Miami Beach, Florida
17 January 2012 | N 25 45.517, W80 08.768
HKB
OR NOT !!!!! We hauled anchor and set sail for Key Largo (Mile 1142) on Fri., 06 Jan '12 to take on gas and diesel and taxi for provisions from Ocean Divers. The only ocean side marine facility that sells diesel. We squeaked through the access canal but had nowhere to tie-up - they only have room at the dock for their dive boats and fuel purchases. Ken rang the dock manager in hopes of finding a spot to tie-up on the canal but even though there were unoccupied mansions with dock space aplenty they weren't available to transients. Luckily Faring can turn in a tight circle because she used up most of the canal doing just that. So, we anchored west of Tavernier Key and dinghied up the Snake Creek Channel to the Tavernier Marine Center (12' clearance under the bridge nearest the marine center prohibits large boat passage). After a three mile round-trip walk to the shopping center (at least there are sidewalks on each side of the highway) we were provisioned and back on Faring. Saturday found us off early in weather not quite as described by NOAA. It wasn't long before our salon was being rearranged by the wash and chop of the fringes of the Gulf Stream. When things start flying in this boat we start reconsidering our route. So, Bonine in hand we turned to port and headed for Miami, again............
Ah yes, the beautiful colorful shoreline of South Beach Miami, Heather was in heaven. Coffee here is espresso by default. There are numerous wonderful restaurants, excellent grocery, liquor, hardware and book stores within dinghy distance. And you name it for outings, walking tours and movies. When she said the nearest quilt fabric store was over 90 miles north Ken decided it was time to go, and the weather seems to be right for a very early morning passage tomorrow.