Marathon to Key West, FL

Today:    42 miles, 6 hours, ICW St. M 1279.2

Total:     1392.2 miles, 215.35 hours

Blue is Atlantic waters & Green is Gulf
The winds blew the gulf
onto the Atlantic in Hawk's Channel!

     Anchor was up at 8:40 and we stopped to pick up fuel before leaving Marathon.  Winds were as predicted, 20-25 from the NNW. We were able to cruise at 7.5 – 7.8 mph.  As we remembered, there were lots of floats, requiring a lot of small adjustments while underway.

Shrimper

Water Hazzards

Part of the fleet off of Stock Island

       As we neared Sock Island, we didn’t see any Navy jets taking off or landing at Boca Chica, but we did see lots of fishing boats in a very condensed area.  I counted 17 boats.  It was remarkable.

     We were in our dock by 4:15. Pete decided to bow-in due to the winds.  Thankfully, the floating docks are 40-foot long, so Bailey and we, will have no problem getting off the boat.

     Once secure in the dock, we decided to grab a quick bite at Burger King, then go over to Pubix for some necessary food items.

     We read for a short while and called it a day.

       

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P

Key Largo to Marathon, FL

Today:    71 miles, 11.1 hours, ICW St. M 1237.2

Total:     1350.2 miles, 209.35 hours

     The alarm went off at 5:30 and we were away from the dock by 6:16 am.  As planned, we were able to clear the Key Largo canals by Nautical Twilight. At 6:45 the skies began to lighten, but the clouds were heavy and soon we encountered the rains. We were showered upon for the next hour or so, and the sun began making an appearance.  The winds were as predicted at 8-14 out of the SSW, which kept our speed to the low 6’s.

The clouds cleared and
the winds freshened.

     Our plan was to skip Marathon and arrive in Stock Island around 10 pm, before the winds kick up to 20-25.  Around 1, the winds continued steady at about 18 so we decided to motor sail.  We were cruising at 7.8 mph as we passed Marathon.  Unfortunately, about 7 miles south of Marathon, on a starboard tack, the engine choked.  Multiple attempts to restart it, even with the boat on an even keel, were unsuccessful.  With favorable winds, we were able to sail into Boot Key Harbor and drop the anchor.  Thankfully, Pete was able to bleed the air out of the fuel pick-up.  Once running we let it continue running for about an hour without any problems.

We are not in the Chesapeake anymore!
So many beautiful shades of blue!

     Reviewing the wind forecast for tomorrow, we still feel comfortable with heading to Key West.  Winds will be coming over the aft starboard quarter which should be a comfortable ride.

Marathon Sunset & Twilight

     Taking Bailey into the City dock via dinghy takes about 45 minutes including the return trip. Pete took her earlier than usual for the last walk as we wanted to call it an early night to make up for the early alarm this morning. 

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P

Windy in Key Largo!

     Thursday, 1/25 - After Bailey was walked, we went over for the free breakfast at the hotel.  It has change somewhat in seven years.  The toaster waffles are no longer, instead there is cereal, milk, juice, repackaged bagels, prepackaged muffins, and prepackage Danish, available with the offerings of butter, cream cheese, and jellies, with coffee, tea and hot coco to round out the offerings. As breakfasts go, it is ok, but the chance to meet people and view are pretty great. With limited seating, we were able to sit with Polly and her husband, Don, and visit over breakfast.

Bailey waiting for Pete

     The harbormaster, Brian, stopped by today to say “Hi.”  Accompanying him was the most adorable 9-week old beagle puppy. Without a leash, he simply followed Brian as he made his rounds. Pete and Bailey got to see the puppy. I am looking forward to meeting him.

Bath Time

     Pete decided that Bailey needed a bath, so she was washed in the cockpit.  She wasn’t very happy when Pete joined me below and she had to dry off in the cockpit.

     After some chores, I worked on some photos and catching up the blog.  The internet is pretty poor; only have 1 bar. Hopefully, I will be able to update the blog.  Once everything is ready, I might go sit on the patio outside the lobby, where the internet might be better.

