FLORIDA KEYS ADVENTURE

[beene]

Hey Gaz

Like what Tom said... your view vs ours..


Here's my latest aerial video with my Phantom...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLrz9mafCD0

G

[NiceAft]

Geoff,

Nice video.

Did you bring it down because flights can go only so long, or because of frostbite

Ray

[beene]

Lost the video feed, probably due cold

Hit the RTH button

Came all the way back on auto pilot

Was -5c and the drone does not like below 5c temps

Battery was at 60% remaining when I landed

Has a flying time of 25 min

Glad you liked it

G

[Tomfoolery]

Once again, Tom, I've been schooled

Sorry. I wasn't trying to one-up you. I was just highlighting the contrast between your 'wind in your hair and sand between your toes' experience with our never-ending 'frost bitten ears and snow between our toes' experience the locals here call 'the long gray'. Makes me feel better to live vicariously through others like yourself. Keep posting updates, and especially pics, as they are most welcome.

Got any underwater shots?

[Gazmn]

That guy truly was living the dream. How long did he say he was staying in the keys for?

What Hp motor was on his X?

Thanks for sharing. One day I hope to have a prolonged stay in the keys on my sailboat. One day.......

I don't really know x2...

I'm gonna guess he's down for at least the month. Otherwise the "quest" isn't worth the effort. I don't think he's living in his, as I am. It just wouldn't be enjoyable with no bimini & he's not nearly as stocked as me.

You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I had a 115hp on the transom of mine
This Capt is more of a sailor. I would assume he had no higher than a 50; & since Bahama B pointed out it was a pull start (although I also see a keyed ignition) I'd guess a 40.

Regarding the dream, don't stop believing & take small steps, brother. I'm finally using equipment I bought as much as 10 years ago, with my first mods. Eg: this is the first time I've used my AC Ever.
& I hijacked Billy XX's mod probably 6 years ago
Same for Engel refig, 9 years. & this is my 3rd trip...

While "up north it's freezing cold" [nod to "Up on Cripple Creek" lyric]
This is fickle boating weather. The main people going out have to, to put food on the table & for silly over zealous Northerners, like me While I try not to hit them or their boat with projectile V...

Right now we're in the middle another small craft advisory - That would be me
I haven't moved my boat since I took it off the trailer Feb 6, & motored 100 yards to my slip. & I'm okay with that as I've only missed a handful of pleasureable boating days. Many of which caught me by surprise, or I was out of town.

My joy comes from being on my boat, period. Without having to interupt my joy to go to: work, fullfill somebody's favor, inane task etc
I'm happily living in a ~10x7' space that is Not ship shape. You gotta see my new 600K neighbor. I'll get pics soon. I'm too embarrassed to say more than "Hi" & keep walking. They just came in the other day. It shamed me into finally washing off the brown ring I didn't make time to remove since the end of last season, with the last of my slimey grimey; good stuff.

Mr. Robinson's neighborhood before the invasion. Will take new pics tomorrow

[Gazmn]

Beene, what do u think of the Mariner 2, Splash Drone?

I've enjoyed following your adventure in the keys. Post more pics when you can!

As for the Mariner Drone, I truly wish I would have waite d and bought one of those... My Phantom is in 6 fathoms....

Doug

Sorry for your loss Doug...

Beene's actually inspiring me to finally have the guts to fly mine. Mind u this is a small island with not all that much dry land without a car running over it but it will be the best way to get more comprehensive pictures of here. So I'll try when the wind dies down, which is still blowing aound 20kts with temps not more than 70.

Beene-
Nice job Bro
I hope my RtH button works too

Tom-
I didn't take ur comment as a zing. No apology needed, ever. It's perspective. The other day I paddleboarded down to he resorts beach area -& bar. It was 67*. I was not 'boarding for the beach
I had a $65 lunch & watched people try & live out their Florida fantasies in bikinis & sweashirts...
But it beat Missouri & Michigan weather where they came from.



So I rode my magic carpet from here to here:



& ate & drank from here

[Gazmn]

Then I let the wind practically blow me home & played the bikini & sweatshirt blues



These are some pics of the admiral & I at Bahia Honda:

This is near to where the ramps are. Theyre' on the other side of the grass break. At the rear side of the boat. I wonder what the story was for that one

sunset selfie

[dlandersson]

Nice pictures

[Jimmyt]

Great pics. It's been blowin' a bit up in our area also. Can't blame you for not wanting to beat around in 20+, which is more of a job than recreation. I know the admiral was glad to get a break from snow shoveling.

Cool that you're breaking in some of your mods. Let us know of any significant "lessons-learned". I'm still in the honeymoon phase, waiting for the boat to tell me how I need to change to suit her better (the boat and the admiral have been talking...). Always paying attention to what mods people find really useful (and more so the ones they find aren't).

Also, I'd like to give you a personal commendation for literary excellence. Your narratives are a hoot to read and always put a smile on my face!

Looks like you're having a blast!

Keep it coming!

[miamistyle]

Yes please keep the pictures coming.

I can't tell you how many snapper I have caught right between the two bridges in your sunset picture.

