Our "Winter" Home

Well, we made it back to Marathon to begin our fifth season here. I could have said fifth winter, but given the weather conditions, that description just doesn't fit. Our last two days of travel down from Key Biscayne were pretty uneventful. We had some bouncy conditions until we got down Hawk Channel far enough to get some protection from the reef. On our second day of travel in the Keys, we arrived in Boot Key Harbor by mid afternoon. We even managed to get the same mooring ball we had last year. We like this spot, since it's out on the edge of the mooring field and provides great views of sunset, the mangroves and incoming boats. It also provided us with front row seats for the annual Christmas boat parade.

It took no time at all to be reminded why we come here. But on our trip down, it seemed that everyone was headed for the Bahamas. At times I even wondered if we were headed to the right place. After all, these people can't all be wrong. But now that we're here, the reasoning all comes back. Some might say that the attraction of the Bahamas is that it's a different country. Well the Keys is practically a foreign country. Some say it is – the Conch Republic. Leaving Miami, one can see such a dramatic change in the scenery and culture that it might as well be. But the cell phones still work. Many still speak English (in fact more than in Miami) and our money works here. (Some might be quick to remind me that more people speak English in the Bahamas than in the Keys.)

It didn't take us long to get in to the swing of life here. Our bikes are ashore, and we've rearranged the boat for the non-travel life for a bit. We've already been to the Saturday farm stand for some great fresh veggies and tropical fruit. We've also already gotten over to Keys Fisheries for a lobster reuben. Life is good.

Sargent Majors by our dinghy at the reef

We've attended a couple of Tai Chi classes so far. Since we haven't done anything with Tai Chi since April, it will take a little practice to get back to where we left off. We've also gone out to Sombrero Reef for a bit of snorkeling as well. The water was clear and the fish were plentiful, so we enjoyed our visit.

One of the advantages of spending a season down here is that we're joined by cruisers from all over. Some are full time cruisers like us while others enjoy a few months on their boat before heading back up north when the weather moderates to a home on dry land. One couple we met were from Alberta, Canada. They drove down to their boat in Florida after shoveling snow three times up there this fall. They knew it was time to head south. Another couple nearby just sold their house and moved aboard in July up in Deltaville, VA. They noticed the VA home port on our boat and came over to say “Hi.” Yet a third couple we met already knew our names. It seems that we have mutual cruising friends on Tarwathie currently up in New Bern, NC. We had tried to meet up with them last year, but we just didn't find each other. This year we're parked right next to each other. This reminds us of one of the benefits of cruising. It's such a fluid community, that neighbors in one spot may just end up being neighbors later in the same or another location. One just never knows where you'll bump into them again.

Sunset at the entrance to Boot Key Harbor - photo taken while at
 dinner at an outdoor restaurant

As I complete this latest addition to the blog, we have already flown north to VA to enjoy Christmas with Jenn and Gregg before heading still farther north to spend another Christmas with Sam, Jeremy and family plus visit Sandra's brother Scott and sister Paula. We spent enough time in the Keys to know why we choose to go there each winter, but we also are fortunate to be able to fly north to spend this important time with family. So we'll get a bit of real winter weather – plenty as far as we're concerned – and then head back to where the water is turquoise and the palm trees sway. More to come following our return in January.

Till then... Carpe Diem

Captain Bob