      We invited another couple, who are vacationing here at the hotel, on board to answer a few questions. Unfortunately, I lost the paper where I wrote down their names.  They are here for a short, 8-day escape from the Michigan winters.  They, too, are sailors; enjoying summers on an Irwin 32.  They were very interested in discussion long-term cruising and living aboard.  We spent a wonderful hour and a half visiting. We gave them some resources and our card, inviting them to keep in touch.

Cool condensation on the crock pot

     After dinner, we watched some TV and I was surprised to learn that we are able to see some additional channels on DISH.  Pete started watching Star Trek Voyager on BBC America. (It was the 2-part episode of the temporary alliance with the Borg and the introduction of Seven of Nine.) According to our package information, we should not have access.  After Voyager, Pete and I checked additional stations and found that we have 10 additional channels, including Discovery, Discovery Investigations and Science, some of our favorites!

Views from our dock

      Friday, 1/26 - As to the winds, the local weather has the winds sustained at 29 mph, but Passage Weather has them just outside the canals at 33 in Hawk Channel. Safe in the harbor, the boat rocks gently and moves from side to side. Walking around the harbor, the winds feel like 15-20, but once on the outer side of the hotels, the winds is substantial. With the front hatch open about 2 inches and the cabin hatch also open about 6 inches, there was a wonderful breeze that accompanied the gentle rocking of the boat all night, which is great for sleeping. Boy, did we make the right choice booking a slip here!  We would not want to be anchored by Rodriguez Key with no protection from the winds and waves, and 1.5-mile dinghy ride to take Bailey to shore. It looks like we will be able to get to Marathon on Monday and hopefully, to Stock Island on Tuesday. Currently, for Tuesday, they are predicting NNE winds at 20. PEKABU likes sailing in 18-20, but we will definitely continue keeping an eye on the weather.
 

Different ages of Iguana
soaking up the heat

 

Who's who's pet?

   Pete pulled the lower access to the anchor windless to check on a leak we have successfully managed with a sheet of plastic. A web search, showed Pete what gasket needs replacement. It has been ordered and will be installed once we are in Key West.

    I have been thinking about Dorine, John and Cindy, and where SV DOLCE VENTE has hunkered down for this blow. I spoke with Cindy and they are safe, but rocking a bit in the dock in Marathon.  We will touch base before arriving in Marathon. Besides Cindy, I was able to catch up with Betty and Carolyn, as well as Heather.  Pete spoke with Dan and got the updates on Martha.  Thankfully, everyone is doing well or in Martha’s case, as well as expected. (Martha, we are sending healing hugs!)

Sharkey's Pub at night

    The blog is almost up to date and the photos still need processing. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to start posting.  Fingers crossed!

     Saturday, 1/27 - Due to the head tank being more full than we thought, we have been using the on boater’s bathroom, which is adding to my daily steps!  Unfortunately, the Pup boat only comes around on Tuesday. Since it is free, there is no other competition, and no chance for a pump-out any other time!

     At breakfast, we sat with a couple recently retired and driving all over , visiting friends.  They are here for the week.  They, too are boaters on the Erie River in Ohio, between Cleveland and Chagrin Falls. Once again it was great to share experiences with others.

     Pete enjoyed some down time and read.  As usual, there is more people watching than reading, but who’s complaining?!?  I worked on the bog. It was almost ready for posting, when I hit a wrong key and wiped out most of 3 day’s entries.  After a lot of grumbling, I reconstructed the missing days.

     Bailey loves our spot here on the bulkhead.   She gets to greet everyone who goes by.  All dogs are met with wagging tales and heavy huffing.  There is frequent activity.

     I enjoyed my 2.75 mile work. I walked the streets for the homes along the canal.  I love how the mailboxes are so different.  Glad I had the trusty camera on the phone.  I even included a walk past the some of the shops along the highway. . . and I felt good when I returned, even walking into the 20+ winds!

  

  

Wonderful Mailboxes, but here are 2 views of my favorite:

   

     I had a lot of photos to weed thru.  I have been using my phone camera a lot, which I must stop.  The quality is compromised, but it is lighter and quicker, especially when moving in the boat or car.

     There was a character earlier today, who spent a couple of hours walking the docks, sitting on the wall and “checking” the power boxes on the docks as well as the boats in this area of the canal.  The harbor master and Tom both asked questions about him.  Thankfully, he went away and nothing was touched.

