Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

Crandon Park Marina, Key Biscayne, Florida:  March 31, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Crandon+Park+Marina/@25.7242571,-80.1578257,672m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88d9b58c7ad31201:0x7c5fc5cdf003cf50!8m2!3d25.7242571!4d-80.155637

Sailing up Biscayne Bay at 6.8 knots with Sue at the helm.

We spotted Fiddler's Green to Starboard.

The view from the deck of Carol and George's condo in Key Biscayne.

Marc-  We awoke to another day of 93 % humidity.  This was quite unpleasant even if the temperature was only 77 degrees at 07:00.  Michael raised his anchor and then came over to raft up for coffee and breakfast.  Michael soon had good news on our search for a safe place to hole up for the cold front coming through this weekend:  The Crandon Park Marina.  We split the raft and I pulled up the anchor with Sue at the helm.  Soon Sue was at the helm as I unfurled the genoa.  Our speed increased to 6.6 knots and rose to 6.8 knots at one point with a Southeast wind of 15-20 knots.  It took us four hours to arrive at Key Biscayne.  The waters of Biscayne Bay were beautiful in visibility and color.  The many shades of blue here are incredible.  At one point I saw a large sea turtle as we crossed its intended path.  The turtle simply dove deeper.  Boat traffic here was greater and different than in the Keys.  We encountered several go fast boats.  Two of those boats were of the "cigarette" design.  A third boat was a very fast catamaran that seemed to barely touch the water surface.  

In the late afternoon we joined with Michael to go out for a light dinner and to go to the local Winn Dixie supermarket.  Although we started out on foot we decided to wait for the bus when we encountered the first bus stop.  We boarded the bus and after a few minutes Michael realized that he was sitting next to George, his brother John's brother-in-law, surprise is an understatement of the reaction.  George invited us all to his home after checking with Carol.  Their condominium is very nice and the view from their unit in the upper floors of the building is astounding.   On the sizable balcony you look out over Crandon Beach, the ships coming and going from Government Cut into Miami Harbor and the Atlantic.   

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

Pumpkin Key North anchorage, Card Sound, Florida: March 30, 2021

25.3291755374786, -80.28649622137789  








Marc-  We anchored just North of Pumpkin Key and South of the Angelfish Creek passage from Card Sound to Hawk Channel and the Atlantic Ocean.  There are several other boats anchored nearby and the passing fishing boats ended at about sunset.  Another hot and humid day here but we are cooling off with the new air conditioning.  We enjoyed walking around the parks in Islamorada near our marina and checked out at about 11:00 to get a favorable tide.  The waters we passed through were incredibly beautiful and all shades of blue and green.  The photos never show everything.  No mishaps along the way back towards Miami and the mainland.  The boat behaved well until we did a test at dinner time.  The engine failed to start when it was hot.  It did start about an hour later.

Sue did an excellent job at the helm once we put the genoa out.  We took the lead for the last few bays ahead of Fiddler's Green.  Sue dropped the anchor and it set perfectly the first time.  Great sunset.   (Photos to follow).

Monday, March 29, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

Photo taken by our friend Phred Borrello.



Rafted together for repairs.

The old and the new markers.

There is an old piling there somewhere.

Arrived at Islamorada.


Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina (Village of Islamorada marina), Islamorada, Florida:  March 29, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/24.965585847186283, -80.56855318962702


Sailing again.

Marc -  We lost our air conditioning at 04:30 when the generator ran out of fuel.  Not so hard to take as it had cooled down to 77 degrees overnight.  I refueled the generator in the morning and then had breakfast with Sue.  Michael came over with Fiddler's Green and rafted up with us.  I spent some time installing a new impeller in the overheating generator aboard Fiddler's Green.  Michael somehow slept in the heat of the night last night.  We thought all was well but Michael later reported that the generator shut off due to overheating again about an hour into the trip.  We passed through some really shallow water today and passed by several narrow cuts.  The water is so clear that you think you are in 1 foot of water but are actually in six.  Our lowest reading was 5.5 feet (adjusted for transducer placement).  This was a short trip today to a welcoming port with a nice municipal marina and park.  Sue and I were able to play some more tennis.  Hopefully we will be able to swim in the Olympic size swimming pool tomorrow.



Sunday, March 28, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

 Indian Key State Park, Shell Key mooring field.  Florida:  March 28, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.9279356,-80.6690107,18z


Marc-   At 08:30 we said good bye to our dockmates / Marathon friends, slipped our lines and off we went out of Boot Key Harbor.  We have really grown to appreciate our boat neighbors at Sombrero Marina as well as the friendly people of Marathon.  We motorsailed West to pass through the 65 foot section of the 7 mile Bridge at Moser Channel before turning East to head up Florida Bay towards Miami.  We met up with Michael aboard Fiddler's Green two hours after our initial departure.  We then headed East together with Fiddler's Green at the advance party scouting out the deepest water ahead.  It was an excellent day ending with picking up free moorings courtesy of Indian Key State Park.  Sue and I were really excited that our new air conditioner is able to operate off of our generator.  



