Another Nibble Of Key West

March 20 - 21, 2013
 

I looked all over Hawaii for coconut heads to bring
back for grandsons, Niko and Christopher.
Finally found them in Key West.




 

 

Our first stop after the Dry Tortugas was Key West.  This time we opted to stay in the marina at a dock rather than wrestle the mooring ball again.  It was a very good decision.  Around 9:00 Wednesday night the wind started howling at a steady 25 miles per hour.  There were white caps in our very protected marina harbor.  As we checked the weather service, an announcement was transmitted that all boaters in the Dry Tortugas should put on personal flotation devices.  That area was getting the brunt of the storm. We were so thankful to be tied securely to a dock in Key West when 24 hours      earlier we were precisely where the storm was screaming through.  
 

Thursday was a beautiful day. Once again, we walked and ate our way through town.   We had two great meals.  Lunch was at Paseo -- by far the best food we've had in a couple months.  It is located in a converted gas station....so cute!  Dinner was at Kelly's (Kelly McGilis from Top Gun) in the building that was the birthplace of Pan American Airlines.   While we were trying to decide where to go for dinner, two guys asked if we needed help.  They were very nice and had some suggestions. However, as we talked I noticed that their eyes were kind of going in opposite directions.  Brian, Jon and Bonnie must have noticed something was askew before me, because they had all moved away. Guess I was just wrapped up in how friendly they were!  But, yes, they were obviously buzzed......  As we walked back from dinner, we saw 'our personal concierge sevice' again. This time they were digging food out of the trash cans!!!  I made sure that I kept my eyes straight ahead so there was no eye contact.  I wasn't interested in any more restaurant recommendations from those two.  Maybe they judge the restaurants by the leftovers that are trashed.  This is one very strange town!  Between meals we did some provisioning for boat parts and wandered through the old neighborhoods.  The houses are very cute with lots of remodeling and updating on every block.  I don't think there are any steals or deals on real estate in Key West.    

Paseo is located in a residential area. 
Delicious food..... I can't recommend it enough.

 

Sometimes you just have to be a tourist!

Cute houses everywhere.

Garden sculpture named Treasure Chest.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

50 Shades of Blue

March 16 - 20, 2013

Very few people have ever heard of the Dry Tortugas and they certainly don't know where they are.  A month ago I had never heard of them either.  Well, I've seen them and I'm recommending them to anyone that plans to visit the Keys.  A cluster of seven small islands are part of the Dry Tortugas National Park.  It is located about 70 miles west of Key West.  Just far enough off the beaten path to be pristine.  The blues of the water and sky are remarkable.  There are no resorts, restaurants or stores.  Whatever is needed during your stay must be brought with you.  There are beautiful beaches, water so clear we could see our anchor laying on the bay floor and a fort that was built in the 1800's.   There are only two ways to visit: a boat or sea plane. That certainly cuts down on the drive bys.    

Fort Jefferson was started in 1846, and even though
construction continued for 30 years it was never
completed.

         

The eight-foot-thick walls were 50 feet tall with three
gun tiers on each wall.   

Overlooking the 17 acre yard.  Dr Samuel Mudd
was imprisoned here after he assisted John Wilkes
Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Walking the moat wall.

Brian takes a snooze while Bonnie and I do
butt bumps...... 

No, butt bumps -- we're having a stone skipping
competition.

It was a very friendly competition.  I don't remember
who won, which probably means I lost.

A death defying three mile dingy ride took us across
the bay to visit Loggerhead.

One of the sea planes that brings visitors to the
park took off between Bon Voyage and Gotta Smile.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Funky Key West

March 10 - 15, 2013

Key West greeted us with high winds, rough water and many challenges before we ever went to town.  Our reservation was for a mooring ball.   A mooring ball is a large float attached to a big piece of cement.  A line is floating in the water that must be caught and attached to the boat.  This isn’t too difficult in calm water, but we were in rough water with high winds.  Brian decided I should drive the boat and he would grab the line.  My first attempt brought us very close.  Brian was using the boat hook to catch the line.  Before he caught the line the pole caught his headset and flipped it overboard.  Lost—no chance for retrieval.  After 6 passes, we connect.  Then we realized we drove over the ball, it gets caught on our stabilizer fin.  We have to let the line go.  Start over ---- this time, we are lucky and we catch the line immediately.  Success, we are settled!   

