Onward to the Keys

Thursday, January 29, 2015

After 9 days it was time to leave Cape Coral. The winds had died down and the next couple of days looked good for our cruise down to the Florida Keys. We departed the yacht basin which is on the Caloosahatchee River following our boating companions for the day, Tom and Linda on Raydiance. Soon we were approaching Ft. Myers Beach and leaving the ICW.

Raydiance out in front on a beautiful day
 

Jasper's Bait Shop and waterfront property
 

The winds calmed down and it was a pleasant trip with only a few boat wakes to deal with. Things did go flying across the salon at one point.

Photo of Esplanade from Internet - this was our view at anchorage
 

We followed Raydiance in through narrow channels to Smokehouse Bay in front of Esplanade Marina at Marco Island, an impressive array of condos with shops and restaurants below. Raydiance dropped anchor and we tied up to them. We rode ashore with them in their dingy, wandered around and listened to the music, watched the dancing and met for dinner. It was a really lovely evening.

Captain’s Log January 29

Departed: Cape Coral Yacht Basin, 7:35 a.m.
Engine hours: 7.1 hrs.
Actual hours: 8 hr.
Miles covered 52.34   Total for trip: 3672
Arrived: Smokehouse Bay anchorage near Esplanade Marina at Marco Island, 3:30 p.m.
Wx: clear 47 degrees rising to 70, N-NE winds 10-15, wind changed to east. We had 2-3’ quartering on the beam. Took on fuel and pumped out at Rose Marina, Marco. Traveled with Raydiance

Friday, January 30, 2015

After a quiet night in the bay we let loose our lines from Raydiance and we snaked our way out through the channel and down a long path through the Ten Thousand Islands.

Colorful pilings on the Coon River in 10,000 Islands
 

Saw lots of manatee zone signs but no manatees - we always go slow speed
 

 The weather was beautiful out on the Gulf but the forecast was for winds to pick up the next day. We decided to push on to an anchorage at Little Shark River, hoping the forecast would improve for our long trip out toward Key West. We parted from our friends on Radiance when they decided to stop at Indian Pass and motor up to Everglades City. John set our course south and at one point we were about 8 miles off shore, but the water was fairly shallow all the way. We encountered fields of crab traps with the markers strung across the water in rows of several dozen, crisscrossing to make fields of hundreds stretched as far as the eye can see. The conditions were such that we could spot them easily and since they were 100 to 150 feet apart we were able to slip through the gaps.

Crab pot marking location of trap - we stay away to keep it's line from
wrapping around our props
 

We also saw dolphins playing and leaping ahead of us when we first entered the open water. There were quite a few compared to the usual two or three. John was excited to see a sea turtle that he said must have been 4 feet in length. As soon as it neared the boat it dived and he didn’t see it again.

What we saw for most of the day - the water was a beautiful blue!

When we reached Little Shark River we entered Everglades Park and there was nothing to see but mangroves, brush and a few dead trees. Several other boats were already anchored there, including sailboats and two Gold Looper boats.

At anchor in the Little Shark River it was very dark and quiet. As other times in the Gulf at night, I have heard a little clicking noise against the hull. I think these sounds may have been small bits of debris in the water carried by the current but I prefer to imagine that the sounds are caused by little hard shelled creatures tapping against the boat as they swim by. This gives me the feeling that we are experiencing part of the life that is all around us.

Sunset at Shark River - the color lasted for a long time
 

 Captain’s Log: January 30

Departed: Anchorage in Smokehouse Bay at Marco Island 7:50 a.m.
Engine hours: 8.6 hr. – 63.11 statute miles
Actual hours: 8 hr.  55 min.
Arrived: Little Shark River anchorage at Everglades 3:45 pm.
Wx: clear, 55 degrees, winds gradually picked up from north to 10-12 kts,  following seas, dodged a lot of crab traps

Saturday, January 31, 2015

At six a.m. we listened for weather – especially the winds – to see if we would go or wait out the winds for the day. The consensus among others who were on the portable VHF radios was that the winds would be doable if they continued from the north. Several boats had come in to the river to anchor overnight including 3 Ranger Tugs, for a total of 15 boats.

Sailboats love the wind, but I thought that if the Ranger Tugs could go, so could we – and they were already leaving! Everyone started pulling anchors at first light. The two gold loopers lead the way, we followed along with some of the sailboats and looking behind as we left the channel we had a string of boats taking their turn.

Low tide at daybreak on the Little Shark River
 

This was another day of seeing nothing but sea and sky and watching for crab pots. After about 4 hours we could see the outline of Seven Mile Bridge west of Marathon Key at the horizon. It seemed forever before we reached it.

Bridge ahoy!
 

It was another 4 hours after going through the bridge to go the distance out to the western part of the Keys. The wind was still at our stern and John sped up a bit to smooth out the ride. When we finally reached the channel to Boca Chica we had to turn into the wind and felt it's strength. We both commented, "We have been out in this!?"

We found our slip where we will stay for a month and are reveling in the realization that we have reached another milestone. It is warm sunny and breezy here and we have a lovely view of turquoise waters, palm trees and grass roofed shelters at the picnic area. We are renting a car to explore the area and you may not hear from us for a while. This is truly paradise. Even though we are getting the jet noise from the Navy jets, John is loving it as he remembers many years ago being one of those pilots taking off and landing at Naval Air Station Key West.



Sunset sky over Boca Chica - what a view!
 

Captain’s Log: Jan 31, 2015

Departed: Little Shark River anchorage 6:50 a.m.
Arrival: Boca Chica Marina, NAS Key West 4:15 p.m.
Engine hours: 9.6/541.3 since beginning of trip
Actual hours: 9 hrs., 30 min
Miles: 85.49/total miles on trip 3821
Wx: clear, NE winds 10-15, Seas 1-2’ with occasional 3 footers. OK ride to 7 Mile Bridge, turned west, and wind changed to east 20-25mph but smooth ride throughout
Traveled with Attitude Changer and Nearly Perfect until we passed under bridge