Spent the day at anchor fixing things (or at least trying to) around the boat.
Monday 15th February
Hanging around on the boat for another day.
Tuesday 16th February
Got the autopilot going again, thankfully – just a bad connection.
Wednesday 17th February
Took a trip into South Beach on the dinghy and did a little provisioning at Publix, that Mecca of supermarkets.
Thursday 18th February
Made the decision that since we had possible engine problems maybe we would not go to the Bahamas with Bilbo. Instead we decided to go down to Marathon where we spent six weeks last year where there’s a guy who would clean our fuel for us.
Friday 19th February
Anchor up and on our way past Miami and “Government Cut” where the cruise ships hang out and boats head out to the Bahamas.
Down into Biscayne Bay leaving Miami behind as we headed into the keys just like we did last year.
Our anchorage for the night was in Barnes Sound where the only place we could find was about a mile from shore. But the winds were light and we spent a peaceful night.Saturday 20th February
It’s not that far to our next destination so we have a leisurely weekend breakfast before we head on out now, as much west as south.
The weather is mild and we are entering one of the more attractive parts of the gulf side of the keys. Although the water isn’t the beautiful clear stuff of the Bahamas, it is an appealing sage green dotted with small islands giving our next stop it’s name – Islamorada – village of the islands.
As we motor into the anchorage we see an Island Packet sailboat with someone waiving off the back. To our surprise it’s Laurie and Jim aboard Kismet. These are people we first met in the Duke of Marysburgh restaurant in Waupoos several years ago and who we were supposed to travel south with. They’ve been on the west coast of Florida and that’s where we thought they still were.Sunday 21st February
We decided to stay at least another day so we can get together with Kismet's crew who are travelling with Greyhound (Dick & Ann who we met in Marathon last year) and Swan (Barry & Susan). That night we go aboard Kismet for happy hour with lots of munchies. So much munchies that supper is unnecessary. A swell time was had by all.
(left to right: Dick, Ann, Laurie, Jim, Barry an invisible Susan and Carol).Monday 22nd February
Overnight the wind picked up considerably and this is not a day for going anyway, with driving rain and rough water.
Tuesday 23rd February
There's a one day window before the next front is due to come through so we get an early start on the last leg to Marathon.
On the way we pass by what we call the stick birds.
These are not birds with long legs but birds that perch on these sticks that jut above the surface of the water. Nearly every single stick has a bird all the time.We also saw lots of these guys which we initially mistook for Ziploc plastic bags when we first saw them.
Turns out they're Man of War jellyfish which isn't truly a jellyfish at all but a colony of four creatures who cannot survive without each other. Very strange.We arrive in Marathon only to find (as we had been forewarned) there were no free mooring cans and quite a waiting list. So we attempted anchoring in the main harbour only to run aground. With the help of someone who had just done the same thing an hour before, we kedged ourselves off (carry the anchor out in the dinghy, drop it at a distance from the boat and then winch the boat towards it) while our helpful friend pushed the bow of Incognita with his dinghy.
We then headed off for Sister Creek and found it much less crowded and we found ourselves a spot.
Wednesday 24th February
Another blow was on the way so we stayed aboard most of the day except for going into the City Marina to get ourselves on the mooring waiting list. The problem is that the weather is so continuously rotten that no one is leaving.
Thursday 25th February
It's a very windy day after the cold front has passed and of course it's cooler again but the skies are clear and the sun shines. After I rescue a pail that the neighbouring boat accidentally dropped overboard by rowing over to him in our dinghy, the owner offers to help me to fix our outboard dinghy motor. So we take the carburetor off, take it on board his boat - Swell Horizon - and he blasts the jets and passages with his compressor. After re-assembling it we have a properly working dinghy motor again - wonderful, it's like having new one.
Friday 26th February
Tax day for Carol in the marina while I get a ride from Steve (aboard Kit who we met last year in Marathon with his wife Cathy) to finally fill one of our propane containers. Then I head off (by dinghy) to buy gasoline and some fresh fish for supper. Back to the marina to pick up Carol, back to the boat to take Buddy a walk and unload groceries and then over to the mooring field to eat supper aboard the spacious catamaran, Kit.
As we return to the boat at night we notice that the masthead anchor light seems to lit but very poorly. Since we don't remember turning it on we're a little curious. When we get aboard we find it's not even switched on. Then the penny drops: Radio Marti.
This is an antenna array that broadcasts directly to Cuba from Marathon and has enough power to illuminate our LED anchor light - scary!
Saturday 27th February
A day aboard the boat preparing for the next front which turns out to be bit of a fizzle.
Sunday 28th February
Over to the American Legion for one of their excellent Sunday breakfasts. Then back to the marina for some free wi-fi and a blog update.
