Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #240: From last night I beat Mike at cribbage. The two of us were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, cookies, grapefruit and mini lemon poppy seed muffins. At 8:15 A.M. we were off in the dinghy heading for Don Pedro Island State Park. The two of us were the first on the dock at the park. Mike and I did beachcombing until 11:30 A.M. When we went to leave, all of the docks were full and there were four boats waiting for slips. We headed to the pool were it was warm as the sun was shining with not a cloud in the sky. Larry, Jan and David all joined Mike and I at the pool during the afternoon. The two of us said goodbye to Bill and Barb a very nice couple that were staying at the condos the last month who are leaving in the morning heading back home. Bill had been very kind offering to drive us anywhere that we would have needed to go due to not having a car.  After dinner it was time for blogging and reading.

                                                                                     

                                          Willets on the beach at Don Pedro State Park.

Cownose Ray was caught by a fisherman on the beach. 

Upside down cownose ray. Hook removed and released back into the waves.

Beautiful Tabebuia Tree that is very close to the marina.

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #239: Heavy rain overnight but sunny, 64 degrees and beautiful this morning. Mike and I up at 6:00 A.M. heading over to complete 3 loads of laundry. Breakfast for us consisted of coffee, lemon poppy seed muffins and cookies. At 8:00 A.M. all laundry was completed and put away. Mike up on the flying bridge working on the independent depth sounder. After about 2 hours of trying to get the depth sounder to work Mike finally stated that he was done with trying to get this piece of equipment to work. After lunch the two headed up to the flying bridge Mike played the guitar while I read my book. At 2:00 P.M. I completed my book. At 3:00 P.M. it was time to start getting ready as Mike and I prepared for a goodbye dinner for Kyle and Ed. I kept watching the radar as there was a threat of rain.  At 3:50 P.M. Kyle and Ed stopped by the "Parrot Bay" wondering if we should move the boat ride to Palm Island to 4:30 P.M. instead of 5:00 due to the rain so I called Jan she stated that her and David could be ready by 4:30 P.M. The group was at the water taxi at 4:30 P.M. just as it started to sprinkle. Our group got into the restaurant before the rain started. The group had a great meal celebrating friendships that have been established over the past months. Our group returned at 6:30 P.M. heading to our boats for the evening. For the two of us it was time for some quiet time on the "Parrot Bay".

The flying bridge before we decided that the independent depth sounder wasn't in our future.
 

Ed, Kyle, Jan and David on the water taxi.

    

Beautiful walk from the water taxi to Rum Bay Restaurant. 

 

After the rain a beautiful sunset. 

Sunset from the flying bridge of the "Parrot Bay".

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #238: Mike and I were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, mini lemon poppy seed muffins, grapefruit and maple cookies (thanks to David and Jan for buying us cookies as they stopped at Trader Joe's). At 8:30 A.M. Gary from the marina came to change out the second set of fuel filters.  He completed the job at 10:00 A.M. The "Parrot Bay" has now had all of the maintenance that we scheduled for her since arriving at Aquamarina Palm Harbour. She is ready to leave Aquamarina in 33 days. After Gary left the two of us walked to the post office and hardware store. On our way back into the marina we stopped in the south basin of the marina where there was a manatee just lounging.  Afterward lunch Mike headed to the pool while I took a short nap. While I was laying down Mike helped Ed and Kyle to load their dinghy on the back of "It's OK 2" getting ready to leave on Friday. "Kailani" a looper boat arrived at the marina during the afternoon. Ed had been a great help to Tracy and Nick from "Kailani" helping them while they were in Demopolis. Although warm all day there is a chance of rain this late afternoon and evening. At 4:30 P.M. Ed, Kyle, Nick, Tracy, Mike and I had happy hour in the cabana. During the evening hours Mike and I read books and blogged.

                                                                                   

                                               Gary working on the port engine fuel filters.

Manatee lounging in the basin this morning.  

Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina in Cape Haze, Florida

Day #237: From last evening I beat Mike at cribbage. The two of us were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, banana bread, grapefruit and cookies. The weather was partly sunny with temperatures in the high 60's the forecast was for winds to increase to 15 with gusts 20-30 miles per hour. At 10:15 A.M. Mike and I headed over to "It's OK 2" to head out with Kyle and Ed to Useppa Island. Kyle had worked with Sandy from Aquamarina Palm Harbour as she made arrangements for "It's OK 2" to dock at the marina at Useppa and reservations for lunch on the island. The four of us headed out with the winds starting to increase but the ride on the flying bridge was warm and delightful. The four experienced some spray to the flying bridge which was fun. "It's OK 2" docked at Useppa. Ed, Kyle, Mike and I registered with the island staff deciding that they had time to walk part of the island before lunch as we had reservations at 1 P.M at the Collier Inn. The island is beautiful and full of palm trees and banyan trees mixed in it's botanical garden. There are island homes, cottages and suites. The four of us enjoyed the beautiful flowers and trees along the walking trail. At 1:00 P.M. we had a great lunch outside at the Collier Inn. The temperature was 72 degrees but the clouds moved in and the winds were gusty. After lunch we completed the walking tour of the island. Before leaving the island the four of us headed to the gift shop to purchase some items. Ed thought it a better idea that he drive the boat from the lower helm as the winds had picked up and Charlotte Harbor was getting rough. Ed was correct, we were in the inside of "It's OK 2" when waves were hitting the starboard beam in seas that Ed characterized as "snotty". Once the boat was in the intercoastal the ride was much smoother. The boat arrived back at Aquamarina at 5:30 P.M. where Jan and David assisted with helping with dock lines. The six of us enjoyed cocktails on "It's OK 2". Finally it was time for Mike and I to head back to the "Parrot Bay" after a great day with Kyle and Ed. We had a light dinner onboard followed by blogging and reading.

Dolphin jumping in "It's OK 2"s wake.

Entering Useppa Island channel.

"Lady Chadwick" tour boat arrived at Useppa Marina just prior to us arriving.

Useppa Marina dock master office.

This was at the beginning of the tour. There were beautiful flowers in the ground, growing in pots attached to the trees and growing out of the trees. 

King of the coconut.

Marty from Aquamarina Palm Harbour Marina had told us that we would enjoy the "pink path" and we did. 

                                                                           Banyan tree.

Ed, Kyle and me at the banyan tree. 

Mike and Patty at the banyan tree. 

The banyan tree and "pink path".

                                                        Another beautiful banyan tree. 

Here the flowers are in pots attached to the tree. 

                                                                               

                                                                                                                            

Ibis

Ed, Kyle, Mike and I had a great meal at The Collier Inn. 

This hammock hasn't been used in a bit look at the Spanish moss.
 

                     One of the homes on the island. Beautiful palm trees leading up to the house. 

Different looking palm tree with a triangle in its trunk.

Seed pod from a mahogany tree.  

Beautiful butterfly garden but there were no butterflies when the group passed by the area.

Our group had a great day on Useppa Island.