11/30-12/20 Life on the hook in Marathon

Nov 30- Dec 20

We have been in Marathon for 3 weeks now.
Marathon is about 2/3 of the way south in the Florida Keys island chain.
We are on a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor, along with about 300 other boats. Sitting on our boat we have watched dolphins fish, and seen manatees, eagle rays, and turtles swim by.

Pepromenon at mooring

Lots of friendly cruisers here and lots to do. This is a municipal marina and the facilities are a lot like camping!

Lobby area has computer tables, lending library and TV lounge

Laundry room always busy.  We head in at 7am on laundry days

Luxurious bathrooms-haha!

Dinghy parking lot for going ashore

The pump out boat comes by weekly to pump out the holding tank- very convenient!

We have taken the bus down to Key West.

Trying a sampler at the new brewery in Key West

Selfie at Mile Marker 0

We have tried lobstering. Need some bigger ones to be legal and keep!

We have taken the boat out to Sombrero Lighthouse and snorkeled on the reef and cleaned the bottom of the boat. The reef was surprisingly alive. Bob even scared up a nurse shark.

Our bikes are handy transportation to the grocery store and exploring the island. Fresh fish is abundant down here and we have tried several local restaurants. There are even a few we can take the dinghy to.

Christmas tree made from lobster pots

 We watched the annual Christmas boat parade.

And Santa visited the local bar at Happy Hour!

Fellow cruisers organized a potluck brunch and it was delicious. Carol even made a coffee cake in our oven.

Brunch at the marina tiki hut.

11/28-11/29 Miami to Marathon, Florida Keys

Nov 28-
We said goodbye to Miami!

With wind from the northeast, we put up the jib and flew down Biscayne Bay, through Card Sound, Barnes Sounds, Tarpon Basin, Buttonwood Bay and anchored in Cowpen Cut for the night.  This was just off Tavernier.
We trolled a fishing line with a lure behind us- but nothing… as usual!
We were all alone at anchor and watched a spectacular sun set into the water.

Once again, we missed the "green flash" people claim they see down here. We attributed this to not having another cocktail! Maybe tomorrow!

Nov 29-
Still windy and wavy from the north, so we pushed to make it to Marathon in 2 days. Used the jib again.  Out in Florida Bay, we were alone except for an occasional fishing boat.  It was shallow- 6-9 feet is the norm.  We draw 4 foot, and saw as low as 4'6".
We picked up a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon on Vaca Key and plan to stay here about 6 weeks.  This was a favorite spot last year. There are about 300 live aboard boats in this natural protected harbor and lots going on.
Views of Boot Key Harbor mooring field