Sailing away to Key Largo

*     Marathon to Key Largo    *

The last few days at Marlin Bay Marina in Marathon were busy getting things completed to resume cruising again. The captain tackled a toilet project (those are easy to put off), put the dinghy up and cleaned it, cleaned the strainers – again!, washed the boat, and a host of little things we have just put off for quite a while. The dinghy had been in the water for the month, and it was a mess. The barnacle growth was full on and David had never had such a hard time cleaning it. It needs more work, as when he put it up, we were going to get fuel and he didn’t’ spend the time on it he normally would have.

Remy was excited as Tasha made home made frosty paws, something we try to keep on board at all times, and this week was special – Remy’s 14.75 birthday, but everyday on the Now or Never we celebrate Remy!

We cruised the island – we have new bikes! They are electric and we wonder why we waited so long. Far distance – no problem, wind – no problem, tired – no problem. We covered a lot of ground checking out parts of the island we hadn’t before and eating our way across the island.

We biked to Sombrero Beach and saw a large gathering on the beach. Leonardo, a rescued turtle from last year was being release back into the water. They put together quite a spectacle with a program and a countdown for when he would arrive. Once he arrived another countdown took place. While it was a really cool thing, we were hungry, and left over an hour before he was being released. We watched it on the internet and here is a photo of Leonardo we found on the turtle hospital website.

We rode past Marathon High School at lunch break. Kids coming out in all directions and heading to some beach houses, crossing the street to smoke, and just hanging out. The whole scene, school and kids were a take on the 80’s beach shows with high schools (think 90210). The captain didn’t quite get the reference, but the first mate was reliving those shows. Being Midwest grads, it’s hard to comprehend open air high schools and walking out to the beach just a block away.

We continued with our sunset celebrations with fellow boaters. The weather had turned and there was only one good one in the last few days, though it still was a neat ritual to get together and review the days events as well as talk about everyone’s upcoming travels. It would be the end of the month when we and many others head out. We also hear 16 boats were coming in.

As we talked about our upcoming travels, we both admitted we weren’t ready to go. As much as the waters are calling us to explore, we really enjoyed Marathon. We did not know what to expect, so it really exceeded our expectations. Perhaps it was the beautiful blue water, the trade winds that kept us cool, the beautiful sunsets, the many things to do, or the visits from friends from home, and the many boating friends we shared time with. They all played a part in our enjoying our stay in Marathon.

Leading up to our departure, we spoke with Judy and Dave from Freedom about cruising together up the East Coast of Florida and before you know it, we had plans and marinas booked all the way to St. Augustine. Thanks to their diligence there were only a few days of adjusting and waiting for reservations to take hold. We are a bit behind the looper bubble so that may have helped, albeit finding two slips was difficult in a couple of places.

We can’t thank them enough for taking the lead and keeping Remy’s needs in mind. We will need to anchor one night, but we think (fingers crossed) there is a dock we can access for her needs.

The final countdown came, the boat was ready, the crew was ready, and we rose pre-dawn to finish final preparations. We were off the docks by 7:30. It had just gotten light. There was a mass exodus from our marina, and four of us headed out together traveling east. Others went north, others went west.

It was a beautiful day for cruising, we left Marline Bay and traversed in the Gulf until Snake Creek where we took the cut to the Atlantic Ocean side. The blue water was beautiful, turned even more aqua, and was so tranquil. However, the seas had a bit more wave action and Tasha took precautions just in case. Having not cruised much for a while, it seemed like a long day, although it really wasn’t.

Tasha and Remy did get a couple naps in while our trusted captain manned the helm. Once the sun was high enough, we placed Remy in the co-captain chair where she remained the rest of the cruise. This has become a favorite spot for her for all of us.

The captain and crew were a little nervous on the approach to John Pennekamp State Park where we would spend the next three nights. It is a long tight approach with skinny water through the mangroves back to the docks. The Spirit of Pennekamp tour boat called us on the radio and asked to take the lead, our captain was more than happy to oblige to follow him in. While the tour boat still drew less than us, it gave us comfort for them to lead the way to ensure we made the right turns. Our buddy boat, Freedom, fell a bit behind through the windy approach and missed a turn to port and ended up in the mooring field. It was good it was still a deep enough channel and they found us quickly.

