UPDATE FROM BOOT KEY
03 February 2011 | Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL
Cheryl - Sunny and warm
We have been here in Boot Key Harbor for a little over 2 weeks now. It is a great harbor but wish I could put this mooring field in the heart of Key West. Our first Sunday here we rode our bikes to the Hurricane to watch the Packers beat the Bears, pretty good game. Ryan, an old friend of ours from our Lake Pepin (Mississippi River) days joined us. Ryan sailed his 28 foot sail boat from Lake Pepin to Marathon 6 years ago. Ryan works at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key and was able to get us in for free along with a 'meet and greet' with the dolphins. It was great. Thanks Ryan!
Good to see some other familiar faces here in the mooring field - George and Carol from 'Traumerei' (met them in South Carolina) and Jack and Chris from 'Renaissance' (met them way back in Cleveland).
We went to the Traditional Music festival (Irish music, folk music, Cajun music, etc.) at Sombrero Resort and Marina last weekend which was very good. There is the Cruisers Net each morning at 9:00 that we listen to. The Net announces activities going on in and around the harbor, boats coming and going, buy/sell/trade items and people needing help with something. So far we haven't joined in on any of the activities such as the Wednesday night 'Meet and Greet' potluck, guess potlucks aren't our thing. Neither Bill nor I participated in potlucks when we were working so don't see us doing it here either.
Possibly some more boat projects in our future. Had someone come out and do an energy assessment of the boat and tomorrow morning a diesel engine guy. Depends on what the diesel guy comes up with as to what we will be doing in the future. Hope to be able to afford to add dinghy davits and solar panels.
Waiting for a string of nice days to take Walk A-Bout out to Sombrero Reef, which is only about 5 miles away. Do some diving or snorkeling out there. There are several mooring balls near the reef to tie up to, not supposed to stay the night there but we will see. Bill wants to do some fishing as well. You can't fish at the reef since it is a marine sanctuary but you can fish just outside the reef.
Bill is at the marina doing laundry at the moment, when he gets back we will do our sunset cruise - dinghy cruising around the harbor.