t’s been awhile since we posted and since the boat is actually in motion and not in Miami anymore, we figured that now’s as good a time as any to bring the site up to speed.
We FINALLY left Miami the day after 4th of July. It was a momentous occasion, before leaving we got to enjoy the massive 4th fireworks going on all around us while anchored out in Biscayne Bay. Our good friends Dave and Shauna from Zia Lucia came over by dinghy with some visiting guests and we had ourselves a nice little margarita party. Probably the best night since we got to Miami more than 4 months before.
Next morning, we headed out to Key West, which was to be the first leg of our trip out of Florida. It was a good trip, with some good sailing, and lots of motoring. We made it into Stock Island’s Oceanside Marina the next evening for what was to be a couple of days’ stay… a three hour tour…
After a HAIRY time getting the boat docked (don’t ask), I decide to head into town to find an internet connection and some take-out. As I’m getting off the boat, I notice that Aretha was lounging on the foredeck. Rather than do what I SHOULD HAVE and put her below, I leave her there. When I come back about 2 hours later, she’s gone. Not just gone, but GONE GONE. Mahi and I spent at least two hours walking around the dock looking for her, and calling for her to no avail. We figure that she’ll be back by morning. But no. So now we start to worry. This is a strange place, and Aretha’s sure to get lost. We widen our search range to include neighboring areas, flyers and the humane society. Still nothing. By now, everyone at Oceanside Marina knows about Aretha’s disappearance, and we’re amazed by the amount of attention and concern. Not just by the marina residents, but also by the staff and employees. These are great people. Regardless of everyone’s efforts, Aretha simply does not turn up. Mahi is now crying every 10 minutes, and I’m a nervous wreck. I knew I should have put Aretha below when I left the boat, and that error will now haunt me forever.
We end up staying at Oceanside for almost a week, for a combination of Aretha’s disappearance and the need to get some parts and gear shipped in. Finally, we decide it’s time to go, we have a weather window to catch for Mexico. So on July 13th, with great regret and sorrow, Andiamo leaves Key West sans Aretha. It was a sad departure when it should have been a happy and exciting one. So off we go to Dry Tortugas, our next stop on the way to Isla Mujeres.
We left in the early evening, and figured we’d motor all the way there and get to Dry Tortugas by early next morning. It was a spectacularly calm evening, with clear starry skies and moonlight. The only thing missing was a little breeze.
About 3/4 of the way to Dry Tortugas, I notice that our alternators are not putting out any amps, and our batteries have become quite spent because of all the instrumentation and other stuff running that we usually only run under motor. After some investigation, I’m unable to determine the problem, but I know that we can’t go on without alternator power. I tell Mahi that we have to turn back and deal with this alternator issue. Mahi prefers that we don’t go back to Key West because she thinks it will be too painful to deal with Aretha’s loss again. But we have no choice. So we do a 180 and reverse course back to Key West to deal with this issue.
We arrive back at Oceanside Marina early Wednesday morning and tie up at their fuel dock. Because they were booked full, they decided to let us take up half of their fuel dock while we got our alternator fixed. Like I said, these are GREAT people.
While I’m dealing with the alternator issue, and some other engine stuff, Mahi runs up to me and tells me that someone on the dock FOUND ARETHA!!! Neither of us could believe it, but there you go. Turns out that one of the night security guys, Jose, who saw how upset Mahi was with the loss of Aretha told her that he would find her. He did, and reported it to Jerry who was our neighbor at the marina. He was the one who came running to Mahi when he found out we were back at the fuel dock for repairs with the news.
After about 30 minutes or so looking around the vicinity where Jerry last saw her that morning, there she is underneath a parked car in the garage of a neighboring condo complex. She was glad to see us. She was in good health, but quite dingy. We conclude that she must have fallen off the boat that first night into the water. And although I searched with that possibility in mind, she must have swum over to another spot where she can get out. The interesting thing is that we literally scoured the condo complex several times the days before we found her there. So bizarre. Needless to say we were so happy to have Aretha back, especially since we had no expectations of getting her back after her missing a week.
So the next day, Thursday July 15th, we get our new alternator (almost $500 later), put it in, and leave Key West for Dry Tortugas, again.
And don’t think we’re done yet. Read the next entry.
Comment from: Rayna the awesome neice! [Visitor]
Aretha!! Is she ok now? Poor kitty. I would have been really sad if she was lost forever. even if she was really mean to me, but it was my fault. I sat on her couch.:-D
Hope all the kitties are well. miss you!
