Marathon - Continued.....

Starting back in Naples, we arrived in a pretty good wind and anchored the first night before our extended stay at the Naples Yacht Club.  Our small but mighty dinghy was able to pull us off the shoal we landed on trying to find the way into the anchorage.  Fortunately all turned out well and the anchorage was beautiful and the surrounding homes were Very impressive!  We docked in Naples and flew home.  
Tom McCarthy joined Joe for the trip from Naples to Marathon.    Weather didn't cooperate so they made a dash before the extreme high winds kept them in port.  A bit of a rough ride for them but they got to explore Marathon and Key West.

Wonderful Christmas at home with the immediate and extended family.  Then the whole family plus Emily arrived in Miami around 8:30 pm on Dec. 27th and drove to Marathon.  A late nightcap on the back deck under the beautiful Christmas lit Faro Blanco lighthouse.   The next day we headed out late morning, under the bridge to the Sombrerro lighthouse to snorkel.  Waves got increasinnly larger as we went out and by the time we moored, we had good 4'er's.  A bit challanging to snorkle and/or be on the boat so we headed back into the gulf for a boat ride. We got back in and brought Nora swimming - she loved it!  Happy hour on the back deck and went to the only place we could get in for dinner, Seven Mile Cafe.  A Greek place with no Greek food left (late night rush the night before) and ok food but an interesting experience. Game night (Bang - a family fav).

Kids took the car to Key West as the winds were very high.  Joe & Karen got Nora!  Afternoon dinghy rides and after some rain we all went to Keys Fisheries for dinner, then more games.

December 30th - winds mostly down so we tried for a sandbar on the Atlantic side but still too rough so we cruised and anchored in the Gulf again.  Swimming, paddle boarding and relaxing.  Emily got stung by a jelly fish (but was alright after an hour or so).  HH on boat with some photo shoots followed by a delicious dinner at Keys Lobster & Steak.  ​

December 31st - Jacob and Emily left early and the rest of the crew spend a relaxing day reading, swimming and hanging out.  The early seating for the New Years special dinner at Faro Blanco was at 5 o'clock so afterwards we had plenty of time to people watch, play games and wait for the famous 'Anchor Drop' at Faro Blanco, which was of course right off our back deck.  The music and party were also very close so we just danced on the dock!  
We all made it to midnight, with the lucky exception of Nora, who slept through it all!.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Jan. 1, 2020.  One last day with the family here so we did on more day of cruising the Gulf area, site seeing, swimming and paddle boarding.  Weather has been unusually hot for Dec/Jan so we have been very lucky.  Next front arrives tomorrow and will stick around for awhile.  
Jan. 2nd - Sadly said goodbye to the kids and Nora.  A couple days in port to reorganize, work on the equipment and get ready to depart Marathon - now a forever favorite place of ours with so many great memories!

Ray & Michele Lee arrived late on the 4th, just as the weather changed and the wind went a little crazy.  No worries, we went to Key West via car.  Great pizza place at the Southern Most Cafe, then watched the Vikings game - well most of it (it was too stressful for some of us...).  
Another dinner at Keys Lobster and Steak - now Joe's favorite on the island.