We approached the docks, no one answered on the phone or the radio, it wasn’t until the captain put the nose on the dock did someone appear. And even then, the communication was not at all clear where we needed to go. We are not at Marlin Bay anymore! Four dockhands rushed to greet us as we came in and they answered immediately on the radio at Marlin Bay. We realize we are now at a state park and back more to our roots, though the Marlin Bay experience was sweet.

We finally got docked and situated and the first things we noticed were bugs and heat! This was so different than what we experienced the past month. Our time in paradise is over and it’s back on the waters for us! The trade winds were not prevalent at the Pennekamp docks and it was very hot in our well protected cove. And the bugs, immediately we noticed the bugs coming out from the mangroves especially at dusk. Each night we retreated to our salon as they still came through our screens on the back deck, and it was just so darn hot. Remy didn’t know what to think, we never gather in the salon together, it’s typically her territory.

Our three nights at Pennekamp went quickly. We walked, dinghied, paddled, and biked. Walking the park trails with Remy in the early mornings and evenings was a treat. Daytime was a quick out then back in the air conditioning for the old pup. It’s the first in a long time she has begged to go in. We were happy that she wanted to be in so that we could spend lots of time on adventures in the area and not feel guilty.

David is a huge old movie buff and had recently watched the 1948 Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie Key Largo once we made plans to visit Key Largo on our cruise north. He read where key scenes were filmed at the Caribbean Club close to our marina. We took off on our dinghy to find the Club and take in a cold one. A few pieces of movie paraphernalia were there, and the outside looked tropical and fun. However, the inside was a smoke filled, dive bar, riding on the coat tails of a long ago movie. We shall remember the outside! Our friends Judy and Dave from Freedom joined us and we stopped at waterfront restaurant on our trek back.

When we posted we had gone there, a gold looper friend, Debbie, had commented that the African Queen vessel from the movie with the same name was in the area too. This was also a Humphrey Bogart movie and he shared the screen with Audrey Hepburn in 1951

David did additional research and the next day we were off to find it. We rode our new e-bikes (can’t tell you how much we love them!) the 3.5 miles to where she still takes passengers out for cruises. She was out on a cruise so we ventured back further in the marina and visited with loopers Lori and Rick on I’ll Have Another, whom we met at Marlin Bay. They were getting ready for their Bahamas crossing the following day. 

After visiting with Lori and Rick, the African Queen was on the way in. Theatre of the mind always seems to trump real life. She seemed so much smaller, frail, and rough. Though we must remember the movie was over 70 years ago and the boat 110 years old! Another great history stop on our journey. We hit another little waterfront restaurant near the African Queen for lunch!

We were intrigued with the mention of waterfront dining at the state park. Upon further investigation we were glad we dined elsewhere.

After returning to the boat, we swapped toys with Freedom. They took off on our bikes and we headed out into mangroves on their kayak. The water was crystal clear and only 2 – 5 feet deep and we were surprised we saw nothing. Not one sea creature. The voyage was nice through the mangroves with many other kayakers, but we hated not seeing sea life.

The day prior we saw a stingray right off the dock at lunch and this day after returning to the docks, a manatee showed up!

Our friend from home Theresa has volunteered to be our photographer on the trip, we just might have to take her up on it. On our cruise to Pennekamp, the dolphins came along side and rode in front of our bow. Tasha was so excited as she had her camera, it was on, and she believed she got killer footage. Not so much. In replaying later, the camera had reversed, and you could see Tasha’s shirt, feet, the boat deck, fenders, everything but the dolphins!

Our manatee was a little one and was curious of Dave’s toes in the water, and nudged him a couple of times! Later we saw a much bigger one but neither of us had a camera handy.

O

There is so much to do in and around this state park, but our voyage is calling us. We’re off to Key Biscayne next. There is a protected harbor with anchorage and places to get Remy off the boat. We’re hoping it’s not too crowded and it won’t be too burdensome for our pup. We are ready to keep exploring our wonderful country.

Cheers! David, Tasha, & Remy

Follow us on facebook for almost daily updates. Mann Aboard