Finally made it! After owning Puff for almost 10 years, we finally got to the Keys. The adventure wasn't the trip but taking the steps to do it.

After the marina at Marco Island, it was a journey back in time going up the Big Marco River to Goodland, a fishing and retirement village at the other end of Marco and I really mean the other end. Goodland is just a collection of small restaurants, trailers, and low-lying homes along the channel. You'd never know this end of Marco exists unless you went looking for it.

A quick sail down the coast got us to the Barron River and up the creek to Everglades City.
We tied up at a floating dock that was to be part of a condo complex that died before Wilma hit town. Like Punta Gorda, most homes in Everglades City sport new roofs and many windows. Instead of staying a day to tour the town, we left early on the 13th to keep ahead of a cold front and the strong winds forecast.

The thirty miles to Little Shark River on the north end of Cape Sable were done under power the whole way with only light winds and mostly on the bow. Once you leave Everglades City, you are in the Everglades Park. The coast is completely undeveloped with miles of empty beaches. Coming into Little Shark River, the 80-foot tall mangroves had been stripped by Wilma. About a half mile inland, the trees looked normal and you had a feeling what unspoiled Florida was like. The forecast winds never picked up until evening when we were anchored 4 miles up the river.

Valentines day was spent doing maintenance chores and finding more that need to be done. While inspecting the engine, I noticed the fuel filter was gray with "stuff." There an algae that can grow in diesel fuel and it was. The fuel tank seemed OK but the filter was covered. So it was remove and clean everything I could. Considering we put more hours on the diesel in 5 days than in the previous year, it was not surprising.

The forecast was for winds from the north at 5-10 knots picking up to 20-25 at night. So we were underway at 06:00 am in the dark to start the 50-mile trip to the Keys. As usual, the winds were not at forecast and again the engine had to get us there. Of the 10 hours underway, 9 were with some sort of power due to the wind direction or speed. Seas were calm and the only problems were fishing buoys. As soon as we left the Everglades Park boundary, there were lines of 8-inch round fishing buoys every 500 feet. The whole distance across Florida Bay was literally covered by fishing buoys. Some were easy to spot and some hid in the waves. We ran over 3 during the 40 miles of buoys and luckily, none wrapped around the propeller. Not a trip you could make at night!

Arrived in Marathon at 3 pm to find the harbor full. I think every guy who left home is here. There are more old sailboats in the harbor than I have ever seen. Most show signs of life on board but many look abandoned. I was lucky to find a place to drop anchor but we have to be out of here on Sunday morning. They are going to put in a few hundred moorings to try and control the over crowding of the harbor.

The 16th will be a scout around town day using the folding bicycle for the first time. Hope I don't poke a hole in the dingy getting it on and off. Got to go join the rest of the "hippies" in town.