MY LIFE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND BEYOND: December 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

A Front Moves Through The Keys

This is our first significant Front since we were just grazed by Sandy in October, it is not expected to last long and the temperatures should not drop significantly.

These Fronts typically start with winds from the SE, then moving SW to West, then the blast from the NW before finally settling into a Northerly.

GMZ031-211530- FLORIDA BAY INCLUDING BLACKWATER AND BUTTONWOOD SOUNDS- 437 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT... .TODAY...SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS EARLY...BECOMING NORTHWEST TO NORTH AND INCREASING TO NEAR 25 KNOTS BEFORE NOON. BAY WATERS A MODERATE CHOP EARLY...BECOMING EXTREMELY ROUGH. ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. .TONIGHT...NORTH WINDS NEAR 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY. BAY WATERS EXTREMELY ROUGH. .SATURDAY...NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY EARLY...DECREASING TO NEAR 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. BAY WATERS EXTREMELY ROUGH EARLY...BECOMING A MODERATE CHOP LATE. .SATURDAY NIGHT...NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. BAY WATERS CHOPPY. .SUNDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS...BECOMING EAST AND DECREASING TO 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. BAY WATERS BECOMING A LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP. .SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP. .TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWERS.

Winds now Westerly shifting to the NW shortly

Yesterday I was fishing in wind conditions near 5 Kts.

Thunder showers likely

Winds gusting to 40, from the NW now.

Mantoloking, The Road To Recovery

One photo, after Hurricane Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore, served as a reminder how powerful Mother Nature really is. However here is another photo that reminds us all how powerful the human spirit is, Mantoloking before and after.

Mantoloking, just after Sandy came ashore.

Only months later you can see the incredible progress that has been accomplished.

The work has begun, the results are stunning as a community rebuilds.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Owls Hornining In On Us

In our little community here in Hammer Point, Tavernier Fl, we have many friends from Nature. On any given day you can witness Manatees feeding on the marine grasses, Tarpon Tailing about in search of food, Osprey's nesting on a nearby post, Iguanas in the trees and now a pair of Horned Owls have taken up residence nearby. They joined the large family of animals that live among us here on The Point, specifically on my street. Each morning you can hear them hooting to each other and at Dusk and Sunrise see them hunting for their meals.

These pictures of our newest neighbors were taken yesterday, while they were hanging out in a nearby Palm tree. Were we spying on them or were they checking us out?

With the Everglades being over run with Pythons, we are hoping that our little piece of Paradise will not be their next stop. Florida, in it's quest to control the Python population is hosting it's first ever organized Python hunt, with cash prizes for the biggest and longest Python captured and killed.

I see you!

Taking a break during the afternoon

So, what are you looking at?

Monday, December 17, 2012

Recovery At beaton's Continues.. And Continues.

Paul Smith, an employee at Beaton's, sent me these pictures of recovery efforts taking place. This huge Crane is lifting sunken, damaged boats from the slips at Beaton's.

In Paul's own words, "Attached are some photos of a huge crane that lifted several boats up from the front docks at Beatons. As you can see the crane was set up over the pad for the electric travel hoist.

The crane's boom fully extended measured 192 ft. The boat lifted from the stern is Ed Lowe's. It was impaled on a piling at the stern and stuck bow first into the mud. The other photo is of a boat left on top, of the dock, also impaled on a piling. It is being lifted about 50 ft. in the air over the big shed and set on a trailer at the west end of the shed. It was a very awesome and quite sad procedure."

Crane used to recover boats sunk during Sandy

Rigging ladder in the background

Delicate work lifting the boats over all the buildings

A long time Beaton resident's boat lifted from the Bay, the owner is 95 years old. I have sailed with him for the last 52 years, sad indeed.

Sunset without the Flats Boat

With the Flats Boat in for maintenance, the sunset and the lonely Davit become friends. Never the less a glass of wine and a good cigar ease the pain until my boat returns to is rightful place, at the dock.

Awaiting the return of Yellow Tail.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Mojo Pork for my Cuban friends

Cuban style Pork Roast

Must have Cuban Bread

Yup, lard

Waterfront view for dinner

I had my two closest friends over for a traditional Cuban meal the other night, Boston Butt, Cuban style, Black Beans, Rice and Cuban Bread. The 8 Lb.Pork Roast was marinated for 24 Hrs.with a Mojo sauce, cooked low and slow for 8 Hrs., it was succulent and juicy, my Cuban friends were impressed. Sorry, no pictures of the plated fare, it was devoured before I could man my camera

Here is my recipe for the marinade:

With a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic to a fine paste, adding a little salt helps the process.
3 Heads of garlic mashed
2 Tsp salt
1 Tsp black pepper corns
1 1/2 cups bitter orange juice (not spoiled) type of orange
1 Cup minced onions
2 Tsp Oregano
1 Cup olive oil

Mix ingredients to make a paste, spread all over the roast, marinate for 24 Hrs.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Everglades Overnight

On Tuesday three Catboats set out for an overnight on the Florida Bay and the Everglades National Park. Among the three were Roland Barth aboard his IBIS, Davy Adamusco aboard FELIX and me aboard PUFFIN, together we set sail around ten o'clock in the morning bound for Nest Key and lunch, however we were greeted with a little surprise when we got out on the Bay, 25-30 KT winds. Well, Roland being the consummate conservative, not in his politics, but rather following the old adage, reef early and often,had tied in two reefs. I chose to go with one, big mistake, it only took me twenty minutes to find the Lee of a nearby Key to tie in a second. Davy, on the other, hand left from a different location and was unable to find refuge to tie in the second, much needed reef.

While making the eight mile crossing to Nest Key Roland and I experienced seas heavy enough to break over the weather rail, allowing for some unexpected excitement. Finally arriving at Nest Key we tucked ourselves into a protected corner of Nest Key and waited for Davy. About forty minutes passed before Davy rounded the corner of Nest, still under one reef, to our disbelief. When Davy finally landed FELIX, it was explained to us that he was unable to reef under way and that with the weather helm of Catboats, especially in high winds and running before the wind, he was forced to handle the tiller with his feet and legs.

After a quiet but brief lunch we decided to find a better anchorage, one that provided us with good protection and a place to ride out the wind and impending rainstorm. Once there, two of the Skippers opted to take a nap, me, I decided to practice my Marline spike Seamanship, I spliced some eyes in various dock lines, served the ends of a few more then read a book. When the two awoke from their restful state, the wind had dropped enough to get under sail once more, we're off to our anchorage for the night.

We arrived just before sunset, took pictures, ate dinner before the Skeeters came, they never did, and told some lies. We were anchored off Pass Key, a real snug spot for protection from the predicted wind, a restful place if there ever was one.

If you have some time and you are into Sailing, Catboats or just fond of the water, you will enjoy our experience through the following pictures.