Setting our new sails for Key West

Today Mark and I were soaking in the hot tub and discussing all of the items that need to be packed for our upcoming trip to Florida. We were having a dilemma on how to get the dinghy there so that we can use it to get us to land when we are anchored or moored. Do we try to check it on the airplane? Should we send it on Amtrak? Can we ship it? In the end our final decision was to box it up and ship it Fed Ex ahead of us. We sent it to the business where we bought our boat with prior permission. It is now being tracked en-route and is somewhere in Florida. Yay!!

Next we have to pack our bags and remember to bring PFD's, paddleboards and paddles, pump, snorkeling gear, tool case, fishing poles, tackle, and who knows what else will end up on the list! The good part is that we can leave all of this additional stuff on the boat. Our plans are to fly there again right after tax season for our spring trip. It will all be there and we won't have to worry about it.

We are picking up Endurance in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We have a reservation at the Los Olas Marina.
 Active Captain has a great description of the place and you can make reservations here Reservations. We have stayed here once before on New Girl for our trip to the Abacos, Bahamas and really enjoyed it. It is on the ICW 17th St. bridge, very inexpensive and also has mooring available. It is 2 blocks from the beach, washer/ dryer, showers, wifi, and close to shops. There is also the Sun Trolley that we can take for provisioning. It is a great means of transportation.

We will be celebrating New Years Eve right near the beach. They will be dropping a ball. That sounds pretty cool. I have only seen those things on t.v. in New York.  Key West will be celebrating with a drag queen in a large high heeled shoe. Ha! I hear there are crazy things that happen on Duval Street.

Then on New Years Day  we are to casting off the dock lines and heading out for Key Largo. We have a lot of plans for paddle boarding, snorkeling and lobster fishing. We have purchased our tickle stick, snare, net and bags that are needed for the hunt. I think there is going to be some good eating in the cockpit at evening hours! I am also hoping that this is something that doesn't freak us out and we can actually catch them. Have you ever tried this? What was your experience? Please let us know in the comments.

We will travel all the way down to Key West and do some exploring of Duval Street and the town. Hemmingway has a museum there with live 6 toed cats out front. Lol!

When our adventure is done in the Keys we will head back up the Gulf Stream and catch the elevator ride up. Our entry will be St. Lucie/Stuart and then head up the St. Lucie River toward the Okeechobee Lake. We will rest the boat on the hard at  Indiantown Marina. We did a lot of research for a place to leave her out of hurricane trouble and away from the high cost of Fort Lauderdale/Miami area. We will have to go through our very first set of locks with a 13ft. rise. I am so excited to experience this. I saw my first lock with my sister-in-law Mary in Appleton, WI.

Bahama bound is planned on her come November, 2015. We will head down with the truck and trailer in tow from Montana. We will get to visit friends and family on the way. Sail her to the flower Bahama Islands this time and then drive her home. Come May 2016 she will get dropped into fresh water for a nice bath, fun weekend sailing and racing with our yachties at the  South Flathead Yacht Club.