Finally we left the Miami area and headed down Biscayne Bay for the lower keys. On the way we passed the 'historic' Stiltsville of which there are only seven buildings left poking up above the water. Hurricane's have taken their toll over the years and now there are jurisdictional problems. Unfortunately we didn't pass that close and so they're a little hard to see.
That's an airship up in the sky, that seems be fly round the Miami area every day.
We chose to travel the ICW route down the keys which means we traveled the western/north western side of the upper keys. Many boats cannot do this because of their draft but at 4'2", Incognita is acceptable for this route.
After Biscayne Bay we travelled through various sounds, connected by 'cuts' through mangrove islands and anchored in the south east of Barnes sound, off Key Largo.
Friday 13th February
We were up early and soon on our way through some very pretty areas with tiny islands everywhere, to anchor close to shore in Islamorada. We had three dolphins chasing our bow at one time but before I could take a picture they veered off. It was quite shallow water and we found it disconcerting to be motoring along at full speed in less than 6' of water.
Saturday 14th February
An early start again as we do the last leg to Marathon, our immediate destination. We had a little crab pot problem on the way. Here in Florida they seem to put crab pots everywhere, right in the channels, anywhere they please, so you are constantly taking evasive action. We were heading thorugh the channel that took us to the Hawk channel on the Atlantic side of the keys when suddenly the boat was going half speed, yet the engine was doing the same rpm. I soon found that we appeared to have a line wrapped round our rudder heading off behind us. After having cut it, we carried on as normal but the steering wasn't quite right. Turns out we had these babies on either side of the rudder - how could that happen? Especially as we didn't go anywhere near any visible crab pots.
After a bumpy ride down the Hawk channel on the Atlantic side we arrived in Boot Key Harbor (Marathon) where we were very lucky to pick up the last available mooring that day.
Boot Key Harbor has over 200 moorings and probably another 100 anchored boats - it's quite the place for cruisers.
This is the dinghy dock area - it's tough to find a spot sometimes.
Sunday 15th February
We have booked in for a month so we don't have to worry about going anywhere on the water for a while but we intend to rent a car with our Aeroplan miles so we can visit places like Key West which is not far away. But this place has got all a cruiser needs inclduing the ability to dinghy right up to West Marine and also the ever popular Publix which we did to replenish provisions.
Monday 15th February
After a lazy day doing not much of anything we took a trip out to the ocean side in the dinghy and took a walk down the dog-friendly beach there.
Tuesday 16th February
After filling a propane tank from the travelling propane truck; a social event that took about an hour, we headed for lunch with a couple we met back in Belhaven, North Carolina, Mike and Georgie on Alcyone plus Pat on Three Penny Opera and Milan single-handing Adina.
Oh yes, this big fella also joined us for lunch.
By the time we got back to the boat the day's almost over - hey ho!
