I need redbull...

Oh my goodness!  It seems I owe some apologies to those who are going through blog withdrawals.  I've been scolded by those who check the blog before turning in for the night.  I've been chided by those who have not been able to read the blog while having their morning coffee.  I've been reprimanded by those those who are a little OCPD like myself and have been compulsively checking for some news for the last five days.  Lastly, I have been cursed by those who try to sneak in a five minute vacation in paradise while "working" at their desks at work. WHEW!  I think that about covers everyone.

It all began this past Friday morning, while Sassafras was waiting for Ellie bug
to arrive from the airport.  He made it difficult for Momma to make up her bed.

Bright and early Saturday morning, we set sail, after a short
nights' sleep. First on the agenda was a sail/dive trip.
Elle was happy to be back on Marquesa!

Cap'n asked her to trim the mainsheet...well, look at her go!
She remembered all by her own big self :)

It's so good to have my baby girl (of 20!) back in my arms.

Our sail plan to go to Looe Key to dive had to be ditched due to the wind
direction and building seas.  It would have been a beautiful down wind sail
there, but we would have beat back into even stronger winds and higher seas
the next morning. Instead, we went to Sombrero Reef.  Elle and I fed the
yellowtail snapper ginger snaps while Donnie set up our dive gear.
We didn't want the fishies getting seasick, afterall!  Now we know
where all the yellowtail have been hiding when the guys have gone fishing.

Cap'n has set up our dive gear for so many years, I'm not sure either of us
would even remember how, anymore.  He spoils his dive buddies :)

Elle knows how to rock Aunt Diane's wetsuit.

Let's roll off this rocking boat before we all get sick!
You can see Sombrero Light in the background.
Given the sea conditions, we nearly had the reef to ourselves.

We had a great dive...really good vis(ibility), and saw tons of fish!  We had
fun looking at the books to identify all we saw; french angelfish, queen angelfish,
barracuda, trunkfish, blue chromis, blue tang, black grouper, nassau grouper,
fairy basslets, yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper, sargeant majors, and so many others!

How many shades of blue do you see?!  How about that pedi, lol.

Plan B was to anchor up with Plan Sea (Matt & Karie) in Sister's Creek
for the night, and grill out for dinner. Plan Sea is their Endeavor catamaran.

After a fabulous dinner (better than any restaurant we've been to, really),
we opted for a game of dominoes on Matt & Karie's boat.

Elle seemed to be taking it tough...

So Karie baked up some chocolate chip cookies to make it all better :)

It was well after midnight after we got back to Marquesa.  Unfortunately, we had drug anchor, and nearly had our stern in the mangroves.  The rudder was inches from running aground.  This lead from one calamity to another, which involved a wrapped prop, Donnie making a dive in the mangroves to cut it free, Matt guiding us with his dinghy (Plan D), two more attempts at setting the hook still in a cranking wind, and then FINALLY, by nearly 2am, we were able to call it a night.  Between the wind,
the sun, the diving, the good food, and the late night, we were all done in.  We were looking forward to sleeping in on Sunday morning.  Because we were in pretty tight quarters, we couldn't set the anchor alarm, so Cap'n slept with one ear open much of the night.

After breakfast the next morning, we weighed anchor and cruised through
Boot Key Harbor.  We love to see the flags flying from all over the world.

We decided to park ourselves along the wall and have lunch at Burdine's.
Marquesa is behind Plan Sea.

As if their burgers and fries isn't the best on the island, no meal
is complete without the deep fried key lime pie- yummy!

The Independence, a beautiful schooner that is owned
and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, sailed by
us at Burdine's.  They take groups of boy scouts out for
week long liveaboard excursions where they learn all
about sailing, knot tying, basic water safety and such.
If you remember, this boat saved our hiney's last year
when we were at Bahia Honda State Park, and Danny's
dinghy motor konked out! Yay for Boy Scouts!

After lunch we sailed back to Banana Bay.  I took over the helm for a time, so Cap'n could get a much needed nap.  I have yet to get the nerve to attempt to park the boat in our slip, as it requires a three point turn in a tight space.  I'm just not that nerve-y, as you have to be hard on the throttle-yikes!

Once the boat was secured, rinsed off, Willis fed and such, we spent the remainder
of the day poolside until it was sunset.  Willis has a new hatch to peek into- with
Elle on the boat, we've opened up the salon hatch to catch more breeze from the Gulf.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset once again on Sunday evening.

Willis was just glad to have his family back on the dock.

On Monday we headed to Key West- better known as Key Weird.

Why did the rooster cross the road?!  So Karyn could have a better shot at him.
I hate roosters.

