Day 11-12, April 17-18: Key Biscayne Yacht Club to Marco Island Yacht Club to home

Anyone notice the change in direction for today, Atlantic to Gulf???

Late yesterday the company sent an estimate of $5K to get the part we needed for the boat today, and come back to fix it tomorrow. Decisions, decisions! Options, wait and let them fix it or head for home instead? 

Well, realizing we have two of these electronic systems to start the engines which are close to 20 years old, and after talking with others who have the same, we decided we need to start home rather than going further up the coast.  Eventually both systems will be changed for mechanical ones, which will allow the engines to start every time. 

I know this is probably more FYI than was needed, but helps the ones who do know boats to understand, and others understand it’s more than ok to change your plans if needed. 

Left Key Biscayne at 8:30 in the morning. It was an eleven-hour, but beautiful calm day to Marco Island Yacht Club,  We were all three beat!  Fixed a quick dinner on the boat, showered and went to bed.  We would need more fuel to get home, so hoped and prayed the engine would start at 7:30 tomorrow morning. 

First try it did not, but Dennis prayed, waited, and I’m happy to say we were fueled and headed into the Gulf again at 8:30. Good Friday was a beautiful, sunny, and calm day to cruise toward Punta Gorda, arriving home dock 6 hours later at 1:30.

In the beginning, we said life is about flexibility and change, and boating is no exception, in fact it’s a rule if you want to cruise. Disappointing yes, but the Chesapeake will be there, if we decide to try again.

Sorry for the changes in present to past tense as I wrote these last few days blogs.  It will take a while to recover both physically and mentally from our two-day over 200 mile-trek home. 

Thankful for God’s protection and good health on our 12-day excursion on Never Say Never. Home. Unpacked. Boat clean. 

Thanks for checking in on us and be safe and healthy until our next cruising adventure.

Tomorrow, ready to celebrate a glorious Easter Sunday. May you know the peace of knowing Him. 

 Day 9-10, April 15: Marathon to Key Biscayne Yacht Club

Up early with the sunrise on Tuesday, and off the docks by 6:40 for our long day north. Calm waters and little wind were welcomed, and watching for crab pots was our excitement for the day. It was our first time taking the inside route from Marathon to Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne Yacht Club.  With a f5 ½ ft draft in the sailboat and shallow spots along this route, we were always relegated to the Atlantic.  When we purchased the Mainship Pilot with a 3 ½ ft draft we knew it would allow us to go places we never could before.  Marathon to Miami was what everyone told us, an uneventful and faster route to Miami than outside on the ocean. It was definitely was, and in site of the club in just six hours, which would have been twelve at least in the sailboat. Kind of liking the “fast lane!”

Our plan was to leave here Wednesday around 10:00, get fuel and head five miles to Coral Reef Yacht Club. 

Best laid plans on a boat are to have none.  Got to the fuel dock with two engines, but a beeping sound continued until the engines stopped, which should have raised the question "why."  After getting the fuel, the starboard engine wouldn’t start, so Captain checked out the starter, but with no luck, so limped back over to our slip on just the port engine. Luckily the slip was still available, and without much wind and without any help secured Never Say Never.  After multiple calls to 20 possible mechanics, finally got a local who zeroed in on our issue and sent over one. He can get the part in by Friday, so we will remain in this lovely place at least another couple of days before moving on to Ft. Lauderdale.  

Probably make a trip to Winn Dixie and ride bikes to No Name Harbor at the end of Key Biscayne where we have anchored in the sailboat. Makes tomorrow a day to explore, relax and prep for Friday.

Grateful for the blessing of a beautiful, safe harbor where help is soon on the way!  

 Day 8, April 14: Marathon Yacht Club

When we know there’s a 90-mile boat day, destination Miami, we need to get menial, but essential tasks completed. Plus with lots of inactivity for tomorrow, even more important to get off the boat and move, move, move. 

First menial task of the day, not knowing when we will have laundry close, and with Marathon Yacht Club’s just a few feet from our dock, decided to tackle ours today.  While First Mate started it, Captain decided to wash the boat, fill the water tank and take Lady for her morning walk.  With those jobs all completed, it was time for some moving.  

Biking is one of our favorite things to do in Marathon, so headed north past the Marathon International Airport and goal, the Dollar Tree, where Dennis can get his favorite candies for $1.25. Now we know there are no large commercial airlines which fly in and out of here, so not sure where the international ones are from or to but speculated, maybe Mexico, Bahamas, or Cuba???  But I digress.  Biking against the wind to get the candy gave us a good workout but pushed us along nicely for an easier return trip, completing nine miles total without incident.

