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.

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

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.

Cormorant drying his wings in the sun

Pelicans everywhere

Small Key nearby

The coral of the key seems to float above the water.

Enjoy the pictures - I am going for a swim.

Sunrise - Key Largo

Giant Blue Heron

Wild Iguana

This guy is really big!

He is enjoying relaxing in the sun - just like me

This one decided to move as I got closer - they can MOVE

The pool

Past Ft. Lauderdale and Miami and a million bridges

On Christmas Day, very soon after my last post, I heard someone calling my name on the dock.  Debbie Maidman (MYC Moon Dancer) found us in the Delray Beach Yacht Club - by coincidence - because of our yellow and red kayak lashed to the aft deck ladder.  It was great to see her and it made our Christmas dinner festive.

Debbie - "Life Is Good"

We took off on Thursday for the bridge-filled trip south past Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and all that lies in between. The trip takes you past many mansions, high rise apartments, multimillion dollar yachts of all kinds, and just about any type and size of boat including several enormous cruise ships and commercial docks loading and unloading containers. It was a liesurely run because much of it is slow or a no wake zone.  We managed to time most of the bridges, and didn't have to wait too much.

One of many ICW mansions with sculpture in the yard

Water taxi in Ft. Lauderdale

One of several Cruise Ships getting ready for New Year cruises

Chiquita Banana Boat passing us on it's way out of port

 We stopped for the night in a quiet neighborhood in Hollywood (between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami). It was a wide man made canal with good depths, lined with beautiful private homes.

The gorgeous sunset

The amazing moon rise

The next morning we continued south through Miami and Miami beach to Key Biscayne.  This section is a study in contrasts.  There are still many large homes along the shore, but there are high rise apartments dwarfing them.  Some sections are old, surrounded by the new.  Some are rich and some are poor.  On the water mostly glamor and glitter. 

Large resort on the water

The old and the new

The Venetian Causeway and downtown Miami

Downtown Miami

Miami at Night - such a wild town!

We spent the night anchored off Key Biscayne in sight of downtown Miami.  It was a lovely spot, and a relief to be out in open water again.  I really tried to get a good shot, but there were too many waves, and the telephoto lens magnifies the movement.  Interesting effect ...

Biscayne Bay is wide and long, and we had a very calm, warm humid day for our crossing. We passed a regatta in progress.  We also reached a milestone - 1000 engine hours! And are now really in the Keys!

Regatta on Biscayne Bay

We hit 1000 hours!

Our anchorage off Key Largo - Where are Bogart and Bacall?