Starting North 2021

We got started north this year a little earlier than planned, and then we stopped. Windy weather was coming and it would be from an uncomfortable direction to be on the ocean off of Marathon. We were not going offshore very far this year, only to the Channel 5 bridge and back to the ICW. This was because of a scheduled appointment in Miami, my every-two-months immunotherapy Retuxin. So we left early and then waited. Our passage on the ocean was okay, not great, not bad. Then the breeze picked up but on the stern, so no problem. We anchored in Tarpon Basin off the ICW in Key Largo. And waited. The wind came up. It went down. It changed directions. It came up, again. Then it really got windy. And we waited. Did I mention it got windy? Really windy? After five nights we moved a little closer to Miami. We anchored in a little bight in northeast Barnes Sound off North Key Largo. The Sounds were fairly rough but our anchorage was in the lee of the Key so it was not bad. We even had company. This area is kind of near where Card Sound Rd. turns sharp right to head to Key Largo. Near Ocean Reef Club. We could smell the money in the air. After that stop we headed to Miami. Biscayne Bay wasn't too rough as long as we were in the lee of Key Largo and Elliot Key. Once we got past there and had exposure to the east it got choppier but the angle of the winds and seas changed enough so that we were not bashing directly into the two foot waves. Not too terrible. When we got into the lee of Key Biscayne it got much better. Unfortunately No Name Harbor was full and the anchorage outside had too many boats, also. We headed to a new spot to us, Marine Stadium at Virginia Key. A lot of boats in there but very roomy with protection from the winds that were still blowing over 20. Great view of Miami and recomended by our friends on Gelato.

. This photo is not the reason Carol may not be convinced to return there. There is a lot of noisy partying. Most of the night. And not exactly our music. There are a lot of jet ski and other powerboat wakes, too. We had to stay several more nights after my doctor visit due to the north winds continuing to blow strongly. Speaking of doctor visits... I have not talked too much (I hope) about my health conditions lately. There has been no reason as things have continued to go well. This visit confirmed this. My CT scan results were very good and my blood seems almost like human blood. Values that are still out of range are getting closer to normal. All good. Remission seems to continue. Yay! Worth mentioning were a couple of people encounters during my medical day. I mentioned very early in my cancer journey the people I met while getting chemo or met out in a waiting room before our treatments. Sometimes it was while they waited for an update on their condition from their oncologist. While having different conditions or being in different stages of our journeys we all had something in common. We were all part of a not-so-exclusive club (unfortunately) that no one wanted to join but outsiders could never, no matter how sympathetic, quite understand what it was like to be in such a club. A woman, a few years older than me, attempted to sit near me (properly dustanced) but sat on a low table instead. She figured it out quickly and laughed at herself and then started a conversation. As I said, this happens a lot in our club. We exchanged diagnoses (a different lymphoma), treatments, current status, common conditions, opinions about the doctors and nurses, and some life experiences. We also just laughed with each other. Had fun. Instantaneous friends. I cannot think of that happening in any other situation I was ever in. I may never see her again. Maybe I will. She just joins a list of people I've encountered, since I joined the club, that I am unlikely to ever forget even as I've forgotten their names. As I said, we talked about the staff we encountered at the Sylvester/Lennar Center and she told me of her treatment at another facility. Because I get treatment in Hartford as well as Miami I have experienced different systems, styles, facility set-ups and personnel. I have found some things in common: the commitment, caring, competence and dedication of the nurses, technicians, receptionists and support staff is amazing. Beyond the call of duty. More than just a job, it is a calling, I think, even for the lower paid support staff. Of course, the patient spends most of his/her time with the nurses. So far I have had eight infusions at one facility and nine at the other. And when I leave one place it's six or seven months before I come back. The nurses and staff always remember me. Always know my situation and lifestyle. Always engage in meaningful conversations that show they didn't just check my chart for the info. And I see this with their other patients, too. We have different cancers, are in different stages, have different life situations and are given the care and support each are in need of. It is amazing. No bad days are evident to the patient. I do not know how it's done and I know a nurse or two. Really know one, of course. As many of us became aware of care giver sacrifices during this pandemic, what I've seen through my journey is multiple levels beyond that. No disrespect intended. All the thanks I see various patients give to their nurses barely scratch the surface of what is deserved. I'm sure a bit more in their paychecks would be appreciated, too. I know people not in the club don't have much reason to give this subject much thought but it's never the wrong time to just say, "Thanks!" As I post this we about to restart our passages north from Miami. We had slightly unusual days since Marathon and my medical encounters were worth mentioning so I've posted this long before our planned stop in Annapolis which is still my next planned posting. Again.