     Tom came aboard and visited for over an hour.  He had to leave to meet friends for dinner.

     With Sharkey’s cooking for most of the afternoon, the mouth-watering aromas really made us hungry, so home-made hamburgers and salads were really enjoyed.

     After dinner I had hoped to start posting.  Unfortunately, I started on a migraine that I babied instead.  I did take the migraine medicine, but forgot it has caffeine.  The headache didn’t progress into the moderate pain levels, but the caffeine kept me awake until 5 am!

Sunday, 1/28 – I did sleep until 8:30. I am tired, but little pain. So, it was off to breakfast.  We joined Tom and continued our visit from yesterday.

     Sharkey’s has been cooking bacon and home fires since 5 am.  The aromas are driving us crazy.  Apparently, they were providing food for the Breast Cancer fund raiser that kicked off at 10 am.  We were entertained by all the people walking by the boat dressed in strange costumes and bright colored and decorated bras on the outside of their clothes. The gals, guys, kids and even the dogs wore their bras proudly! 
   
    Pete did the engine checks while I processed a bunch of photos and prepped to post.  Unfortunately, by 2 pm, I needed to catch a few Z’s.  After 90 minutes, I was able to return and try to get internet access. I am so glad, Pete has the JetPak for internet access.  With the exception of this entry, the other 5 are posted as drafts. Now to add the photos.  We will see how far I get.  Once again, my fingers are crossed.  I won’t be working late as we plan to be up and out before nautical twilight.

      I worked up until 9.  I was able most of the photographs and get 4 posts uploaded to the blog.  Hope sleep comes quickly as the alarm is set for 5:30 am.  Nite all!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P

Miami to Key Largo, FL

Today:    57 miles, 10 hours, ICW, St. M ____

Total:     1279.2 miles, 198.25 hours

    Wednesday, 1/24 - We were up and out by 7:30. A heavy fog obscured to tops of many of Miami’s tall buildings.




    

     Pete had a very busy morning and spent most of it working with George.  It seems that the new Microsoft patch for one of the newest treats has slowed down the computer’s handling of data, creating issues for Pete and George.  Though it took longer than anticipated, everything worked out and they were ready for the conference with the client. With Pete’s work commitments, I was at the helm for our passage through Stiltsville, and most of the morning.  He finally came up for air about 1 and used the time at the helm to decompress.  Though I was looking for sea life, I only saw 4 large Man-O Wars, though there we plenty of juveniles ranging from ½ -2 inches, a sea turtle, one small fish jump, and about 50 crab pot floats. Most of the pots were probably lost during the Hurricane.  Pete saw a Flying Fish.

Red 8's piling is rusting through

     The fog lifted around 9:30, but the skies were cloudy form most of the day and the NE winds remained around 5-8 mph until about 2.  They finally increased to where were able to motor sail the rest of the way to Key Largo.  Thankfully, our speed increased up to 7.8 mph for the rest of our trip.

After the fog lifted ~ view of Miami  from Hawk Channel

The blue greens of Hawk Channel

     As we entered the canal heading to Marina DelMar, we were passed by one of the dive boats. Bob, the assistant harbor master, gave us instructions for docking.  We needed to turn around, so we could do a starboard tie to the bulkhead, along the southern wall in front of the green canvased sailboat. No sooner did we dock, when Tom, from SV GAMBRINUS, came over to talk.  We had met him during our stay 7 years ago.  It turns out that the couple from Canada aboard SV SEAQUEL, whom we had met also at that time, left earlier today for Key West.  We now have their slip, which is just a stone’s through from Sharkey’s Pub, a local favorite.

     Once secure, Pete went below to finish up work and I was gathering our stuff, to put away.  As I was finishing up a lovely woman named Polly stopped by and asked if I had time to answer a question.  She wanted to know what did we do with the boat during the hurricane?  Well, one question let to another, so I invited her on board, so we could chat.  Polly was delighted.  She is a great grandmother, who is here with her husband and friends for the week. Their home and family are in Minnesota, but they spend their winters in their home in New Smyrna, FL. She had plenty of questions about being on the water and precautions we take.  I enjoyed the visit as much as she did. Her husband and friends watched from the hotel balcony until she thought it best to join them for cocktails. Hopefully, we will meet again before they head back north later this weekend.

