Thursday, June 18, 2009

Islamorada to Ortona, Florida

After we enjoyed our time at Islamorada, we decided to check out some uninhabited Keys near by. So we weighed anchor on Thursday morning heading to Lignumvitae Key, picking up a State maintained mooring to visit the park. We dinghied ashore only to be informed by one of the Park personnel that there's no tour that day, that they now only open on Friday through Sunday, but we're welcome to walk around the grounds ourself. The mosquitoes were so bad, so we didn't stay long.
Lignumvitae Key, Park personnel working with mosquito net cover
We dinghied back to the boat and decided to go to Crab Key that was only 8 miles away. It was total isolation, nothing around except some bonefish fishermen fishing in the distant flats. We dinghied around, snorkeled, and Mark got to swim with about 10 dolphins.
Swimming with dolphins, sailboat in the calmness of early morning
The weather was getting hotter everyday, from the high 80's to the 90's and the water temperature had been around 83 degrees. So we decided to start heading for home, we had a perfect trawler day on the Florida Bay from Crab Key to Little Shark River at the Everglades. Little Shark River is a very nice anchorage, but at dawn and dusk watch out for the mosquitoes and deer flies, they can't wait to take a bite on you. We also had the longest thunderstorm there, lasted over an hour with lightening everywhere.
Little Shark River and sunset
We left Little Shark River the next morning, heading for Marco Island. We dropped anchor by Keewadin Island in the early afternoon on Saturday, and was amazed by numbers of local boats
that anchored there to party, have fun and just enjoy the beach.
Boats at Keewadin Island and Food vendor on the beach

Keewadin Island beach and sunset
By sunset all the boats had left, the anchorage and the water around it was beautiful. We swam, collected shells and really liked this spot. The next morning we traveled on the ICW from Little Marco island to Naples and came out at Gordon Pass to the Gulf , the wind was light, so we trolled with a fishing line, and caught a 19" Spanish Mackerel near Ft. Myers Beach. Wow, we're happy cruisers again. We grilled it for dinner when we dropped anchor at Franklin Lock, it was delicious.
Spanish Mackerel, Sunset at Franklin Lock
We arrived home on Monday. Three weeks of cruising went by fast, the hot weather brought us home early. But I am content to be home, there's yard work waiting for us, and the cool comfort of an air conditioned house.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Bahia Honda to Islamorada, Florida Bay

After a week stay in Boot Key harbor, Marathon we're ready to move on. The weather condition was good so we decided to go back to Sombrero Reef to snorkel again. We didn't stay long due to strong running current, making it hard to get far from the boat to the better parts of the reef.

A trawler with 6 wind generators, at Sombrero Reef
Next we decided to go to the Florida Bay side of Bahia Honda Key. We found a good 8' sandy spot
to anchor, than we dinghied ashore to the state park. The beaches are beautiful and we had a wonderful time drift snorkeling on the bay side in the afternoon, saw many lobsters, nurse sharks, fish and even a few conch.
At anchor Bahia Honda, Stowaway from home "sealegs"
Beach at Bahia Honda State Park
The next morning we up anchor to head up to Islamorada. A beautiful day on the Florida Bay, birds and people fishing on the flats, cloud building in the distance.
Birds and Bonefish fishing
Clouds developing
We arrived at Islamorada in the early afternoon. Dinghied ashore to the Library to get cooled off and catch up on some reading. After about two hours we dinghy to the Lorelei, a local and cruiser's favorite hang-out for refreshments and food. They also have daily music entertainment at 6 PM. The happy hour, entertainment and our dinner were all good. It's good to have a break from cooking.
Seaplane landing by anchorage, Nautilimo cruising by
Another way to cool off
Lorelei at Islamorada

Lorelei and sunrise at Islamorada
We spent our second day snorkeling and dinghying around the bay, afternoon at the Library, sundowners and dinner at the Lorelei. This is what cruising is all about.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Dry Tortugas-Key West-Marathon, FL

We had a pretty rolly ride from Dry Tortugas to the Marquesas Keys, so we decided to take a rest and anchored at Boca Grande Key for a night. The anchorage is nice but can get very lively when the current is running strongly against the wind. We dinghied ashore for a walk on the beach, a favorite hang-out for beach goers from Key West on weekends, that is 16 miles away.

Sunset at the Marquesas, Boca Grande Key Beach

Boca Grande Key water swing
We came into Key West harbor the next afternoon, anchored by Fleming Key. A fun place to watch all the boat traffic in and out of the harbor. To our amusement a sport fishing boat came by to fish about 100 yards from us, they hooked several big fish, it took them more than 40 minutes to bring a fish in.

Big cruise ships at Key West

Sport fishermen fishing by anchorage, Tarpon waiting for scraps in the Harbor
We spent an afternoon walking around the shops and waterfront of Key West. It's hot and there's not as many tourists around as when we have been here in the winter. The streets are quiet and well kept, the bars offer bargain price drinks, beers on draft at $1 each, so one doesn't have to walk to far to get thirsty.


Eye catching display, Local favorite hang-out

Quiet time to visit Key West

We had a nice cruise on Hawk Channel to Marathon. Boot Key Harbor is one of our favorites, There's plenty of restaurants and shops within dinghy distance, nice beach and reefs near by. We took a mooring ball from the City Marina. For $100 per week, it includes dinghy landing, showers, pump out, etc. a very well run operation.

Quiet time at Boot Key Harbor mooring field, Sombrero Beach
My niece Jill and friend Michael came for a visit. We went to the Sombrero beach and took the boat to Sombrero Reef to snorkel. The reef is beautiful with many fish, picking up a mooring ball on the reef can be a challenge if the condition is rough. But we had a good time snorkeling and a rolly time to get there.

Picking up visitors and snorkeling at Sombrero Reef
Cruising in the Keys at this time of the year has many challenges; one is the unexpected thunderstorms. Often they come during the night, and sometimes a water sprout would develop; then you pray that it won't get too close. Another challenge is the heat; so long you are in shade, the sea breeze keeps you cool, otherwise, it's hot! The pluses are many too, like having the place all to yourself, really quiet and peaceful.

Water sprout

Monday, June 1, 2009

Ortona to Dry Tortugas

We left our dock on Tuesday morning for a 3-4 week cruise of the Florida Keys and maybe the Dry Tortugas. As we cruised toward Ft. Myers on the Caloosahachee River we continued downloading the weather reports. The weather conditions at Dry Tortugas look favorable for a week and the overnight passage looks do-able. So we decided to go straight for the Dry Tortugas, 200 miles from Ortona and 27 hours later, we dropped anchor right in front of the Ferry docks of Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key.

Sunrise on the Gulf of Mexico, approach to Loggerhead Key lighthouse

Ft. Jefferson


Dinghy landing and some Cuban Refuge Rafts built of steel, foam and plastic.
The water around Dry Tortugas was pristine clear, healthy beautiful coral reefs and a lot of fish. One 4' coral head had at least 6 lobster under it. We had a wonderful time snorkeling on the reefs and around the moat of Ft. Jefferson. The Fort was very interesting to visit and walk around and on top of. At the anchorage we also were entertained by thousands of birds (mostly Sooty tern and Frigate) on Bush Key day and night. I guess this is where they gather to mate.

Birds at sunset on Bush Key. Bush Key from the top of Fort Jeff.
We invited the couple on the next sailboat over for drinks one evening, and they turned out to be newlyweds from Colorado, on a chartered boat for their honeymoon after their beach wedding two days earlier in Key West.
Newlyweds Olivia and Ryan