Marathon to Key West
26 March 2013 | Key West
Scott & Freddi
Scott reports:
We enjoyed our short stop outside of Boot Key Harbor and, before we left, were able to sell our Trinka 10 Dingy to a good home. After rowing about in Lake Sylvia (looking backwards) Freddi decided she’d prefer a kayak and we can’t carry both; indeed while the two dingy boat “seemed like a good idea at the time” it just took up too much deck space… so… we advertised her on the VHF net there (0900 US CH68) and had a buyer almost immediately. It went to a new cruiser with two boat kids who had been begging for a sailing dink so our aft deck is clear and his kids are thrilled… win-win. Now it’s time to find a good deal on a kayak for Freddi.
Freddi adds:
Another 8-hour day of motor sailing to Key West, and as we went along Scott was deciding that we should splurge on a marina so we could get off the boat without launching the dinghy (the dinghy is loaded with boxes and is carefully lashed down and it has to be launched overboard with a halyard, then the outboard is lowered on a different halyard – altogether a “process” we don’t like engage for one night). So we overnighted at Conch Harbor Marina where Dockmaster Diana could not have been nicer and more helpful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you’re in Key West… pool (with restaurant and bar) and an easy walk to Duval Street and all Key West has to offer.
We took advantage of the marina facilities and while Scott was flushing water tanks, Freddi immediately started three loads of laundry. Each one takes about 3 hours start to finish so we went off the boat for a happy hour dinner at the Half Shell Raw Bar (better known as “Eat it Raw!”) and wandered around downtown Key West. The last load went in at 2:00AM but we could sleep while that was running. The small pleasures of unlimited power and water…. We slept in a bit too late and got off the dock at 0940 or so for our crossing of the Gulf of Mexico to Little Shark Inlet on the mainland but that’s for the next chapter.