Josh surprised Purdy with a sunset sail with us in Florida bay, then the big surprise was when he asked for her hand in Marriage.
A happy couple enjoying dinner at sunset in Everglades National Park
With the romantic setting of a calmwater sail, a beautiful ring and a bottle of champagne she had no choice but to say yes. Afterwards we served them a fresh fish and lobster dinner with chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. I did not do nearly as good a job when I proposed to Margie 33 years ago!
It does not get any better than this!
After a very rainy day when the upper end of tropical storm Paula moved eastward (the storm was over Cuba) cool dry air has moved in. It’s time to turn off the A/C and enjoy one of my favorite times of the year. I was reading the forecast discussion on NOAA’s website this morning and came across this;
THE RADAR REFLECTIVITY ANIMATIONS ALSO ILLUSTRATE AUTUMN BIRD MIGRATION WITH SPLENDOR. THE 25-30 DBZ ECHOES SUGGEST OVER 10000 BIRDS PER MILE ARE FLYING SOUTHWARD TO THEIR WINTER HABITATS... ACCORDING TO RADAR ORNITHOLOGY STUDIES
The birds know how to follow the weather.Flying South for the Winter?
Margie and I really enjoy the many species
that we see in the wintertime when we are
cruising and anchored in Everglades National
Park. We have a sunset sail today, our 1st
of the "snowbird" season. It will be nice to
have the boat sailing again.
I just commented on an interesting editorial about our parks in the NY times. Timothy Egan has some great thoughts but he left out sailing in the Keys. Desert and mountains our great but;
“Don’t forget the hundreds of thousands of acres of Islands and waters of the Florida Keys, Biscayne and Everglades National parks. If you travel just a few miles from US 1 you are transported to a tropical marine environment like nowhere else in the United States or the world. My wife Margie and I have the privilege of sailing in these waters year round, enjoying the beautiful vistas, wildlife, and open spaces. Much of the “land” is covered by a few feet of water but still it remains “for you and me”.”
My Summer Home
Just got this by email;
Greetings Captains Margie and Harold,
We had a fantastic week sailing with you on Island Dreamer in the Florida Key. The lessons, your excellent instructions and sailing knowledge are exceptional. After returning to sail our boat it was surprising how much our sailing skills had improved. The week of instruction, food, company, laughter and stops along the way truly exceeded our expectations.
Have a great Thanksgiving and Happy Sailing,
Monica and Keith
Sailing Magazine has a great article in it’s latest issue but I did have a comment that I sent them;
Thank you for the great article The 10 Top Green Places to Sail Now. Your segment on the Florida Keys was well researched but I have to take exception to the comment they should “furl the sails …and spend some time exploring [Everglades National Park]. Margie and I have been sailing the park and the entire gulf side of the lower Keys for the last 15 years in sailboats From a 24′ Venture with 18″draft (swing keel up) to an 80′ schooner, 5 1/2′ draft. The beauty of sailing while watching the bottom glide by in 7′ of clear calm water is an experience not to be missed. Snorkeling is not as dramatic but fascinating nonetheless, ranging from mangrove channels to turtle grass flats that are nurseries for many of the fish seen on the coral reefs. The thousands of uninhabited islands are far different than the few connected to the mainland by US 1 and will alter your impression of the Keys forever.
This Summer Margie and I will be taking Boy Scouts on our 2 Morgan Out Island 41′ sailboats on BSA’s Eco-Adventure program from their Seabase in Islamorada. We will take groups of 12 sailing, diving, and learning about the ecology of the Keys. I hope to see your readers as they also sail in one of the most unique and beautiful areas in the world!
The first time I went diving to catch Florida Lobster was the last weekend in July 1983. My brother and I spent the 2 days at the opening of season gasping for air and chasing those wily crustacean around the floor of the ocean. In 2 days we caught 3 Keepers and I was hooked. I am a little better at it now but sometimes they still get away. It’s still one of the things I enjoy most about diving in the Keys.
A good hours work diving for Lobster
Of course it makes for a very tasty dinner. We have a cookbook called Just Florida Lobster, unfortunately out of print, that has 55 different recipes in it. I am proud to say I have tried them all.
The best one- Amandine Lobster first you lightly bread the tail, saute it, then make a sauce from sliced almonds, butter and Armaretto Liqueur. Not very healthy but well worth it.
If you join us during Lobster season (8-6 through 3-31) there is no guarantee, but we might just have fresh seafood for dinner.