Catching up, Part Deux!

And we made it in no time to the Dinner Key Channel...aka we were stalking Island Khaya again ;-) And there they were anchored just off the channel.  Of course we snuggled right up to them right behind Red Marker #8, and I mean RIGHT behind it.  Now let's go see what this Coconut Grove place is all about!

Hello again Friends!

View of Coconut Grove from our anchor spot

Good old Red 8

We settled down and took the dinghy to shore--long trip but got to see a manatee next to the crazy packed dinghy dock. 

Park Art

Lulu where we had an arrival cocktail and dinner our first night in town.

Ah the sunsets

Man o' War that Mark saved after saving a little shrimp who also beached himself on the scoop. Merry Christmas Eve Day to them.

A sailboat had babies...one of many sea schools around Dinner Key

And what to our wondering eyes should appear?!  Alley Cat and Shiloh had also been in Miami the day before.  We were even invited to have Christmas Eve with them and Island Khaya aboard Shiloh! Very nice to be included!  Better get to the shops before they close for num nums and hostess gifts!

So off the boys went on bikes to West Marine and off I went to wander the groovy shopping/dining district again...

Gorgeous building (Cruz Building) in Coconut Grove.  Extraordinary events for sure.  I also fell in love with a shop called Olfactory Company.  Lotions potions teas spices sweets scarves and so much more.

Ho Ho Ho...and by the way, it was right after this photo that a nice Irish gentleman starting chatting me up and invited me to join him for a drink...he was probably 20 years my senior but whatever.

Mark and Jon happened along just in time and we went to the Sandbar for lunch and a beer...my sister is a University of Miami graduate by the way.

More Park Art on the way to Fresh Foods - aka Florida's version of Whole Foods.  Gourmet food store on Christmas Eve...this should be fun.  Ha!

City Hall that was part of the old Pan Am terminal back when Dinner Key was their seaplane base...could you imagine how cool that must have been? 

Three Island Spirits in one place at one time--must be some kind of record.  L-R:  Alley Cat, Island Khaya, Stray Cat

Another shot of the "twins", Island Khaya and Stray Cat

Oh my...

What are the chances it'll blow over by our 7PM Christmas Dinner plans?  Any chance a little cloud burst will happen exactly when we are in the dinghy and cut through a shallow spot where both dinghies hit bottom and it's dark?  Hmmmm...what do you think happened?

Peek a boo Jon!

We were so pleased and honored to be included in the Christmas festivities on Shiloh with Alley Cat and Island Khaya.  Thank you for a very very fun night and making us feel so welcome!

Hmmmm...what's in my cup?  Desarrano or Frangelico?  The answer is yes--too many times yes ;-)

Taken about 145 am on Christmas morning when we returned from the amazing get together aboard Shiloh.  Holli (of Shiloh) makes these fun footsie adornments and graciously gave all the ladies a pair of their choice for Christmas.  So nice!

Santa found us!  He brought Mark a GoPro and now the boys have a fun new toy to play with...stay tuned for links to the videos!  Later that day Mark and Jon went to the Cruisers Christmas Day Pot Luck on one of the Dinner Keys...I had gone back to bed after the excitement of gifts and I slept...15 hours...naughty Frangelico.

This is us listening to our first ever Net! We're cool like that now. It's a cruiser thing ;-)

The day after Christmas I was invited along ashore with the ladies of Island Khaya (Brenda), Alley Cat (Marita) and Shiloh (Holli and her mom Jan).  It was very nice to be included in their gang and such fun to hang out with other chicks--I have to say that sometimes it gets a little testosterone heavy on Stray Cat ;-)

That is Father Island Spirit, Alan...not sure if he would like me calling him that but he is Mr. Island Spirit and happens to be a wonderful kind warm sweet witty fun-loving guy!

This is Holli and John of Shiloh - another wonderful couple we have been so happy to meet.

Table for 11 - I'll skip the Moose Juice next time but heard that the burgers were good.

And the sun had set on our time at Dinner Key...

So that was our Christmas...we had the gift of old friends and new ones.  And surprise surprise--Captain confirmed the decision to head down to Key West for New Years.  Honestly, this was not in our plans, had been discussed long ago and the decision was no.  That is how it goes though on a boat:  plans made, you change plans, then change again then all of the sudden you decide to let it go and see where it takes you.  In our case, to the Keys!  In our final installment of "I haven't been keeping up with the blog" is our two amazing days of sailing--true beautiful sailing--and a shit ton of lobster pots along the way.