rchevelle71

iTrader: (1)

Glad everything went OK Bob

Bobthebuilder

Chuck, I can't get into all the details other than to say that it is a Canadian documented vessel with an all Canadian crew. I had ran this by 2 different offices and was told no problem and one office even went on to say that anything brought back had to stay on the boat until its return to Canada. We chose not to bring anything back so that was not an issue. It had a happy ending so I just want to leave it at that. The officers were professional, courteous and even friendly so no complaints there. I had talked to a Net Jet pilot today and he says they go thru the same nonsense where every port of entry seems to have its own peculiarities and you just roll with it. The Cubans had lots of strange requirements as well. For example I had to turn over to them all flares and flare guns for their safekeeping until we left. I also had to call the doctor each day and report on the health of my crew. They are very concerned about Swine Flu coming in. Funny story - When we arrived at the boat to leave Sunday the doctor asked me how the crew was. With a straight face I looked at her and said - " not so good." You should have seen the look on her face until I said ....... "too much alcohol !!" She thought that was pretty funny and was very relieved.
Bob

Bobthebuilder

It was raining and thunder storming quite hard in Key West this morning and my departure was delayed till about 10 AM. I set a straight coarse 009 degrees for Marco Island. The winds were still out of the NE so kinda going into it but nothing over 4 ft. It got better as I neared the west coast. I made a decision rather than go into Marco to keep right on going up to Cape Coral and meet Nor Tech to put the boat on the trailer. Along the coast it was flat and I ran almost 70 MPH to the Cape. It was only 2 1/2 hrs from KW to Cape Coral. So now Team PREDATOR is on the trailer and the trip is officially over. At the ramp Gerry Monroe pulled up and we had a nice chit chat. Many of you will know Gerry as Geralyn's dad from NJ. He took the attached pic.
I am traveling tomorrow and my day looks like this: Miami, Toronto, Waterloo, ON ( home I think ) and finally end up in Cleveland. I have some checkups scheduled at CC throughout the day Wednesday.
While the trip may be done, there are many more pics I would like to post and stories to tell. It may be Thursday before I can get back into it, but I will.
Thanks for following along.
Bob

baywatch

VERY VERY COOL!!!

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

Slinky

wow! what an awsome trip and awsome experience!
I should have gave my buddy a call down and key west with the coast guard...idont know what port he's out of but he's a fast boat captain...though his fastest boat he said does 98.

Did you have any problems from US CG or just the issues with customs? my other friend just relocated to montreal to work the US customs pre-screening up there. He may know more of the regulations for cuban travel.

Bobthebuilder

No issues with the Coast Guard. When I talked to them prior to leaving they said Customs makes the rules so if they are happy, CG is happy.

I would rather you not raise it with them. As I said it is open to interpretation and I got the ruling I was looking for and all is well so please just leave it be. I have only covered part of it here and it's very complex and complicated.

Thanks,

Bob

Slinky

Your right, better leave what went well alone.

I do wish we would drop some of the embargos and things on cuba though. being that i live so close to canada i know many people that take vacations down there and say its a beautiful place. its so close to us but yet so far out of reach.

The pictures you took definately show the beauty, but like you said there must be a lot more places that are in dispare.

also i'd love a nice cuban cigar without having to go hang out in canada to enjoy it

Bobthebuilder

I had previously mentioned that there was also a not so pretty side to Havana. Like about 90% of the city is decaying as shown in this group of pictures. There is little money to keep the properties maintained. Notice in the pics tho that the streets are clean and not lottered. It is a shame to see things falling apart like this but I guess this problem is not just unique to Cuba. Communism has not brought any signs of prosperity to the island and has actually robbed them of it. They are starting to get their eyes open and are wanting change.
Later I will also post some pics of some beautiful restorations done mostly with European money but that to is drying up.

rchevelle71

iTrader: (1)

Reminds me of the Bronx 20 years ago

Slinky

you mean the bronx has changed?