Month Long Cruise PCB - Key West - 340

[Hampton]

Kevin has an '88 270. One of his motors was 22 years old. The other had to be replaced a little while ago. The other one will likely be replaced soon. He trailored from Tarpon Springs (or nearby) to Miami, then cruised the Keys to join us. Great trip, great people.

 

[jeffk]

John, Glad to see you are having a great trip. Went out today in a friends boat, can't wait to get ours back in the water. Hopefully this week!!!

 

[Hampton]

John, Glad to see you are having a great trip. Went out today in a friends boat, can't wait to get ours back in the water. Hopefully this week!!!

Good luck and Fair Winds!

 

[kevin27]

Hey guys we're back in Tarpon Springs. We made it back Saturday, cleaned the boat and took it back to the marina today. She looked so good after a bath, with a different (good) kind ok glow about her, even with a blown engine. I love that boat! Looks like a blown head gasket, so I will order a new long block this week. Its too bad since almost all external parts were very new. After this it will have two news engines. My wife and I have been looking for a little bigger boat lately so it will be easier to sell with two engines with less than 50 hours if we decide to go bigger. We do have a trailer but don't use it much. Good thing I used it on this trip. The trip was so good not even the engine could me sad!!!! My wife Nicole and I have been to the Tortugas two times now and its one of my favorite places of all. Hanging out with Shellie/John and Nelson/Jeannie was so much fun and made the trip even better. We will be heading back to Atlanta on Monday and I already can't wait to repair the boat and go on the next trip. Our trips are always fun but this one is very special to us. I hope we have inspired others through this trip and will be able to go to a dream location also. I had been planing this trip off and on for five years.

 

[Hampton]

Great to hear that you are almost back home safe! We'll be going out to the reef to snorkel one last time in the Keys, then off to Naples for tomorrow night.

 

[jeffk]

So...........When do you think you will be back up in the Venice area? And where do you plan on staying? Crows Nest? There is a little picnic area over by the fence there. Or on the hook? Right to the south of the inlet there.

 

[Hampton]

We're trying to hit different areas on the way back. It'll probably be about 6 days from now when we're in the area, but we plan to stay in Lemon Bay and then head on past.

 

[Hampton]

After taking a day to recover, we all got back together for a trip to the Crown Plaza for sunset, Pizza on Duval Street, and live music at Irish Kevin's and Durty Hairy's. Many pics have been sensored by my lovely wife. We'll start with a lesson learned: Don't park the dinghy near the A/C cooling water port - we all had a good laugh:

 

[Hampton]

 

[wetpaint]

Can't say anything more.......

 

[douglee25]

Nice!

Doug

 

[jeffk]

We're trying to hit different areas on the way back. It'll probably be about 6 days from now when we're in the area, but we plan to stay in Lemon Bay and then head on past.

Great!! You should be coming just in time for the boat races.

http://www.suncoastoffshore.org/

 

[Aerobaticflyer]

Great pics John and thanks for sharing. Fort Jefferson shots really hit home....been there many times. Snorkling all the way around the outer wall is a hoot. Us older guys were a huffin and a puffin half the way round! Something special about seeing your shots, many of which were amazingly like ones we have taken.....a special thing on a place so remote.

Did you get a chance to visit Looe Key Reef off Big Pine Key? Great snorkeling and diving!

Thanks again for sharing! :thumbsup:

 

[Hampton]

No on the Big Pine Key. We came back on the North ICW. We may head South for an hour to snorkel, but the weather is not looking good that way.

 

[Mystic Dreamer]

This trip has inspired me to plan a Key West and Dry Tortugas trip for the fall! The pictures have been unbelievable!

Brian

 

[highslice]

John, you Bastard! You're killing me. One damn picture is better than the last!:smt038


Great pics of what must be the trip of a lifetime. Now to show the admiral this thread and try talking her into a 45 foot Dancer to keep in Florida...after the oil is gone.

 

[Hampton]

Next, on to the pizza and bars... The next day, we were off to Marathon, but not before a tour of the ER on the 420SD.

Our boat was out on the end of all of the docks the last two days.
The Ferry from Ft Myers was arriving in the NW Channel.
We have rough seas, duldrums, and a Thunderstorm was following us causing the rough seas.
Finally, we arrived into the Banana Bay Resort and Marina in Marathon - a nice, quiet, quaint place.

 

[Hampton]

PS - We took the ICW on the North side for the beautiful views. It's not worth it. If you go the North route, stay deep. You have to follow the NW channel out of KW, then take a line to the point where you enter the 7-mile bridge, or wherever you want to go. Either way, you stay deep from KW NW Channel to the Harbour Keys. The ICW goes from the Harbour Keys and East only. At low tide, you don't have any extra water below your gear.

 

[Hampton]

We are concentrating on marinas with pools. It's really hot down here this time of year. There is a great little biker bar / restaurant next to the marina: Hurricane. We had great wings, a great salad with sashimi tuna, and great enchiladas. There was a lego display of miami beach. We Razored down the street a mile to West Marine and picked up TWO DC fans for father's day. No more farting around - we've got air in the cockpit now.

Did you notice the exquisite docks? Smooth teak with nice cuts.

 

[Big Pete]

Brilliant Pictures , its like being on vacation myself without the costs ..

:smt038