We left Marathon on Monday, March 10th and started heading west to Key West with an overnight stop in Newfound Harbor. Our friends Bill and Mary from Toronto suggested we give it a go as an good anchorage so we did. Check out the photo gallery for a picture of what greeted us at the entrance to the harbor. The water was very shallow but we did fine and had a lovely overnight.
The following morning we raised the anchor and headed west for Key West, about four and a half hours give or take. One of the sights in Key West is the marker that indicates the southernmost spot in the US. Peg/Marg got a photo of it as we passed by. At that moment, we were the southernmost point in the US. We decided against anchoring in Key West because the anchorages were a good distance from the town and it would make for a very wet and long dinghy ride to the nearest dinghy dock. We called A&B Marina, which is dead in the middle of all that is going on in Key West, and were delighted to learn they had a slip for us. A&B Marina is not cheap but it is the least expensive in Key West because they only have Mediterranean style docks. You tie the bow of the boat to pilings left and right of the boat, then you back the boat to the dock and you tie the stern to the dock. Sounds easy but not so much for a sailboat.

As we approached Key West harbor we were advised by the Coast Guard to remain at least 100 yards from the departing Carnival cruise ship. Peg/Marg took a couple of photos of the cruise ship and the Coast Guard escort. These guys don’t fool around.

Talk about a thorn between two roses. We docked at A&B Marina in between two mega yachts. We were in permanent shade and looked like a dinghy. But that wasn’t bad enough. They actually put us on the dinghy dock. Oh the humiliation.

Key West is an ongoing party made even crazier by the fact that Spring Break had begun. We were surrounded by young people whose only objective was to get as drunk as possible, the cruise ship crowd looking for a place to go to the bathroom, and the normal crazies selling everything from jewelry and t-shirts to photo opportunities with a dog that wears a biker’s do-rag and sun glasses. Of course, Mallory Square is the epicenter of all that is crazy in Key West, particularly at sunset when the street performers come out and everyone toasts the setting sun. We had a great time there and we were sorry to have to leave. We only stayed two nights and bad weather threatened so we made the decision to return to Marathon in one day to beat a cold front that was predicted. All in all, a good decision.

So we’re back in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon and Wendell and Linda are winding down their stay with us. We’ll miss having them on board. I’ve added a few picks of the harbor and our herb garden, and sunset on Boot Key. Seems like a good way to end this installment. Stay tuned for more.