Waterblogged: The Lazy Blogger: January 16

A moored sailboat

Water Taxi on the ICW

Wish we could have long piers and boat lifts at home. No ice to worry about here.

Enjoy!!

Wonderful visit with sister, Barb, and brother in law, Dan

Rod and his man-cave: The engine room

A manatee visited our 2 boats!

Love this Key West Car!!

Jellyfish visiting our boats

Wonderful Blue Angels show! Right above our boats!

Me and Seno'r Frog

Harley, the diver and his assisstant, Rod. Gotta keep those critters off the bottom of the boats.

Hi Grandma and Grandpa. I am so glad to meet you. I am Cade Ryan Gaulke and I already love you!

Our visit home to see the crew. Payton had a game.

These chickens and especially roosters think they own Key West.

Another boat visitor.

Forrest Gump boats all over Stock Island, Key West.

Ready to take Disneyworld by storm.

Popular sight.

Shamu soaking us with a large splash. ( Glad this is the last year) Free MY whales!!

Goodbye Key West.....

                            Pictures posted Prior to Narrative and After the Narrative

I have to admit that I have been a neglectful blogger and picture poster(postor?). So I will give our readers an overall synopsis of our continuing adventures: Having Fun. The End!
                                                          Just kidding!

     Once we arrived on Stock Island Marina in Key West we quickly learned that our modes of transportation were: walking, biking, shuttle, taxi, dinghy, rent a car and airplane. During our 3 months plus stay, we took advantage of all of them. Looking back, I now realize that we were very busy.
     Our 1st visitors were my sister and brother in law, Barb and Dan. In spite of cool and cloudy weather, we were able to tour Key West and beyond: Thank you rental car #1. We always have a great time with our "boat buddies".
     We then had friends, Tom and Tammy visit and tour Key West: Home Tour, Garden Tour, Mallory Square Sunset and of course, Hogfish Grill. Rental car #2 : Mustang Convertible( Provided by Tom and Tammy).
     Feb. 20, 2016: Big Day! Cade Ryan Gaulke was born - giving us Grandchild #7! Pure Joy!

     Airplane Mode: We flew to Wisconsin Feb. 23-March 3. Mutual friends with Ann and Harley, Brenda and Al were visiting Key West and were kind enough to take care of 2nd Knot. Meanwhile, we plunked our bodies and stuff at Cade's home in Oconomowoc and proceeded to be very busy. Rod spent a couple days in Eau Claire with 90 yr. old mother and visited family while I tried to help Rach. ( I played with Reid and Ainsley). We then visited family & friends, appointments and best of all spent time with each family and grandkids.
     Back to Stock Island: Rental car #3 for quick trip to Anna Maria Island for condo legal stuff. Great because we were able to spend a day with Terry and Nancy(Rod's brother and wife) and squeezed in 1 walk on "our beach".
      Back to Stock Island walking, biking, 1 dinghy ride, shuttling UNTIL April 7- 15: Rental Car#4: to Disneyworld! for an unforgettable Family Trip! Seeing Disney through the eyes of 5 grandchildren was wonderful! 11/2 month old Cade was perfect! Just like Rachel said he would: eat, sleep and poop! Little crying was to be expected. I was very proud of Rod - so hesitant to go on rides but did almost all of them because "Grandpa will you go with us?" is hard to say no! Will never forget the look on Reid's face watching his Grandmother scream at the top of her lungs plunging down the Tower of Terror! He didn't even blink - just stared at me like: What is her problem?
    Nicole, Jon and AJ's Disney trip is in the near future when job obligations permit.

                                     Back to Stock Island one more time.

                     Part B: Where Are We Now?

Sunday, April 24 was our departure day. We are averaging a new marina per day traveling on the Eastern Intercoastal Waterway at a slow speed: to keep fuel cost down, waiting for bridges to open(many bridges), Slow/No Wake and Manatee Zones. We usually arrive early afternoon, tie up, mini tour of the area, meals either together or on seperate boats, plan the next day travels.
   The following are the Marinas along our route so far:
1. Marathon Marina - on map(kids)
2. Mangrove Marina in Taverneer
3. Boca Chita Harbor
4. Loggerhead Marina in Hollywood
5. Lighthouse Point Marina
6. Old Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach - on map
7. Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce
8. Melbourne Marina - not sure if on the map
9. Titusville Marina
10. Adventure Yacht Marina in Wilbur By the Sea (Real name).  ICW on one side and Daytona Beach on the other)! Walked in the Atlantic Ocean! Awesome!
11. Marina Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast    As I write this, we are here. Beautiful resort right on the ICW!
                                                                Observations

1. Key West: Several boaters are Live Aboards - sold everything :
                         Man Buns and Tatoos are popular no matter the age.
                        Air Show for Blue Angels was outstanding.

2. Now cruising past many Hi Rise Condos, large, gorgeous homes on one side of the ICW and wild mangrove and marsh areas on the other side.

                              Well, that is it, Folks. Enjoy the narrative and pictures.