A derelict bridge holding up a derelict boat.
( old Boot Key bridge)



Through the 7 mile Bridge.





reefs to port

reefs to starboard

Sue scouting out the waters from the foredeck.

We were treated by Michael to a visit to the Bayside Marina, the Worldwide Sportsman Store, and a beer from the local brewery.  
Bayside Marina boater.

A visitor to the brewery.

A really good beer.

A pelican pondering his reflection.

Worldwide Sportman's replica of Hemingway's fishing boat, Pilar.

Every day we plan our next day of travel.




Saturday, March 27, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

     Sombrero Marina, Marathon, Florida:  March 27, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.6982386,-81.0849577,15z

Bougainvillea

Marc-  We are still doing our final preparations prior to departure tomorrow morning.  We also went over to visit Michael to better plan our route North.  Unfortunately every marina slip seems to be booked due to Easter and Passover this week along with it being the  school vacation week in Florida.  And rental car prices have skyrocketed from a normal of $70 per day up to $700 per day.  This is affecting how we plan to get our second Covid-19 shots in the Miami area.

Sue took this video of tarpon fish circling about on the surface just off the bow of Fiddler's Green this morning.  The fish were 12 plus inches long. My guess is that they were feeding on the tiny minnows that usually inhabit the marina.

https://youtu.be/hu8CFf9KOhY

Friday, March 26, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

    Sombrero Marina, Marathon, Florida:  March 26, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.6982386,-81.0849577,15z

A celebration of color with flowers bursting out from the tips of branches on a rather large tree.

Marc-  We returned to Sombrero Beach for our last walk and found it full of sea grass from the recent high Southeast winds. More flowers are blooming than ever.




Most of this day was spent doing last minute preparation for our trip North. I even raised the spinnaker and organized the tangled web of sheets and control lines.  Fiddler's Green will be traveling along with us again.  Finally we went to an outside restaurant/bar for stone crabs with our marina neighbors, Laura & Sam, who were so welcoming to us when we arrived in Marathon, and have helped us throughout our stay.  

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

      Sombrero Marina, Marathon, Florida:  March 25, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.6982386,-81.0849577,15z

Fiddler's Green is back in her element.

Marc-   Today we helped Michael get Fiddler's Green back in the water and get her ready for the journey North beginning on the 28th.  All went well with the launching and the prep work.  We all went to the Publix Supermarket to get needed food on board.

This is one jumbo fork lift transporting Fiddler's Green at the repair yard.

Michael and I passed just astern of Lucy III on our way to lunch at Dockside.

The most scenic part of the trip was coming into Boot Key Harbor from the back entrance through Sister's Creek.  See YouTube video:  

Marathon Sunset









Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Part III - returning North)

     Sombrero Marina, Marathon, Florida:  March 24, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.6982386,-81.0849577,15z 

Flowers near Sombrero Beach seen on our morning walk.


Marc-  We were able to do a walk by the beach before spending most of the day going up to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up Michael.  All went well and we even had time to stop for a meal at Cracker Barrel and dessert at Dairy Queen.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Part III - returning North)

    Sombrero Marina, Marathon, Florida:  March 23, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/@24.6982386,-81.0849577,15z 

Sargent major and yellow fin fish at Looe Reef today.

Marc-  Today was a big adventure day for us.  We went down to Bahia Honda Key State Park and took the snorkel tour boat. (Thank you Mindy Donnelly for suggesting this trip.) We could have taken our boat down to the reef but this was much easier.  The captain picked the best area on the reef and found a mooring.  Both the reef and the fish were fantastic.  It helped that the day was calm and we were on it at 14:00 in full sunshine with warm water.  I do not tire of seeing all of the colorful tropical fish here.  The reef was better than what we had seen on St. John in the USVI last year. Video links will follow:

While waiting for the  tour boat we walked around the State Park finding some nice views.  We even saw a E-Pro trailer identical to ours sitting in Vermont.

A beach at Bahia Honda

This ground cover is edible.
We spotted this trailer while visiting the campground.
Looks just like our trailer.
A flower blooms at Bahia Honda

When we returned to Marathon we enjoyed dinner and then took an evening walk.  We paid attention to two trees at the golf course.

Not sure of this tree but it has quite the bloom on top (20 feet above ground).

A Gumbo Limbo tree native to South Florida with its showy red bark.