We had intended to stay on the boat the whole month of November and work. The original plan was to do Wendy and Jeff's wedding on Little Palm Island, then sail to Naples for Jessica and Brian's wedding then back to Boca Raton for Maria and Jordan's Wedding back in Boca Raton. But Marty's store needed her back in Pittsburgh. So she flew back to Pittsburgh and I went to Naple's alone.
Jessica and Brian are from close by in Pittsburgh, and it was real special to see all those Pittsburgher's enjoying the great weather in Naples. In fact, I think a few must have gotten sun stroke by the way they partied at the reception!
It was a beautiful wedding, and we even got a little beach time at Brian's parent's condo which is on the water. We did alot of fun shots, but as usual, I wish I had more time since the sun was setting and I could have spent more time shooting other families.
As I said before, they partied very hard at the reception. They had a great band and the dance floor was busy the whole time. They even did a conga line with nearly everyone. On the first lap, they came out with a flag and got it hooked in the chandelier, the on the next lap, they all went through the kitchen and came out with a bottle of Heinz Ketchup. Brian, just happens to be involved with Heinz Ketchup marketing! I was laughing all night!
Brain surprised Jessica with a honeymoon in Bora Bora in a hut on the water, just what she wanted. Enjoy guys!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Little Palm Island to Palm Beach
We were very groggy after the wedding since we stayed up all night to print an album, but it was very rewarding to see their faces when we gave it to them. It made our day.
We left around 10:00 am after a gourmet breakfast. It was still north winds about 15-20 knots so it was good sailing for a while since we were going mostly east. It was a little lumpy, but Carpe Vita made us very comfortable. We decided to stay the night in Boot Key again to get a good night sleep.
Unfortunately, we started having trouble with the alternator belts again on the starboard engine. We decided to go in on one engine into Boot Key and work on it there. Once we were moored, we took the dingy to shore and grabbed a cab to take us to the NAPA store where I can get a bunch of belts. I replaced it when we got back after another great dinner at Key Fisheries. We slept very well that night.
We intended to leave early but we called the bridge before we left because we were concerned about our height. It is an opening bridge, but there is a power line next to it. We are not to sure about our height but we thought it was 63'. The bridge tender asked us to wait an hour for the tide to go out since the wire as about 64-65 feet at the time. We took the opportunity to take Chloe to shore to do her duty and get some ice.
We were in for a little shock when we left, the bridge tender said we missed the wire by about 4 inches! As he told us, it would be alot of paper work if we hit the wire. But we now know we are more like 63.5' or 64'.
Sailing was great for a while but this part of the Keys starts to turn north and we where having to use the engines again. Always slower and not as much fun. We were not making good time against the wind and waves. We hoped to make Rodreguez Key, before night but it didn't look good. The big problem is the Crab Pots, they are everywhere! If we had an engine go down and snagged a crab pot with the other???
We decided to go inside at Channel 5 and anchor at Islamorada. A great place to be at sunset!
We got up early the next morning so we could make Miami for the next night. Marty had to catch a plane for Pittsburgh in 2 days, so could not have any delays. Well, you guessed it, the starboard engine didn't start. We decided we should get moving, but we soon realized that we were making very slow headway with 1 engine, only about 3.8-4 knots. We would not make Miami before dark. I had to find what was wrong with the engine. Marty drove while I went below. I immediately found that the fuel filter and one of the lines where loose letting air in. After a bleeding process, it fired it up and we were now back up to 5.5 knots. We made Miami a little after sunset.
The next morning we motored out into the ocean for Ft Lauderdale and then Lighthouse Point and home. The end of a great, but trying event, we will never forget it.
We left around 10:00 am after a gourmet breakfast. It was still north winds about 15-20 knots so it was good sailing for a while since we were going mostly east. It was a little lumpy, but Carpe Vita made us very comfortable. We decided to stay the night in Boot Key again to get a good night sleep.
Unfortunately, we started having trouble with the alternator belts again on the starboard engine. We decided to go in on one engine into Boot Key and work on it there. Once we were moored, we took the dingy to shore and grabbed a cab to take us to the NAPA store where I can get a bunch of belts. I replaced it when we got back after another great dinner at Key Fisheries. We slept very well that night.
We intended to leave early but we called the bridge before we left because we were concerned about our height. It is an opening bridge, but there is a power line next to it. We are not to sure about our height but we thought it was 63'. The bridge tender asked us to wait an hour for the tide to go out since the wire as about 64-65 feet at the time. We took the opportunity to take Chloe to shore to do her duty and get some ice.
We were in for a little shock when we left, the bridge tender said we missed the wire by about 4 inches! As he told us, it would be alot of paper work if we hit the wire. But we now know we are more like 63.5' or 64'.
Sailing was great for a while but this part of the Keys starts to turn north and we where having to use the engines again. Always slower and not as much fun. We were not making good time against the wind and waves. We hoped to make Rodreguez Key, before night but it didn't look good. The big problem is the Crab Pots, they are everywhere! If we had an engine go down and snagged a crab pot with the other???
We decided to go inside at Channel 5 and anchor at Islamorada. A great place to be at sunset!
