We spent Wednesday at Miami Beach and then on Thursday 2/7/12 moved south to Crandon Park for Fuel and then on to No Name Harbor in Biscayne Channel to wait for the sun to peek out for the crossing to Bimini.  No sooner had we gotten the anchor down and turned on the generator (to charge the batteries, etc.) – the generator began to overheat.  We go the soundproof cover off the unit and found that the pulley on the raw water pump (the one that pumps sea water through the heat exchanger) had come apart! 

Crandon Park Marina 25° 43.40’ North, 080° 09.29’ West.

No Name Harbor 25° 40.60’ North, 080° 09.75’ West

Dinner Key Mooring 25° 43.26’ North, 080° 43.26’ West

 Benny made Chicken Lillian (see recipe) for dinner with Dean and Sue and a nice evening was had by all.  However, instead of heading to the Bahamas the next morning, we got on the phone to find a part in Miami and we headed to Dinner Key (Coconut Grove) to pick up a mooring.  It is boat show week end and there are no slips available anywhere!  The folks at Astral International ordered a new pump for us, which will be here on Monday.  Kohler no longer makes that pump pulley, they have upgraded the unit with a new pump and pulley which is not supposed to come apart. 

 Dean and Susan (Autumn Borne) were leaving with us, but decided to stay also.  Nice to have the support!  We all had dinner at Scotty’s, but the wind whistling through the tent was a little chilly.

 We spent the week-end enjoying Coconut Grove.  Late on Monday (2/11), the pump was delivered to the marina.   Lisa made chicken alfredo for dinner and Dean and Susan came over.

The pump got installed on Tuesday (2/12).  It looks like the next weather window to go across to the Bahamas will be Wednesday.  The new pump also has a new mounting bracket, so the installation took longer than expected (doesn’t everything on a boat?). We had lunch at Johnny Rocket’s and went to Yogurtini (a yogurt bar in Coconut Walk).  Great selection of frozen yogurt!

Wednesday afternoon (2/13), we are ready to leave to head for No Name Harbor again.  When we start the main diesel, there is no water coming out of the exhaust.  After checking the sea strainer to make sure it wasn’t clogged with sea grass, we find that the engine water pump is not pumping water!  Dean and Susan have already left and we are stuck here!  After finally getting the main engine water pump apart, we find that the impeller (looks like a rubber paddlewheel) in the pump is completely destroyed!  Luckily, we have another in our spares kit, but by the time we get it changed, it is late. 

Dean and Susan come back to the mooring field the next morning and we spent the day doing Valentines Day (2/14/12) stuff on land.  We have missed another weather window, so our plans get modified.  We will head south to Marathon, where Jeff and Lisa will work on the dive certification, and then we will see what happens.  We will either head across to the Bahamas or continue south to Key West.  We have a late lunch at Scotty’s and again prepare to depart.

Friday (2/15/12), we depart Dinner Key at 9:30am and head back across Biscayne Bay to Crandon Park for fuel and water.  We had a pump out at Dinner Key, so we should be all set to head south.  We depart Crandon Park and 11am and catch up with Autumn Borne as they head south down Biscayne Bay. As if we have not had enough issues, when we start to unfurl the main, it jams inside the mast.  Won't come out, won't go in.  Then as we get ready to set the anchor at Pumpkin Key, the thing decides to unfurl itself!  We had to drop the sail on the deck to get the anchor down. We spend the night anchored at Pumpkin Key (Key Largo).  Susan made spaghetti for dinner and brought it over to our boat. Dean came over early and he and Jeff and I managed to get the main sail back onto the furling in the mast and correctly set all the furling lines.  Then we discover the generator is no longer pumping water!  I spend the evening taking the pump apart and replacing the impeller.  That’s three water pump fixes in three days! 

It rained a lot over night and is still cloudy as we depart for Angel Fish Creek to go out of Biscayne Bay into the Atlantic and into what is known as Hawk Channel, which runs between the land (the Keys) and the reefs.  Pumpkin Key 25° 19.41’ North, 080° 17.75’ West.  21.7 NM today.

We arrive at Rodriguez key as the wind starts to build behind the front that brought all the rain.  Overnight, the wind hits 35 knots and it is bouncy in the anchorage.  Our anchor holds, but Dean’s gives up at dawn and he has to move in closer to shore and reset.  We will sit out the high winds here today and depart tomorrow morning for Marathon. Rodriguez Key 25°03.92’ North, 080° 27.06’ West.  24.3NM today

Link to recent pictures http://imgur.com/a/NVyKD

Chicken Lillian

2 medium onions

3 ribs of celery
2 bell peppers
2 cloves fresh garlic ½ lb fresh mushrooms (optional)
olive oil
1 stick butter
6-8 pieces of chicken (6-8 thighs or drum sticks or 4 breasts halved)
1 ½ cups sauterne wine (or a nice chardonnay)
chicken stock
rice

 

I use an 8 quart pot.

 Finely chop onions, celery (including tops), peppers, garlic and mushrooms.

 Melt one stick of butter (and add at bit of olive oil).  Salt and pepper chicken pieces (usually leaving the skin on).  When the butter is melted brown the chicken until crusty (usually 2-3 pieces at a time). Remove chicken and place on paper towels.

 Pit all the veggies in a pot and sauté for saute’ for 7-8 minutes. Add wine.  When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to simmer.  Put in chicken.  Cook over low heat 45 to 60 minutes.  If more liquid is needed during cooking, add chicken stock to cover.

 Serve over rice.  Steamed broccoli or fresh green beans make a great side dish.

 

Chicken Lillian is named after Lillian Handley, one of our favorite people and Janet Handley’s mom.  Janet gave me the recipe years ago and we have prepared it many times - and we have had this dish prepared by Lillian and Janet as well.   Enjoy!