 |
| Sunrise |
As we were approaching the docks, the river dolphins were playing in the channel. We all needed to meet the pump-out boats at the Marathon City docks at 8 AM this morning before beginning our travels. Our mission was a success, but we lost our wash bucket. Somehow the knot untied after years of service allowing the bucket to immediately sink to the bottom. In such clear water, we were able to watch it go down far beyond the reach of our boat hooks. Our next stop was to top of the fuel tanks for the 50 mile trip to Key West. By 9 AM we were on our way in the haze on a very calm sea.  |
| N.A.S. Boca Chica |
We passed the Naval Air Station where my Dad’s brother, Dick and his family been stationed a number of times during his career with the navy, but we heard the F-16 taking off long before we were in the area.
While underway, Sevilla reported some possible transmission problems. Andiamo offered to keep pace with them while we traveled. Sevilla couldn’t run at full speed. Her engine temperature slowly keeps creeping up. Towards the end of the day, Glen decided to call a Robbie’s Boat Yard and head into Stock Island instead of continuing in to Key West with the group.
 |
| "No man is an island...," but that doesn"t stop him from owning one! |
Lunch on the white bread I made last night was really good. I will have to lay in a supply of the bread mixes “just in case.”
 |
| Look hard...Red, yellow and black is the marker for the Southernmost point of US land. |
As we were going around Key West, John pointed out the marker for the southern most point of land in the US. Due to the skinny water we could not get any closer for a better picture of the marker. We continued past a beautiful sandy beach and headed north up the channel into a very strong current, past historic downtown Key West.
 |
| One of the ugliest boats we have seen. |
We continued north to the municipal mooring field in Garrison Bright. We had to keep to the channel until we arrived in the field, but it has deep water where the mooring balls are located and are protected from all but the north and northwest winds. Dan took John, Betty and I into the Dock Master’s office. The moorings are very reasonable at $16.91/day including tax. However, the negatives include a 20 minute dingy ride to the heads, showers and laundry; water needs to be portable; can’t bring boat to dock to fill the tanks; have to dingy under the fixed bridge to the dock master’s office.
 |
| Brunelle at sunset |
Brunelle had to run back in to pick up Jay and Pegg, who came to catch some of Race Week with all of us. Everyone ate dinner on their respective boats and enjoyed watching the full moon rise. We did observe a suspicious couple rowing between our boats appearing to check us all out. They had no running lights on and the engine was off. They travelled up further and sat for a while, then turned on the engine and headed in when the fog rolled in. The fog was so heavy we could not see any of the boats with their mast lights on. Later in the evening the fog lifted and the stars peaked out between the clouds for a while.
Seville made it safely to the boat yard. Hopefully, they will have news in the morning. We made it to Key West!
50 / 1475 Total Statute Miles ~ ~ (\_~ ~ ~ Kathy and Pete
No comments:
Post a Comment