Steve & Evie, dock mates from Katlynn Marine where we keep our boat in the summer, visited us for a few days but the wind was a bit strong for a sail. We visited the Seven Mile Bridge on our way to Bahia Honda State Park by car. The sun was warm but the water was still too cold for swimming.....what a strange Florida Key winter!
This bike rack attests to the importance of boat bikes when you cruise. Most boat bikes fold so they can be stored in the boat and away from the salt water. Like the dinghy, the boat bike is essential to cruising. They provide easy transportation to stores, beaches, churches, and historical sights. Most of them have baskets or crates that can carry not only groceries back to the waiting dinghy but also gasoline and diesel. We keep ours locked at all times. What would we do without them?
Hey, the day that Don & Stella had to leave the weather was sunny and quite warm. Somrero Beach really is beautiful with lots of sandy beach, tiki huts, and bath houses.
All of our boat neighbors were there taking advantage of the rare warmth.
We sailed to Bahia Honda on a day that the weather forecaster said would be sunny with 10-12 knot winds. I don't know how paid professionals can be wrong so much of the time...... By the time we reached the park, the winds were blowing 17-18 knots and the clouds were rolling in. Don & Stella had never been to the park and there really is lots to see. FIU turned back to Boot Key and we anchored in Bahia Honda. As Walt was backing on the anchor the prop stopped turning. Guess what had to be cut off...under water....a huge mass of old crab pot lines. It was Walt's first time snorkeling all winter.
We all stopped at the Hog's Breath for dinner. They have a live web cam so you can call your friends and they can see you having a great time.
There is a great hammock store on Duval Street and Don is checking out a nice hammock swing for Passages. I'm intrigued by all of the geckos on this wall.
Don and Stella flew from New York to share time with us here in Marathon. YEAH! We took the Keys Shuttle to Key West and enjoyed touring the city. We visited the Sea Tac
Museum and then posed next to this Coast Guard Ship before going to Duval Street and then Mallory Square.
Walt, Larry, and Sid are acting crazy at wing night at Hurricane's this week. The wings were really HOT!
Today we biked to Pigeon Key near the Seven Mile Bridge with Sid & Bonnie. There is an old bridge adjacent to the Seven Mile Bridge and it's open to bikers, joggers, and walkers. From there you can walk the old wooden bridge to the 4-acre island of Pigeon Key. At one time Flagler had 400 men housed here in 4 barracks to work on his railroad. Many of the men came from New York to work for $1.50 a day meals and housing included.
