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Trip's Log
Date: Jan 5 to Mar 2
Total Distance: 155 nms
Destination: Miami, Key Biscayne, Hurricane Harbor, Boca Chita Key,
Pumpkin Key, Channel Key, Knight Key, Bahia Honda Key, Marathon,
Key West
Route: ICW , Atlantic Ocean
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| Jan 5 Key West beckons. So with a little reluctance, we left Ft
Lauderdale this afternoon after saying goodbye to neighbors Roy and Mary
of Carribean Dreamers. Our friends, relatives and we enjoyed Ft Lauderdale (the
Venice of America) tremendously. The price of our transient slip
was the most expensive so far, but it was worth every penny. We
were docked at Isle of Venice, about a 15 mins walk to the beach, and a
10 mins walk to Las Olas Blvd, a mediterranean-style street lined with
arts and galleries, chic boutiques and restaurants galore. The red
ruby grapefruit tree right in front our slip provided fresh juice in the
morning. The fleamarket, aka Swap Shop, was unforgettable, the
shopping in Miami and Palm Beach outstanding, the boat parade a dream
come true for Sophal. We spent pre-Christmas with the Shings, Christmas with the Rolas at Marco
Island and ushered in the new year at Vero Beach with the Hanshus. |
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Stiltsville
Tarpon
Basin
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Jan 10 After anchoring out for 5 days, we went in
to Crandon Park in Key Biscayne (nice marina and a steal at $20 a nite
for our size boat) to provision. But we ended up doing more than that. We
rented a car, and went shopping - water pump, TV were among the big items. We
even squeezed in a hair cut! We tried Cuban food at La Carreta, a restaurant
recommended by the locals. Again, we were disappointed, and decided that
Cuban food wasn't for us. When we left the next day, we took Government Cut out to the Atlantic side,
passed by intriguing Stiltsville (only 7 of them left) and went around Cape
Florida Light to Hurricane Harbor, a state park with some docking spaces.
It was inundated with boats
and visitors to the park. We left and anchored right outside of
the park, sat back to enjoy the flurry of activities that seem
to be happening - boats towing other boats, seaplane landing, boats
flying by ... At
about 17:00, a small fishing vessel going lightning fast (but of course) slammed
into a sandbar so hard and loud we almost jumped out of our chairs. The
impact probably landed the boat on top of the sandbar. No matter
how hard its captain tried to gas up the engine, the boat refused to
budge. In the end, he gave up and called a tow boat to his rescue. |
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