September 2001
(Near Rodriguez Key and Key Largo)
28 September 2001
When I first drove the l948 stick-shift Plymouth, I was excited and apprehensive, just as we have been the last two weeks. The car had important systems, such as brakes and transmission, perhaps six or seven systems to learn. This boat has dozens of systems to learn, and to personally maintain. Also, the Plymouth traveled on a firm, known platform. Not so here. Our platform is not fixed, nor are its obstacles visible. The important obstacles lie a few feet below the surface. Parking places are not marked, and once I felt: "wouldn't it be great to spend 75 cents an hour to park at a place designated by someone else." We left the protection of Bahia Mar (and the personal support of Cabo Rico personnel) Friday, the 21st. Four lost souls, two with enough knowledge to keep going, and two trusting in-laws. An early goal was to calibrate the knot meter. I attempted this by starting a course south from the Ft. Lauderdale entrance channel, then returning over the same course. Oooops. Too close to the channel, and we had to suspend the return run to avoid an unwanted meeting with a freighter. Twice more I tried. About a half hour further south, toward Miami, we repeated the procedure, but I pressed the wrong button, destroying the effort. The third attempt appeared to work, giving us an instrument that provides a reasonably accurate indication of speed through the water. One solid bounce off the ground, and a thirty minute delay, was the exciting portion of our trip into Government Cut and Miami Harbor, through the narrow passage off downtown Miami, and on to a lovely anchorage north of Virginia Key. While Chichi and I worked on the boat, Chona and Pimpi enjoyed a fine day on the beach. The next day, to relax, we cruised about an hour to Dinner Key Marina to refill our tanks of both water and electricity. Then,on Monday, the 24th, we went to No Name Harbor near the southern tip of Key Biscayne. This harbor is part of Cape Florida state park that has walking and bicycling paths, two restaurants, a beach, and an historic light house. While our crew enjoyed the park, I planned the longest journey yet, approximately 40 miles from No Name Harbor to Key Rodriguez, where we again enjoy solitude, the stars, and each other, while always wondering whether a sixty pound anchor and 80 feet of roe (out of 250 available) will hold us firmly in place. Last night's passing thunderstorms, with 30-40 knot winds, caused nothing more than anxiety, for Pachamama did not move an inch off its non-designated, non-75-cent-per-hour-metered parking space. And Now: we visit Key Largo.
Bahia Mar Marina
Ft. Lauderdale
16 September 2001
Outfitting and provisioning a new boat is slow and lengthy. Everything acquired is subject to return because an item that appears important in the store finds no home on board. For example, an anchor looks appropriate in the store, but turns out not to fit any of the available storage areas.
Another problem is that we forget where we stored items, even though we stored them only two days earlier.
Last night we hosted our first dinner guests on board: Dave Macy, project coordinator for Cabo Rico, and his friend Felicia, an engineer, artist, dancer, writer, and all around fun person, who was born in Romania. She came to The United States as an anti-Romanian-government journalist in the early 80s.
We attempted yesterday to acquire a new American flag, but none was available anywhere in town. The day before, West Marine had 25. We are a proud and strong country.
Bahia Mar Marina
Ft. Lauderdale
12 September 2001
The Cabo Rico company has been working very hard and dilligently to prepare us for departure. We still require work on the propeller, dodger, bimimi, and on a few items inside the cabin.
Although we had a nice reception yesterday, we postponed the celebration/christening out of respect for our feelings, and for the feelings of our guests, about the national tragedy. Chichi will do this at some point soon, probably during a relaxed early evening, with a little wine and cheese.
Still, we had a pleasant time with Fraser, Anne, Luci and Tony (and their significant others) of Cabo Rico Custom Yachts, as well as with Frank and Tom of Alden Insurance, our in-laws John and Sharon Martini (Andre's mother and step father), Glenn and Sherri, who compose a marvelous charter crew, plus sailing friends of Larry Schroeder (Sandy and Larry are from Indianapolis; we met them in a tennis group), Daphne Dozie,r who made the reception work with her detailed and first class preparations as well as with her personal charm, and two very important guests: Pimpi Quezada and Chona Quezada, Chichi's sisters who came from Bolivia to celebrate with us.
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5 September 2001, Indianapolis
This is a test page for a web site that will become a personal log of our travels.
We are preparing to drive to Ft. Lauderdale, where we will board Pachamama, and begin our travels. Tuesday, we will host a reception and christening. After a few more days of preparation, we will be on our way.
Thank you for visiting this site. Come again in a week or two, and you will see more substance.
John and Chichi