Days 198-249 March 13 –May 3

Marlin Bay Resort & Marina–Marathon, Florida

I am writing for the first time in a month.  The world isn’t the same since I last wrote.  The virus spread at an incomprehensible rate.  The term “social distancing” has become a household word. New friendships made are differently.  We have not gotten as close, figuratively or literally, to the boaters here, like we have for the last year.  It’s just another time.   In the weeks we have been here, we gathered twice at a picnic table and shared meals with other boaters.  We had one “docktail” party, as well.  Typically, that social aspect describes 3 nights in a marina, not a month.  Like the rest of the world, we’ve shared our opinions regarding what we think is the right thing to do.  Some think social distancing is a joke.  Some take it very seriously.  Some think it’s Trump’s fault (surprise surprise) and some think he is doing a terrific job managing the pandemic in America.  One thing is for sure, regardless of your party affiliation: Trump thinks HE is doing a fantastic job! Nobody knows what is right.  I do know that after our 2^nd supper gathering, we got a letter from the GM at the marina.  Apparently, someone saw us too close to one another, violating the 6’ rule.  We got our hands spanked and decided we’d best follow the rule of the law for our health, as well as, to ensure we have a place to stay.  Three years from now, we will know what was the right thing to do.

The marina has tried to figure it out, as well.  Since our arrival, they have now closed the main lounge, boater’s lounge, fitness center, and steam and sauna rooms.  As the world has gone to lock down, we as boaters wondered what our fate would be.  With Florida’s governor mandating all short term (vacation) rentals be terminated immediately, we feared those of us in slip rentals would have to leave.  After seeking legal counsel, the marina offered us an opportunity to renew our lease, on a month to month basis (meets the letter of the new ordinance because leases are longer than 28 days). That offer provided us a place to stay and we grabbed it.  Marinas all over have closed, so we are relieved to have a place to stay for as long as we need.  After saying good bye to our Bahamas dream, we are pleased to be in such a good location, even with the restrictions.

The city of Marathon has virtually shut down, like all towns.  The state placed a security checkpoint on Highway 1 so no southbound traffic from the mainland can access, without proof of residency.  Apparently, northerners (New York, specifically) have tried to escape the Covid-19 hot spot, literally running for their lives.  The Keys depend almost exclusively on the tourism industry. Fishing and water related entertainment are the reasons people come. Marinas have settled into a routine, accepting no new boaters, and requiring that any boat leaving the marina must file a float plan or be denied reentry.  The plan must also include a commitment to not go anywhere where where there is contact with other people.  If there is contact, reentry is denied, or worse, quarantined to the boat for 2 weeks. 

So, entering our second month in Marathon, we have almost grown bored with the routine.  As beautiful as the environment, we don’t go far.  Occasional trips to the grocery with masks and gloves, we find the Publix is an exciting outlet for our psyche.   All restaurants, like most places in America, are only open for take-out.  We have had pizza a couple times and seafood a couple times.  But for the most part, we ride bicycles to the grocery one mile down the road and then do our own food prep.

As all boaters know, there is always a project to do on the boat.  But with 31 boats now confined to Marlin Bay Marina, it is my observation from my 6’-0” conversations with other boaters, we are all running out of projects on our boats. 

For example, after being here a couple weeks with no functioning TV, I broke down and ordered the satellite antenna system that I have considered since I bought the Honey Queen. That has provided some entertainment relief for us. Over the air TV antennas, the method most boaters use for watching TV, are useless here because the nearest broadcast station in Miami is almost 100 miles away.  Amanda can now watch Fox News, which has consisted mostly of Trump’s daily press conferences, providing us with updates on the virus.  The antenna installation provided me some entertainment for a couple days.

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Abigail joined us the 18^th of March, and Zach came on Friday the 20^th.  Their plan was to visit for a few days and then head back to Nashville. Zach did return, but Abigail is still with us.  She has been able to work remotely, what little work there is to do in her business.  So, for now, 3 of us are living on the Honey Queen.  Abigail “enjoys” the skinny couch in the salon as her new bed.  She prefers to hang with us in paradise, as opposed to confinement in her apartment alone in Nashville (temps are going to 39 degrees tonight, as I right).  I would like to think she loves spending time with her parents, but if the truth be told, I think the weather here may have a little to do with her decision to stay.

The following pictures summarize our weeks and memories in Marathon.   We have enjoyed our time here, been happy to have Abigail and Zach with us, and we have made some good friends, in spite of the circumstances.

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Wrapping up this post, one more thought. Since late February, I have dealt with an issue that we now know is a restricted opening in one of my heart arteries. After dealing with shortness of breath when running, I went to a cardiologist in Marathon. Now, almost 8 weeks later, I have been scheduled to have a heart cath procedure on Tuesday , May 5. So many of you have promised to pray for success in that procedure. I have been humbled by the genuine interest and concern for me as I enter into this procedure. I am thankful the doctors were able to find out and address the issue, before a heart attack. Thank you for your outreach and your promises to be praying.

My mind turns to the verses in James, Chapter 4:13-16; Look here, you say, “today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Friends and family, I am thankful to you. We are trusting in the sovereignty of God and that His choice will be healing through the surgeon’s hands on Tuesday.

Finally, if the Lord wills, we will be here until May 11. With the hopeful news from Delegal Marina in Savannah, we expect a slip to open very soon for us.  Boats at Delegal have not been able to leave for the same reasons we have not.  We trust the stay-home ban will soon lift and boats will be able to get to their real homes.    We hope to be in Delegal by June 1^st. 

The trip home will take 14-17 travel days.  We have fuel capacity and water capacity to make it without the need of a marina, if it comes to that.  A number of marinas are open along the Atlantic coast of Florida, so we trust there will be options. 

We see the end of our big adventure coming to an end. What an experience this has been. We do look forward to some time back home, with family and friends. As Dorothy has said, “There’s no place like home.”