February 14-21 2016 Marathon and Key Colony with Dave and Kathy

We brought the anchor aboard relatively early this morning and went out Channel 5 inlet to the ocean.  We had a mild roll with the swells, but easily managed.  We were off shore about 4 miles and dumped the holding tank, and after, made water.  So was we approached Boot Key harbor entrance we had an empty holding tank and full water tanks.

Anchored in Boot Key Harbor

Our close sailboat anchor neighbor

The harbor was packed.  I wasn’t sure where we were going to be able to nestle ourselves.  But we did find a small place near one of the channel markers, R18.  It was going to be tight but we snuck in and dropped the hook.  And it held.  This area has deep mud and sand and the holding is very good.  Lucky too because when the boat swings with the current and wind I’m guessing we will miss a small sailboat near us by maybe 10-20 feet.

The forecast is for strong northerly winds again thus assuring an eventful next few days.

City Marina dinghy dock

We got the dinghy down and Mary and Dave went into the Municipal Marina office to get on the mooring ball list and pay for a dinghy access sticker..  I stayed aboard to be sure we weren't dragging the anchor.  Kathy stayed aboard as well.

Later we all went back to the City Marina.  We started three loads of laundry while Mary, Dave and I walked to Home Depot, Walgreens and then Publix.   We we came back I took Mary and Kathy back to the boat  but as we were approaching our boat, some guy in a sailboat nearer to shore was frantically waving us over.  I quickly dropped Kathy and Mary off at our boat with the stuff we bought and went over to his boat.  Turns out he cut his hand petty badly and couldn’t paddle his kayak in to shore for medical help.

So I took him (speeding through the anchorage) over to the commercial shrimpers dock near the bridge and got him off.  The hospital was only a block away from there.  I had also towed his kayak so he could get back to his boat later.  We were doing 20 mph and the kayak was surfing along like a water skier.

Once I returned we all went back ashore to get the laundry, meet Dave and then UpperCrust Pizza place, reputed to be Marathons best.  It’s not, but it was close bye and no really felt like walking too far.

Pretty nasty looking weather blowing in

Valentines day, we all went to the popular breakfast, at the VFW club.  Its pretty cheap, pretty good and kind of fun.  Probably better to say it’s just, different.

It was looking pretty stormy for awhile.  The foreeast for a descending cold front appeared to be accurate.

Monday, Dave rented a car from Enterprise.  It was  a one way rental.  He was driving to Stuart to get his car and drive back here to Marathon.  We brought the bike in to the marina and Kathy used that for some touring around town while I walked over to a few stores.

This morning, since Dave had his car now, they all took off for Bahia Honda State Park while I stayed aboard and did some battery research and a few maintenance items.  Went into the marina again and had some battery discussion, most notably with Alex who was pushing for installing Lithium Ion batteries.  They are great batteries, last for a long time and are far less bulky than AGM or standard lead acid.  They do however require some expensive equipment capable of executing a complex charging regime.   All our old stuff would have to be replaced.

So I’m sticking with ordering Lifeline AGM 6 volt batteries.  8 of them. 

After all the talking I took the dinghy over to Burdines and filled it up, then took it out around the island for a little joy ride.  It wasn’t too rough out there, just chilly. 

Later I went in to pick up everyone and brought them back along with their beach treasures.

This morning we had battery voltages of less than 12.   Not good.  With the bad weather forecast for the next few days, and no marina’s here that can take us, we expanded our search up to Key Colony Beach, about 7 miles north.  I’m reluctant to move the boat anywhere else to anchor since we are pretty well buried now and unlikely to drag.  But our water tanks are getting low and the battery situation is becoming desperate.

Friends of ours, Curt and Marilyn suggested we try the marina where they are staying, Boathouse Marina in Key Colony.  So we called and Larry the dock master said he had two open but wasn’t sure we could fit in.  Thankfully we had Dave's car available.  We had to wait util around 11 to leave though because I had the generator running to keep the batteries up with a meaningful voltage.

We all drove up there and took a look at the slips.  #46 was doable.  Tight, and requiring we back in, but doable.

Did I mention tight?

So we raced back to the boat and left the anchorage about 2PM.

Just as I thought, the anchor was really dug in deep which was good for us had we been forced to stay there. But it took some extra coaxing to get it out. 

On the way to Key Colony Beach

Sombrero Beach

We went out  Sisters Creek for the first time.  It saved shaved several  miles off the trip, but it was our first time going through there.  It is shallow between the green and red first marker seaward.  5 feet is the lowest I saw. 

As we cleared Sisters Creek, Marathon City Marina called my cell phone and told us we had a mooring ball!   Oh if we only had good batteries.  But at least if we couldn’t get the boat in the slip we had a fall back. We had two hours decide to take the mooring ball or not.   And we’d be at Boat House marina in less time so we have options.