We stopped at our favorite gelato place :)

This was an interesting blast from the past.

And we had to stop at Kino's for our favorite sandals!

We took a walk along the wharf, where two cruise ships were docked for the day.

We did a little sightseeing...

We did a little window shopping...

We saw the cutest little boy eating (wearing) ice cream...

We saw pretty flowers that bite...

We saw the most adorable puppies, ever.
Especially the weenie dog puppy. I want him.

We walked past a drag show, and elected to not go in.

We saw strange sculptures and naked statues...

We saw all sorts of harleys...

We saw roosters and harleys...

We saw roosters pooping on parked cars...

We saw roosters, roosters and more roosters! Have I told you I hate roosters?

Until I pet this big fat pet rooster, who sat nicely for the photo.
So now I just strongly dislike roosters.

While Elle and I  did up Key West, this momma paid a visit to
Banana Bay....is that not the cutest pose for the camera- ever?!
I was so sorry we missed her up close and personal...

We got back at 4:30pm, in time to take a head count for tomorrow's Second Annual Bahia Honda Beach Bust and Booze Cruise.  It turns out, we had to get groceries to make hobos for 19 people...that's alot of hobos!  Monday evening, we had one of Mamaw's famous fish fry's for Ellie bug, and then we girls (and Paps, of course!) watched The Bachelor finale.  We spent the evening hating on Courtney. Grrrrr....

Though it was another day of wind and waves here in paradise, Biddi
and the Beast was safely anchored in the harbor at Bahia Honda.
Kelly got pretty green around the gills, but she toughed it out. Biddi took
a terrible fall when the boat pitched and rolled to the side.  She got a goose
egg on the back of her skull, a headache, and some serious bruises to
show for it, and believe me, no alcohol was involved- the seas were rough.

Elliebug gave Kevin, Loren, Kelly & Justin a lesson on how to build a hobo.

Max, one gallon Don and Big Ron manning the grill- what a motley crew!

There's a fine bunch, too- Danny, Biddi, Donnie and Lucille :)

There's Fran, a woman after my own heart.  She had all
of the vegetable cans sorted and organized on the picnic
table.  She must know that I do not like my veggies
 co-mingling in my cabinets, lol.  True story.

Cap'n Danny, with his Biddi and the Beast in the background.

One gallon Don made two gallons of voodoo juice this year,
and then the foolishness and debauchery began... a certain
blonde who shall remain nameless was not present this year
for the Danny signing, so the girls stepped it up in her honor.

"Uncle Dan" left his sharpie signature on each of them...

Poor Loren got it the worst...Uncle Dan was here.

The deal was they got to 'tattoo' his back in return.
All's fair in love and Sharpies.

Lucky got to inspect the girl's tail feathers.

Bryan and Donnie entertained us with some good music after lunch.

What a fun afternoon.  The weather was just perfect for a day at the beach.

After music, a group of us took a walk on the nature trail then to the top of
the old Flagler Railroad bridge.  Here's Deide, Polly, Fran, Lucille, and me.

The view from up top is simply breathtaking, it's so beautiful...

even the kids were in awe...it looks like a Florida Keys postcard.

Looking back into the harbor, you see the Gulf on Mexico to the left,
beyond the bridge for Highway 1, and the Atlantic Ocean is on the right.

I was sad that we missed visiting the nature center again
this year.  When I asked the park ranger why it was closed
at 3:45pm, even though the sign said 4pm, he gave some
lame answer that if the worker arrived at 7:45am, he
would leave once his eight hours are done...really???
What's up with that?!  Geez, I don't have that luxury at my job.

Some of us played Five Crowns late in the day. Ken replaced Mac as the
proud rooster among the hens at the card table. Some chatted 'around
the campfire', and Danny was down at the beach girl talkin' with the girlies.
Before long, it was time to pack up and call it a day.  It was a three hour tour
back to Banana Bay, driving straight into an eastern wind and pounding waves.
Kelly wisely chose to go back in the truck with Kenny and Fran rather than on the boat.

The sun was just beginning to set as we passed through the seven mile bridge.

Even though the waves had flattened considerably, there was no green flash tonight either.

Still, it was a beautiful end to a darn near perfect day in paradise.
Thank you, God.

And now, it is 2am.  It has taken me nearly four hours to sort through over 160 photos from the last five days.  I plan to seriously sleep in tomorrow morning- don't anybody call me!  When I get up, I need to get our boat cleaned up, and drink a redbull...the grandkids are coming in tomorrow afternoon :)  G'nite and G'mornin' y'all!