Who Running Things Around Here???

I really dont understand what is going on...I am having to do these updates because Mom and Dad are too busy doing stuff and going places while the boat never moves!! They are taking vacation from vacation the way I see it. And (this is bad) they left me at some hospital for a whole week with people and dogs I did not know....dogs were good and it was OK, but I let them know when I got back to boat how I felt in more ways than one if you know what I mean. Mom and Dad went to Key West again with Gary and Jeanie ( I got to go on this trip!) for the Superbowl and Uncle Terry stopped by on his motorcycle for a day. Then as soon as we got back to boat again they left again to go on a bigger boat for a week, something called a cruise which is what I thought we were doing, go figure! Anyway, Mom is gone again to Houston to see Jamey and her doctors and Dad and I are hanging out here in Marathon.

As I understand we are going back to Tn for a few days and then back to Marathon and will finally start moving again...it has been nice though to be in warm weather.

A few pics are attached for your viewing pleasure.......bark more, growl more!!

Weird Names, New Places, New Friends and Cool Shades

OK its finally my turn to get a real update on Willi's Big Adventure. We got back to Salty Sams for a few days which was OK because I knew my way around and when to resist walking when we had gone too far from Here and Now. I got to see my friend Vincent (two legged) and his dogs Vincent and Merlin. They were not Westies but real cool Pekinese and fun to play with. After a few days we had someone else on board and taking up part of my space. It was OK because she played with me a lot and took me to the sand to dig and get really dirty...lots of fun. We then started moving again and the problem is it takes me a few days to get to know the marina and my bearings, how long to 'hold it' before doing my business, etc. We got to Naples and met some neat folks like Simon and Wade and the folks on the huge boat beside us (Dad said it was a ocean going ship called a Nordhaven or something like that). Dad and Mom and Teresa/Donna went to shop and eat a lot and Dad had someone take a pic with an old car.

We swapped people on the boat(Donna for Teresa) and left Naples for some place called Little Shark River as you already know from Dad's update. The thing is I don't understand all these names as there were no sharks and also on the way there and to Marathon the rest of the crew were looking for crab pots....again no crabs and no pots....just little round balls in the water. They got me looking for them too and Mom got me some cool shades so I could see them better.

We got to Marathon and met more Loopers (lots of real Loopers and just loopies down here in the Keys). We had to take Donna to airport in Key West and left early to explore Key West. Mom and Donna took off shopping and Dad and I hung out and walked all over the place. Key West is a fun place and very friendly for dogs and Westies. I saw another Westie like me and was a little taken back...thought it was a mirror like on the boat for a while. I think they should change the name of this island to Key Westie!. It was Race Week in Key West and Dad saw lots of fast sailboats from all over the world and we visited lots of little places where Dad and I had to take breaks for some liquid refreshments....I just had water by the way. Another name thing is this one place called Hogs Breath...no hogs that I could see!!

Well I am about done, Dad is walking me every day here in Marathon a long way around a golf course and up and down the docks and I get really tired...its hot too! We have settled in for a while here and have some more guests coming next week...I will be ready and get them oriented to the boat.

Thats all folks....bark more, growl more!

Naples, Little Shark, and Marathon

We are a little behind schedule on our blog updates but we finally left Fort Myers Beach and traveled 33 miles to Naples where we stayed at the City Dock for five days. Our friend Teresa from Galveston flew into Fort Myers and traveled with us to Naples. Great place to spend a few days. Teresa left on Monday the 18th and another longtime friend Donna flew in and has traveled with us the last two days. We had two great weather days with calm seas and traveled Tuesday from Naples for 70 miles to a great anchorage in the Little Shark River in the Florida Everglades. We did not see any sharks however. There were 7 other boats in the same anchorage. We left Little Shark this morning and traveled about 50 or so miles to Marathon, Florida across Florida Bay. Great day on the boat despite dodging crab pots all day and all the way in to Boot Key Harbor. We got into Sombrero Dockside Marina this afternoon and met our next door neighbors from Tn, Van and Diane, and had a great meal this evening with an number of fellow loopers who are here.
Carolyn and Donna helped all day today looking for crab pots and markers coming into the keys. We will be here for several weeks and look forward to getting to know lots of new people we met today. Just a few pics for this update. Willi is doing well and met a new little friend his size today...her name is LuSea!. Anyway the weather is great down here, around 75-80 during the day, and lots of sunshine. Marathon is what they call 'Old Florida' and I believe it....really laid back.

Back to Sunny But Cold, Cold Florida

After a great Chirstmas and New Years with family and friends we are now back aboard Here and Now at Salty Sams Marina in Fort Myers Beach. The morning we left our home on the Tennessee River it was 8 degrees and we were looking forward to some warmer weather down south...not to be. It was a record 31 degrees last night and warmed to @ 55 degrees today. Since we returned we have visited Sanibel Island and did some shelling on the one warm day we have had. We ate at a great little resturant called the Island Cow. We have been getting all our stuff organized and cleaning the boat. We hope to leave this week for Naples for a few days and then next week on the Everglades and Marathon....weather permitting. We will be running outside in the Gulf of Mexico from here to Marathon but fairly close to shore. While here we have changed oil and had the boat bottom cleaned and checked as well.

Carolyn and Willi are doing good but we are ready to move on. I have our charts plotted and GPS routes prepared to Marathon with stops in Naples and Little Shark River ( on the hook).

Attached are some pics from Sanibel and Marina here at Salty Sams including the new rod holder flagstaff we got for Christmas......

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Grrrrr

Yep, its me again...Dad thought he would have the last word this year but not so. I celebrated my very first Christmas yesterday and it was great! After flying home ( I dont like airplanes but I behave pretty well cause I get to go) we got to the river and my deck and I had to check everything out at the house including running a few laps around the den and kitchen.

We spent Christmas day at Matt and Susans and I got to play all day with Riley and Bogie and open presents (mine and everybody else's too). When Dad and I got up at our usual 5:30am time it was snowing...first snow for me but it didnt last long. I got new toys and treats and got to see Jamey on the internet hook up...cool! Papa and MaMaw Wood came over for lunch and presents too. It's cold up here and I do miss the warm weather we left in Florida. Dad took me upstairs today and we got on scales and I topped out at a whopping 13 pounds....boating life has been good for me. I will make this update short and sweet cause I wont be sweet much longer today....heard Mom and Dad talking about a bath today and I know what's coming shortly. Attached are some Christmas pics and a few other loop pics with yours truly.

See you all later when we get back to Here and Now in some warmer weather next year.

Remember, bark more and growl more!!

Last Stop in 2009

We have made it to Fort Myers, Fl which is our final stop for 2009. We will be here a week and then head home to Tennessee for the holidays. We left Palm Island Marina yesterday after a stay of a week there. Very nice marina with access to beach and pool. The beach was not crowded and Carolyn got lots of shells. We biked a couple of days including riding to church on Sunday morning. It was a beautiful day yesterday on the water as we traveled @ 45 miles from Cape Haze, Fl to Fort Myers through Gasparilla Bay and Pine Island Sound including Captiva and Sanibel Islands. Several pics attached are from both near Palm Island and on the trip to Fort Myers. We had some dolphins who followed close behind our boat for a long time. Also note the slow speed zone sign for manatees. We saw some of these in the marina at Palm Island.

We have traveled almost 1100 miles by water and have been away from home for about 6 weeks. Enjoy the pics and we will update again in 2010 (unless Willi sneaks in and does a Christmas update).

Stay Safe....

Waiting Out the Rain.

We have been away from home for a month now. It sure doesn't seem that long. Last week we were in Clearwater Fl. The marina was right by a beautiful white beach and every chance we had we were there. That is between rain storms.... which aren't that bad because then you clean the boat and catch up on your laundry. Another thing that happens especially when it rains, is you meet everyone on the dock. Most are starting or finishing the Loop which lends itself to great evenings with everyone sitting in a large circle talking about their experiences. We learned where to eat along the way, what towns are unique to visit, and where to find the best price for gas/deisel. One of the quaint villages was Tarpon Springs. Its a greek community thats been there forever and has the best food and friendliest people. Got to shop a few hours in real stores, not a Walmart.

We are now in Cape Haze, Fl on the ICW after stopping yesterday at Cortez, Fl. The marina here is very nice and we may stay a few days....weather is great. We are now only 38 miles from Fort Myers where we will keep the boat for a month or so over the holidays.