Disney and More

1/6      It seems to me that I can notice the days getting longer now even though it’s just a bit over a minute a day. Maybe it’s just the temperatures that have been warmer than normal, I don’t know but it’s been great. The past few days I’ve been running around getting the appropriate materials together to renew my captains license. Kinda pain in the ass when you don’t live in the area and need to run around to get things done. Drug test done, physical done all Coast Guard forms filled out and copies made and sent out. 

Visit to the Island Packet Factory
Birthplace of Last Mango IP32-61

IP 370 Mold ready to go.

Hannah and Kelly just after the Airport Pickup

We picked up Karen’s sister Kelly from the Tampa airport this morning at 1 AM, her plane was late coming in from Chicago but she didn’t care as she left below zero weather to arrive in much warmer Florida weather. Hannah and Kelly were like 2 excited 7 year olds talking about what they were going to do when they get to Disney World.

Before I knew it morning arrived and I was prepping the boat for us being gone for several days. We’re all going to Disney for a couple of days and then Karen’s parents for a few days. There’s a strong cold front with predicted 40 knot winds coming through while we’re gone so we removed the canvas enclosure and secured the dinghy and lines. 

A short drive later and we arrived at a friends house in Orlando even though Google maps was doing its best to cause Karen and I to question our time together. We have not seen Pam and Russ since we left Kenosha as Karen was all teared up saying goodbye. It was great to see them and catch up as they served us a great lunch and gave us the tour of their beautiful house. As we said our goodbyes Karen was once again tearing up. We hope to see them again soon. We needed to get moving as the 2 little girls were getting antsy and needed their Disney fix.

Karen, Hannah and I with Russ and Pam

Good Lookin Girls

Pam and Russ’s house is 15 minutes from our hotel and before we knew it we were checked in and the girls were off to downtown Disney, I took a much needed nap. We went to downtown Disney for dinner and I found it overwhelming. After our time on the board it reminded me of Las Vegas. There were lots of lights and activity everywhere. It was cool to see people from all over the world and the temperature was a bit cool also. We all came back and hit the hot tub. The tub was great and after a few drinks I got to hear more about others personal lives than I think I wanted to know.  It’s amazing what a few Mikes Hard Lemonades and a hot tub can do.

Balcony view of pool and hot tub

Morning came before I knew it and Karen and I went downstairs. Karen for a cup of coffee and me for an early morning run. By the time I got up the 2 girls were awake and getting ready for a Disney Day. A quick bus ride and we were waiting in the first line of the day for the monorail. I have to admit the Magic Kingdom is cool even for an adult. All the rides were designed for smaller kids but we enjoyed them all. I now know that I have a previously unknown fondness for Rapunzel. I enjoyed the Peter Pan and of coarse the Pirates of the Caribbean rides. Several hours later and we were lining up for the Disney Electric Light Parade down main street along with almost everyone else. Kelly waited in line 40 minutes for her Starbucks coffee. Before the parade commenced some of the characters of Frozen froze Cinderella’s castle. It was very cool to see the castle shimmering with over 200,000 LED lights. It was 9 pm by the time the parade was over and we were heading back to the hotel. It was a long day and I was tired but we ordered pizza and had another dip in the hot tub. Shortly thereafter it was lights out for me.

Enjoying the Magic Kingdom

Hannah and her new friend Cindy

There's always ice cream

Castle after turning to ice

Rapunzel doesn't want to come for a boat ride with me

She finally agreed to be friends

Castle being turned to ice

The next morning came far too soon for me and we needed to start heading to Karen’s parents house for Karen’s mom’s surprise birthday party. We made it there without Karen threatening to punch me in the throat because of my driving or her navigating with the iPhone. It was truly hard to believe that they kept the secret for so long. The Kramer family doesn’t have a good track history for keeping secrets. Karen’s sister Kim did a great job and I actually saw Karen’s mom shed a tear or two. It’s been my experience that this happens as often as Haley’s Comet visits earth. It was great seeing Karen’s family. Last I saw her nephews they were little kids now their adults that give my mother-in-law and their mom a hard time from sun up to sundown. It’s great to see someone keeping them on their toes. Later Karen’s dad took Hannah and I to see the local alligators at the wildlife refuge. Not too many gators due to the temperature but lots of Great Blue Herons and other water fowl.