We got up early the next morning so we could make Miami for the next night. Marty had to catch a plane for Pittsburgh in 2 days, so could not have any delays. Well, you guessed it, the starboard engine didn't start. We decided we should get moving, but we soon realized that we were making very slow headway with 1 engine, only about 3.8-4 knots. We would not make Miami before dark. I had to find what was wrong with the engine. Marty drove while I went below. I immediately found that the fuel filter and one of the lines where loose letting air in. After a bleeding process, it fired it up and we were now back up to 5.5 knots. We made Miami a little after sunset.
The next morning we motored out into the ocean for Ft Lauderdale and then Lighthouse Point and home. The end of a great, but trying event, we will never forget it.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Wendy and Jeff's wedding November 2-4
We arrived before all the guest and we are glad we did. We had a tour of the island and got a sense of how great this place is. We can only describe this as "Gilligans Island" with 5 star service!
The first thing we saw when we got off the dock is a sign, no cell phones. Love it! They also ban children, and dogs. But since, Wendy and Jeff rented the whole island for 3 days, the rules were subject to interpretation. The staff made comments how different it was with children on the island, the 2nd time in 2 years. But they handled it like it was a normal day. They were always very professional and fun at the same time. What a dream job to work on this island.
The guests started arriving on the classic wooden boat with drinks in hand and the fun started immediately.
We started shooting right away of course. The kids were fantastic, they played in the water giving us great images.
That night, there was a welcoming party with a buffet that the island is famous for.
On Saturday we started early with, of course, a gourmet breakfast. Again the kids played right up to the wedding.
The weather couldn't have been better. clear skies and cool temps for the area. During the wedding, I worked the ground and Marty worked the water. Hey! She had a dress on and I would have gotten my pants wet! The rest of the night was party time. we covered it but when it was over, we had other plans.
We saw this trip as even more than a great wedding. We wanted to prove and show how far technology has come. We wanted to arrive on the boat (Noel wanted to screw this up), shoot the wedding for 3 days, stay in touch with our businesses, live well and comfortably and print a high quality small album for Wendy and Jeff by morning. We didn't go to bed until 5, but we did it.
This was one of the most rewarding things we have ever done. Marty and I dearly love all the people we have come to work with. Every family has a special story and we are very blessed to be able to be apart of it and we want to give all we can for the experience and privilege.
Wendy owns Archeo in Key West http://www.archeogallery.com/. and Jeff has a charter fishing business.
The first thing we saw when we got off the dock is a sign, no cell phones. Love it! They also ban children, and dogs. But since, Wendy and Jeff rented the whole island for 3 days, the rules were subject to interpretation. The staff made comments how different it was with children on the island, the 2nd time in 2 years. But they handled it like it was a normal day. They were always very professional and fun at the same time. What a dream job to work on this island.
The guests started arriving on the classic wooden boat with drinks in hand and the fun started immediately.
We started shooting right away of course. The kids were fantastic, they played in the water giving us great images.
That night, there was a welcoming party with a buffet that the island is famous for.
On Saturday we started early with, of course, a gourmet breakfast. Again the kids played right up to the wedding.
The weather couldn't have been better. clear skies and cool temps for the area. During the wedding, I worked the ground and Marty worked the water. Hey! She had a dress on and I would have gotten my pants wet! The rest of the night was party time. we covered it but when it was over, we had other plans.
We saw this trip as even more than a great wedding. We wanted to prove and show how far technology has come. We wanted to arrive on the boat (Noel wanted to screw this up), shoot the wedding for 3 days, stay in touch with our businesses, live well and comfortably and print a high quality small album for Wendy and Jeff by morning. We didn't go to bed until 5, but we did it.
This was one of the most rewarding things we have ever done. Marty and I dearly love all the people we have come to work with. Every family has a special story and we are very blessed to be able to be apart of it and we want to give all we can for the experience and privilege.
Wendy owns Archeo in Key West http://www.archeogallery.com/. and Jeff has a charter fishing business.
Boot Key Harbor to Little Palm Island
We finally got a good weather window to leave Boot Key. We were looking into renting a car to go the rest of the way but we are glad we didn't.
It was still "small craft advisories" but we were excited to leave. The winds were from the north at 20+ knots and we "double reefed" the main. We were doing over 7 knots the whole way and it was smooth as silk. That is until we made the turn into Newfound Harbor. We had just contacted Rich, the harbor master at Little Palm. After we dropped the sails and fired up the engines I noticed we were dragging a crab pot. Bummer. We dropped the anchor and I put on dive gear and by the time I got into the water, the pot and line where gone. It didn't wrap around the prop, thank goodness.
The crew at Little Palm where there to help us tie up.
Now we are into photographer mode.
It was still "small craft advisories" but we were excited to leave. The winds were from the north at 20+ knots and we "double reefed" the main. We were doing over 7 knots the whole way and it was smooth as silk. That is until we made the turn into Newfound Harbor. We had just contacted Rich, the harbor master at Little Palm. After we dropped the sails and fired up the engines I noticed we were dragging a crab pot. Bummer. We dropped the anchor and I put on dive gear and by the time I got into the water, the pot and line where gone. It didn't wrap around the prop, thank goodness.
The crew at Little Palm where there to help us tie up.
Now we are into photographer mode.
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