Season Greetings From My Cin

Marathon, Florida.......

It's hard to believe that our time in Marathon is almost up. We have enjoyed our visit here and the folks at Harbor Cay Club Marina couldn't be nicer. Last weekend we attended the Harbor Cay Club Christmas Party and each of us brought food and gifts for the "White Elephant" gift exchange. Majority of the group have gone home for Christmas leaving just a few of us here at the marina.

We will be sharing Christmas Day with Chuck, Fabin, Whitney Miller and her friend Bubba from Austin and Rodney and Katrina Warren for a Turkey Christmas Dinner. Kris and Danny Fletcher are leaving tomorrow for Ft. Walton to have Christmas with their family. The weather is incredible...blue skies and mid-eighties, so we will be working on our tans Christmas Day.

After Christmas, "Whichaway" will cruise south to Key West and "My Cin" will stay here and finish up last minute projects. Then on January 2nd, we will connect with "Whichaway" on their way back north to West Palm Beach. This is where we will wait for the "perfect weather window" to make the crossing. It is a 52 mile run to the first port to clear customs. Then we will head to the Abacos and will stay in Marsh Harbour for three months (taking numerous side trips).

We are really going to miss our kids and family at Christmas but Jess and I went home the first week in December and had a great time seeing everyone.

We are looking forward to 2008 and cruising the Bahamas and the East Coast. Jess and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love to all

My Cin

MARATHON

We arrived in Marathon on November 15th. Our marina is the Harbor Cay Club. It's privately owned slips and boaters can rent out slips when the owners are not here. It's very quaint and located on the west side of the Keys. The day we came in, we had to cruise about 3 hours across the Gulf. In that 3 hours of cruising, we dodged lobster traps like crazy. We were about 10 miles off shore and they were everywhere. Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we arrived to our dock.

Captain Still turned the big 60 on November 19th. We went to dinner that night and ran into Rodney and Katrina Warren. Their son went to school with Mandy and Jimmy. Plus, Katrina was Ryley's (our granddaughter) kindergarten teacher in Flour Bluff. This is a stop over for them before they head to Belize. Very small boating world out here.

Ed Boden (a friend of ours from Houston) arrived on 11/20 and we cruised to a another island about an hour away. That was our first outing in the Atlantic Ocean. Beautiful waters but a little rough the day we cruised.

It's beautiful here. We have really enjoyed the restaurants. One place we went to is called the "Stuffed Pig". Their breakfast menu is incredible. Everything from pancakes to a wide variety of omelets (lobster, conch, crab, alligator tail) - you name it, they have it.

In our little lagoon marina, there are two Manatees that hang out. They are huge. They will swim right up by your boat and if you spray water on them, they roll over on their backs and just float.

We are going home on 11/30 to see all our babies. We will be there for a week to take care of house business and doctor's appointments. Even though we are having a wonderful time on this trip, I realize now that I need to fly home at least twice a year to see the kids. We plan to head to the Bahamas after the first of January. Until then, hope your holidays are wonderful.

Jess and Cindy

THE CROSSING

Well we made it. We left Carrabelle on Friday 11/2 at 1:00PM to start our journey across the Gulf of Mexico to Tarpon Springs. By leaving at 1:00PM that would have us arriving in Tarpon around 10:00AM the next day. We were told by everyone...do not arrive in Tarpon in the dark. All conditions were good (winds and seas). About 15 miles out, winds picked up and it was getting rough. After 5 more miles of rockin & rollin, we turned back. We made it back to Dog Island and anchored at sunset (picture of us anchoring). Dog Island is 5 miles off the mainland. Saturday 11/3, we left at 11:00AM and all conditions were perfect. The winds were 5-10 and seas 1-2. It stayed this way the whole crossing (picture of flat Gulf). Once the sun went down, it was very very dark but the stars were incredible. We followed "Whichaway" and stayed in line with his stern light. About 2:00AM, the moon came up and did provide some "welcomed" light for us. About 5 miles out of Tarpon Springs, it was still dark and we had to inch our way through massive numbers of crab traps (this is why they say - come in at daylight). As we approached the first "Green Marker" to get us into the harbor....the good old sun was rising.

Once we docked at our marina, we all took long naps. The marina is located in the heart of the strip where all the Greek Restaurants are located and shops. A very fun place to stay (picture of happy couple right before dinner). Once we left Tarpon Springs, we anchored right off of Sarasota (picture of our anchorage).

Cruising the GIWW, we passed many many beautiful homes (picture of homes along the way). Next, we stayed in Venice and it is gorgeous. From our dock, you could see the Gulf of Mexico (picture of Gulf). I had a chance to get "Stella" out and Jess and I rode into the tourist area which is about 6 miles away.