Without incident, because we ride on the sidewalks instead of the street, both wear helmets and bright colored shirts making it easy for motorists turning into or coming out of business to see us. But unfortunately, some don’t.  Our policy is when we can see the whites of their eyes, we know they have seen us and will wait until we cross in front of them. Then, waving a thank you, we go, otherwise we wait.

La Nina’s, a small Cuban roadside restaurant, where the chickens frequent the outside tables, is one of our favorites and was the answer to the daily, “What’s for dinner tonight?” All their food is delicious with amazing prices, but avoided sharing with the chickens, instead choosing the inside tables. Biking to and from added another two miles to our total for today.

Last Marathon sunset completed with no green flash sighted!!!

Next, early to bed, and early to rise with Miami on our minds.

God bless and keep you every one!

   

 

 Day 7, April 13:  Marathon Yacht Club

The Seven Mile Bridge on the west end of the City of Marathon connects the Middle Keys to the Lower Keys, originally built in early 1900, and replaced in 1980s with a new bridge, is the longest of any connecting the Florida Keys.  

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Seven Mile Bridge served as a famous fishing pier, jogging and walking route, and the major path to Pigeon Key. Today was a picture-perfect biking day, and from where we are docked it was 10 miles round trip.  The bridge was refurbished with a 5-lane walking and biking path in 2022, which contributes to heavy biking and walking traffic of both locals and tourists enjoying the sunny day and aquamarine beauty of Gulf on the north and Atlantic on the south.  Tarpon and sharks were easily spotted swimming in the waters below, adding to the excitement for children and adults. What a glorious way to spend Sun-day!   

Don’t know about you, but just on the boat alone we probably have at least 40 items, everything from phones, to flashlights, to Ipads, fans, watches, tens, toothbrushes, etc. which must be charged. I said to Captain, “It’s enough to drive me crazy keeping up with the cords for each one!”  He replied, “You mean crazier!”  I just smiled and nodded.  Given the problem, a while back, we purchased a small label maker so every time we add another chargeable item we label the cord.  It’s certainly helped to somewhat keep the “crazier” at bay.

Today was an “eat in” day, so spaghetti and our homemade canned sauce was an easy choice. 

Now to watch the sunset!  Hope your Sun-day was beautiful and blessed.

 Day 6, April 12: Marathon Yacht Club

Made biking trips to West Marine, Home Depot and Publix for a few essentials. Drug out the tennis racket and balls for a little practice in at the Marathon City Courts. North winds have increased during the day, and continue to rock Never Say Never. 

Last night dinner was at the Fisheries, a short walk from the club, and tonight the Yacht Club.  Sunsets here are some of the very best! Even Lady enjoyed the views.

Why “Never Say Never???”

Odd name for any boat but appropriately fits us. Two reasons for the name:

First, many of you know, sailboats have been our boat of choice for our 22 years together. In Missouri it was a 30-foot Hunter, and since living in Florida, another Hunter 41, which we loved and cruised for 14 years, one trip for 3 ½  month trip up the East Coast to Long Island Sound in 2012.  We loved sailing, and made the statement, over and over, and were convinced we’d never, ever have a power boat. 

Secondly, we had a small Australian Terrier, named Fritz, who looked like a giant Yorkee. He made the trip up the east coast with us and lived to 13 ½ years old.  He was diabetic the last 3 years, so needed a lot of special care.  As anyone who has had a cherished pet knows, when the time comes, it’s hard to give them up.  It’s sad, but especially a relief when they need extra care.  So again, made the convincing comment over and over to others, “We absolutely won’t ever get another dog,” and did wait 5 years, but here we are with our German Sheperd, Lady, and how she came to us is a story for another day!

So naturally, “Never Say Never,” was our boat name of choice, especially when others remind us of our emphatic statements. Think we learned our lesson and carefully consider when throwing out “Nevers!” 

Life is about change, and as we age, will attempt, with God’s help to navigate the rough waters, with an open mind and grace to accept the challenging ones, supporting each other with love. 

 

 Day 5: April 11: Naples Sailing and Yacht Club to Marathon Yacht Club

Captain was up early, disconnected electrical, took off lines not necessary for leaving, turned on navigational instruments needed, all after coffee of course.

First Mate secured anything below which might fall, spill or break, locked all the doors and drawers, brought up log book, snacks, phone, books, Ipad, workout mat.

Day was breaking when Captain backed Never Say Never out of the slip at 6:40 and crept along the Naples channel into the Gulf’s light wind and calm seas.  His job today would be to keep us on track after dodging multiple crab pots.

Lady’s job was to find a comfortable spot to hang out, so like the three bears, tried several places till she found it.  She knew it was either come and endure the long days on the boat or spend 2 months in the kennel.  Of course, being a smart German Shepherd, she chose the boat.  

First Mate’s job, also keep a lookout for crab pots to maneuver around, take a turn at the helm giving Captain a break from the crab-pot dodging, supply hydration and snacks.  Record log readings for the trip. After getting underway do a 30-minute workout with yoga and resistance bands.

Each day on the water is usually totally different, but some make you question if we’re crazy to be doing this.  Like Day 1, Monday the 5 ½ hour, fifty-six-mile trip was washboard rough, with high winds and becoming a can’t-wait-to-get-off-this-boat day, while today, hardly any wind and very calm seas.  Captain did it again, choosing a perfect day to make the ninety-mile trip to Marathon from Naples in only 7 hours.  What a difference a day makes!  Wind and weather will also dictate when we leave, but here at least 2 nights.

Thank God for safe passage today, with fair winds and calm seas.

 

 

Day 3 & 4, April 9 & 10: Pelican Isles Yacht Club to Naples Sailing and Yacht Club

Day 3: Most days we’re early risers and like to get off the docks about sunrise.  But Wednesday we waited for the tide to come up, making sure the skinny water in the inlet was deep enough to leave, which was 8:30.   

Winds had shifted overnight from the Southwest to the Northwest, which tamed the 6 foot rollers which were slamming Never Say Never’s bow on Monday, down to 2-3 feet ones on her stern, giving a much nicer 13-mile, one-hour ride to Naples inlet. The steerage learning curve is challenging on any new boat, and captain has made transitioning from sailing to motoring look easy. 

Arrived at the Naples City Dock at 10:00 and took on 72 gallons of diesel fuel at $4 a gallon to be ready on Friday to motor to Marathon in the Keys.  Quite a difference from the sailboat, where it took us a year to use that much fuel, but what a beautiful thing to get places in half the time! A five-minute hop across the channel got us to Naples Sailing and Yacht Club.  Checked with the Dock Master to make sure we could stay and extra night, who agreed we could. With getting ready to replace their seawalls and also have dock updates many boats have chosen to find dockage elsewhere for now. 

After getting the boat secured, Captain made a trip to West Marine on his bike to pick up parts needed for repairs, replacement for front running light, and anchor chain roller. Both were probably original parts, which the Florida sun left brittle and broken.  Having an extra two days here has been a blessing to easily get parts before heading to the Keys on Friday.  

Walked to tourist trap, Tin City, which has many shops with similar souvenirs.  Nothing much of interest so saved up for another stop.

Day 4: One of our favorite outside restaurants in Naples is called Jane’s Café on 3^rd in old town Naples, which serves amazing breakfasts and lunches. It was a treat to walk the 2 miles there to partake of their dearly loved Eggs Benedict.  Lady went too and was greeted by our server with her own bowl of fresh water.  She laid quietly under Dennis’ chair the whole time.  She’s three, but not having been socialized before she became ours at 9 months we’re not always sure how she will respond to new people or new situations, but she’s been a real lady in Naples.  She’s also adapted to boat life pretty quickly. 

Spent some time laying pool-side, but the pool itself is actually closed since a wedding party somehow got broken glass into it.  It doesn’t get used much anyway, so when they renovate the club they’ll do away with it all together.

Dinner last night was K-Rico Mexican grill, a short walk from the boat, and portions were generous enough to have for tonight too.

With a forecast of a clear day, winds around 5 mph, the plan for tomorrow, Day 5, is to leave around 7:00 a.m., crossing the Gulf to Marathon in about 8 hours. During the crossing we will be without cell and internet service, but grateful for the Coast Guard which is only a radio call away in case of unforeseen problems.

Other friends, Kate and Bill Carney pulled into Naples today too, along with Rob and Diane Maffei, on their way to Key West tomorrow.  Should be a good crossing for them as well, and will keep a look out as they cruise by in their faster boat.

Naples is one of our favorite places on the Gulf coast, so blessed to spend 2 days here, while completing some quick-fix repairs, a 4 mile walk, people-watching on 5^th, laundry, reading, writing, resting, and of course, blogging.  

Another 2 days recorded, and grateful for the time, good health and opportunities God gives to spend cruising together.

Day 2, April 8: Pelican Islands Yacht Club

It's a boat, so "Expect the unexpected."

Rested well until 2:30 a.m., but awoke with no air conditioning.  Dennis took off his captain’s hat and put on his mechanical engineer’s one to check it out.  Thankfully it’s easy to access in the main salon under the settee. After about 15 minutes he found a loose wire on the capacitor, and making a guess reconnected it. Bingo, good guess!  Probably came loose from being bounced around yesterday. Shortly back to bed, and slept until 6:00.

