Low Key at Boca Chica

Thursday, February 12, 2015

It seems as if we have been on island time since we have arrived in Boca Chica, as in: “Time for lunch?” “Is this Tuesday or Wednesday?” Or, as Dame Violet, Dowager Countess on Downton Abby famously said, “What’s a weekend?” It’s been a very laid back week and a half but I knew it was time to post a blog when one of our Looper friends said he had to look at other boater’s blog to see what we were doing!

We have been enjoying our days here in the Keys and keeping it low key. Our rental car takes us into Key West when we want to brave the traffic and we have located all of the important places such as the commissary, West Marine, Sloppy Joe’s Bar and a small beach. We have found that beaches here are rare and the sand is usually shipped in from other sandier locations. The Keys are protected by a coral reef so there is no surf here to pound the shore and create the fine sand found on other coasts.

 


Our mascot, Christopher Croaker, is chillin' at the little beach at Boca Chica -
bridge to Stock Island and Key West is in the background
 

 

Our slip at the marina - Serenity is just to the right of the first tall sailboat
 

 

One of the many roosters on Key West
 

A mama, her calf and a larger manatee were hanging out by
the dock one day
 

We are settling into the yin and yang of the place and have learned that salt water is very hard on anything that is metal. It takes very little exposure for rust to start. On the other hand, spiders don’t survive in the salty environment so we rarely see one. Any fresh water boater knows what a nuisance they can be.

The wind blows almost constantly and it has been a rough season on the Gulf and the Atlantic. The residents here say that the wind has its advantages because it keeps mosquitoes and no see-ums at bay - haven't been bothered by those so far.

We are on a Naval Air Station so we are a little isolated and the amenities are basic but more than adequate with showers, laundry and Navigator's Bar and Grill where we can order lunch or dinner. It is very pleasant here and we are enjoying an air show almost every day. It is a little loud at times but the roar of the jets is music to our ears – the sweet sound of Naval aviation!

Yesterday we had small separate adventures. Our friends, Martha and George, asked John to help get their boat, Aunt Aggie, through the outside channel from Stock Island to Marathon. John was happy for the experience and he answered with a quick, “Yes.” They had tried to go out a few days before but the winds were too much and they turned back to the shelter of the marina. Martha had enough of rough seas and so, when the better day arrived, John and George set off on the boat and Martha and I had a splendid day together having lunch by the beach and then driving Route 1 from Boca Chica to Marathon. It was a win-win for all and a really beautiful day!

The dinghy dock at Boot Key Harbor in Marathon -
there were hundreds of boats here on moorings and at anchor
 

 

George and John have successfully left Aunt Aggie at anchor
and have arrived at the dinghy dock.
 

 

George and Martha are ready to get back on their boat,
and meanwhile John is acting up - time to go home to ours!
 

We have extended our stay here until the middle of March – there still is lots to see and do! Just got back from Key West where we had our first experience with the night life. We went with some of our new boat neighbors and had a great time listening to the live music and dancing. John says we may never leave!

At "The Bull" on lively Duval Street