After pounding the waves yesterday we were happy to spend a leisurely morning. We set sail homeward bound about 9:30 and enjoyed a brisk sail up the Intracoastal Waterway inside the Keys. There are shallow spots to be avoided and bridges to cross under so we had to stick to a closely charted course. Sailing was fun for the first few hours, but traversing narrow channels and under bridges required too much maneuvering to sail. We dropped the sails and motored through the narrow passages, waving to the other boats, mostly motor boats, moving in the opposite direction.
Our destination Buttonwood Sound just off the inside coast of Key Largo. I baked my last loaf of bread on board today. The convenience of a bread maker allows me to start a loaf of bread just after breakfast and enjoy a slice of fresh warm buttered bread by lunchtime. A nice treat for the Captain and first mate. The bread bakes while the motor was running to charge the batteries so I guess I can call it diesel bread.
We dropped anchor at Buttonwood Sound about 1:30 and dinghied into shore for lunch at Snooks Bayside Restaurant. After a late lunch, needing a walk, we made the traditional trek to the Oceanside Nautical Resale Store. This is a dusty walk along the busy US Highway 1, so we do use some restraint as to what we pick out of the endless shelves of nautical junk and treasures available at supposed bargain prices. That ritual observed, we went back to the sailboats for sun-downers on Make it Easy.
It was a relaxing day filled with a good sail, good food and friends. We look forward to a peaceful night at anchor.