Marathon to Miami

It's the middle of February and time to move on.  We have seen about all there is to see in the keys, and done about everything that we wanted to do.  The day that I went diving, we met Dennis.  He and his wife Debi stay at Harbor Cay Club every winter. He offered to drive me to the dive boat instead of me walking and carrying all of my dive gear.  I gladly accepted.  Beats dragging around a heavy bag a couple of blocks.

A few days later our families were talking about what and where we were going next.  We told them that we wanted to go to the Bahamas and that we were going to pick up our guest (Pat) somewhere near Miami around the 1st of March, and pick up Cindy's son Tom, at the airport in Nassau on the 7th of March.  It seems that they had similar plans.  They had to pick up someone from the airport in Miami to help crew the sailboat on the trip to the Bahamas and they also had to pick up someone at the airport in Nassau on the 9th.

We decided that this would be a great opportunity for both of us to travel together.  It is always welcome to have another boat traveling with you as we did with Gemini Dream coming down the Tenn-Tom.  It  would be even more welcome since we would be out in the Atlantic Ocean and in a foreign country.  Both Dennis and Debi had been to the Bahamas before and we could gain from their experience.  And maybe I could contribute something along the way with my limited knowledge.

We left Marathon on the 19th of February.  Dennis and Debi in "True North"  were going to leave a few days later.  Their boat  is a 42 ft Island Packet Sailboat and has made the trip before.  D & D  live in South Dakota but the boat stays in Florida while they are home.

Before we left we made arrangements with our "ride-along" Pat, to meet us in Key Largo instead of Miami.  That way we could SCUBA dive at John Pennekamp state park in Key Largo.  They have a bronze statue of Jesus under 15 to 20 feet of water on a coral reef a few miles off the coast.  Since Pat and I both have our own dive gear we could dive off the back of our boat instead of hiring a dive boat.  That also would make our trip to Miami a little less complicated if we didn't need to be there at a certain day or time to meet someone.  Schedules are a hard thing to keep as we would find out.

Our first stop was an anchorage a few miles toward Key Largo called Matecumbe Bight on the island of Islamorada.  We traveled on the Gulf side in the ICW to get there and only went about 25 miles and took our time.  We arrived around 4:00 in the afternoon and dropped anchor in a quiet lagoon close to shore.

We took a dingy ride to "Robbies" through the mangroves where we got swamped by an inconsiderate boater.  Florida has several boaters who need to a attend a Safe Boating Class!!

At "Robbies" the tarpon are feed by hand from the waiting customers.  This activity is listed in the "101 Things to do in the Keys" book.  (Done!)

These two feathered friends were waiting... Either for a wave runner ride or food scraps. It is a 3 seater, only need a driver.

Will not find this back home, fresh fish taco.  Flour tortilla, shredded cabbage, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and fresh catch of the day fish (grouper).  Not too shabby.

Returning to boat with our running lights on.  Always exercising boating safety!

In the morning we left for John Pennekamp State Park.  Pennekamp State Park is on the Atlantic side of the Keys, which means we needed to cut through the Keys somewhere to get from the Gulf side to the Atlantic side.  There are few places to make the transition from one side to the other that are deep enough.  A sailboat has  to worry about water depth as well as the height of the mast going under bridges.  We only need about 4 feet of depth and at that its still scary.  We can get under a 18' bridge where sailboats have masts that are 40' and over.  Mostly over!!  We continued on the inside as far as we could (smoother water) until we found the last one of those that we could cross over to the Hawk Channel on the Atlantic side.

It was an eeri morning.  The sky and water blended together.  The air was dead.  The water was flat, which is normally a good thing.  The engines were engaged but could not get the sense of movement.  It seamed as though we were going to pass into some sort of nebula or warp into another sea galaxy.

We made it to Pennekamp State Park without any disturbances in bright sunshine.

One of the white sand beaches at the camp.

A desalination well by the camp grounds, 8" diameter 1333 ft deep.

We watched an informative tutorial about the aquatic life and flora and fauna of the region.  The aquarium showed  the local fish in the reef areas.  This parrotfish was as interested in us as we were about her.

Pats parents brought her down to the park from Sarasota.  I had baked a Key lime meringue  pie to mark the occasion. 

Pat's parents had taken us to dinner on a lovely full moon evening.  Thank you for the good fresh fish meal.

We signed up for the glass bottom boat reef tour.  Larry wanted to get a feel for the area in preparation to head out to the "Christ of the Abyss" reef site with our boat. We had not moored out at sea by a reef so hopefully this would help.

