Christmas in Florida is much different than in Michigan. We did see some nice Christmas lights at the Naples Botanical Garden and we had a nice visit with Val’s dad Bob in Titusville, FL. Fort Myers Beach and Pink Shell Marina was a nice stay but we were ready to move on December 30th. We cancelled our plans to go to Marco Island and took a 135 mile trip straight to Marathon Key. We had a great day to travel for 5.5 hours as predicted by the contracted weather man Chris Parker (mwxc.com). Chris helped with the predictions of a smooth passage and we will use him again on any journey in the future that might put us at risk like the upcoming Bahama Crossings.
Marlin Bay Resort and Marina on Marathon Key has been a very comfortable stay with a well protected harbor. Renting a car for three weeks has given us some much needed freedom and independence to travel the keys by land looking for a possible retirement location in the future.
Key West and Key Largo are our next planned stops as we make the next big left turn and start heading north. After 6 months on the boat, we still don’t have a clear plan on what we are going to do after July, 2020.
Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “holy shit… what a ride!”
Which way would you go?
Christmas with Bob Wilson was very nice
Naples Botanical Garden Christmas Lights
No pot of gold at the end, this was our view from the back of our boat at Pink Shell
These guys went 60 miles off shore to get these, the Cobia was very good
A Pink Shell sunset
The Titusville Alligator from Bob’s house
The best cinnamon rolls at Mom’s Restaurant in Fort Meyers Beach
And don’t forget to eat some great tacos
Larry and Sharon Walters payed us a nice visit at Pink Shell
This is what Marlin Bay looks like on New Years Eve
Best pool ever at Marlin Bay, Marathon Key
Pete, Richard and Devin let me go fishing with them a couple times out of Marlin Bay
We had fun landing this shark and throwing him back in
Mangrove Snappers are very tasty
My patch job after catching to many cat fish back in Fort Myers, the salt water cat fish are nasty
Rock lobsters do not have any claws
San Pablo Catholic Church, Marathon Key since 1948
Sunset Beach, Key Colony, and a tribute to Elizabeth Devlin
Saw this guy gunkholing around with the dinghy
Manitou visits are common
Val says all I want to do is eat, she is right
Fred, the salt-sprayed Australian pine tree on old seven mile bridge that survived Hurricane Irma and gave everyone returning much needed hope and inspiration
Isn’t that pretty?
Who owns an Island with a house like this?
Daily sunset view from the back of our boat at Marlin Bay
And then the moon comes up in the east
Every one is always happy to see this guy come around to pump everyone out
What the heck, another picture of our domicile sitting at Marlin Bay
FACEBOOK COMMENTS:
Carmen Mamo How nice.
Steven Andrew Find a place for us to retire in the Keys too!
David Mamo So far we like Key Colony and Sombrero Beach. Long Boat Key too, but that’s more north
David Mamo Add Plantation Key by Islamadora
Carmen Mamo Love to. Find me one.
Facebook comments on Christmas lights:
Melissa Wilson Merry Christmas ??
Cindy Yassay Omgosh. Aren’t you tired of that warm weather and those beautiful lights that don’t blow out from electrical shortages caused by rain and snow when you use an indoor only extension cord outside ??. Merry Christmas you two. Enjoy. ?
Don Mamo Merry Christmas
Linda Reed Same to You both
Loretta Van Schoyck Back at you both! ??
Janine Martell
Curtis Weatherly Merry Christmas my friends!
Carmen Mamo Beautiful lights. Merry Christmas in sunny Florida.?
Curt Werner Merry Christmas David
Frank Seipp Merry Christmas
Connie Naudi Happy Christmas from MALTA
Diane Hurych Merry Christmas
James Christmas Merry Christmas David Mamo…????
Jeanne Wunderle No Michigan weather! Merry Christmas!
Rick Wilson Any snow? Lol
David Mamo No but it was raining and 60 yesterday. 75 today
Ken Eckerd Merry Christmas ??
Dave Gallant Merry Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful day. Peace
Barbara Henk Merry back to you both! ?
David Mamo Thanks Merry Christmas
Cesolin Tesolin Merry Christmas to you both
David Mamo Merry Christmas
Troy Parent You as well
Janet Hawbaker Day Merry Christmas! Nice day here, it was 61 and sunny.
Marla Smith Merry Christmas!!