Heading into Boat House Marina

Squeezed in between our boat on the right and our neighbor 

As we came into the channel past Vaca Cut I slowed and put the boat in neutral so David could get in the dinghy (we were towing it) and drive it separately to the marina.  We rounded the corner, slowly came into the tiny basin.  Yikes, it was tight.  But  I managed to spin the boat around and back it into a slip only 16.5 feet wide., a foot larger than we are wide. 

Thankfully there was no real current but some wind which was not to strong.  After some stumbling around with lines (and Jay's sometimes annoying suggestions) we were secured.  We then got David off the dinghy and we sort of squeezed it between our boat and the one in the next slip.

Curt and Marilyn ghosted in soon after.  They had been out  sailing with Donnie, another resident boater here who also happens to be a musician.

Dave and Kathy went out for seafood dinner and Mary and I were left alone to enjoy the last dregs of our Cline, 2014 Pinot Noir in the gathering dusk.

The smallish turning basin in front of our slip.  That's us in the middle

Today is Dave’s birthday.  He’s old enough now that going to Chuckie Cheese doesn’t quite do it for him.  But golfing does.  So he and I went to the driving range at Sombrero Country Club.  It was pretty windy but felt good to swing a club.  And Dave got the chance to tweak his swing using his new wood shaft clubs.  Yes, he’s going retro.  Guess he's at that age ...

Later we ran some errands, and when we returned talked with Curt & Marilyn.  And Jay, the guy that helped us tie up.  He  seems to be a battery wholesaler among other things so we talked about batteries for awhile. 

Birthday golfer

Our slip 

The marina pool

We had  takeout ribs for dinner and then took the dinghy out for a little ride before it got too dark. 

Dave and went to the driving range again this morning.  The golf course itself was very expensive and looked to be in rough shape.  So we didn’t play a round.  

I had ordered our mail to be spent to City Marina so Dave dropped me off there and went back to Boat House marina.  I picked the mail and then rode our bike back to the Boat House Marina.  Kathy took advantage of the pool.

Talking to Larry the Boat House Marina dock master

Later,  Curt and Marilyn dropped over for drinks.   They are planing on leaving in a few days to go north up the gulf coast and into the Okeechobee Waterway and then cruising back down to Marathon on the east coast.

 Earlier we watched the Customs Border patrol boat leave.  One of their boats is based here.  Guys with big guns, and us armed with cocktails makes an interesting scene.

Leigh Ann's 

Border Patrol off on a call

We went to Leigh Ann's for breakfast.  Its a quirky little place, supposedly very good.  It was ok, but really pricey!  It's right next to Sparky's

Happy sponge collector

Kathy, worked feverishly on de-detoxifying her sponge collection.  Well, maybe de-stinking is a more appropriate description.

Being plugged in to dock side power is wonderful.  No power worries.  But our batteries are definitely on the way out.  They dont seem to be holding much of a charge for any length of time.  Makes anchoring out kinda tough.

Taking a break from flea market shopping

Today is flea market day.  There is an annual Nautical Flea Market held on Islamorada  Its on the grounds of Founders Park, a community center of sorts with this large swimming pool used my several universities as a training site.  And across the way is a Marina, Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina for dock walking when the Flea Market gets too much,

Bought the flagstaff.  Not the light though

We were here last year and it was great.  There were many booths with all manner of nautical bits and pieces.  This year though, there were far fewer booths selling old or discounted boat paraphernalia.  The place had become rife with clothes sellers, jeweler hawkers and just generally new boat items.  Oh well.

The Flea Market

Breakfast on the beach

We did indulge in breakfast on the beach again but didn't stay too long.  I only purchased a flag staff for our burgee on the bow.  I had been using a piece of 1/2 PVC pipe when our original teak flagstaff snapped off coming into Milwaukee Harbor a few years ago.  

This flagstaff was a  It was a bargain.  Using my deeply held  negotiating talents I offered the guy $12 when we was asking $15.  This is why Mary does all the negotiating. 

Our friends, Dave and Darlene rent a place on the beach across the way.    Last year we stopped in to see them, but we simply ran out of time this year.  So we ended up leaving before the crowds really began showing up.  Its a 30 mile drive from Key Colony  And only a two lane road.  Think traffic.  Slow traffic.

It was Dave and Kathy's last day so we drove down to Lazy Days for a farewell dinner.  Wasn't as pleasant as I was hoping. But we couldn't think of a better place.   Earlier we all walked to Sweet Savannah's for ice cream about 3/4 of a mile.

Kathy and I took the dinghy out for one last run but it was really too rough so it was a short ride.

Curt and Marilyn's boat acting as a Shepard for dinghies 

 When we returned I asked Curt and Marilyn if we could keep it next to their boat and they said fine.   We had been squeezing it in between our boat and our neighbors.  It required, literally, pushing the two boats apart to squish the poor dinghy in between them.

Dave and Kathy left this morning.  Sad time but they have to get back north.  Already looking forward to next year.
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The rest of the day we just puttered around the boat and did laundry.  The highlight of the day was watching the marina's black cat keep several pelicans away from the fish cleaning station as a few guys were cleaning fish