This summer my vision had deteriorated sharply, and when I reluctantly made a trip to the eye doctor, I was relieved to find that the blurred, yellow vision that I was experiencing was the result of cataracts.
On Wednesday before Christmas, I had the first one removed, and a new, prescription lens inserted into my eye. The surgery was fast, relatively painless, and by the next day, I was amazed at the vision improvement. I walked around for a week covering one eye and then the other, amazed how clear the "new" eye was, and how the "old" eye looked like I was looking through really smudged yellow sunglasses.
Two days ago, one week after the first surgery, I had the second eye done. I thanked the opthamologist yesterday and told him that he had given me the second greatest Christmas present I had ever received. "What was the best one," he asked, "a boat?"
"No," I told him, "The greatest was the First Christmas gift, the Christ!"
I told him that I didn't know if the surgery made such a dramatic difference to everyone as it had to me, but thanked him. He smiled as he told me he enjoys working on Thursdays (the day after his surgeries when everyone comes back to get their eyes checked)
After the original consultation with the Dr., I chose to put in two monofocal distance lens. He said they were not as inclined to glare on the water as some others, a high priority in my book. That means I'll wear reading glasses for close-up focus, and the rest of the time, I'm happy to report, that I am seeing well without further prescription glasses. I bought the first pair of non-prescription polarized sunglasses today that I've bought in a LONG time.
I always enjoy colors in flowers, sea, and sky, and it is fun to have them so bright and spectacular again!
By the way, mom and dad, the wetsuit when I was 13 ranks #3!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Channel Five bridge to Newfound Harbor
In the morning, with the winds blowing 15-20 out of the NE, I picked up anchor from Matecumbe Bight, I decided to save exploring Indian Key for another day, and went out under the Channel Five bridge to run towards home in the lee of the Keys. I had a day of winds to my aft, and following seas.
Newfound Harbor is my home turf, and I arrived at a low tide, so chose to anchor up for awhile and straighten up the boat a bit. If you are visiting Newfound Harbour, give the #2 marker a wide berth coming up, and you'll have more water. There is a deep, well marked channel that parallels the famous Little Palm Island, and then slowly turns to the north. I often see vessels anchored in that area, but, there are much better anchorages. There is enough current running along the channel to turn you with the tide. If you turn to the west at #5, you can follow the deep water around to the adjacent bay that has much less current and seas, and your vessel will tend to lay with the wind. If you are going to be there a couple of days, my favorite spot to anchor is just south of the little island that is SE of Ramrod Key, around 24 38.155' and 81 24.076' in a little mucky, great holding bottom.
I don't like the holding in Coupon Bight, as there is a then layer of mud/silt over rock, plus, you need to know how to get in there! Some folks anchor in the deep water off of Picnic Island, but suffer from the wakes of all the passing boats. Picnic Island 24 38.175' 81 23.665 is a local hang-out. The island is a great place to play ashore, and there is a sandbar extending to the SW that is a great place to hang out and visit, play volleyball, let the kids romp, etc. It is also one of the favorite drinking spots, so the clientle changes with the time of day. Don't try to approach Picnic from the east, approach it from the western channel.
Newfound Harbor is my home turf, and I arrived at a low tide, so chose to anchor up for awhile and straighten up the boat a bit. If you are visiting Newfound Harbour, give the #2 marker a wide berth coming up, and you'll have more water. There is a deep, well marked channel that parallels the famous Little Palm Island, and then slowly turns to the north. I often see vessels anchored in that area, but, there are much better anchorages. There is enough current running along the channel to turn you with the tide. If you turn to the west at #5, you can follow the deep water around to the adjacent bay that has much less current and seas, and your vessel will tend to lay with the wind. If you are going to be there a couple of days, my favorite spot to anchor is just south of the little island that is SE of Ramrod Key, around 24 38.155' and 81 24.076' in a little mucky, great holding bottom.
I don't like the holding in Coupon Bight, as there is a then layer of mud/silt over rock, plus, you need to know how to get in there! Some folks anchor in the deep water off of Picnic Island, but suffer from the wakes of all the passing boats. Picnic Island 24 38.175' 81 23.665 is a local hang-out. The island is a great place to play ashore, and there is a sandbar extending to the SW that is a great place to hang out and visit, play volleyball, let the kids romp, etc. It is also one of the favorite drinking spots, so the clientle changes with the time of day. Don't try to approach Picnic from the east, approach it from the western channel.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Islamorada, Key Largo, and Jewfish Creek
I continued my journey through the "back" from my anchorage at Matecombe Bay through the ICW and up the Keys puttering around.
I remember years ago, my husband and I were stopped at the Jewfish Creek bridge, and I was straining to see around the curve as a vessel departed from my view. I told him that I wanted to go through the creek. When he asked me why, I told him because I hadn't been there before, and asked if he had. He assured me he had, and that I hadn't missed anything.
When they built the new bridge, I was saddened as I could see that the creek wasn't very long, but, I'd still always wanted transit the creek anyhow. Even though I planned to anchor off Key Largo, I went through the Creek into Card Sound, checked out some depths around the channel, and came back under the bridge to anchor for the evening off of Key Largo.
The wind had calmed, and the seas were glassy, and enjoyed the sounds of a band wafting across the waters. At some point a really bad lead guitar joined them, and detracted from the music so much, I used that as a good excuse to watch a movie.
In the morning, I started back down the Keys, but stopped and reanchored in the north side of Tarpon Basin so I could explore some of the mangrove creeks of Everglades National Park with the 19' Whaler. I would have anchored here the night before, but anticipated mosquito hordes as the winds dropped, which is why I chose my anchorage next to the sprayed areas of Key Largo.
