Month Long Cruise PCB - Key West - 340

Ok, John you've sold me. We are being moved back to Illinois. I am contemplating moving our boat to the Fort Myers or Port Charlotte area (there are quick and cheap AirTran flights from there to Ft. Myers). Wow, the water looks amazing and Key West and the Dry Tortugas are not terribly far from the parts of Florida we are looking at.

Chris, What about upper Florida Keys? Fly into Miami be in Key Largo in about 50-60 minutes. Bahamas about 50nm, Key West about 80nm or so. Just food for thought. JC

JC3 said:

Chris, What about upper Florida Keys? Fly into Miami be in Key Largo in about 50-60 minutes. Bahamas about 50nm, Key West about 80nm or so. Just food for thought. JC

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I'm looking anywhere down there; however, my dad lives in Port Charlotte. This allows me to have him watch over the boat and pay him a visit wen I come down. My wife's parents live in Siesta Key which is not too terribly far away from PC.

Turtlesboat said:

what's with all the birds pooping on the boats?

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Great story coming up on that: We got tired of them after about 20 seconds, so we started honking the horn occassionally, then, I got tired of that, so I greased the rail with sunscreen. We took videos while laughing our butts off. When I get caught up on Pics, I'll work on the videos - Suffice it to say, we called them "Dancing Birds." They quit coming to our boat.

So, after anchoring and getting set, we took off on the dinghy and snorkeled, then went to the fort to sign in:

After some time back on the boat, we all met at the fort for a tour of the top 1/2 and sunset:

That fort looks like it's "built like a brick chithouse."

Isn't there a fort of some kind on Key West proper? I swear I remember seeing something like that there once. Or, it could have simply been my lack of clarity from all margaritas that day.

Chris R said:

Isn't there a fort of some kind on Key West proper? I swear I remember seeing something like that there once. Or, it could have simply been my lack of clarity from all margaritas that day.

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Fort Zachary Taylor is on Key West proper. Oh, and this thread is so inspiring. It gives us all a chance to see a part of the country most don't get to see and surely not by boat. In the mid 90's we rented a sea plane and flew to Fort Jefferson. It was an awesome experience.

Sending best wishes....

Looks like a complete sh!thole...

I am not jealous.

Photobucket has been giving me fits again. Still trying....

More sunset pics from the first day out, then back through the fort to the dinghies and then back to the boats to watch the wildlife in the water:

Sunrise, added 30 gallons to make 3/4 on one side and 5/8 on the other, then a dinghy ride over to snorkel the Windjammer wreck and see the light house on Loggerhead Key . It looks like it's a mile away. Google Earth measures it out at 3 miles. Once you cruise around the key and head out to the wreck, it's at least 5 miles. Looking back at the fort, you are WAY out in the ocean, on the leeward side, and there is no more land out there.

Shelli looks at a map to help us locate the wreck.

We tied the dinghies together and set one anchor in the sand. During the snorkel, we saw the most fantastic sights ever on this side of the world. A goliath grouper was the star. The little, 3 foot groupers were a dime a dozen. The coral on the ship was fantastic. The frame of the 300 foot sailing ship was laying upright in the sand, the 3 masts were layed over, and the deck was angled into the sun and growing incredible amounts of coral. The wreck is a little over 100 years old. Sorry, no underwater camera - add that to my list - maybe next time.

Then, over to the Loggerhead Key for a quiet walk around the deserted island.

John, what is the depth you are anchored in?

At the Dry Tortugas, we were anchored in 7 - 30 feet of water. I moved way up and put my anchor in 5 feet with a good amount of scope and a second, different kind of bow anchor - I didn't want to move. During the thunderstorm, my primary anchor drug 12 feet. I don't know if my spare dragged or not. I threw a second stern anchor into the shallow waters over by the island with birds when the storm swung me over there. I was happy there as it was as far from every other boat I could get - about 100 feet. That's where I was in the am when I woke up - see sunrise photos above. My stern anchor kept me clear even though the winds went from ESE, to South during the storm to West after it passed, and NE during the night and am. I am used to three anchors and am happy with them all out.

Let me update everyone on our true progresss since I am still trying to upload 100's of Dry Tortugas Photos. We left for the Tortugas on the 15th and arrived there at noon. After anchoring, all 3 boats worth of people went our own directions after swimming together in the COOL waters. We ran into eachother at the fort and arranged to come back at sunset to watch it from the top of the fort.

Shelli and I snorkled the outer moat wall as did Kevin and Nicole. It was impressive. Nice corals and quite a variety of tropical fish. We went back to the boats, ate dinner, then back to the fort for sunset. That night, the thunderstorm hit. The next am, Kevin and Nicole went back to Key West with another boat due to concerns over their rough-running engine.

Nelson, Jeannie, Shelli, and I took the dinghies to the wreck and Loggerhead key, then back to the harbour to relax. That's where we are now on photos. Next, we had appetizers on the 420SD, then back to the fort for sunset (pictures pending). Shelli and I took pics and video of a tarpon in our stern lights, listened to music, then watched stars and satellites for a couple of hours. The stars go to the horizon in all directions.

The next am, we got up, had breakfast, and headed back to Key West. We stopped at the Marquesas for a look, but couldn't find good water, so we moved on. Next, we stopped at Woman Key, but couldn't find a good anchorage, so we went out to Sand Key (reef with HUGE marker) and shared steaks, scallops and fresh grouper, then we snorkeled. The fish were incredible. We saw an 8' lemon shark which circled us the whole time just at the limits of visibility.

There was a HUGE lobster that was initially shy, then followed us around as we kept and eye out for the shark. Awesome snorkel adventure. From there, we went to different marinas for gas, then met back at the Galleon resort. We met everyone at Alonzo's for appetizers. Kevin and Nicole were back at the resort!

At Sigsbee NAS, Shelli and I saved $100 on gas, $50 on alcohol, $50 on groceries, and $6 on ice. Only 25 years of life-threatening dedication, and I get all this! We do appreciate having the facilities available. We used the Razors to get around the base after leaving the boat at the marina.

Yesterday, we slept in a little, had breakfast on the boat, went to the pool, visited with our friends and exchanged pictures, then headed into town to watch sunset from the top of the Crown Plaza. Next, we headed to Rick's for pizza, Irish Kevins for jokes, and Durty Hairy's for live music. Then, back to the boats and bed time.

This am, we visited a little more, then Shelli and I headed out the NW channel, East in 20 feet of water where T-storms blew the white caps up, then into the skinniest channel in the world (ICW). We timed it perfectly to hit it at low tide even though 2' more water was only 2 hours away. That would have been too easy. We idled along indicating 2' below the boat for about 1/2 hour, then back on plane past the 7-,mile bridge.

Now, we are, once again, relaxing by a pool at a resort. We are at the Banana Bay Resort and Marina, Marathon Key. It's very pretty and quaint with new TEAK Piers (docks). Nice workmanship and smooth surfaces!!!!! Pictures to follow.

Great updates John..

A few questions.. When you took the dinghy out to snorkel, what kind of anchor do you use? Also how do you get back in the dinghy from the water?

I haven't really used the galley stove before, usually just grilling for lunch and dinner.. Curious what you cooked, what you would make for breakfast, and any tips or ideas on what to bring?

Thanks again...

Barry

Loggerhead Key:

A decorated memorial to a young worker
A lobster shell and turtle bone in the sand
A Frigate (Man of War Bird) on a stick