Walt Holden Well it awesome that ur there and enjoying the warmth and not here with up and down temperatures we’re having Merry Christmas
4 thoughts on “Moving thru South Florida and halfway on the Loop”
Henk, Joseph
Wow, I think you get more visitors than we do back home. Mr. and Mrs. Popular. Stay safe and keep having fun! I like the theory of “what a ride”. It's great that you guys went for the adventure. Anxious to have a beer together and hear more details. Joe
Baker, Rose Dave Rave 1/24/2020
Edit Delete Reply
Ahoy Dave & Val!
Love looking at the pics and reliving the incredible locations you are traveling through. Just wanted to comment per your statement re “what to do post loop,” haha there really is a thing called post looper letdown! (we are still trying to figure that out as well and we finished back in Aug’19;) We had the “go slow” boat so it’s def interesting to see your comments on the speed in which you’re able to travel. We did the “crossing” via Big Bend in three days. We’ll look forward to meeting up with y’all when you get home! I’ll def show the local looper wannabees your blog next week when we all meet up. Save travels!
Rose & Dave (sunshine rose) Milford, MI
—Reply posted by Mamo, David on 1/24/2020
Hello Rose and Dave,
We look forward to meeting you next July. Thanks for commenting.
Cindy Yassay Omgosh. Aren’t you tired of that warm weather and those beautiful lights that don’t blow out from electrical shortages caused by rain and snow when you use an indoor only extension cord outside ??. Merry Christmas you two. Enjoy. ❣️?❣️
Don Mamo Merry Christmas
Linda Reed Same to You both
Loretta Van Schoyck Back at you both! ??
Janine Martell
Curtis Weatherly Merry Christmas my friends!
Carmen Mamo Beautiful lights. Merry Christmas in sunny Florida.?❤️
Curt Werner Merry Christmas David
Frank Seipp Merry Christmas
Connie Naudi Happy Christmas from MALTA
Diane Hurych Merry Christmas
James Christmas Merry Christmas David Mamo…????‼️
Jeanne Wunderle No Michigan weather! Merry Christmas!
Rick Wilson Any snow? Lol
David Mamo No but it was raining and 60 yesterday. 75 today
Ken Eckerd Merry Christmas ??
Dave Gallant Merry Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful day. Peace
Barbara Henk Merry back to you both! ?☀️
David Mamo Thanks Merry Christmas
Cesolin Tesolin Merry Christmas to you both⛄️
David Mamo Merry Christmas
Troy Parent You as well
Janet Hawbaker Day Merry Christmas! Nice day here, it was 61 and sunny.
Marla Smith Merry Christmas!!
Walt Holden Well it awesome that ur there and enjoying the warmth and not here with up and down temperatures we’re having
Merry Christmas
FACEBOOK COMMENTS:
Carmen Mamo How nice.
Steven Andrew Find a place for us to retire in the Keys too!
David Mamo So far we like Key Colony and Sombrero Beach. Long Boat Key too, but that’s more north
David Mamo Add Plantation Key by Islamadora
Carmen Mamo Love to. Find me one.
Facebook comments on Christmas lights:
Melissa Wilson Merry Christmas ??
Cindy Yassay Omgosh. Aren’t you tired of that warm weather and those beautiful lights that don’t blow out from electrical shortages caused by rain and snow when you use an indoor only extension cord outside ??. Merry Christmas you two. Enjoy.
?
Don Mamo Merry Christmas
Linda Reed Same to You both
Loretta Van Schoyck Back at you both! ??
Janine Martell
Curtis Weatherly Merry Christmas my friends!
Carmen Mamo Beautiful lights. Merry Christmas in sunny Florida.?
Curt Werner Merry Christmas David
Frank Seipp Merry Christmas
Connie Naudi Happy Christmas from MALTA
Diane Hurych Merry Christmas
James Christmas Merry Christmas David Mamo…????
Jeanne Wunderle No Michigan weather! Merry Christmas!
Rick Wilson Any snow? Lol
David Mamo No but it was raining and 60 yesterday. 75 today
Ken Eckerd Merry Christmas ??
Dave Gallant Merry Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful day. Peace
Barbara Henk Merry back to you both! ?
David Mamo Thanks Merry Christmas
Cesolin Tesolin Merry Christmas to you both
David Mamo Merry Christmas
Troy Parent You as well
Janet Hawbaker Day Merry Christmas! Nice day here, it was 61 and sunny.
Marla Smith Merry Christmas!!
Walt Holden Well it awesome that ur there and enjoying the warmth and not here with up and down temperatures we’re having
Merry Christmas
Rachel Marie Merry Christmas