Misadventures and Homecomings

Ah...where to start? If you read the previous entry, you know we had a 'rough' crossing from Key West (We just heard today that even seasoned, gnarly shrimpers didn't venture out the night we did!! WHAT?!?!)

Adventure #1:

We had tucked into Bahia Honda State Park harbor to avoid the high winds a week or so ago, plowing our way through the 'skinny' entrance. (skinny = shallow) We don't want to live in this harbor, so it's time to go. Barry studies the tide tables and decides that we need to take off at 2:45--when the tide will be at its highest. He and Jerry 'sound' the entrance--using a lead weight on a measured rope to gauge the depth. (He also called TowBoat US, just in case). The picture above shows Jerry and Barry apparently making their way through....

This photo shows Mardi Gras STUCK, kicking up the muddy bottom. In a stroke of genius, Barry asks our new BFFs to rev past us, creating a wake that floated Mardi Gras off the bottom! No need for TowBoat US--not when you have a captain who can think on his feet:)

Adventure #2:

After Jerry and Kak returned home, Barry and I moved the boat to an anchorage off of Key West, that was a short dinghy ride to the downtown area. We anchor the boat and believing that the anchor is well set, we take off for dinner in Key West. It is almost Barry's birthday and we want to have some fun!

Look! It's a chicken! They rule the roost in Key West!

We visited the Butterfly Conservatory in Key West...so beautiful!

Listened to a TERRIFIC bluegrass/cajun band while eating a tasty $5.00 cheeseburger (YES--even in Key West we found a bargain!)

As dusk approaches, we decide (begrudgingly) that it's time to leave the music behind and head back to the boat before it gets dark. When we arrive we find our boat butted up against one of the old, derelict boats found so often in the Keys, on which a hermit lives alone drinking himself to death. (or something)

You see, when anchored in an anchoring field, you expect everyone to put out about 100 feet of anchor line and rope, so that everyone swings together during a tide change. Surprise!! This derelict boat was moored on a 10 foot line so it didn't swing around at all. The hermit (or whoever) had put fenders between our boats, so the damage was minimal. Lesson learned: don't anchor next to derelicts.

Homecomings:

Just before heading to the 'anchorage'  in Key West, we met up with our friends Lori and Russ. We met them last year in the Bahamas--when they were traveling on their catamaran. Now they are traveling in a beautiful motor home and just happened to be nearby. So much fun to relive memories of the Bahamas!

We've landed in one of our favorite places--Bonita Bill's Marina in Fort Myers Beach on the Gulf side of FL. We kept the boat here for a couple of winters before starting our trek around FL to GA. So good to see everyone again, and to be within walking distance of a white sandy beach and a cheap trolley (remember, we have no car!) Making a decision as to where to go next...but enjoying the surroundings!

Til next time...