Welcome to the Rhum Brave Chronicle. A collection of posts, pictures and videos from our adventures aboard the Rhum Brave.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Kawama Pictures

Ok. It's about time you got to see some pictures of the new place.  We're really proud of how she looks but know it's time to put the gal out on the street and start earning.  We have her listed with Vacation Rental By Owner (www.VRBO.com #446303) and have already gotten a ton of calls.  And that's with the pictures that don't do her justice.  My listing is pretty simple because I have yet to even tell people how great the area is for snorkeling, diving, fishing, etc. 
We still have to buy one more coffee table and a couple lamps but that just gives Mags a excuse to head over to Ikea (mmmm... sticky buns!).  Having rented before we think we understand what people want and deserve when they come down to the Keys.  The place is huge and there's so much to do.  We have the golf cart and all the little sea toys.  The appliances are all new and so is the furniture.  We are 100% confident that the reviews on the unit will be great. 
 











 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Been busy this year... I swear!

I'm not going to try and make excuses or rationalize why I've not posted in over 6 months but I'll just say that it's been one busy year. It all started on November 1, 2011 when I drove into the parking lot of my employers corporate offices and immediately noticed all sorts of people sitting in their car, standing outside frantically talking on their cell phones or sucking down large drags of their cigarettes. Oh oh. "Something's up", I immediately said to myself. Sure enough as I walked into the building I ran into the number 3 guy at the bank and he informed me that we were being bought by another much larger bank. Awesome! Basically we went from the being stuck on the Titanic to being be rescued by the QE2. Later this year the bank was finally absorbed and I landed safely in my new position ready to put this Great Recession behind me and start working productively again.  Honestly I have the love of my wife and kids to thank for keeping me sane during these past several years. 
 
While waiting for the sale to close I started doing some long overdue work on the Rhum Brave. In summary I replaced all my lighting (most of which was shot) with new LED lights that burn brighter and use less energy. Not to mention fully sealed and much more corrosion resistant. I next worked on a new stereo system, canvas t-top and managed to fill every ding, dent and crack. As of today I still have a speedometer and faulty trim tab switch to replace. I'll finish up the last of the improvements and move the boat down to her new home. Wait. What new home? Ah… now comes the bigger news.
We bought a place in Key Largo. It's a three story townhouse in a larger complex called Kawama Yacht Club. It's located at mile marker 101 on the Oceanside. Oceanside is the local lingo for being on the Southside of the island with immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean (versus being on the Bayside with access to Florida Bay). This has been a dream of ours ever since Mags was a teenage hanging out in the Keys with her high school buddies and when I first came to the Keys in the summer of 1990. Throughout the 2000's we spent many vacations and numerous daytrips downs to the Keys and inevitably we looked at the properties for sale. Of course from 2000 to 2007 the prices reached astronomical levels which were well beyond our means. Finally the bottom fell out of the market after 2007 and we watched as prices sailed south. Well last year as we vacationed at Buttonwood Bay the desire to finally find something affordable hit a boiling point. As I remember it we were on the balcony watching the last of the sun disappear over the horizon and it was either the rum or sun but Mags says "I don't know where, I don't how and I don't know when but we're getting a place in the Keys."  I not sure how I first responded but here we are today.  We closed in June and today we have a fully furnished 3 bed/3 bath townhouse ready to fish!  Of course I have several folks to thank (you know who you are Dad and Papi).  Pictures will be posted shortly.
 
There was one more great thing this year.  For the first time since I was 11 years old the entire Moore clan including wives, husbands and grandkids took a vacation together.  Not Mexico this time.  Mom and Dad took the whole family for a 10-day cruise to Alaska.  That trip obviously deserves a whole string of posts and pictures.  Simply amazing is the best way to describe Alaska.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Van Halen

Ok. Bucket List item #78 has been officially checked off. We went to go see Valen Halen play with David Lee Roth. No BS, no drama just pure rock n roll. Understand that I never got a chance to see Diamond Dave play with the Van Halen. Because they broke up in 1985 when I was still in junior high (and yes I had several "VH" buttons.). Kool and the Gang opened the show and we were joined by several good friends. The band played all the early classics and several songs from their new album. At the early age of 57 Diamond Dave belted it out and managed to a few classic leaps. The best was when he reamed out the stage handlers for blasting cold air on the stage. I thought it was a gag at first. Eddie played Eruption like a madman and Alex cranked on the drums. Wolfgang was a bad ass on the bass. What a great time.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Now We're Sailing

Mags and I completed our Basic Keelboat sailing lesson at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.  I was unable to post a video here but we've got it posted on YouTube.  It's only one minute long but I'll remember this for a lifetime. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grqhlBjVm9g&feature=channel

Thank You Jimmy

Shopping for a Christmas gift for my wife and I was easy this year.  Two tickets to Jimmy Buffett at the American Airlines Arena.  What a sweet time.  We were three rows up from the corner of the stage and about 20 feet from Pat Riley.  We even ran into "Little Rob" from St. Thomas University.  The show was great and my date was hot! 


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Happy Birthday Nat

My little one turned 5 recently (ok two months ago so shoot me for being late).  She made the duo a trio and the show has never stopped.  She's got Coppertone skin and ocean blue eyes.  She loves her hamster and hates soccer.  Heck she even has a hairdo named after her.  She's so special to all of us and we wish her a Happy Birthday.












The Blue Steel pose ripped off from Zoolander!

Monday, January 23, 2012

It's been too long

This is just a quick post to let you know that I have not been shipwrecked or shanghaied. December was a busy month with the usual holiday events and a road trip to The mountains of North Carolina in search of snow. We found some (but not much). January has Vic returning to sailing and Kat in soccer. I've been battling the flu for two weeks but should be in the clear now. Next week we head to Jimmy Buffett in order to renew our membership to Margaritaville. More posts to come. Happy new year everyone!