The days go by fast and we were packing to give Kelly a ride to the Orlando airport and get back to Last Mango to continue heading south with Hannah. We need to have Hannah to the St. Pete Airport bright and early Thursday morning for her flight back to cold Iowa. She’ll miss the 70’s and 80’s that Florida has provided during her stay. In fact I think she’ll miss the 50’s and 60’s that Florida provided. Upon our arrival Last Mango was in one piece and the strong winds that blew though in our absence didn’t phase her at all.

Beautiful Birthday Cake

Kelly impersonating her Mom

Monday morning arrived and it seemed as though I could have slept forever, it was nice being back in our own bed. Karen actually woke up a bit early and took the car back to the Enterprise. I got up shortly thereafter and went for a run before the rain started. It looks as though it’s going to rain all day so we decided to stay at Marker One marina for another night. Marker One is a great place in my opinion, for the month it cost us just under $10 a day to stay here with water, power and internet. The marina is located within walking distance to restaurants and shopping, the people at the marina are fantastic. Thumbs up to Marker One in Dunedin Florida.

Another great sunset

Most cruisers and loopers have moved on south and the marina is deserted at night during the week. Tonight while coming back from changing laundry I was startled in the darkness on the dock by dolphins feeding right under my feet. I quickly ran back to get Karen and Hannah but they moved on. It rained all afternoon and the sun only peeked out at sunset, but what a sunset. The whole southwest sky was a beautiful blaze orange. Evening came and we looked forward to watching Ohio State Play Oregon. We walked over to the local food joint / bar, sat down turned on ESPN and drank a pitcher of beer and 2 appetizers. The place is mostly geared for warm weather and outside eating so it was mostly empty. We left at halftime with a busboy trying to give me free beer and Hannah free ice cream. We wanted to walk back to the boat before halftime ended but stopped at McDonalds and got a couple .49 cent burgers. We all know how the game ended.

Morning came and Karen and I went for a walk to let Hannah sleep in on one of her last days on Last Mango in Florida. The morning was gorgeous with little wind, 70 degree temps and lots of sunshine. We made it back, ate breakfast and prepped the boat for our trip to Moonshine Island a few miles south. Made it out of the marina with no issues just slightly after low tide. The wind picked up and with the help of our new whisker pole we were able to sail the whole way downwind to the island under jib alone at 3.5 to 4 knots. Moonshine Island was nice with nothing to the North but low scrub brush and mangroves and lots of birds, to the South and west were million dollar homes. We dropped anchor and setup the hammock for Hannah. The sun was now disappearing behind clouds and it seemed like a good time to eat lunch. Leftover chicken enchilada was great and is now all gone. Hannah and I took a dinghy ride and circumnavigated Moonshine Island. The island appears to be all mangroves and assorted flotsam that has accumulated over the years. Guides state that you could takes dogs ashore here but we did not see anyway that it would be possible, If it is possible it would not be easy. 

Half Days Catch

Brown Pelican feeding frenzy

Just waiting to eat

Hungry White Heron

1-14     It’s Sam Tykol’s 25th birthday, Happy Birthday Sam. After our morning celebration of Sam’s birthday we motored over to Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina and tied up for the day. We arranged a 5 AM pickup for Hannah to head back to Iowa City. The whole time Hannah’s been here with us we’ve been trying to get her an up close with dolphins with no luck. She’s only seen them from afar. Late last night she was on the back of Last Mango reading her Kindle while anchored off of Moonshine Island and she called us up on deck. We could here the dolphins nearby blowing and splashing but it was too dark to for her to see them. 

This evening after kicking around Clearwater for the day I checked my email and found an email from a friend back in Kenosha Wisconsin stating that he’s going to be in Clearwater Wednesday and Thursday for a Towboat US convention. I returned the email as soon as I received it and we were able to meet for a few beers and great conversation. Pete is rebuilding Tortuga ( http://savingtortuga.blogspot.com/ ) for his dream of sailing south someday. It’s always great to see familiar faces when your far away from what you considered home. The next thing I knew it was 4:24 AM and Hannah was getting up to catch her plane. We were very sad to see Hannah leaving but are re-assured we’ll see her in 2 months for spring break.

A sad day today. Hannah leaves us.