We sailed down to the Florida Keys, what a good time. The water was supper nice., One could see the big fish in the water it was so clear! Key West is one big party tow for sure.
We checked out the whole place, watched the sailboat races for a while.
Of course we had to go to Jimmy Buffett’s Margheritaville and have one 🙂
We returned to the boat and hung out for the next five days or so going to the beach and checking out he sites. It was time to provision again. I said we could do with out some things until we get back to the mainland, a box of Ritz crackers for five bucks. I’ll pass.
We began to talk about what to do next… I wasn’t tired an Trina was so she hit the sack, I stayed up and charted the difference between going back the same way ( boring) or Circumnavigating the Keys and crossing the gulf to Fort Myers to the St. Lucie River and across the Okeechobee lake back to the East coast.
My first thought was this would be new and Adventurous! It has been the crossing was a bit rough, scary and fun all at the same time. Any time you make a crossing overnight an have to stay up for what seem a lifetime is dangerous but is a rush all at the same time, Especially when you have never been there.
My second thought when we arrived at our first anchorage entrance in the early morning hours was… Holy crap it’s dark and we are going up a river in the Everglades, what the hell was I thinking! The current was so strong it pulled the boat up into the river at six to seven knots at idle speed. Trina to.d me to back it down, I replied I can’t the current has grabbed the boat.
Using what we have learned while cruising and how to read the water, the charts as a guide we charged up the river full speed ahead found the spot we wanted and dropped anchor.
We were so tiered, we slept in the next day and just appreciated where we were and all the Magnificent wildlife around us. Trina said I should go swimming, I told her… You know they have Crocodiles in this water? I know she replied with a chuckle then she said just kidding I need my captain…
Everything has gone well and we have made it to Fort Myers, now we will make the journey across to the East Coast. It was a long run but worth the ride, check out this shot of the moon while crossing the Gulf of Mexico.
Have a great Tuesday
Wolfbernz
6 replies on “Circumnavigating the keys and into the Gulf of Mexico”
I have never been to Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville in the Keys but I have been to the Ocho Rios one and thought it was great fun.
That sounds scary to me traveling on water that you are unfamilar with at night. I’d be a wreck in more ways than one. It there a AAA for boats? I don’t even like to drive on unfamilar roads at night and there are marked lanes.
Happy to hear you are having fun. Travel safe
Click
I wouldn’t want to be on a boat at night either (especially in unfamiliar waters) but it’s nice that you were able to take that nice view of the moon and its reflection on the water. That’s cool!!!
Happy Sailing! (Click!)
BTW I don’t have a post this week but I’ll try to join next week!
To answer the question, yes there is a service called tow boat US. They will come and get you up to 150 miles off shore, bring fuel, or tow you into port… The best money ever spent on a boat!
Sound exciting, Wolf. You are in the neighborhood of my brother in law, who lives on the Gulf Coast. Seriously, stay out of the water, no matter what that wife of yours says :). Good luck crossing and …
Clicks,
Bud
I hear you Bud, it’s not gonna happen!
Wolf
The waterway is 154 miles long and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean near Stuart, Florida to the Gulf of Mexico at Fort Myers. It is the only true cross Florida canal and river system that joins the east coast of Florida to the west coast.