Jan 13- Jan 20 Marathon Harbour Cay Club to Boot Key Harbor

Tues Jan 13-
We rode our bikes out on the old 7 Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key.

Saw some rays and a shark swimming. Took a tour of The Turtle Hospital here in Marathon.  They rescue turtles hit by propellers, entangled in net, line, plastic. Even have an ambulance for pick up.  They then try to rehab the turtles and release.  They do surgery, give blood transfusions, etc.

Have seen lots of iguanas here.

We met a couple from England out walking about that we had previously met in Vero Beach. Met them for dinner and they brought along their Scottish friends.  These people have been cruising over a year, enroute from Thailand to New Zealand! Fascinating!

Wed 1/14-
Had some luck fishing today!  Caught 2 mangrove snappers using live shrimp right off our dock!  We grilled them for dinner!

Thurs 1/15- Mon 1/19-
We are still here at Harbour Cay Club.  We have walked the 7 Mile Bridge. We had our bikes tuned up at a local shop. They have been getting a lot of use and the brakes were a bit worn. Our marina hosted a fish fry as someone had caught A LOT of fish (30 three pound spanish mackerel).  Went to the movies and saw Unbroken. Did more boat jobs. Carol tried lobstering.  She took her net and tickler in at the rock piles here at the marina. Actually got 2 in the net, but both escaped!  They scared her as she didn't realize they would go berserk in the net and then were such fast swimmers!
Bob loves craft beers and so we had an early happy hour one day to try out some great beers.
Castaways over a flight of 5 seven ounce beers for $10!  What a deal:

Rogue Dead Guy, Kronenberg 1640, Old Oak Milk Stout, Optimator and  Green Flash IPA

Tues 1/20
We have been on a waiting list at Boot Key Harbor, The Marathon City Marina.  Heard this morning they have a mooring ball for us.   We motored over and are now at Mooring S6.  This is a huge very protected harbor with 227 mooring balls.  The office even has work stations inside a gymnasium type building with all kinds of tools and even a sewing machine. Very friendly fellow boaters.

On a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor

Boot Key has a great cruisers net on VHF ch 68 everyday at 9am.  Cruisers announce upcoming plans, sell stuff and ask for assistance.  Wonderful community spirit.  Now living on a mooring we need to use our dinghy to get to shore or another boat.