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