 

We thought the Army Special Forces were coming
to rescue us, but no they are just training.

 Monday morning it’s time to launch the dingy so we can go to town.  Brian goes to the fly bridge to lower the dingy.  The davit doesn’t work.  Most of the day is consumed fixing it.  As long as we are in good water and we can’t go to town, let’s try the water maker.  All looks promising.  The water is clean and salt-free, but it won’t discharge the water into the water tank – it is dumping it overboard!  Each time the water maker is started it uses fresh water to purge the system.  Now we have only 1/8 tank (50 gallons) of fresh water.   

Look what we found on our way to town!  Crazy......

Tuesday began with final adjustments on the davit, some phone calls for advice about the water maker and a couple of additional tweaks.  Still, no water going into the tank.  Enough of this – we’re going to town!  We just got a glimpse of Key West, but it was not a disappointment.  It’s definitely one funky place.  Ann, from Long Boat Key, recommended lunch at Pepe’s.  It is the oldest restaurant in the Keys.  Their motto, “a fairly good place for quite a long time”.

 

Wednesday and Thursday the wind picked up along with the waves.  It is too rough to go to town in the dingy.  A good time to cook a couple of nice dinners, do some repairs and even a little cleaning.  Brian completed the water maker repairs.  It is pumping 26 gallons each hour into our water tank.  Yea, showers again!    

 

We ate on the patio at Pepe's.  Their cat was taking
a catnap on this mesh over the tables.  He slept the
whole time we were there.  Several patrons inquired
about  his health:  alive or dead.

Friday our patience was rewarded with beautiful weather and flat water.  We headed into town for a day of exploration.  Determined to see as much as we could -- we were in the dingy and on our way at 8:30.  No disappointments today -- Key West lived up to its reputation and we did what little we could to make it a friendly happy place.     

Our day begins with breakfast at Blue Heaven --
eggs benedict with shrimp.  Delicious!

Roosters and chickens walk between the tables.

Momma chicken keeps her 4 chicks warm by
sitting on them.  Can you see all 4?

The southernmost point in the continental United States.

                      

Some might say -- over acting.
My grandchildren say "Wow, Grandma is being eaten
by a giant shark!"

Street performers entertain the crowd
in Mallory Square as we wait for the
sunset.

I didn't see a title on this sculpture, but I bet you
can come up with something interesting.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!
 

Marathon

March 8 - 9, 2013

First stop in the Keys – Marathon on Boot Key.  We drove out here a few years ago to look at a boat before we bought Gotta Smile.  Once we started walking around, it all came back to us.  There really isn’t a downtown.  The restaurants and stores are along the main drag. 

 

Saturday  morning began with a visit to the Fish Festival:  two days of crafts, clothing, oddities, music and all things seafood.  After surveying the goodies for sale and having lunch, we walked 1 ¼ miles to the grocery.  And, then ------back.  Good news -- about half way back we hitched a ride on the festival shuttle.

 



After the groceries were delivered to the boat, it was time for a dingy tour of the bay.

This mellow fellow was enjoying a twilight sail.

A manatee that was as long as the dingy we were in.
He was right under us and came up to have his head
scratched.  That's his head -- very small -- very
 odd shaped body.

We couldn't resist -- deep fried key lime pie!
One serving was enough for all four of us.
 

 Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!                 

From 10,000 Lakes to 10,000 Islands

March 5 - 8, 2013

 

We arrived at the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday.  It is located west of the Everglades.  When I hear 10,000 islands, I think long sandy beaches.  Once again…… wrong!  These islands are all mangrove created.  There is no beach – at least we didn’t find any.  Even if there was a beach, I would be hesitant to walk on it since we are on the edge of the Everglades.    

 

 

Wednesday morning Brian dropped the dingy in the water, we picked up Bonnie and Jon and spent the day exploring the maze.  Luckily we took along the GPS.  When I say maze, I’m not exaggerating.  One could easily get lost winding through these backwaters.  It is beautiful and quiet except for the constantly circulating tour and air boats.  We did find Everglade City and were pleasantly surprised by the little town.  It is a bit funky – especially the Camellia Street Grill where we ate lunch.
 

This is the sign for the Camellia Street Grill.
Good indication that it's a funky kind of place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our search for wildlife was stunted.  We saw vulchers, osprey, pelicans, blue herons, a dolphin and a manatee, but NO alligators!  And, according to Wikipedia, the name, 10,000 Islands, is a misnomer.  There are only a couple hundred islands.  Still, it is a beautiful natural area that was definitely worth the stop.

 

 

Apparently, these are the guys that know where
to find the allegators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday night we anchored in Little Shark River.  We have stayed here before and it is a perfect anchorage.  Great protection from the wind on three sides and just the right depth to hold the anchor easily on a sandy bottom.  We are very remote, at this point…..no phone or wifi.  Normally, we can at least get a weak roaming signal for phone calls.  With a clear sky last night and no city lights for miles and miles, the stars looked like we were in a planetarium.  I kept singing ‘The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Shark River’.  Be glad you weren’t here – I can be really annoying.          

Gotta smile – we’re lovin the ride!

              

Crossing Florida On The Okeechobee

March 1 - 4, 2013

After several false starts we left Stuart on Friday, March 1^st headed for the Keys via Lake Okeechobee.  Brian misplaced his credit card on Monday.  Tuesday morning we called to cancel it and ordered a new one that was to be overnighted to the marina.  When it didn’t arrive Wednesday, we called to see what the problem was.  Because it was a lost card, being sent to an address other than our billing address, it went to the fraud department.  No sign of it again on Thursday.  Another call tells us that it is still in the fraud department.  We give up!  ‘The Plan’ was to leave two days ago.  Send the card to our billing address and we will have it forwarded to us.  There is too much out there to see and do – we can’t wait any longer. 

On the waterway, we didn't find any alligators.
These are the best views I could come up with.
Cement being pumped to the road bed of a bridge
and cows walking along the river.

While on the west side of the Okeechobee, we passed a catamaran that radioed us.  It was Pat and Mark on Catrina.  We had docked next to them at the Green Turtle Marina in Grand Rivers, Kentucky in 2010.  He surprised us by commenting on our trip to Hawaii.  First of all, the boating world is small.  It still amazes us when we run into people we know.  Secondly, it is fun to find out who is reading the blog.  I can see how many pages have been read, but have no idea who is reading it.  Most of the time I am surprised at who continues to plow through my rambling tales.

It is almost dusk as we pull into the Moore Haven city dock for the night.  A fellow boater comes to assist us.  He notices that we are from Afton and mentions his sister-in-law lived there.  She was a former client of mine twice (and, a favorite).  Plus, we know their next door neighbors in North Carolina!   

On Saturday we continued across the Okeechobee to Fort Myers.  To cross the state, boats have to go through five locks.  We have gone through many locks in our travels between Minnesota and Florida (close to 400 on multiple trips – one with a drop of 110 feet) and we think we are pretty good at it.  But, these are different.  Once the boats are in the chamber, the doors on the exit end are partially opened and the water pours in or out to equalize.  Sounds simple, but if the lockmaster opens the gate too far, the water rushes past, causing turbulence which makes it extremely difficult to hold the lines that attach us to the wall.  The first lock was a drop of only 15 feet, but when that gate opens and you see 15 feet of water pushing through the opening it is scary! 

Sunday was a short 35 miles to Naples where we met up with Bonnie and Jon.  We  made it by noon and had the entire afternoon to eat a late lunch, walk around town and talk about last month's travels.  Tomorrow we are looking at houses and townhomes with a realtor.  It will be fun to be on the other side of the table.  We are just riding along.  Bonnie and Jon are the ones considering a purchase.  Famous last words...........   

 Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride! 

We finally saw an alligator today!

 

 PS:  It happened again!  We met with the realtor and her husband today.  While at lunch we discovered that his uncle lived two houses from us in Minnesota!