Saturday, 11/10 we headed to Cabbage Key Island (Jimmy Buffet's song "Cheeseburger in Paradise"). And naturally, we had a cheeseburger...pretty good. And now it's Sunday, 11/11 and we are anchored just north of Ft. Myers Beach. Jess is a happy captain, he is currently watching Dallas play on TV.

We should arrive in Marathon next Friday and will be there a month. The west coast of Florida is beautiful. Alot of boats, Dolphins chasing our wake, clear beautiful water, weather in the low 80's and alot of warm sun. Sounds like a tourist ad! We are having the time of our lives and look forward to each day.

We will update again once we get to the Key's...until then, love to all.

Jess and Cindy

Happy Halloween From Carrabelle

We made it to Carrabelle, Florida waiting for the perfect weather crossing to make our journey to cross the Gulf of Mexico to Tarpon Springs. Here are some pictures taken from the Tennesse River, Tenn Tom Waterway (back to the Gulf Coast) to Florida. The trip has been great and we are truly having the time of our life.

Gulf of Mexico

Greetings from My Cin. We are back on the Gulf of Mexico. Today, we are crossing Mobile Bay heading to Florida.

We had a wonderful time in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. We loved Chattanooga, a beautiful and very scenic river run. The Great Loop Rendezvous was terrific. Met alot of great folks from all over the United States and will be hooking up with alot of them in Florida and Bahamas.

The only downside of the trip was not having good internet service and sometimes phone service. For the longest time, we could not check our emails, let alone updating the blog. I am updating this blog as we are crossing Mobile Bay. From here on out, should have good service for both.

Our current plan is to cruise to Carrabelle, Florida (arriving this Wednesday or Thursday). There we will wait for the "perfect" weather crossing in the Gulf of Mexico to Tarpon Springs (which is 152 miles - a 24 hour run). We will be traveling with other boats - so it won't be too scary. Then we will make our way down to Marathon (in the Keys). We stay in a marina for one month - making side trips and enjoying the area.

After January 1st, we will head to Bahamas and will cruise the Abaco Islands. Again, we will wait for the "perfect" weather crossing and will depart from Palm Beach. There will be quite a few boats that will be making the same crossing.

Jess and I are flying home first week in December to see the kids, take care of personal business and make the rounds to doctors and dentist. Plus, we will meet our new tenants. The house market in Corpus has been really down and an opportunity came up that we are leasing the house to four Navy Officers. They are moving in today!

So all is well, we are having a blast and very glad to be back on the coast. Will update again after the big "crossing". Wish us luck......

Jess and Cindy

TENNESSEE RIVER

My Cin has left Kentucky. We had a great Labor Day Weekend with guest from Texas, Becky Hermanson and Grant & Cheryl Halter. We left Buzzard Rock on September 6th and today we are at Ditto Marina in Huntsville, Alabama.

Everyone has told us that cruising the Tennessee River is beautiful. This is so true. Our destination on this trip is Chattanooga. We will head back to Joe Wheeler State Park, October 15 - 18th, for the Great Loop Rendezvous. Never dreamed we would be going to a convention by boat.

It's hard to believe that we have been on the boat for (4) months. It's been an adventure each day, always something new to see. We have met so many wonderful and fun folks along the way.

Pictures are from Labor Day and our visit with the Toney's.

STELLA SEGWAY STILL

It's been awhile since I have updated and my excuse is "We are having so much fun". We are currently at Buzzard Rock Marina in Kuttawa, KY waiting for "Labor Day" guest that are flying in from Texas.

We were in Nashville August 16 -20th and docked downtown at the City Dock. We went to the Grand Ole Opry and saw Tricia Yearwood, Clint Black, Lorrie Morgan and Porter Wagoner along with other great performers. It was truly a wonderful experience.

While in Nashville, Jess bought us a Segway so it would be easier for me to get around. Our other boating buddies thought I should get one and had the local dealer come to our boat for a demo. After some discussion on names for her, Chuck Miller named her..."Stella".

This past weekend, we were at Kenlake Marina and enjoyed the annual Jazz-Blues Festival.

After Labor Day, we are heading to the Tennessee River and cruise to Chattanooga. Along the way, we will get to visit with Janet and Hurcey Toney. They live in Huntsville, Alabama, which is very close to Joe Wheeler State Park (where we will be staying for a few days). Janet and I have been "best and close" friends since we were five years old.

We plan to be back on the Gulf Coast by November 1st and head to Florida. This has been an incredible journey so far and it is hard to believe that 3 months have flown by.

We plan to fly home first week in December. I need a grandbabies fix sooooo bad.

I promise to update more than I have. Until then, happy cruising from My Cin.