Day 20 - Coconut Grove FL to Long Key FL

Thankfully, today was much better than yesterday. I woke up at 6AM (so much for sleeping in), and actually felt pretty good...so I did my plan for the day, looking at how we were going to get back outside through Biscayne Bay, and where we might anchor. We still had to fill up our water tanks, get fuel, and get on our way. It was 9AM when we finally pulled out into Biscayne Bay. I had hoped to get down to Marathon, but there was no way that I could see us making it today. 

Here is "The Mate" getting ready to help me fill the water tanks before disconnecting from the shore power, etc....

The shorter route was inside on the ICW, but because of our 6' draft, there were too many spots where we would risk running aground..so we had to go outside and down Hawks Channel. This ride would keep us about 2 miles offshore but inside an "off shore" reef which would keep the ride a bit more comfortable. The ride out to Hawks Channel was about 8 miles before we even turned south. We headed out through the Biscayne Channel south of Key Biscayne. 

This is looking back on Coconut Grove as we motor out through Dinner Key Channel into Biscayne Bay.

These two cormorants were obviously in heated conversation as we passed by...this is a shot that I could not resist!

Looking back at Miami..

And the lighthouse at the south end of Key Biscayne...

There were 6 or 7 of these houses that were sitting on the edge of the Biscayne Channel...I have no ideas as to what they are about...

Here is one last look back at Miami before it disappears in the haze..

 

Today we finally had a decent sailing day..and got both sails set on a port tack...we sailed, and also motor sailed..we were doing about 8.4 knots just under power, 7.8 knots under just sail, and 9.3 knots 
with both sails set but with power...we did some of each of these today.

And others had the same plan...

Frankly there was not much to see...although we did pick up a few sites..

Like this "Bird Hotel" on one of the Channel Markers...

And here is Key Largo from offshore..

And Islamorada..

 

And here is a crabber. I was slow in getting to the camera. When we first came upon this boat, there was a dog up on the bow. As this fellow turned north, the dog headed to the back of the boat...well behaved dog...I have never seen so many crab pot markers..and I thought that the Chesapeake Bay was bad...

This next photo is the bridge over Long Key. It is a 65' bridge that allows traffic to move back and forth from the ICW into Hawks Channel. We may go under it tomorrow if we decided to cut across here as opposed to "Seven Mile Bridge" at Marathon. We are going to anchor here shortly.

The anchor was finally set at about 6:15PM. Here are a few shots of our anchorage.

 

I did a little swimming (the water was great)..

Vic did a bit of fishing...

She even caught a couple of catfish (in salt water no less)...

 

I even got a chance to shower at the stern of the boat..there is a hot/cold shower fixture at the swim platform which was perfect this evening! (ignore the gut)

The sun set around 6:55PM..we had a great view..

It is really muggy this evening with a low in the high 70s and a lot of humidity..so I have decided to keep the boat closed up and the generator running (and AC). As I sit here finishing up this post, it is just after midnight and we are rocking a bit. The winds just picked up to about 15 kts. They have been about 7 earlier...should sleep well.

I was just outside and the Milky Way is once again very bright in the sky. It is nice to get out where there is no ambient light and see what we used to see as kids..

We are now looking at Monday for our arrival into Longboat key. I am guessing that it is about 220 miles from here, but that is just too much for two days unless we go outside and do an overnight sail tomorrow...just not in my plans right now. Regardless of how we head across, the plan is to make Little Shark River tomorrow evening. 

1340 miles down..220 or so to go...it was a good day today!

Comments

[Lonnie Blount]

You and Vic look really good;

Keep well, Have fun;

Lonnie

[John Hilliard]

Sorry I haven't commented much on your trip but I have been following each day. What an adventure, excited to have you back up here. I head to Boston this week and then Paraguay the next week so probably won't see you til mid November. Praying for a safe arrival....

John

[Paul White]

John,

I am looking forward to getting north late next Sunday. Will you be in town at all, or are you out to Paraguay on Monday?..if we don't connect, maybe we can get together when I head north on the 16th...

Thanks for the prayers!

Paul