Yes, we made it to our planned final destination on this trip. We are tied up in Marathon, at Dockside Marina.The prices at Dockside drop to off season prices on May 1st. And the reason is that it is HOT! The first two days we were here, we had to leave the boat, because the thermometer was reading 95-100 degrees. So we bit the bullet and went to Home Depot, and picked up a $99 window unit AC, Styrofoam, and some duct tape. Now we are sitting in a nice air conditioned boat. We actually have a hatch mounted AC, that we got when we were living on the boat in Philadelphia, but we thought we would not need it, since we were in the Bahamas last year at the same time. But it seems like the Bahamas are cooler then here. So if you plan on being in the Keys or Florida after May, I would recommend an AC.

It took four days to get from Lauderdale to Marathon. The trip was easy and pleasant. The first day we went down the New River, and went around 25-30 miles to Miami. It took quite a while, because there were a few bridges, and they were timed a little to quick for us, so many times we would be going just 3 knots between bridges. We anchored off the ICW, and had a calm night. The next day we went around 40 miles to Pumpkin Key. We had both sails up, but were only making around 3.5 knots, so just left the engine running at a low rpm to get us at 5 knots. The anchorage is basically a circular island, and you just anchor so the island protects you from the wind. The next day we were officially in the keys. At least that is what our guide books said. “Once you go into Jewfish Creek you are really in the keys.” And once we went into Jewfish creek, it did feel like the keys.

The keys are a wonderful place to sail. There are basically two ways you can go, the Hawkes Channel or the ICW. The Hawkes Channel is basically the coast of the Keys on the Atlantic Side. There are Coral reefs about 5 miles off, so these buffer some of the wave motion, but you are pretty much in the ocean. The ICW route meanders through the keys, and is pretty well protected. You go through little mangrove lined creeks, past uninhabited keys. We took the ICW all the way, except for the last 22 miles, we left the ICW through channel 5, and went up Hawkes Channel, to save about 12 miles. The ICW side was much nicer to sail through, because there was less wave motion, and the scenery is beautiful, plus the water is crystal clear and between 6-10 feet most of the time. You could definitely spend a good amount of time just going to all the Keys.

There is a difference in people and attitudes also, once you cross into the Keys. People here seem relaxed and happy, and they take pride in there relaxed lifestyle. Just to give an idea about some of the people. I saw a pick up truck here, that said “Snow Removal” on a sign on the roof. One musician here was singing a song that went, “I just came down for the weekend, that was 35 years ago”.  In Key West, there is a guy that turned his tricycle into a rolling disco party, not to make money, just for fun.

Our plan is to stay here till June, then take the boat up to Georgia to get hauled out. So now we are going to spend our days swimming, going to the beach, going to Key West and relaxing.

Here some Photos: