On Monday we thought it might be a little bumpy but it was time to leave Key West. Out the channel we went and this time we headed for Hawk’s Channel which is in the Atlantic Ocean. Pretty exciting, our first time driving the boat in the Atlantic. Hawk’s Channel lies between the reef and the coastline so it is still protected. Because the storm had just passed, the swells were 1 to 2 feet. I don’t think they were that much more. I love our stabilizers.

It took about six hours to get to Boot Key (Marathon). We were hoping to pick up a mooring ball but there was no room. Kelley got us a slip at Burdine’s and we were set. We got the bikes off the boat and rode down to the City Marina and put our name on the list to get a mooring.

Tuesday the dockmaster called and had a ball for us. The problem was that it was for a 45 foot boat. We are 46 with a huge swim step, so it is safe to say that we are really closer to 50. Sadness, that means that we need a 60 foot ball and there are only 15 of those and with the weather questionable, no one is leaving.

Questionable? It rained all day! I loved it. I like to putter and so I cleaned and knitted a little, read, did my puzzles and the next thing you know, it is time for dinner. We decided to eat at the little restaurant there because it had been so busy the night before. One does not go to an outdoor restaurant in Florida that is near mangroves without spraying first. The restaurant even has spray for those foolish people who either don’t know any better or can’t believe that the no see’ums could possibly bite them!

Wednesday came and went. There came a call that perhaps someone would be leaving, but alas, they changed their mind. I really was thrilled because we had planned to stay only one more night. I couldn’t think why we would move the boat to a ball for one night. Kelley looks at these events as opportunities; I think more work than fun. Off came the boats and we had a great bike ride.

Marathon is really the fishing capital for the Keys, or was. Kelley and I seem to be missing the thrill of the Keys. We thought that the waters would be clear, the landscaping lush. You can rarely see the bottom (and remember that it is shallow here), it really is pretty arid.

But, we are with our best friend – each other.

We walked down to Garrison Marina. Someone had suggested that we should stay there. Kelley had called, but our boat was too big and good thing. The marina is a long walk from town. Where we are is right downtown. So much better.

We stopped into a Cooking store. Oh, my, selection that they had. You want a special tool, it is there. There was also an Artisan Bread company (really too small to be company) next to it and the breads were sold at the store. We bought a scone (cranberry and white chocolate) and a mini baguette of grains and mango.

There is a restaurant in Key West that is the oldest restaurant there, almost a hundred years old.

It is Pepe’s and gets a lot of write ups. And, all for good reason.

The garden is charming; the food is delicious; the people are so laid back.

We had lunch there and enjoyed it. We plan to have breakfast there tomorrow.

Laid back! Isn’t that what Jimmy Buffet writes about Key West? This is the Island where life is to slow down. I feel everyone around here that is visiting is trying to put so much “hanging out time” into their stay that they are running around looking for all of the spots that they have to hit before they go onto the next “hanging out” item on their list. Perhaps it is because the weather is not cooperating. It is warm but a bit overcast and breezy.

I think my “he who would be Jimmy” is doing fine.

We had dinner at a great restaurant. Nothing fried for us tonight! The steaks were all 20 oz. or bigger. But, the waiter said we could share a meal…great! We wanted steak. We shared a delicious meal, a great bottle of wine and happily walked back to the boat. Good night.

We walked the length of Duval Street today. One bar or restaurant after another. T-shirt and knick-knack stores. We just keep walking.

The wind was up and we wanted to see the Atlantic side. Whoa! Waves!

Here is Kelley with the Southermost Hotel behind him. No one was on the beach because the wind was so strong and the waves were rolling in. We are pleased to be in a slip and not anchored in this weather. Last night the wind came up, rain poured down, lightening and thunder were dancing over our heads. We bounced like we never have before in a slip. Thank you for cleats, strong lines, and a captain who made a reservation for a dock because the weather was suppose to be getting bad!
Duval! We are game. We like to party with the rest of them; but, hello! Every place has a Happy Hour and great deals on appetizers. But, please, how much fried food or raw oysters can a person eat? We figured out that we are not Happy Hour people. Here we had a list of the best spots and we just couldn’t do it. Have a drink and move on.
As we decided to head back to the boat, we heard some guitar music and there was a young man playing and singing in a bar. We went in and had a drink and shared a snack. He finished up at nine and so did we.