Trawler Trip South to Florida

Saturday, February 2, 2013

North up the West Coast

We bid a fond farewell to Marathon and the keys after a month of relaxation and warm weather. We left on a breezy day with a following sea all the way across Florida Bay and into the Gulf. After passing Cape Sable we pulled in to the Little Shark River. This is all part of the Everglades National Park. It is undeveloped and remote - and BUGGY - but beautiful scenery.

Shore of the Everglades National Park - tall mangrove trees

Little Shark River

Little Shark River Inlet

Looking up the Little Shark River. We had a little company.

Side Creek - Little Shark River

We arrived and set the anchor in the middle of the river with plenty of current, knowing we would turn with the tide. The anchor skidded, and then set ... All was well until the "no-see-um's" got through the screens. We were both itching all over. In the morning we got up early to make the run north ahead of a cold front. After not setting easily, we couldn't budge the anchor. The windlass couldn't get it, so we wiggled side to side, and then put GoodTidings in gear and pulled. She finally came up - the anchor shaft has about a 30 degree curved arc now (see picture below). We think it might have been stuck around a rock on the bottom. I don't think it will set properly any more, so now we will need a new main anchor. We have a Fortress, but it is not set up to be the primary anchor on the pulpit, and will not work very well with the windlass. We are having a replacement shipped to Ft.Myers Beach next week.

Look at the bend of the anchor shaft - solid stainless steel!

We took off in calm seas heading north. By 8:00 AM - much earlier than expected - the cold front hit, the wind turned 180 degrees, and the seas kicked up. We bounced along in bumpy - not quite lumpy - seas for a couple hours until we started to get into the lee of Cape Romano and Marco Island. We left the gulf to go up the river to Everglades City. What a great place! Not really a city though. We came up through some very skinny water - at dead low tide. We tied up to the Rod and Gun Club docks. We met several very nice boaters who were heading south on the great loop trip. We hope to see them in the spring when we get back to the east coast.

GoodTidings on the Rod and Gun Club dock

Tree in Everglades City

Everglades City

Everglades City Sunset

Palm tree trunk with something growing in the trunk. Might be a mangrove.

Everglades City is a step into the past

Rod and Gun Club - the first alligator we have seen

Rod and Gun Club


Rod and Gun Club

Rod and Gun Club

Mangrove trees are determined to grow even on this rocky island.

Everglades

We stayed 2 nights in Everglades City waiting out a cold front wind. It was back into the polar fleece and jeans. We enjoyed walking around the town and the old style Rod and Gun Club that was a favorite for a couple of US Presidents and many others. Today we returned out the river into the gulf and went out 12 miles west to go around the Romano Shoals, turned north around Marco Island and are now relaxing here for the afternoon. It is completely different from the Everglades. Very Modern and full of high rise condos.

Marco Island from the gulf

The condos next to our marina = Marco Island

Tomorrow we will go to Ft. Myers Beach, and look forward to a visit from Ryan.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Visit from Debora and Robert in Marathon

We have been relaxing and enjoying some warm weather here in the Keys. Our 2 weeks in Banana Bay had to come to an end, and we moved our boat to Sombrero resort and Marina in the hurricane hole inside Boot Key Harbor. We miss the people we met in Banana Bay, and are looking forward to making new friends here.

Fishing with his buddy

Sombrero Resort and Marina

Sombrero sunset

Sombrero pool

The resort is much bigger than Banana Bay, and the marina is spread out along the long shoreline. There is a nice pool and tennis courts, and we are across the street from the golf course. We are closer to shopping, and have access by dinghy to the beach and inner harbor and all it offers.

We were greeted by a pair of Manatee. You can see that one has had some sad encounters with boats, so we were extra careful to slide into the slip in neutral.

They like the run off condensation water from our neighbor's air-conditioner.

My sister Debora and Robert flew in from Santa Cruz, CA to spend the better part of a week with us here. What a treat to see them, relax together and share this part of our trip.

Debora and Robert

They came on the first day of rain we have had since we arrived in the Keys - oh well - can't have everything. Since it was cold and windy the next day we took a drive in their rental car down to Key West. It was a fun day for doing the tourist thing. A little window shopping, a nice lunch, a stroll down Duval Street, and a ride out to the beach on the southern most tip of the US. There are so many cute old houses and funky bars and restaurants!

Only in Key West

Shopping in Key West

Key West roosters

A wild Key West rooster

A wild Key West Bar

Key West Harbor

The next day we took the boat out on the ocean and went southwest about 20 miles to Newfound Harbor. We anchored and took a refreshing swim off the boat, cooked a delicious meal and watched the beautiful sunset. I think there was some Chardonnay involved ... and some rum/pineapple punch ...

Debora, Robert and Jeff at anchor in Newfound Harbor

The sunset

Fancy resort in Newfound Harbor - the only access is by boat or sea plane.

Next day we got up and dropped the dinghy down and went to explore the nearby uninhabited keys. The water was clear and shallow, so we could see the coral and grasses/plants on the bottom. We took another swim, then took off so we could go to Sombrero Reef to go snorkeling. It was cold and a bit murky because of the wind and waves from the recent cold front. We still got to see lots of fish and sea plants waving in the current. We quickly got ourselves warmed up and headed back to Boot Key - just in time for Robert and Jeff to enjoy watching the 2nd half of the 49ers come from behind win that will take them to the Super Bowl.

Debora and I took a walk in the golf course instead of football

Next day we spent provisioning for the next leg of our trip, and took a nice dinghy ride through the canals and mangrove maze that makes up Sister Creek. Sadly, they had to head back home. We will miss you guys! See you at Amber and Dustin's wedding.

Ornate gate on the canal

Last night we got a call from Ryan, and he is making plans to join us for a visit in Ft. Myers in early Feb. Now we can start planning our trip north, up the west coast past the Everglades and toward Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Punta Gorda and Gasparilla Island.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Marathon

After waiting out some heavy wind in Tarpon Basin off Key Largo, we made the trip south west to Marathon on New Years Day. We had arranged to stay 2 nights at the Banana Bay Resort and Marina. Once we arrived, we liked it so much we asked if we could stay longer. We are here for 2 weeks instead of 2 days! The marina is relatively small with some time share apartments and a hotel. The boats are full of "snow bird" live aboards - very nice people. We have a daily sunset gathering out by the water/beach, and have enjoyed talking and getting to know people.

Views of the marina from our boat.

Banana Bay Marina


Banana Bay Marina

The resort includes a pool, picnic area, small beach, and the usual - laundry, pump-out, etc. and walking distance to groceries, pharmacy, Home Depot, restaurants and shops. We have been out for dinghy and kayak rides to explore, enjoy and see the birds and iguanas. I can certainly see the allure of staying here for the winter.