2.29.2012

Happy New Year!!!

Happy 2012!!! 

I know it’s the end of February, but I’m a little rusty when it comes to writing blogs.

So far our year has been eventful!!

Ransom worked in Australia over the holiday season, missing Christmas and New Years, so to make up for this lost time we decided to have some fun with a portion of the earnings and met in Thailand.

We started in Phuket (pronounced poo-ket) and worked our way north over a period of 2.5 weeks, ending in Bangkok.

After Thailand we flew to Taipei, Taiwan to visit my brother for a few days.

We had a blast!!!! 


Longtail boat in Phang Nga Bay



Baby Elephants at Siam Safari in Chalong Highlands,Phuket Island. (L to R: Hutchu, Lauren, Ransom, Punay)


Macaque monkey (Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, Phetchaburi)


  Look at that sleepy kitty!!!
(Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno,the Tiger Temple,Kanchanaburi)


Shihfan Lantern Festival, Taiwan (L to R: Mike, Ransom, Lauren)


National Theater, Taipei Taiwan



As soon as we got back to Florida our mission was clear: get Vitte in the water and sail south!

Without further ado we re-launched her, re-provisioned her, and moved out of the house and onto the boat.
 
Back in the water!!!


From Bradenton we motored* to Venice via the inter-coastal waterway (ICW) and spent the night at the Crow’s Nest Marina.

*(note: the only reason we motored was because the wind was blowing directly from the south and we were on a schedule)

Little Frejya 


Motoring along the ICW, aka the "miserable mile"


The next morning we motored to Useppa Island via the ICW to meet Ransom’s family who were travelling aboard Aslan.

Aslan (65' Fleming)


Aslan

We spent a weekend anchored off Useppa and got some last minute family time in before heading further south to Fort Myers.

Vitte under sail in ICW between Useppa and Fort Myers 
(Ransom at the helm)


Wing to wing!  (Lauren at the helm)



In Fort Myers Beach, we stayed in the mooring field waiting on a good wind to make the 24 hour sail down to Key West.

We found a colorful dive bar called Bonita Bill’s where the locals congregate, the beer is cold, the food is simply delicious, and the price tag is low.

The best part about staying in the mooring field for an extended period of time is we’ve been able to do some much needed boat maintenance.  Ransom painted a few spots on the hull, put a back-flow (check) valve on the water tank hosing, and installed some LED lights in the cabin  ^_^

Fort Myers Beach, FL


Apparently it was spring break,  because the 
beach was insanely crowded!

Performer at Bonita Bill's


Bonita Bill's


Walking over the skyway (L to R: Charlie, Rei, Ransom)


Fort Myers Mooring Filed


The building behind the dock with the shrimp trawler 
is Bonita Bill's


The schooner, Wind Dancer, a steel hull, is at the end of the dock.  We wouldn't mind taking that boat off their hands  LOL



So far so good, spirits are high, the dogs are good, and my boat meals improve daily.  I need to start writing my recipes down!

Black beans and rice with fresh avocado, YUM!!



On our last night in town my friends Ellen and Del met us at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar for dinner.  It was the perfect ending for our stay in Fort Myers  ^_^

L to R: Ransom, Lauren, Ellen, Del

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