1,000 Hours

Yesterday our faithful diesel engine powered us the last mile of our journey to Boot Key Harbor. It was a day of weather extremes - very light breeze to 25 knots when the weather front overtook us. About 6 miles from Boot Key Harbor the sky darkened, the rain pelted (at one point we had virtually no visibility), and the winds and waves intensified. Captain Jim navigated us safely to the anchorage outside of Boot Key Harbor (there were no mooring balls available). When we dropped the anchor we noted that our engine had clocked its 1,000th hour. Needless to say, neither of us slept well last night - winds gusted to 38 knots - but Manson Supreme held us tight! Today is very sunny; albeit WINDY - but everything looks better when the sun shines!

Beautiful Key West House

 

We Didn't Stop Here!

 

Had To Check It Out

 

Jim - Loving the Tropical Foliage

 

Entering Key West Harbor

 

Key West - WOW!

We spent the past four days in Key West. Nearly everyone you talk to says don't bother sailing to Key West - get on the bus in Marathon and visit that way. But, we decided that we should do it at least once. The reason folks say that is because the anchoring is crowded with little protection, the marinas are expensive, and the mooring field is a very long way from the dinghy dock. We had a great sail to Key West and we decided to go to the Garrison Bight City Marina Mooring field. Moorings are $15.00 a day - we never did see the showers there; but the report was that they weren't great! But Kismet was secure, and that was the most important thing to us. The dinghy ride was about 15 - 20 minutes, and at night it was abit scary (for Laurie anyway)! One of the main reasons we wanted to go to Key west was that friends; Ray and Susan were on vacation at their home there. It was great to see them!! We really loved Key West - beautiful plants, flowers, etc., pretty architecture, an abundance of bars, entertainment at Mallory Square,and a great beach at Fort Zachary Taylor. We walked about 7 miles yesterday - Laurie was limping by the end of the day! We started to head back to Boot Key Harbor today - stopped in Boca Chica Key on the way to meet up with Ray and Susan; then motored to Newfound Channel to anchor for the night. We will be back in Marathon tomorrow to wait out the next "Northerly" coming through!

Sunset At Anchor

 

Motoring Out of Boot Key Harbor

 

Moving Again!

After a fabulous dinner & lots of laughs on "Grey Hound" last night, we managed to get an early start this morning. We had one of the best sails ever! The wind was blowing 8 - 12 knots out of the NE and the seas were fairly smooth. At one point we thought we might actually do the 50 mile trip in one day; but the wind died abit and our speed slowed to under 5 knots; so we decided to anchor for the night off Summerland Key. Tomorrow we will arrive in Key West; hopefully by early afternoon. We are looking forward to our visit with good friends; Ray & Susan.

Butch Working on Yanni

 

49 Degrees - Not the Weather We Expected!

Since we have been here the wind blew from the North for many days bringing cool temps for the air and water - no swimming for Jim! But we have found many ways to spend the days. We have met many new friends & old - discovered the best $5.00 lunches, did some engine maintenance (Thanks to Butch on "Lucidity" - a diesel engine mechanic/pharmacist), and of course did the usual laundry, shopping, etc. Dick & Anne from "Grey Hound" arrived yesterday; so we had dinner together on "Kismet" and then went to The Dockside for more fun with "Joe Mama" providing the entertainment. We hope to leave here on Sunday to go to Key West.

Celebrating Porty's Return

 

Porty - Not So Patient Today

This morning we had some big excitement - Porty decided to go on an adventure without us! We were up early to go to a Nautical Flea Market on Big Pine Key. When I looked out by the stern Porty was gone! He left sometime during the night when the winds piped up to 25 knots! What To Do Now! We put an APB out to all cruisers in Boot Key Harbor and then called a friend; John from "Windrifter" to go on a search with his dinghy. THANKFULLY, within 10 minutes we found Porty under a dock about 300 yards from "Kismet"! Porty came out virtually unscathed; has buddy Nissan suffered abit from the barnacles and oysters!

Porty - Waiting Patiently

 

Laurie at The Beach

 

Jim at Sombrero Beach

 

The Dinghy Dock

 

Enjoying Boot Key Harbor

This is an amazing convergence zone for South Florida/Keys cruisers. All the services you could want/need are here - Publix, Winn-Dixie, KMart, Home Depot, West Marine, repair services, and restaurants. Yesterday we walked to the laundromat about a mile and a half (the marina has facilities but they are super crowded). Then stopped for Key Lime Pie at the Blonde Giraffe - very good! We then dinghied through Sister Creek to check out Sombrero Beach. Went to The Hurricane Restaurant for 25 cent wings and then called it a day! The weather is cloudy, in the 60s, and winds are blowing in the 20s.

The Grey Hound

 

Dick & Anne in "IT"

 

Baby Mangroves

 

A Grand Reunion

After months of trying to connect with Dick & Anne "Greyhound"; friends from Sacketts Harbor, NY/ Lake Ontario cruising, we finally caught up with them in Lignumvitae Key. How cool to motor up to a "free" mooring ball and have "Grey Hound" anchored right next to us. We spent hours sharing cruising stories, and of course sharing grog & grub! We explored the area together; took "Grey Hound" on an excursion to "Lorelei's" in Islamorada for lunch; then stopped to buy coke & rum. Jim managed to carry 24 cans of coke and 2 - 1.75 liter bottles of rum in his backpack. Dick prepared wonderful bruscetta and a sausage pizza(on their grill)for a "lite" dinner! Today Jim and I motor/sailed to Boot Key Harbor in Marathon where we will stay for at least a week. The weather has changed due to a "northerly"; we are expecting cooler temps (low 70s), and winds 20 - 25 mph. Boot Key Harbor is an amazing place - there are 200+ boats on moorings here. We are seeing many folks that we met along the way here.

Tiki Laurie

 

Hurricane Hole at Jewfish Creek

 

Gilberts Marina & Raw Bar

 

Sailing Again

We are now relaxing and sailing about 10 - 20 miles a day making our way to Key West. We decided to navigate through the Florida Bay side til Marathon; as our draft is only 4'6". Not a problem - except when we thought we could anchor in an area that said "6" on the chart - very shortly we were in 4'6"! Anchored by Pumpkin Key last night and we are in Tarpon Sound tonight. We stopped for lunch at Gilbert's Marina. Had conch sandwiches - delicious! The watermaker is working well - nice to be able to make our own! Met some folks in the anchorage so we are going to dinghy over for cocktails.
Tomorrow we will meet our friends from Lake Ontario; Dick and Anne on "Greyhound" at Lignumvitae Key.

Sunset

 

"Kismet" in Boca Chita

 

The Approach To Boca Chita

 

In The Keys

We had a great time in Miami with Craig & Debbie from "Charmed". We left with them on Wednesday January 7th and motored to a well protected, beautiful anchorage on Key Biscayne called Hurricane Harbor. Spent the evening with them, which will be the last for a long while; since they are off to the Bahamas and we are doing the Keys. Jim and I motored out of the anchorage on Thursday and sailed about 10 miles to Boca Chita Key; once owned Mr. Honeywell (of the Honeywell Corporation). After his wife was fatally injured on the island the government took it over and now it is managed by the Parks System. We tied to a wall in a lovely keyhole harbor for $20. Today we left in the a.m. and had a lovely 16 mile downwind sail to Pumpkin Key where we are anchored for the night.

The Collins Canal

 

Perfect Palms

 

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