Time to leave the Florida Keys
30 January 2016 | Boot Key Harbor
Jill / chilly morning
It's hard to believe that it's been two months since we picked up a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor and now it's time to move on. Where did the time go?
January has been rainier and chillier than in past years, and we've seen plenty of healthy Portugese Man O'War jellyfish floating along the water and in the wrack. That hasn't stopped us from having a truly enjoyable time visiting various keys and walking along beaches and islands.
We've enjoyed our time with other cruisers at sundowners and potlucks, listening to good musicians, playing Mexican Train and Farkle, watching how to make toothbrush rugs, and learning to weave baskets from pine needles. I was glad to be done with my first basket, but both Jen and I have already started our second basket. Lots of fun!
Every year we meet cruisers that we have fun together on the water and on land, and this year is no different. It will be very sad to say goodbye to Herman and Sandy (s/v Bonita) and Sid and Michele (s/v El Camino). Actually, Michele left a couple of weeks ago to witness the birth of their grand baby, so we miss her already. Thankfully, Bud and Jen (s/v SeaQuest, our buddy boat) will be traveling with us, so those tears will have to wait.
Our current plans are to leave this wonderful and protected harbor on Sunday morning and head up the Gulf of Mexico along the west coast of Florida. The gulf is a large open body of water and there's not much land to see as we leave the Florida Keys toward the Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands. We're hoping to spend Sunday night at anchor in the Little Shark River, a remote area in the Everglades. There is no cell phone coverage in that area, so no need to worry if you don't hear from us for a couple of days. Eventually we'll be back in civilization and we'll post some pictures and let you know of our most recent travels.
The photos in the collage capture some of the incredible nature along the Florida Keys.