favorite Mam's Kosher restaurant (well, it's really just a walk up counter and 3 tables outside)for lunch. We were happy Mam is still here, as when we ate there last year, she said she was planning to go back to Israel. Eric had shakshuka and I had falafel. Out of this world. We spent the afternoon on the boat, doing laundry, reading and napping. After a swim, we headed over to Schooners Wharf for the launch of the Conch Republic Festival. We got a table that was perfect for watching the world walk by. There was a parade through the restaurant and it was a typical weird, crazy and really fun time. Today we are waiting for a horrible storm to pass. It is thundering, lightning, pouring and the wind is howling. We are hoping to at least be able to put on our foul weather gear and be able to get off the boat and go into town.

We arrived safely in Key West on Wednesday morning, after a very rough passage. The forecasts, which Eric and Tom monitored and discussed thoroughly before leaving, called for 15 knots. Well, with all of the technology in this world, they still can't predict the weather. They blew 28 knots most of the night, and it was miserable. Instead of grilling lamb chops (there was no way that was going to happen) we grabbed whatever we could, and when an entire glass of red wine blew into my lap, it was downhill from there. I wasn't a happy camper, and Eric could tell I had that pre-seasick look on my face, so he gave me two dramamine and set me below to sleep. I stayed down below the entire passage, and poor Eric was on duty the entire night. The morning brought calmer seas, and we sailed into Key West feeling very beat up (especially Eric). After enjoying a cold margarita to celebrate our safe passage, we swam showered and slept for about 4 hours. We grilled the lamb chops, went to Mallory Square to watch the sunset

and walked around town to poke our heads into our favorite bars to hear the music. Yesterday, our first full day here. we met Tom and Brady for brunch at Harry's, and then spent the day with them here. Last night, we went the Green Parrot to hear the Red Elvises, a popular band (the place was mobbed), grilled steaks on our boat, and when they left, we walked around town. It turns out we will not be going to the Dry Tortugas this trip, as the weather isn't going to be great, so we have to stay put in Key West until early next week. There are worse places to be stuck! In fact, it turns out this is a great time to be stuck here, as it is Conch Republic Festival starting tonight, and there are many celebrations planned. We are going to Schooners Wharf Bar tonight to watch the Festival begin. Should be a hoot.

It's Tuesday

morning and we are off to Key West. Yesterday we had a full day of perfect weather and lots of exploring. We went over to Cabbage Key for the most delicious hamburger, mahi mahi and black beans and rice, and of course key lime pie. We love this restaurant (the only one on the Island), with its "dollar" room, where patrons tape up dollar bills all over the walls and ceiling. Feeling very content, we went on Tom and Brady's dingy and set off to see the stilt houses a couple of miles from the anchorage. These houses, built about 100 years ago, were there to provide fisherman with ice, and they are literally in the middle of nowhere! There are only about 6 of them left in the area, and it's fascinating to see them. Apparently, they are still used, as we saw one of them had small satellite dish and a boat behind it. From there we went to Captiva Island and had a beer at a beach bar. The mansions there are beautiful. On the way back, we stopped at Caya Costa Island and Nature Reserve to walk the beach, which is pristine and isolated. We say one other person and many osprey. When we got back to our boats, Tom suggested we have happy hour on his dingy and putter around Useppa Island. We brought our beverages and they brought cheese and crackers and we spent a wonderful hour on the water, looking at the amazing mansions on Useppa and enjoying a beautiful sunset. Dinner was on Free Spirit. We had ravioli, salad, cauliflower, and of course, wine.

We are at Useppa Island, a utopia for boaters. Useppa is a private island, with many large homes, and the only way to get there by boat (or helicopter!). In the other direction is Cabbage Key, where there are cute bugalows on the water for rental and a restaurant where it is rumored Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburgers in Paradise." We went out in the Gulf yesterday to get here, and it was very pitchy (the Captain didn't know it would be rocking and rolling as much as it was). Long story short, I should have taken a dramamine when it was offered to me. The seasickness hit me like a ton of bricks. I took two of the pills, told Eric to get out of the Gulf and into the Intercoastal (where it would be calm) and slept. Eventually we did get out of the gulf, took Stump Pass to the intercoastal and I was feeling like a new person. One of the highlights of the trip was a dolphin that decided to coast along our boat for about 15 minutes. It was amazing. When we arrived at Useppa, we went for a swim which felt wonderful, then joined our friends, Tom and Brady on "Mo Headroom" for happy hour and dinner, which consisted of chicken, broccoli and Tom's famous salad (spinach, gorgonzola and walnuts). The weather is perfect for sleeping, and waking up hearing the birds and water lapping on the boat is a real treat. Today we will get in the dingy and explore. Might pack a picnic lunch and go to the beach.

Venice (Florida, not Italy)

Had a beautiful sail to Venice on the intercoastal. Enjoyed a great workout for about an hour on deck. Beats the heck out of the gym! This area is heaven. Water is blue and there are so many dolphins. We arrived at Crow's Nest and Eric spent about 2 plus hours repairing our jib sail. I walked to the beach and took a swim and saw two dolphins very, very close to shore. It was amazing. Walked out on the Venice jetty to watch the sunset, which is always a treat! Off to Useppa tomorrow.

APRIL 2012 ON FREE SPIRIT

Left the marina at 11:30 on Friday April 13. One unwritten rule for boaters is NEVER leave for cruise on Friday the 13th. But, we left anyway and when we saw a dolphin on the way out of the marina, we took that as a good sign. We had a beautiful sail to Longboat Key and met up with our friends Maya and Al on Fantastique. They came aboard for happy hour and then we went on their dingy ashore to Mar Vista for dinner. My friend, Tosca (the gatekeeper at Mar Vista) was happy to see me, but we still had to wait a while for a table. We bought a bottle of wine and sat on chairs on the beach while we waiited. Al told us a great story about how he and Tom (of Tom and Brady, the couple who shared our poisonous barracuda last year) worked for 4 months, 3 days a week on Fantastique getting blisters off the bottom and redoing the fiberglass. Enjoying a beautiful morning at this anchorage. Made coffee in a french press that I bought on Groupon and it is really good, a perfect way to brew coffee on a boat. I am watching some kids with their Dads fishing on the little Mar Vista pier. When I get out here, I am convinced I could get used to this for extended periods of time. We will leave later this morning for a day trip on the intercoastal to Venice to spend the night. A good day to all of you from Free Spirit!