Log 86; Day 236; Jan. 12, 2009; Key West

This is a shot of our new home for the next 5 weeks...the A&B Marina in Key West

This is where we'll keep the dinghy for the time we're here, because we had to back into our slip and so we had to take the dingy off.

On our lunch trip on Sunday I ran in some shallow water and got some sand in the water intake, so I am trying to get it out with a piece of wire...it worked and we were on our way in no time.


Notice how calm the water is...awesome ride to lunch

Here is Hurrican Hole...our lunch spot.

Just across the lagoon from our boat is an outside bar called Schooner Warf and they have live music every day.

Log 86
Day 236
Monday, January 12, 2009

6:30 AM EST
Location: A&B Marina, Key West, FL
Weather: 71* with calm winds

Side note...for the last 3 days I have been trying to get a log completed and sent out. Each time I try, I seem to find something that takes me away...like...walking the docks; going to eat breakfast; fishing; or some other activity that is more fun. Sorry for the lack of communication.

Well...after 234 days (since leaving Holland, MI), and 3,410 miles later we have reached Key West...the southern most point on our journey. It is just awesome to be here...something we have planned for, and dreamed about, for several years.

Getting here...the 91 mile run from Marco Island to Key West was not the best time. Nothing major happened, but the waves forecast was much rougher than predicted, and they were hitting the boat directly on our port bow, which meant we would fall sideways into the next wave as the last one went by. I had been watching the forecast for several days, and to put it simply...the winds did not die down as much as forecast, so the Gulf was much rougher than planned. I was fairly certain it would be “ok”...and it was...just not much fun. Three boats came in just before us (from Fort Myers) and they were all complaining about how rough it was. Deb and I talked about waiting one more day in Marco, and then coming down, but I was anxious to get here, so we headed out. As it turned out, it would have been almost flat calm if we waited one more day, and came in on Sunday instead of Saturday. Oh well...the only real causality was the helm TV fell and broke, so we need to find a new one. If you think about all the things that could go wrong...replacing the TV is at the top of the list of things you’d like to repair.

Once arriving at Key West we had to do a very thorough cleaning of the boat to get the salt off (some of which had hit the hard top). It was hot out, so the water spray felt good. After a complete wash, and complete wipe down, we were ready for dinner...and Deb was ready for a Cosmo. Both of these we took care, when we took a very short walk to a nice open air restaurant (within 5 minutes of our boat there are at least 15 places to eat). Back at the boat we were both very tired and did not last long...we missed the first sunset at Key West...but there will be others.

Sunday...in the early morning we got our bearings in our new surroundings. On these docks there are no side walkways (to walk along the side of your boat), so everyone must “stern in”. That is a problem for us because the dinghy sits behind our boat on the freedom lift, so when we got here we had to take off the dinghy and the freedom lift arms to be able to back the boat right against the dock. A pain...because we had to find a spot to park the dinghy, and also, it meant the dingy would sit in the water the entire time we are here. I found a spot, and after cleaning everything up Deb and I decided to head out for a long ride and find some lunch. We ended up at a place called Hurricane Hole...a perfect spot for a boater. You have to take the boat down this narrow waterway...and then through a mangrove channel to get there. The dinghy ride was awesome...the food was ok...but the beer was cold. Later in the afternoon we were back at the boat watching the football games, and we ate dinner on the boat. It got to 83 today.

Monday (80 and sunny)...up early, tried again to do the log, but decided to walk the docks and look for a spot for breakfast. Ended up a Turtle Krawl, a place I have been several times for good lunches. Breakfast...no so much. Oh well...the dock walk was great, talking to the commercial fisherman getting tips about how to fish got me excited so I came back to the boat and (after a trip to West Marine and the local fishing tackle store to get the best gear) I loaded up the dinghy and went fishing. I fished from about 10:30 to 1 with no luck, so decided to take the dinghy for a trip around some of the islands. I love doing that. Back at the boat about 2, Deb had left a note saying she was “exploring” so I called her and we met for a beer at Schooner Wharf Bar...right on the water, with a great guitar player singing all the songs you like. Just like you imagine when you think of a lazy afternoon in the keys. Back at the boat, we had a relaxing end to the afternoon, and dinner on the boat, while we watched the first episode of 24, which we had recorded earlier.

Today (Tuesday)...started this log early this morning, but stopped, as I was again lured into walking the dock and finding a new spot for breakfast. This time I got some local input from my new fishing buddies on the dock, and walked to Harry’s...great little spot where the locals go. After breakfast I stopped at a Marine/hardware store and ended up buying a fishing book that tells me exactly how, and where, to catch fish on the flats. Can’t wait to read it, and then go catch fish. Back at the boat at 9, it looks like another great weather day today, but late in the day it will start to get windy, as the cold front makes it way here. It is supposed to be 77 today, and then 68 for the next couple of days with fairly strong winds from the north. If it stays that way tomorrow I think we’ll take a taxi to K-mart (the only real big store on the island) and get a new helm TV to replace the broken one.

Well it’s time to go wipe the boat down, and also wipe down the dinghy. Not exactly sure what today will bring, but I’ll bet it will be fun.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob