Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Living in Paradise

Blue Heaven Rendezvous #25

Well, we may be in paradise, but the same mundane chores have to be accomplished. I spent three hours doing 3 loads of laundry at the marina with three washers. After lunch we biked to see how close the nearest Laundromat was. It is within biking distance, so we might try that next time. However, there was an advantage to doing laundry at the marina, because I met another woman on a boat nearby. We invited her and her husband for cocktail hour and got to know Kathy and Randy on In Transition. They come from near Buffalo, NY where Randy said they have had 22 ft. of snow so far this year! I bet they are glad to be in Marathon!

Saturday was a very nice warm day, so I had Al take me in the dinghy to Sombrero Beach while he tinkered on the boat. The single side-band doesn’t seem to be transmitting so he is trying to solve the mystery.

On the cruiser’s net in Boot Key Harbor, I learned that they have a yoga class at the pavilion of the community park next to the marina. I have never done yoga but thought especially since it was free, that I would try it. I tried it and I liked it, so I will be doing that three mornings a week.

We also heard a nearby restaurant was having a pig roast, so we went with Kathy and Randy. There was entertainment, a Jimmy Buffet- type singer, as advertised. But all you got was shredded pork served with bake beans and coleslaw. By the time we ordered they were out of the pork except for one serving, so the rest got mahi mahi sandwiches. It wasn’t what we were expecting.

Monday dawned and a front came through so it was a bit windy and cooler. Randy and Kathy said they were biking to Pigeon Key which we had told them about the day before. We decided to join them and packed our lunches and headed out. This very small island is connected to land by the old railroad bridge that Flagler had built. No motor vehicles are permitted, but you may walk or bike to it. It housed the 500 workers who helped build the railroad. We saw a half hour video about Henry Flagler and how he is responsible for developing most of Florida by building the railroad with his own money. Our tour guide was very animated and you can tell loved her job. She explained all about Pigeon Key and the few buildings that were on it as well as more information on Mr. Flagler. It was a very interesting day and I must say that I really admire Flagler for all he did for people. We biked back doing about 8 miles in total.

Our days are filled with the tasks of running the generator, food shopping, bike riding, getting water at the dock and bringing it back in 7 gal. water jugs. We could move the boat into the dock, but with the winds blowing 18- 22 knots the past few days the water jugs keep us supplied just fine.

Today I made a cake for the “Greet, Meet and Eat” at the marina. We hope to get to know a few more of our 250 neighbors.

No comments: