Great Loop

Hey guys!
We are enjoying a visit with Murray & Terri Body here in Tarpon Springs. We are gonna do some blog stuff tomorow, but I must say, we GREATLTY enjoyed the hospitality extended by Tom Smith and Marylin. They boarded Gypsy and we motored up the Crystal River to the Three Sisters springs and enjoyed the Manatees as much as the wind would allow. Tried real hard to get pics and a Flip film clip which we will post, but the quality is hampered greatly by the choppy water. This is in keeping with the theme of this trip. Tom said "we haven't seen this in fifteen years!"......who'da thunk it!?!? :roll: . Went to eat at Crackers and then put us to bed, as we cast off @ before morning navigatable daylight. Thanks Tom & Marylin!!! Thanks for ya'lls intrest in our adventure!
Mike & Brenda aboard Gypsy
 
Hi Guy's hope all is well I guess we can expect you down in Naples about 7-10 days or so ? Keep in touch, Would love to get together and do a little cruising with you guys Jim's cell 239-269-9537

Also Mike if you need to fix or haul out let us know We have extra trailers sitting around.
 
GYPSY has landed in the comfort of Brother Taylor. Great to know when you family is in good hands. Enjoyed the chats...

Jim/Duck: Special Thanks for helping our other boating friends fix their problems down your way. Enjoyed our quick time together too.

Life is good!

Travel safely and my the weather finally turn your way!!

Brother Pat
 
Mike & Brenda cast off the dock lines this morning about O..9am...and headed south out of Naples heading for Goodland on the ICW. Jim joined up with them about half way down and they cruised on in to Goodland togeather. They found some free dockage at a drinking establishment that goes by the name Marker 8. and will be settling in for the nite.

Gypsy_Crew.jpg

It was such a peasure having them at our dock and getting to know the other side of the Byrd Family. We even learned a few things about the ages of the Byrd Boys...that surprised us.
 
Sticking a few pics from the trip...from a few different folks.

For me, this trip was a fast 1 week trip south from Clarksville to The Glades RV Resort, Marina & Golf Course in Moore Haven, FL to see my ol friend Terry "muffin-man" Myers/LAST DANCE, and, see some friends in that neck of the woods...Ft. Myers/Naples area. Well, you can not see it all in a week with travel time from the Nashville area and back, and fishing, and all...but, I did get to see my Brother Mike and B on thier trip of the Loop. Ya know, Mike and I talked about every other day and saw each other pretty much every week for the last few years....so, the delay in a visit to see them of 3+ months seemed just too long. It was great to see thier new child "Jed", the dingy, get our first trip on the dingy out to the mooring ball, rafted up with a surprise visit from PANDY GIRL, see Jim the Duck... and...well.. It was fun and too short of a trip. Pictures to enjoy.. and a special thanks to all who have helped Brenda (Miss B) and Brother Mike along the way. Know our entire Byrd tribe thanks you.

Gypsy_Beached.jpg

Jed_m_b.jpg

Jed_Ft_Myers.jpg

GYPSY_Pandy_Girl.jpg[/img]
 
Hi The Byrd Family,
It was great to see you all, I did not have any Idea that Pat & Terry was even down here at Fort Myers Beach, what a great sursprise, had a great time with you all.
WE like to see you all this summer.
Jim & Sandy
 
OK... no smoke signals, emails or txt responses or calls for a few days from GYPSY...

Any body seen/heard from them in a few days?

Departed Naples area about a week ago????
 
Thanks for the PM and responses on another link gang.

Thanks Jim. Crazy... It never bothered me one bit when they were up here in our home waters and would drop off the map for a week... I know their boat is in great mechanical condition and with them putting over 400 engine hours a year on the boat, there should be no surprises on how far their ranges are or anything else. Then just as they were about to depart on the trip, they installed a kicker, then, on the trip, they added "Jed", the dingy, with a 3rd motor. They are more than likely, happier than hogs in a new pile of slop.... and loving just all the different little junk holes. I feel sure that they are good to go....but, I guess I have been spoiled with the dailey text messages and/or calls.

I check in on passageweather.com each day to check the winds, and today, as for a few days now, they have been favorable compaired to the rest of their trip....and, for their location and intended travels.

http://www.passageweather.com/

Byrdman...waiting for smoke signals from GYPSY crew
 
Just got off the phone with Capt. Mike and Miss B.

They have arrived back in civialization...and
are on a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor,
Marathon, Fl.

Mike is looking forward to he greet and meet potluck
to be held in the City Marina Club House this evening.

I am sure that after a few days of R&R...
they will be posting pictures and text of their
adventures in the Everglades and their
views on water depths in Florida Bay.
 
Just got off the phone with Brother Mike and B. The boat was still in Marathon, but, they took a land yacth down Hwy 1 to Key West for a little sun set viewing and a nice night in a solid hotel with the winds as they are for the next couple of days in Marathon. They are having a blast and love having ice in their glasses again. Off course wonderful showers are also on the nice to have list too. Mike asked me to say hey to all and it looks that Tuesday or Wednesday may be travel days on GYPSY to get her on down to Key West.

Brother Pat
 
Any thought of going out to the Dry Tortugas National Park? Need some flat weather for a few days to assure a smooth crossing over those 70 odd miles (or take the ferry), but the trip is worth it. This is the perfect time of the year for a visit to this cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand. Ah, and the pirates and sunken gold ... from the ne corner of the fort, walk 215 paces due east, then 61 paces south, and DIG!!! But keep a watch over your shoulder - ol' greybeard guards the pieces of eight and he keeps his sword mighty sharp.

After filling your pockets, look around. This time of year, the birds flying across the Gulf from South America often plop down on these islands to rest - and there can be amazing bird watching.

Also, this is the home of Ft. Jefferson. One of its most famous inmates in the prison at the federal fort was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who set the leg of John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Lincoln. Mudd was incarcerated on the Dry Tortugas for four years, from 1865 to 1869. Fascinating history at the old fort.

And - the islands are beautiful! We found the best part of our visit to Key West was heading over to the Tortugas.

No matter - you guys will enjoy yourselves!
 
Just got this note from Mike:....It's always good to have one of the Byrd boys in your corner.


Hey guys,
Thanks for the crockadile warning! Those were crocodiles because they were coming out of a "fresh water" area. Note the pointed noses. Still wouldn't want to "pull over" though.
Yesterday brought on a new type of excitement...(hard to type with these two foot waves hitti'n broadside). If you don't know CPR, learn it now! For the second time in my life, the knowledge from the military came forth to hopefully save a life. The lady screaming from a boat anchord 150 yards from us wasn't having that great of an orgasim...her husband was having his fifth heart attack at age 52. I mounted JED (the dingy) and motored over to the sailboat, to find her in histerics, and Paul lookin really gray. blue around the lips and not breathing. I started CPR and mouth-resusitation. Debbie (his wife of 30 years) did have the where-with-all to be talkin with the Coast Guard on the phone and VHF radio. After nine days (20 minutes) of CPR, Paul had a pulse and assisted breathing. The Coast Guard (man, these looked like kids) came aboard and took over the situation. They shocked him three times then put a shot of adrenalin, strapped him in the basket and we off-loaded him to their boat so they could get him to a helipad about 1/2 mile away. LEARN CPR!!!!!
Mike & B aboard Gypsy
Click to expand...
 
Good job! I agree that everyone who really needs to be CPR certified. We required all of our personal at CSULB student health center to be re-certified very year. Today it is also a good idea to be certified in AED usage (although the instructions are clear on most units).

If you have not had recent certification, there have been some changes.
 
Hello all!
I had no idea this made it to the Brats !
No, i don't think Paul will survive this one. As of this afternoon, we haven't heard from Debbie, but the last communication was that Paul was in a deep comma. I must take soltice that we all did what we could do.
El & Bill, we will go to the Fort Jefferson Park. Looks like we will have a flat water day or five! Lookin foward to the water there!
Thataway, hope you two are doing as well as you want to be! I can still taste the trigger fish from Pensecola.
Mike, (papilon) hope to see ya'll at Lake George in a couple of months.
To all of you who have helped us along, we are gratefull.
The Key West area is like a magnet...maybe we will leave Thursady?!?
Thank ya all very much for viceriosly tagging along, I really wish I liked to, or took time to, stay at the keyboard more often. I vowed to "not spend more time at the office" when we started this trip. I know too many who have passed before me that failed to see the importance of being "away".
We are havin a blast in Key West!!!
Thank you all, again.
Mike & B aboard Gypsy
 
Mike,

While you're in KW be sure to stop for lunch at "BO's Fish Wagon" (across the street from the downtown WestMarine) and have their fish and chips. The "large" meal (w/fries) is big enough for two, and naturally a cold one to wash it down. And watch it all from a stool at the sidewalk counter, and consider leaving your mark in chalk on the roof's underside (BO provides the chalk).

And if you haven't already ridden the Conch Tour/Train - it's a great way to get the 'feel of KW in a short time...then just wander the street's of old town.

A wonderful, colorful town.

Best,
Casey
 
HI Mike and Brenda I'm glad you guys are having fun down in the Keys . Loree and I Just got back from 3 weeks vacation going through the Panama canal cruise with Princess cruises . What a blast . We still hope we can get together with you guys either down there (keys ) or up in Mikes new diggs Lake George area.

BTW I took your advice buy a bigger tow vehicle I bought a 07 Toyota Sequoia SR-5 with 4.7 V-8 it should have no problem towing the CC-23 5000lb Take care JIM and LOREE
 
Hello Brats,
Paul Edwards, the heart attack victim, passed away Friday evening, May,28th. I learned this through the grapevine yesterday. Having had four previous attacks, Paul is in a better place. He was a RN, and Debbie, his wife is a scrub tech at the hospital here.Ya'll send a little prayer up for Debbie. She will need it. She came back out to the boat (43' sailboat) today and put aboard provisions. She yelled a "Thank You" to us and, after a query of her situation, gave us a thumbs up. Strong woman.
Casey, we will eat at BO's tomorow and, yes, the fish and chips are "bodatious!" . The first excursion into K.W. by road was with some friends of ours and that is the first thing we did! My advise to anyone coming to the Island is to ride the Conch Train!
Jim, I can't even imagine goin' through the Panama Canal. What a ride! There are two sailboats here that have circumnavigated and in talking with these sailors it is a real experience! Congrats on the new tow vehicle. I hope it does a good job for ya'. Not being a scholar on trucks, I hope you got enough horsepower. My big ole' Chevy back home has the 8.1 litre gas hog. Give Loree a bg hug and ya'll stay safe. Thanks again for the help at Naples!!!
At my first oppotunity, I will take an updated Cpr course and learn to use the paddles. My last CPR course was six years ago. Plans are to head out of here Thursday, 3, June.
Ya'll be safe,Mike & B aboard Gypsy
 
Mike & B: Brother Mike, pause… Thank for your CPR efforts. Knowing you I know the end results were and more than likely still are harder on you than the broad side waves. You had to be exhausted and even a bit sore the next day. It is a lot of work emotionally and physically. I will keep Debbie, you and B in my daily prayers. We never know what the next day, hour or second will toss our way so we need to make the better of each second. I am sitting here crossing the Mediterranean Sea all choked up and feel like I got a big ol tennis ball hung in my throat that Dixie (our ol Labrador retriever) had in her mouth for a day or two. I can not swallow it…I can not get it to come back up, so I have to find a way to dissolve it. …. But how? Well, I guess I need to share with you what Sherryl picked up on as I was reading your email to Papillion posted? She busted the ice in the room by saying ……”I wonder if Mike (Byrd) realizes he used “”I mounted Jed….”” And “orgasm” in the same sentence???” She then asked “now just how long has Mike been in the Keys”? Brother, it may be time to toss lines from the mooring ball… and see some more of America!!! Laughter helps. Know that it is much better to be able to say “I tried”, rather than “I can’t” We went thru the Picasso museum yesterday and about the best I could pull from there was a quote he made at some point of his….interesting….life was…. “It is not what you talked about doing that will make up a man’s live, but, the things they actually accomplished and did.” You and B keep doing them…. And until our next big ol red-neck Brother hug, enjoy a cold beer and sun set. Till we cross paths again… Cheers….and I miss ya.


10_05_31_SUNSET_023.jpg
 
Back
Top