Reefs are marked with lighted towers. The glass bottom boat just drifts around the reef  for viewers to see the wonders below.  Fan, brain, star corals along with many other types are colorful.  Bright blue, yellow and  other tang fish are easily spotted.  Troops of sergeant major fish monitor the ocean floor.  There is another world below to marvel without getting wet, in a glass bottom boat.

A quick bite to eat after our reef tour.  You have to be quick, or these Ibis WILL take the food right off the table.  See, they drink from were ever they want, too.

Pat and I beach combing.

We both found Hamburger beans and heart beans.

At the dock we were informed to watch for the manatees.  Well, they found us!  They are looking for a fresh water drink by hose.  Which is a no no. They are mammals, so here is nostrils open...to breathe air and

nostrils closed... below water.  See the peach fuzz.  She was begging for some water.

Manatees are related to elephants.  If you look close, on the top side of the flipper, are whitish toenails. Similar to that of an elephant.

We stayed at Pennekamp 6 days.  Pat and I managed to get in a dive at the "Christ of the Abyss".  The water was kind of murky but we found it.  I took some videos with an underwater camera that didn't turn out too bad, but I haven't figured out yet how to edit them and post them.  Maybe later when I have more time.

Past "crash corner" is the channel  referred to as the "bowling alley." A straight shot with day markers on both sides going out to the Atlantic.

Mooring ball #4 is the best place to hook up.  Larry and Pat suited up and went down.  I guarded the boat.

Another first.  Dive flag flown from our boat.

Notice the color of the water.  Larry and Pat had a good dive.  It was a bit of an effort to get their gear back on board.
Cindy's Observations:  I suited up and snorkeled until... I SAW JESUS... but I don't know if he can save me.

Reef fish

Sunset Key Largo

We left Pennekamp on the 26th of Feb and headed for Miami.  The first day we stopped early at a National Park called Boca Chita and tied up to a wall in  their harbor.  I wanted to find a Ranger Station and get my free National Park access card (one of the benefits of being a disabled vet).  I had tried at the Dry Tortugas, but they didn't have a Ranger Station there with passes.  The same thing at Boca Chita!  No Ranger and payment was on the honor system, so I paid and still no card.  Maybe I should have bought the Senior card when we were in Chattanooga at the National Park there!!

Boca Chita entrance

Tied to wall

Honeywell's private Island

Coconut palms 

Sunset

Sunrise

Larry cracking his nut

One coconut in the shell.  One half husked. One husked showing monkey face.  The monkeys mouth has a plug.  When punctured, the water pours out.  A full days requirements of vitamins and minerals are contained   in the water of one coconut.

Gulls

The park rangers gave us entrance to the lighthouse

View from the top of lighthouse looking towards Sands and Elliot keys

We arrived in Miami at Dinner Key Marina and hooked up to a mooring ball.  True North had arrived the day before at the Yacht Club next door and were waiting to pick up their additional crew member from the airport.

Miami skyline

Dinner Key mooring field with Coconut Grove skyline in rear

Double decker tour bus, Larry and Horace from "True North"

We thought it would be an easy way to learn about Miami and take in the surrounding communities.  Taking pictures on an open moving bus was a challenge.

Historic hotel in Coral Gables

Square at hotel

Coral Cables, exclusive living in old Miami

Little Havana district

Miami's first skyscraper

Star Island, very exclusive.  

Colony Hotel used in several movie scenes, Miami Beach

Miami Beach beach

Life guard shack

Entrance to beach on board walk

Elephants on horizon, rough waves

Signs posting rules and regulations along walk

Dennis, Horace, Larry and Pat

Only Burger King that delivers, Miami

Everybody is present and ready for the trip and the weather was as good as it was going to get for a while, so on March 4th, we pulled out of the mooring field, emptied the holding tank, filled with water and fuel and headed a few miles across Biscayne Bay to "No Name Harbor".  Most people stop there and spend the night to jump off early to cross the Gulf Stream for Bimini.

Cindy's Observations:  All laundry had been done and the pantry was fully stocked.  The freezer was filled to maximum capacity and beverages were stowed in some creative spaces.  Chips and crackers had been vacuumed packed for extra measures.  Planning and preparation are key for having a successful visit. Thank you Debbie "True North" for the pointers.

Several boats were already set for the evening.  We dingeyed ashore and walked the trail.

True North anchored beside us

Larry and Pat with Horace seated on bench

Little Lucy, from True North gets her walk too

The shore line on No Name Harbor, Biscayne Bay

Our day was coming to an end.  The sun  was setting as our excitement was building for our next days journey to the Bahamas.  With True North as our planned lead boat we should have an enjoyable crossing.