26-07.919N
081-47.583W
Docked
Naples City Docks
Naples, Florida
Friday, November 19
Fine, lasting friendships form quickly.
The beautiful, new Presbyterian Church sits 100 yards from the Marco River
Marina at our last stop, Marco Island. While waiting for the 11 a.m.
traditional service, Ed Lammersfeld extends a hand and a smile. He
asks where we are from and how we arrived at Marco Island. After ten minutes
of conversation, he says, "Listen. Pat and I will meet you after church,
take you to lunch, show you the island, and invite you to our home. Is
that OK?" "Sure," we said. "We would enjoy it immensely."
Ed is a retired pipe fitter from Park Ridge, Illinois, not far from John's
childhood play grounds of Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills. He and Pat
moved to Marco 8 years ago. Pat is a teacher. As a member of
the Civil Air Patrol, she is starting a special program for teen agers, to
teach them about search and rescue, and about the joys of flying. They
both are students of The Bible who appreciate good discussion and enjoy reading
histories and philosophies related to biblical history. They gave us
two excellent books, one by a Chicago Tribune Harvard trained lawyer who
presents evidence that Bible stories are true and accurate. After breakfast
Tuesday morning, we again visited their home to see the new DVD of the movie
"Fiddler On The Roof." The DVD has a director's commentary by Norman
Jewison, plus other special features. (The DVD technology allows distribution
of more information at low cost, a great innovation.) In our minds,
Marco, Ed and Pat compose a unified memory of friendship, courtesy and hospitality
without equal.
Naples is clean, modern and enjoyable. Today, we drive to Ft. Lauderdale
to wage war against Super Sail Makers, a company that promised reimbursement
for a failed sail installation, but never paid. Following this experience,
we will understand The Peoples' Court, the small claims system of Florida.
25-57.903N
081-43.340W
Anchored
Factory Bay
Marco Island, Florida
Sunday, November 14
No Name Harbor, Key Largo and Marathon were our stopping points since leaving
Cabo Rico. (See below.) We have been to all before, and we spent
little to no time on shore, partly because high winds caused us to remain
comfortably on board.
However, at Key Largo we spent a day at the John Pennekamp Undersea State
Park, including a ride in a glass bottom boat with fifty grade school kids.
Their oohs and aahs made the trip totally worthwhile and fun. This park
is a must for anyone tourist driving down The Keys, or arriving by boat.
We left Cabo Rico with everything working. Since then, the following
have failed: a dodger zipper, the wind direction indicator, the aft
head, and the cover for the diesel control until in the cockpit. At
no time has this boat, or any other boat, left its crew with the contentment
that "everything works." Meanwhile, we should be waxing the deck and
the dodger, but our hearts are not yet into those tasks.
With 12-15 knots off the beam, we had a fine sail from Marathon to Little
Shark River, a place we pictured as ideal. Unfortunately, mosquitos
and other yukky ones chased us off. We left early the next morning for
Marco, where we will first go ashore this morning.
25-40.581 N
80-09.728W
Anchored
No Name Harbor
Key Biscayne, Florida
Friday, November 5
We left the dock of Cabo Rico Custom Yachts with more gratitude than pets
at a first class dinner.
From July 20 to November 1, the folks at Cabo Rico took care of Pachamama,
and protected her from two hurricanes. They worked beyond the call
of duty. They took good care, because they are professionals, and because
they love these boats.
Here they are:
Fraser Smith, owner of Cabo Rico, a Canadian transplant and fine arts
major who purchased the company more than a decade ago. He knows his
boats from mast head to keel bottom, and he generously shares this knowledge
any time, day, night, weekends, you name it.
Tony Wynne-Roberts, born in South Africa, a sailor and world traveler,
who uses his mind and hands to both commission and to repair boats, while
refitting his own new boat and making occasional deliveries. Tony is
an all-round jewel who understand the mechanical world, and love its challenges.
Dave Macy, former commissioning director of Cabo Rico, who can fix anything,
with a smile, cordiality and generosity. He is a licensed contractor in Broward
County, an expert at restoration, as well a first class sailor, who, with
his friend Tim Parmentier, sailed with us from Newport to St. Martin in
November, 2002.
Jim Pattison, former sales director of Cabo Rico, from Mexico, Indiana,
which, naturally, is near Peru, himself a sailor who will spend a wonderful
family Christmas in The Turks & Caicos. Jim brought a smile and
positive attitude to every question and challenge. His sister in law, Suzanne
Howell, is purchasing manager for Cabo Rico, who also pitched in during
the hurricane crises. She is from Crawfordsville, Indiana, where her
husband Mike served as District Chair for The Boy Scouts. He went
to Philmont on the same trip as Captain John, another small world story.
We thank Jim and Suzanne, as well as Tony and Fraser, for preparing Pachamama,
transporting her to another marina, cutting windage, and setting lines.
Anyone near a hurricane needs these people.
Carol Plunkett, no better person to make the bright work of Pachamama look
firm and bright.
And now we move on.