     After dinner, we were surprised when we were able to get TV reception, even though we are surrounded by tall buildings. We thought with being low in the canal, the satellite dish would not be able to access the satellites.

    The winds increased to 15 during the evening, but they are predicted to increase to 25 or higher by tomorrow evening, then to 33 mph on Friday and Saturday.  We definitely made the right decision to hunker down here!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P

Boca Raton Lake to Miami, FL

Today:    51 miles, 10 hours, ICW, St. M 1092

Total:     1222.2 miles, 188.25 hours

     We tried to make the 8 am opening of the Camino Real Bridge.  Unfortunately, once Bailey was taken to shore, we needed to raise the dinghy. We are still trying to perfect the technique for raising it now that we have the heavier dinghy motor. After I bent the telescoping boat hook trying to preposition the dinghy as it raised, we had to re-evaluate our technique again.  The extra time caused us to lift the anchor was supposed to be spent waiting at the bridge, just south of the anchorage. So instead we made the 8:20 opening.  Unfortunately, that made us late for the 8:30 opening of the next bridge.  This was the first, but there was a total of the 3 bridges we had to practice “dancing in the wind and current.”

The super yachts of Fort Lauderdale

  

Garage on the starboard!

Super modern /Unique home in Ft. Lauderdale

Graffiti on the mansion?

     Pete had to work this morning, so I was the one to dance at another 2 bridges.  Just as I was trying to make the Los Olas Blvd Bridge, a work barge with crane cut in front of me. He was traveling slower that me, so I needed to slow my speed that I needed to make the 11 am opening.  Thankfully, he was able to get the bridge to open at 11:15 and we and another sailboat were able to pass through.  However, with the barge in front of me, we were not able to get the speed to make the 11:30 of the 17^th Street Bridge. As we were approaching, the bridge tender initiated the closing of the bridge. The barge needed to slow to an almost stop so that the crane boom could be lowered so that it could pass under the 55-foot bridge.  We have passed under this closed bridge before, but it is always stressful. There is no way to watch from the boat and judge the clearance between the top of the mast and the underside of the bridge.

The 17th Street Bridge opened,
but closing too soon!

Research Vessel ALUCIA

Port Everglades Cruise Ships

Port Everglades Inleet

     Once through, we were in Port Everglades and access to an outside jump.  We decided that after having to “dance” for 3 of the 9 bridges we have passed already, we didn’t want to deal with the remaining 13 bridges we would have to clear before entering the Port of Miami.  Hum… 13 bridges or a smooth transit with no obstructions for the next 3 hours and make better time by not continuing on the ICW?!?  As anticipated, it was an easy trip.  The only area that was a challenge was the entrance to Miami.  The current was outgoing and we were inbound.  As a result of the strong current, our max speed in the channel dropped to 4.5 mph.  Thankfully, that only lasted for about a mile and a half.

She loves her comfort,
even if it is electrical lines
and an anchor!

USCG conducting drills
This is the USCG DOLPHIN's replacement
(Greg was assigned to the DOLPHIN during on our first cruise in 2011!)

     We were finally able to drop the anchor around 5pm south of the Bay Bridge/Rickenbacker Causeway.  We had a pretty sunset and as twilight descended, the super yacht GRAND LUX headed south with a party onboard. This is one of the strangest yachts we have seen.  She is 225 feet and about 5 stories tall, but she has no windows on any of the floors except the top.  She is for hire for events, meetings and weddings.  Pete checked the internet and the interior was very nice, but why would you pay for a water venue with only water views from the top floor and upper deck?

  

Great higher perspective!

Entry to Port of Miami

My happy Captain!

Under the Bay Bridge

Magnificent Miami skyline

Sunset

     Pete took Bailey to shore around 9. While waiting for Bailey, he looked back to our boat and there was a pod of dolphins playing around it.  He wanted to call to let me know, but he left his phone onboard.  I am so sorry it missed it.

Good night, all

     Before bed, everything was prepped for another early start in the morning. We are heading to Marina Del Mar in Key Largo, where we will stay until the winds calm down by Monday.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P