The winds finally settled enough on
Monday for us to get ashore. We took Maddie with us, since she
really needed to get some exercise as much as we did. We left the
boat in the morning and stopped at several places while we looked for
the local Post Office. These days it appears to be increasingly
difficult to find even a mailbox to send an old-fashioned letter. By
the time we'd walked perhaps a mile and a half to get to the Post
Office, we were hungry and happened onto a French bakery/restaurant
and enjoyed the best mushroom quiche followed by a great
strawberry/banana/chocolate crepe. What a treat! Then it was back
to the boat after a bit more walking. Maddie was exhausted and
immediately took a nap. We got reorganized before heading out on our
own for another couple of stops which included getting some really
fresh fish at a local market.
Upon returning and checking the weather
for the next several days, we determined that we'd leave tomorrow
(Tuesday). Our original plan called for staying a few more days, but
the forecast suggested that we'd have to leave tomorrow or wait till
next Monday. We kept an eye on the weather forecasts for any
changes. It was supposed to offer light winds and flat seas for the
next two days. Sounded appealing after our bumpy ride leaving
Marathon with Maddie getting seasick.
But we awoke this morning with the boat
rocking and the wind blowing. The forecast called for the winds to
die down by early afternoon, but we'd heard that line before many
times when nothing changed. We weren't sure what to do. We debated a
bit before deciding to take the chance and leave with the rising tide
at about 11 AM. That timing would get us back out through the two
shallow channels without running aground.
We gave Maddie part of a Bonine to
help with her seasickness issues and pulled up the anchor as the wind
continued to blow. By the time we got out of Florida Bay and into
Hawk Channel where the winds would cause more of a problem, they had
settled some and continued to do so. It was amazing that the
forecast actually turned out to be accurate when we needed it to be.
We don't usually get that lucky. Maddie was fine, and we enjoyed a
sail up the Channel to our anchorage off Key Largo. What a beautiful
afternoon. The water was clear, and Sandra even saw a sea turtle
swimming under the boat. I saw a dolphin dive under the boat as
well. We got to our anchorage in time for a swim before supper. I
managed to use the time to clean the boat bottom some more. It's
getting better but not done yet.
While we sat in the cockpit with
dinner, I saw a manta ray leap up about 3 feet out of the water. So
between the dolphin, the sea turtle and the ray, it appeared as
though some of the local residents were bidding us good-by for
another year. We'll miss them and the clear, warm water we've
enjoyed this year.
And can you believe it...we missed
watching the sunset! We'll try again tomorrow evening.
The forecast for tomorrow still looks
good, Who knows, perhaps we'll have two days in a row with an
accurate forecast. We'll keep our fingers crossed. We'll head out
regardless, since the wind will pick up tomorrow night. This
anchorage works for tonight, but as the wind changes tomorrow
evening, it will be no longer pleasant. So we'll hope for another
pleasant sail tomorrow. We're headed up to Key Biscayne just south
of Miami – back to what some might call civilization. But that's a
subject for another blog.
Till the next addition...
Captain Bob
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