Exploring by dinghy or kayak? East of #42, you can take the mangrove creek east until you hit a T, then go right until you are in Tarpon Basin again. Even more fun, turn to the SW at #42, and explore. If I had been in the kayak, or even the inflatable, I suspect I could have got through to the basin I was anchored in, but with the Whaler, I eventually ran out of room (ht in one direction, beam in another) It is absolutely gorgeous in there!
After two hours of plunking around, I returned to the Nordic tug and continued back down the Keys through the Gulf side. In spite of all the warnings I saw on Active Captain, I never encountered any water that was less than 5.5'
I anchored off the Lorelei in Islamorada and went back to exploring with the Whaler. From the anchorage you can go through a clearly marked channel to the SW into Little Basin, and clearly see the Worldwide Sportsman, and the Islamorada Fish Company. I docked the Whaler at their dock and enjoyed lunch there. There were only a couple of boats at the dock, and the folks at the restaurant told me it was ok to stay docked there while visiting the store. I always enjoy looking in the store, and actually made it out without buying anything. Probably because my visit was short....
The sky turned that tornado-green color and the wind picked up as the forecasted cold front hit. I decided Id move the MERCY on down a couple of miles to anchor in the corner of Matecumbe Bight where I had previously explored, and could get some shelter from the N winds that were forecast to go NE.
The wind howled, but the holding is good in the Bight.
I remember years ago, my husband and I were stopped at the Jewfish Creek bridge, and I was straining to see around the curve as a vessel departed from my view. I told him that I wanted to go through the creek. When he asked me why, I told him because I hadn't been there before, and asked if he had. He assured me he had, and that I hadn't missed anything.
When they built the new bridge, I was saddened as I could see that the creek wasn't very long, but, I'd still always wanted transit the creek anyhow. Even though I planned to anchor off Key Largo, I went through the Creek into Card Sound, checked out some depths around the channel, and came back under the bridge to anchor for the evening off of Key Largo.
The wind had calmed, and the seas were glassy, and enjoyed the sounds of a band wafting across the waters. At some point a really bad lead guitar joined them, and detracted from the music so much, I used that as a good excuse to watch a movie.
In the morning, I started back down the Keys, but stopped and reanchored in the north side of Tarpon Basin so I could explore some of the mangrove creeks of Everglades National Park with the 19' Whaler. I would have anchored here the night before, but anticipated mosquito hordes as the winds dropped, which is why I chose my anchorage next to the sprayed areas of Key Largo.
Exploring by dinghy or kayak? East of #42, you can take the mangrove creek east until you hit a T, then go right until you are in Tarpon Basin again. Even more fun, turn to the SW at #42, and explore. If I had been in the kayak, or even the inflatable, I suspect I could have got through to the basin I was anchored in, but with the Whaler, I eventually ran out of room (ht in one direction, beam in another) It is absolutely gorgeous in there!
After two hours of plunking around, I returned to the Nordic tug and continued back down the Keys through the Gulf side. In spite of all the warnings I saw on Active Captain, I never encountered any water that was less than 5.5'
I anchored off the Lorelei in Islamorada and went back to exploring with the Whaler. From the anchorage you can go through a clearly marked channel to the SW into Little Basin, and clearly see the Worldwide Sportsman, and the Islamorada Fish Company. I docked the Whaler at their dock and enjoyed lunch there. There were only a couple of boats at the dock, and the folks at the restaurant told me it was ok to stay docked there while visiting the store. I always enjoy looking in the store, and actually made it out without buying anything. Probably because my visit was short....
The sky turned that tornado-green color and the wind picked up as the forecasted cold front hit. I decided Id move the MERCY on down a couple of miles to anchor in the corner of Matecumbe Bight where I had previously explored, and could get some shelter from the N winds that were forecast to go NE.
The wind howled, but the holding is good in the Bight.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Newfound Harbour to Matecombe Bay
I spend a LOT of time in the “backcountry” in the Lower
Keys, with the Nordic Tug, the 19’ Whaler, and the kayaks. Over the years I have explored a lot of great
places. When I had the Miss Vi, with her
30” draft, I had run the “inside” of the Keys up as far as Long Key, but, I’d
never been above that on the Gulf side, I’d always taken the Atlantic side with
the larger, commercial vessels. This
past week I fixed that!
I knew that I had a few days forecast of unseasonably calm
winds and warm weather, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. So, I packed up the Nordic tug, hooked the tow line to the Whaler, and
headed out.
I knew that the Gulf Stream was close in, and decided I’d go
north on the Stream, and come back through the back. Since the trip was pretty much spontaneous,
however, I changed my mind when the Stream was rolling more than I wanted, and
the wind was blowing harder than forecast.
I headed for Mosier Channel and went under the 7 mile bridge, (63’
vertical clearance) continuing to the north.
Drawing 4’, I had no trouble cutting through between
Marathon and the ICW channel, ducking between Rachel Bank and Marathon. I joined the ICW just north of Grassy Key
Bank, and followed the marked channel to the NE as far as Matecumbe Bight,
where I anchored in excellent holding.
I explored with the Whaler, and found that I could tuck up
into the eastern corner of the Bight with the Nordic Tug if I needed to, (good
info to know on the way back!) It is a
good place to get away from a NE wind, the prevailing winter winds direction in
the Keys. There is a creek through the mangroves, a pretty ride in the Whaler,
to Lignumvitae Channel. I never saw less
than 6’, but the channel is narrow, and the branch overhang would prohibit
taking the trawler through. A right turn
would take you to Robbie’s Marina, and a turn to the left would take you to
Lignumvitae Key.
Lignumvitae Key had three mooring balls that I saw, on the
northwestern side. Shell Key had no
moorings that I saw. (12/12)
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