Rickenbacker-Powel Bridge, Virginia Key to Miami.

Marine Stadium. Long out of use.

Hurricane bent trees on Virginia Key. Yielding to outside forces but growing anyway.

Marathon stay ends

     We are just a few days away from starting north and leaving Marathon. I usually do an enroute update once we get to Annapolis. We'll see. 

     After my mid-winter update blog entry we really haven't had very much happen. No adventures. We like no adventures. A lot. I mentioned learning to play pickleball in December. I played twice per week with the occasional third time. A lot of fun. And addicting. We had a tournament amongst us all and I was doing well. Until. I tried too hard to rush the net and I pulled a calf muscle. Ouch. Very painful. I had to skip some playing days, wrap it with an ace bandage and then I limped a bit for a week. Getting old.  Getting old hurts. Sigh. I also played softball a few times. I used to play a lot pre-lymphoma. It seems I get more soreness and strains playing softball. Sticking with pickleball. 

     In January I got a message from the University of Miami health system asking if I wanted the Moderna version of the Covid vaccine. We said yes but had to rent a car to drive to Coral Gables (130 miles) to get it. It was very organized and a quick in and out with only minor side-effects, arm soreness and a slight out-of-sorts feeling for a half of the next day. One month later (February) I got the second shot. This one had worse (but more locallized) arm pain and I slept the entire next day while feeling totally out of it. One day. Acceptable. I also combined that trip to the mainland with my every-six-months CT scan. After effects of the barium drink and the radioactive iodine injection may have contributed to how out of it I felt the next day, not just the vaccine. I also spent a good portion of our BJs shopping stop on the way home in the rest room. Figure that out yourself. BTW: CT scan results: very good. 

     In January while doing some underwater boat maintenance I encountered a very large Black Grouper. These are a bit smaller than Goliath Grouper but it still was at least three feet long, probably 3 1/2 feet. About 1 1/2 feet high, too. Big. I was able to touch it with my scraping tool without him reacting much. I was NOT going to use my fingers! I'm rather attached to them. And want them to stay that way. When I touched his tail he had enough and wandered off. At his size he probably does not have predators to worry about, least of all me. I was not quite as unimpressed as he was. 

     A few times since January we had the chance to meet up with Gwyn, formerly of the catamaran 'Ala'. Carol started to join in playing Mah-Jongg with her and others once a week. Too complicated a game for me. And little chance of getting injured. What's the fun in that? 

My new friend, Casey. 

     We are leaving a few days sooner than we wanted to so we (we hope) beat some sporty weather that is coming. Sound familiar? Yep. Once we get to the Miami area we have to wait a bit to go to my every two months injection appointment. After that the weather is forecast to be okay for a while. Forecast. We'll see. So far out it is more like a weather guess, not a forecast. As we start north we have no work schedule or appointments (after Miami) for the first time in many years. It'll be nice to have a relaxing cruise. We'll see if that actually happens.

     We had a surprisingly good time here in Marathon this winter season. Some social activities were cancelled and we skipped a couple due to our Covid precautions but we were still involved with the community, played some sports and got some time walking the hammock at Crane Point. We also attended a wedding on the bow of a boat while we watched from our dinghy (see top photo). Winter here was way better, and safer, than we thought it was going to be. Our lifestyle and retirement income keeps us mostly safe and comfortable. What else is there?