Our Cruising Life Begins !!!
March and April 2005
We declared the month of March 2005 as the official beginning of
our cruising life. Our first stop was the Florida Keys. We had heard
about Boot Key Harbor in Marathon, so we decided to give it a try.
We learned a quick lesson about staying in the channel when we
ran aground upon entering the harbor. Using a second anchor and
the dinghy, we pushed ourselves off at high tide the next day and
anchored safely. We celebrated our resourcefulness with a long
happy hour.
We found the Sombrero Golf and Country Club nearby. We were
able to play several rounds as guests, thanks to membership
director, Cathy Tyrrell We enjoyed the course and the people and
are considering spending next winter there.
Our first overnight guests, Dick Pedersen and Peggy Foley, from
Colorado Springs arrived during our stay in Marathon.
They spent a week in the Keys.
Dick played a couple of rounds
with us while Peggy
explored the area.
Dick enjoys
boating and
handled the
helm when we
went for a sail in
Hawk Channel.
While in Marathon, we visited with two couples who are new Admiral
owners. Mark and Ginger Milnes and Harlin and Brenda Allen came
aboard for a sail. We had a great time and enjoyed sharing our
experiences and answering their questions.
May 2005
We left Marathon on April 28 and sailed back to Ft. Lauderdale, just
in time to say goodbye to David Bird, who was flying home to Cape
Town. We moored at Las Olas Marina, a nice facility where we had
stayed before. There, Admiral’s warranty person, Kent Grimbeek,
installed a Follow Me TV system which works well. We now have
Direct TV on the boat. So much for roughing it!
Kent finished off several other warranty issues on the boat during
the month, while John and I played golf regularly in Pompano Beach.
We also spent time with Mike and Jane Kinghorn who are the next
Admiral couple to head to Cape Town. Another opportunity to tell
our stories and to play golf. Mike and Jane are quite the linksters!
They invited us to play in a tournament which was great fun, even
though we scored miserably.
Sunset at Marathon, Florida
John practices his net casting in the Keys!
We were visited by a variety of wildlife while
anchored in Boot Key Harbor. Dolphins,
manatees and an unlucky crab paid us a visit.
anchored in Boot Key Harbor. Dolphins,
manatees and an unlucky crab paid us a visit.
(Above) Off in the dinghy to play golf at Sombrero
Country Club. (Below) John tees off on one of the
scenic holes on the course.
Country Club. (Below) John tees off on one of the
scenic holes on the course.
We enjoyed our visit with Mike and Jane
Kinghorn, who are next in line for a new
Admiral!
Kinghorn, who are next in line for a new
Admiral!
Southport Raw Bar in Ft. Lauderdale became a regular hangout for us! Here we are with
Kent, Belinda and Hayley Grimbeek along with David Bird. Kent and Belinda will manage
Admiral's Ft. Lauderdale office.
Kent, Belinda and Hayley Grimbeek along with David Bird. Kent and Belinda will manage
Admiral's Ft. Lauderdale office.
John with new Admiral owners(left to right) Harlin and
Brenda Allen, Ginger and Mark Milnes and their
grandaughter, Brooke, joined us in Marathon for sail!
Brenda Allen, Ginger and Mark Milnes and their
grandaughter, Brooke, joined us in Marathon for sail!