Laura's visit to the Keys

We were so happy to have our daughter Laura, her husband Carlos, and our granddaughters, Chloe and Carly, for Thanksgiving.  They drove down from Panama City and we had great fun exploring the lower Keys.

Best ideas involve ice cream with Papa

Hog's Breath fun times

Key West foodie

Great times

Mallory Square performers

Beautiful sunsets

We watched the Disney Wonder leave

Sloppy Joes stop for a rest

Chickens saved by Laura

Checking out the Old Harbor

The group at the point

Football food for Alabama and FSU game day, Carly chefing!

Turtle Hospital Iguana

Turtle friend

Checking out the turtle ambulances

Beach day, big swimmer Carly

Adult beach fun

Visiting manatees
I think we got to do a little of all the fun things here.  I didn't get pictures of fishing.  They caught fish at Miss Em and also took a party boat out.  That was good eating that night.  We all enjoyed lots of family fun.

White Marlin at Marathon Key

Beautiful days at White Marlin.  We were so happy to find such a beautiful, deep water, secure Marina to spend the winter in.  Last year was so wonderful here.  I made great friends and enjoyed wonderful weather.  The marina is the best kept I have ever been in, with wonderful staff.

Entrance from Coco Plum Drive with the bathhouse and laundry.  I especially like the green and red marker lights at night.

The beautiful common with Tiki Hut.  We have great times here.

Harbormaster's office

View from owner's balcony

Owner Ms. Sue and Harbormaster Annabelle

View from the front dock

View from the side dock with great sunset views

Side common deck 

Beautiful garden grounds

Ms. Sue's home

Says it all!

Back of the Harbormaster office

Divine Miss Em at her slip

Beginning of a great winter!

We worked hard when we arrived at White Marlin to get the boat cleaned and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  After a pigout at the stuffed pig we checked out a few of our other favorite hangouts.  Then we went to get our car from Ft. Pierce.  I was glad to get back to Marathon Key.

At Lorelei we had a great lunch and replenished T-shirts

The best beach restaurant

You can eat right on the beach

We loved tripping to Islamorada.  Every year they have a huge flea market so that will require a trip back.

On the way to the Keys!

We loved our visit to St. Augustine, but it was time to start traveling to Marathon where we had decided to spend the winter.  After a big year of major boat projects, it was time to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labors.  We decided to go the ICW as the weather was not the best for traveling.  As the captain says when there are small craft warnings it applies to any boat under 100 feet! The best part about traveling is anchoring out.  It is so peaceful and quiet.

Anchored at Lake Worth we saw the big cruise ships leave

Moved dingy to the deck due to winds and large wakes

Dingy motor on its deck home
It is inconvenient to have to put the dingy off the davits.  Then you can't use it to go ashore.  But better safe than sorry.

Beautiful boats at West Palm beach

Rainbow at West Palm

Hurricane Harbor in Key Biscayne

Beautiful homes surrounding Hurricane Harbor

Looking out to Miami bay

Reefed down running the Atlantic from Lake Worth inlet
We left the ICW at the Lake Worth inlet, too many bridges. Finally some great weather, heading for Rodriquez Key

Light Winds

View from the cockpit
We began the Lobster pot lookout.  One of us on the bow of the boat to avoid them.  We used our remote autopilot which worked out well

Rodriquez Key Anchorage
A group of boats anchored around us and left early for the Bahamas

Next stop White Marlin Marina in Marathon Key

History in St. Augustine

Here we are on our mooring ball in St. Augustine Marina before Hurricane Matthew

O.C. White restaurant built as the Worth house in 1791, supposedly haunted.  It has been a hotel and was moved to the present location from across the street.  No reports that the ghost moved also.

Gary at the entrance to the Bridge of Lions, first a wooden bridge built in 1895, rebuilt in 1920 continually upgraded

Harry's

Above is Harry's built as a home in1753, we enjoyed the New Orleans style and food.  It was previously known as Catalina's Gardens who supposedly still haunts the premises.  I don't blame her, it is beautiful and reminds me of New Orleans.

Our friends told us about Rivers Marina and Patty's , it opened up right after the hurricane and we need the visit

Government House on King Street, the first one was built of wood in 1690. It has been rebuilt several times built of Coquina ( a mixture of soft shell and limestone.)

Lightner Museum, originally the second luxury hotel Henry Flagler built.  It became the city hall and museum in 1974. When it was a hotel is featured spa's  and the world's largest indoor swimming pool.

Flagler College was originally the Hotel Ponce DeLeon, the interior was designed by Louis Tiffany

The bronze statue of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles the founder of St. Augustine 

Jan on the coquina bridge in front of the Lightner Museum

First Union Bank building,designed in 1926

We had lunch at the Columbia with beautiful spanish tiles everywhere and portraits of the Marti Gras Kings and Queens

The Basilica Cathedral completed in1797, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the US

I will end with a pic of the Jolly Raven, we heard the crew singing sea chanties and firing pistols as the took children and parents out for birthday and just fun.  I am looking forward to a return visit to this wonderful place and with no hurricanes.