March 9, 2014 Marathon and Key Colony

Running along the Bay side of Vaca Key

It was pretty calm this morning and the forecast was for 1-2 swells so we decided to take the dinghy on a long run up to Key Colony about 9 miles up the chain of keys.  We left around 11, stopped and fueled up and then headed out under 7 mile bridge into the Florida Bay.  It took us about an hour running only a few miles off shore in about 7-10 feet of water.  We reached Vaca Cut and headed in being pushed along by the stiff current.

Huge boat house on the way to Coral Key marina

The marina some of our friends have been staying at Coral Key Marina and Resort.  Its around a corner of sorts with many large house lining the waterway.  We found it rather easily and stopped first to see Curt and Marilyn, sail boaters from North Dakota.  Reunion with Dennis and Carole were also there.  After we chatted for a while we decided to run over to Sparky's, a nearby restaurant we had visited a few days ago.

Curt and Marilyn with us in our dinghy

Curt and Marilyn hopped in our dinghy and we followed Dennis and Carole through a large shallow pond and under a bridge that maybe was 5 feet high.  Sparky's was about a half mile down the channel form the bridge so we were there in no time.

Submarine being towed alongside at Sparkys

Dennis from Reunion and I were tying up when a work boat came in with a some sort of old submarine along its side.  They were filling up the sub's diesel fuel tank.  I guess its used for research although we never did get much detail from the guys operating it.

We had a nice lunch and Bob and Martha who had just left there returned to join us.  Quite a fun time.  But Mary wanted to leave right away so my thoughts of a continuing afternoon party melted away.  We opted to take the ocean back and as it turned out, that route was a little more comfortable.  All told we ran about 23 miles and only used a 2.5 gallons of gas!

I did a little more boat work, discovered a better method for dis-assembling the Washer/Drye in my continuing effort to avoid having to spend $1200 for a new set.  Also started to get ready for tomorrow mornings run out to the ocean to make water and hopefully snorkel at the reef.

We took a load of laundry in and while Mary did that, I biked to the store and ran the perishables back to the boat before picking up her and the laundry.  Productive day!

And tonight is the premier of Cosmos!