Our goal today was to get as close to Bay Harbour Lodge, in
Key Largo, as our 4’6” draft would permit. Our children will be arriving here
tomorrow. We managed to anchor out in front of it, though we’re probably a mile off shore; but we’re happy with that, as it’ll allow us to keep an eye on the boat
even when we’re at the kid’s cottage.
It’s very shallow on the west side of the keys.... I swear it's all under 10' ... I was happy to see 7'. I felt that
we were always on ‘high alert,’ watching our course and ensuring we weren’t
drifting off it, watching the buoys, watching the depth sounder, watching for
crab pots (yes, they are still around!), and watching for other boats. We
managed to keep water under us all day, and it truly felt like an accomplishment. Again, we had a day of pure sailing,
with the exception of motoring to leave and enter our anchorages. It took longer than usual today to both up
anchor, and drop anchor. Getting it up this morning was effortful. It was
really hooked on something. We had to use the engine to pull it this way and
that way before it finally broke loose. Then, in Key Largo, the bottom is very
soft and grassy in spots. Anchoring in sea grass brings you a hefty fine, so
that has to be avoided. It took a couple of attempts for us to hook ourselves
in the soft sandy bottom. We’re where we want to be though, and ready to rendezvous
with the kids who’ll be arriving tomorrow.
The kids asked us if there was anything we wanted them to bring down from home. Initially, we couldn't think of anything. Over a few days though, a list grew. You know you're cruisers when this is what we asked for: tinted plexiglass cut to fit our companionway door, spare wind vane, riser arms for our davit system, a part for the head (boat's toilet), hitch, trailer license plate, receipt for Tohatsu outboard, ropes, and wet/dry bags. We'll have more packed in the car than they will!
Gilbert's Resort/Marina/Restaurant/Bar
(I always said he was a jack of all trades)
There's a lot of fun happening in Key Largo: parasailing, wake boarding, even sailing!
Today's sunset
How easy it is to get sucked into adding more to your boat systems because you see it happening around you & delaying because there is just one more thing to get/install/prepare.Enjoy Christmas with your family & then take the next weather window & sail away.With the crap winter weather we are having here there will be lots of Northerlies in succession to bar the Gulfstream.Merry Christmas from Gord & I
ReplyDeleteHi...Hope all is well and the kids made it down for Christmas...we did the grand tour and saw all the kids - weather was iffy coming home from London with the ice storm that hit Toronto but all is well...take care Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteGeorgie
Happy New Years....hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteGeorgie