23 December, 2015

Okay, the evening of the 23^rd we headed out thru the Snake Creek Bascule bridge at 1600, 4 PM, and made our first attempt at crossing to the Bahamas. Well, it was a little rough out there and neither of us relished the notion of riding a roller-coaster all night long, so while there was still daylite we turned back and made the 6 o'clock opening of the bridge, back into the bay side of the Keys. I had told others that it was no embarrassment to turn back in rough going, so I took my own advice.

Bonus - beautiful sunset on the way back to the Keys.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve anchored off Islamorada and went ashore for supper at an outdoor restaurant, eating under the lighted Palm Trees. We had Conch, Red Snapper, Crab Stew and cheeseburger, to live music. After supper we walked Rte 1 a bit and did some window shopping. It was pleasantly cool ashore and good sleeping back at the boat.

In keeping with Pease Christmas Eve tradition Dan ordered a cheeseburger for dinner.

Dinner at Lorelei's on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Sunset

Christmas lights in Islamorada - the stalks are palm tree trunks.

Christmas Day

Looking for a place to snorkel, we moved the Willie over to Shell Key Bank. We did find swimming and tried out our snorkels, fins and masks, but the only thing we found was a crab, a dead horseshoe crab, and a couple of sea stars. We caught and ate the crab. Sorry guy. We also saw a turtle on the way there, but just a fleeting glance, as apparently they are pretty shy.

Stone crab - we made a dip out of him.

26, 27 December

Still looking for snorkeling and swimming, and a break from the strong East winds, we retraced our earlier path and to the Northward to anchor in the lee of Bottle Key where we spent two nights. The swimming was good if not a little chilly, 77 degrees. We mostly swam laps for exercise as it was very cloudy in the water, never did see bottom. We were anchored in 5 feet of water. We had some other boats come and go, some fisher-folks and some swimmers. All were quiet company so we weren't bothered, and there was plenty of room.

Sunset at Bottle Key - still hoping for that green flash.  Not this one.

28 Dec, 2015

After a good morning swim we headed back to Tarpon Basin as we were expecting delivery of some solar panels. The panels didn't show so we did some ships work and then at suppertime discovered that our electric fridge had quit and was unresponsive. Kathy started cooking all the meat we had on hand and I walked to the grocery store for some ice.

29 Dec, 2015

We started the morning discussing options for food for the near future of our cruise. Clearly we had some big decisions to make. Options, replace or repair the Norcold that had lasted only 3 months of calm waters of the ICW, put in a full blown refrigeration system, go back to ice (hardly practical in the tropics), or go cold free. Since we both agreed that to fix or replace the Norcold would be pointless, and we weren't crazy about the idea of chasing diesel fuel all over and listening to the engine everyday as it cooled the fridge but warmed the boat. We had chased ice all summer in Canada, (where the water and air temps were much colder), and that was a hassle, so we decided to go back to basics and give a go at no refrigeration at all. (And why does refrigeration have no d?)

Funny aside: I was on the phone with the Norcold people for a while this morning and I openly admitted that I had no sales receipt, purchase price, didn't even remember where I bought the fridge except mid-sept over the internet. They told me I would need to return the unit to the seller for service. I said I don't want it fixed, I just want to return it. Them - No way.  Finally I got the ear of a supervisor and she said they would cover a service call. (FYI - Norcold's 2 year 'warranty' consists solely of one service call.)  Well the closest service center was in Miami and they said that would be too expensive to send someone out so the best thing would be for them to over-nite ship a new unit to us either in Key Largo or the Bahamas!

I guess they had called my bluff, I still didn't want the thing, but would I be a fool(?) to turn down a free new unit?  So I had them ship it to Camden and said that we would pick it up there. Then I asked what they wanted us to do with the original fridge. She said, “You can do whatever you want with it, we don't want it.”

I decided to put a "FREE" label on it and put it by the dumpster at the community center/town hall that we are anchored off.  That works in Maine, why not here? But while rowing ashore I decided to ask one of the live-aboards if they or any of their friends might be interested in it. He said he would be glad to have it, working or not, didn't matter. He said he might take it to Miami and see about getting it fixed himself and maybe he should take my name and number just in case ...?  I couldn't think why he would need that, he wasn't buying the fridge, I was giving it to him, and he wasn't getting it fixed for me either.  No name or number was given.  The fridge is his.  

So if anyone is interested in a brand new 12/24 Volt 2 cubic foot DC refrigerator there should be one showing up on Norwood Avenue any day now.  

At lunchtime we motored over to Sunset cove so Kathy could tend to laundry at a facility there, and spent the evening anchored off listening to wedding party music drifting off the shore of Key Largo.