At night we try to plan out the next day, and our schedule for today was to leave Pelican at 9:00 and go to Naples Yacht Club, about 2 hours away.  But of course, plans are weather dependent.  Radar indicated this one needed revision with showers coming in from the Gulf.  After checking with the dock master to see if we could stay another night, were glad to hunker down here.  The rain wasn’t real severe, but the winds were about like yesterday, so the change was right.  Thankfully with the club open tonight it’s a short walk over for dinner.

After leaving home early yesterday morning and our rough ride, it was good to have a day to regroup, clean floors, change out a bilge pump and inspect front running light, reload some charts, and rearrange the refrigerator. 

We call living on a boat, “Living large in small spaces,” and some days it’s challenging.  For us, attempting to keep up with routines much like home helps: coffee in the morning, stretching for both, exercising with bands and/or weights, if docked, walking Lady as far as the weather and time permits, showers, lite lunches, dinner around 6:00. All of which keeps us active and healthy and hopefully sane.

Finished the afternoon with pool/hot, tub and shower time, then a lovely dinner at the club. Back to the boat for coffee, tea and some sweets. 

Tomorrow, leaving early on a short 13-mile trip, destination Naples Sailing and Yacht Club, with a stop before docking to refuel at Naples City Marina.  

Cooler temperatures blowing in means a comfortable night for sleeping without the air, and gentle wave action for rocking to sleep. 

God’s peace to you and yours.        

 

 Day 1, April 7: Punta Gorda to Naples

Disembarqued Cesari dock at 7:15, navigated the rim canal and into Charlotte Harbor 30 minutes later.  Leaving on a long trip of any kind always brings contemplation, what did we not bring we will need, or what was left undone at home?  Those thoughts go in the Christmas frenzy category, if it really needs to get done, it did, the rest must not matter much, and as the song goes, “Let it go, let it go, just let it go!”

Hours and hours of planning and preparation goes into a long boat trip, fixing, replacing, buying, checking all systems, repairing, thinking, taking stuff off, putting more stuff on, having done everything financially and inhumanly possible to have the boat in perfect condition.  When it’s finally time to leave, and such a relief, makes you want to shout “halleluiah!”

Motoring across Charlotte Harbor seas were predicted to be 2 ft and was pretty accurate.  The Intercoastal waterway, ICW, to Ft. Myers was also pretty calm.  For the first time ever, we were able to skip the Miserable Mile on the way! It’s a dangerous mile of narrow, speeding boat traffic on the ICW to get under the Sanibel Bridge, and in season, truly a miserable mile. Now without the 60 foot mast of the sailboat, we could cut across and under the 26 foot Sanibel Causeway, into San Carlo Bay, shortening both trip, danger and frustration. 

Slipping under the causeway and into the Gulf of America, got into more of those 2 to 3 foot seas as predicted, but it was doable and comfortable.  It wasn’t long before the winds picked up, and yes, as you can imagine, so did the waves in the Gulf. Our Sailboat rule was we didn’t go out if the winds were above 15, well, they were at 17 on the bow. 

Captain Dennis did an excellent job, trying to out maneuver the waves which kept getting higher, cresting at 6 foot rollers as we pushed on towards Naples.  He sped up, slowed down, rode the crest, crashed down in the trough, saw lots of foamy white water over the bow, went closer to the shore, then back out again, but nothing seemed to help.  My job was to yell when went up those 6 feet crests and then crashed back down, and when captain asked why I said, “It’s either that or a heart attack!” I asked God to intervene, but he didn’t, so guess he trusted Dennis to get us through, and as always, he did. Arrived safe and mostly sound to Pelican Isles Yacht Club at 12:45 p.m.  Can't imagine why not, but interestingly we didn't see any other boats out on the water from Ft. Myers to Naples!!! 

Captain assured Lady, our German Sheperd and I we won't do that again!!!

Club wasn’t open so took advantage finishing off the evening with dinner at our favorite restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk. 

Blessed to be on this journey, but wiped out at 8:30! 

Sign off for tonight. God bless! 

New Adventures on "Never Say Never"

 2025 begins a new era for the Cesari's on "Never Say Never!"  

"Never gonna do that"...often gets passionately proclaimed!  Been there! 

First, swore we'd "never get another dog." after little Fritzy, then "never get another boat," and especially not a power boat, after sailing on Aurora for 13 years! 

Life changes, and never becomes a word which probably NEVER should have used EVER!  

We are ready for new adventures on a 34ft., new to us, Mainship Pilot, up the East coast to the Cheseapeake with our new dog, 3-year-old German Shepard, Lady.  

Departing April 8, first stop, Naples, FL then on to Marathon in the Keys. 

Our adventure invitation:  Come follow along with us........