Mandolin-at-Large
| Vessel Name: | Mandolin |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Bayfield |
| Hailing Port: | Rock Creek, MD |
| Crew: | Tod and Anne Herrick |
| About: | Retired from human service occupations now living a human exisistance! |
08 April 2018 | Florida Keys
Paradise, aka: the Florida Keys
It's been a really long time since I posted a blog. I know, I should be more disciplined! But I have made numerous Facebook entries. That counts, doesn't it? I prefer Facebook when I have a bunch of photos to post. I can only post one on this site. So any readers who are not on my friends list at Facebook, [...]
28 February 2018 | Boot Key Harbor, Marathon
Boot Key Harbor: A Pleasant Community on the Water
We have enjoyed our stay in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon. There is a nice community of boaters here. It's protected from winds during bad weather and the city makes it a welcoming place.
15 February 2018 | Lower Keys
Welcome to the Keys!
We left Lake Worth at 7:30a thinking we were only going to Fort Lauderdale. The admiral didn't like the waves and seas we had yesterday so she was reluctant to put in a long day again. I can't say I blame her. However, today's conditions were delightful! She put off the task of seeking a marina for the [...]
14 February 2018 | Off Boynton Beach
The Lazy Fisherman
We woke early and got underway from our pleasant Anchorage in Lake Worth around 7:30 to catch slack current in the inlet. It was a bit bumpy with the east winds but not terrible. Once out we set sail and motor sailed under full sail and mild winds for about 3 hours. Our original destination was Fort [...]
13 February 2018 | West Palm Beach
Moving south
After pulling ourselves away from Velcro Beach we traveled south along the waterway to Ft. Pierce. We had our friend aboard as extra crew as needed but more as pleasant company. We enjoyed Vero Beach and will likely be back. We had a good time walking to the beach and getting caught by the security guard [...]
11 February 2018 | Vero Beach
Shorts, sandals, and sunny skies
We have been enjoying our stay at "Velcro Beach" and understand why people have named it thus. Life is pleasant here and you have access to the town via the free bus. It's not a fast way to get around but it is convenient!
Welcome to the Keys!
It turned out that we had a wonderful sail with winds off our beam until the winds abated later that afternoon. We got to Ft. Lauderdale in the late afternoon which was a busy port. Ships were coming and going. One was spinning in a circle outside the harbor, I kid you not!
We reached Miami just at dusk. Miami looked beautiful all lit up with an orange sky. There was lots of ship and boat traffic too. It was confusing and frustrating to try to figure it out but we managed to avoid getting run down.
We then headed for Hawk Channel, the channel that allows deeper draft boats to sail to the Keys. It goes along a coral reef and is pretty well marked except some marks are not lit! We managed to negotiate it pretty well except some confusion around a red mark whose light was extinguished and some confusing cross channel marks. We ended up nearly T-boning that dark red mark, passing it on the wrong side in the darkness. We didn't strike a coral head or run aground so all is well. Our friend Steve, who was helping out said after that experience to not expect him to help at the helm at night in a small channel. I felt the same way!
We pulled behind Rodriguez Key at 6am ready to drop the hook at bit or bunks. Oh, and the person who suggested the night sail? She went to bed last evening and slept through it all. There is something not quite fair about it all. Even considering the fact she got a little sea sick didn't make it any more fair.
We are in the Keys and the weather is fabulous! The color of the ocean is beautiful too.