[NiceAft]

Yes please keep the pictures coming.

I can't tell you how many snapper I have caught right between the two bridges in your sunset picture.

It looks to me that you have been given a great fishing tip Greg

By the way, wonderful pictures for us in the cold, windy, northeast USA.

We can drudge on; all the while vicariously living our lives through your picturers

Am I laying it on too thick

Ray

[fouz]

Keep the updates and pics coming. Really enjoying them. Thanks for for posting them.

[Gazmn]

While I'm supposed to be setting up a blog, there's no learning curve to posting here. Thanks all for the encouragement to write & post pics guys. Since there is a 3 pic limit per post, I'll try & tell a story within that limit. I'll call this one:

Moonlight Paddle-

After coming home the other night from "The Island Fish Company", where I saw the Mac @ the dock fr. Indiana, I saw there was a beautiful full moon. Me & "Jack Daniels" thought that I should get a moonlight selfie on the water... BRILLIANT!

So I changed, took the time to don some safety gear- Cause God knows Jack can't swim...

Paddled off from the boat, not too far & Son of a Bridge, now the moon's hidden behind the clouds

So I did the best I could:






Oh I forgot the selfie part: Smile...



What's the matter, can't see me ?

[Gazmn]

BOO

[Gazmn]

Mods & moderation:

First, I have to thank my PO & his mods. Thank you Ed. Ed Goodhue, S/V Taurus Two, as Miss Ollie was formerly known. Ed, I hope there is still wind in your sails & your safe harbor in sight on the horizon.

It was 10 years ago that I travelled up to Buzzards Bay to buy his traveling boat. He kept his main one in the bay. He hooked "T Two" up nicely with: a 900W microwave, 1500W inverter, 20 or so gal plumbing system & SSB radio. & among other travels took T Two to Bimini... That's what piqued my interest in his boat, he set it up for travel.
Those mods are long since gone, but the ones I kept: A Very nice & useful wooden 2pc companionway door, with a screen & removable large window. I kept the top & use it over my Bubba box AC.


A tandem axle galvanized trailer, he upgraded this '97 to the SS rudder system- WOW. & made a SS radar arch ingeniously out of 3 8'SS bars that my fat axx could do gymnastics off of. Compass w/red night light, starboard side below the lines & winch, that connects to a 3 way light switch in the head: light, off & compass. AC & DC systems...
Thanks Ed - you sparked the dream for me.

My mods that greatly affected this trip:
1- Nature's Head composting toilet. Now I know why many say this is among the best mods they've done. But to make it more relevant to the mod I'm thinking of renaming The Head to "The Hopper"

2 & 3- My galley & modified V berth, sleeper. 2 more last minute rush mods that were 10 years in the making. While I washed (literally) all my foam & interior covers. I ended up not taking them as the foam wasn't dry in time plus I liked my improvisations: I took my 2 Bubba outside cockpit cushions, mainly out of desperation. & cut them to size for the modified V berth. They are my interior couch when I roll up my bedding, to keep clean.Below that a layer of Dry Dek tiles for below air flow. On top I rollup a 3" memory foam topper, that's been cut to size & completely encased in a water proof mattress cover. & everything gets covered by my cleaned repurposed gray 8' Bimini cover. So if water came in through the front hatch, my bedding would be protected. This system is staying for this year. Probably permanently.
I also took the back support that was connected to cooler side of the table, & moved it to the port side, inline with the starboard support, making a long 2 pc "couch" . I took the portside pole from the other seatback & attached it to Drilled a base & supported it so I can swing it or simply install differently for day & night setup. Ya got it?... No? Here's a pic


Day Wear... Evening wear





Note also the yellow folded towel velcroed over the light switches I would otherwise cut my bald head on & my tacky "window shades", 4 & 5

6- I also put the soft velcro side anywhere I might bump my head- note ceiling in first pic

7- 24" TV Monitor & antenna accesories.

8-10 -iPAd & iPhone & lightning to HDMI connector. 10b -Facetime. Love you family

11. Netflix - to combat Spanish only television

12. Cargo brand carbon fiber travel guitar

13. 11' Displacement nose standup paddleboard. This one's tough & light. I also packed a 12'6" inflatable paddleboard cause I'm a nut...

14. My "Big Red" electric heater. Some nights it's #1.

15- Engel refrigerator

16 large wheeled 83 can 5 day Extreme Coleman cooler. I keep it secured & covered in cockpit.

17- Ice maker. Hey why not...

18- Battery powered camplights various & useful - as my cabin lights haven't worked in a year

19- Ryobi 18V tool system, radio & fan fr. Home Depot.

20- My Chevy Tahoe tow beast. Great for pulling, storing gear & problem free.

21- America
Land of the Free & Home of... : Home Depot, Kmart, Radio Shack, Publix, Winn Dixie, Amazon Prime & gas < $4.00 , BoatUs, AAA, cell coverage, A Great interstate system with All conveniences & police & emergency when needed


Here are 2 vids just uploaded. More to come...
http://youtu.be/UGvavfBYWLw

http://youtu.be/4ctF0HderS8