Archive for March 12th, 2008

March 12th, 2008 | Author:

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.

Category: Cruising, Florida  | Comments off