3 Weeks in Key West!

We left off last time at our arrival into Key West.

"As I mentioned, the sun was setting and it quickly turned dark.  The entrance channel is narrow and full of twists and turns but we managed to stay in the channel AND maneuver through a crowded mooring field to get to the anchorage.  It was pitch black this night with no moonlight to help guide us and strong tidal cross currents .  Despite an hour or so of nail biting,  I am happy to report that we made it safe and sound."


When I awoke early the next morning I rushed outside to get a photo of the sunrise and here is what I saw ... I know this is a small picture but that little bump in the water to the left hand side ... happens to be a sunken boat!  I hate night opps!  We could have very easily run into something in the dark!  Hopefully there will be no more late night entrances into strange harbors.


We had a great time in Key West.  The first week was spent with family celebrating the New Year holiday week and being tourists.   The weather was fair...not too bad actually.  It was a little chilly out on the water with a lot of wind and chop and a couple of what we call "wet butt" trips back and forth in the dinghy to the boat but that's to be expected when you liveaboard.




We took in as much as much of Key West as we could:  Sunset at Mallory Park was interesting with lots of entertainment and street vendors.

We ate at many great restaurants including Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville where we pigged out on the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise!  Finally, the real deal and it was good.  We toured the Little White House and the Shipwreck Museum just to name a few, and shopped till we dropped. It was a good week and I was sad to see my family head back to their homes.



Fortunately for the family, they left just in time to miss the gale force winds that were predicted the next day.  We made preparations as best we could by tucking ourselves as close as we could to the lee side of the little spoils island we were next to and tying up to trees stability. The ground here is so soft we drag anchor routinely.






The winds came in out of the northwest that night with a vengeance at 35-45 mph.  The Captain was awake most of the night keeping a close eye on things.  We awoke the next morning to find ourselves still safely tucked in behind our little island.  Life is good.



The next day we were visited by the Florida Wildlife Commission who informed us we were breaking the law by tying up to the island and by the way, it's illegal to run aground in the Keys too, subject to a $100/foot of sea bed disturbed. So we were forced to leave the protected waters near our little spoils island head to a place called Wisteria Island, one of the very few places they have designated for anchoring. It was terrible with little to no cover, boats packed into it like sardines, and not very good holding.  So the next day the Captain set out in the Whaler to find a better spot and later that day we moved to another anchorage near Flemming Key. This was an excellent spot with good shelter and calm water but the bottom was very soft and dragging anchor was a problem here as well. But it was calm that night so all was well for a while.

Looking around us at Wisteria this was one of our neighbors in the anchorage.  My first thought was "Geez, this family has it set up right!"  Here's a floating dock with a picnic table complete with umbrella, a slide, and a couple of large rafts.  Very cool I thought to myself.

The next morning as I went topside to enjoy my coffee, I was greeted by the huge catamaran loaded with tourists enjoying all of these water toys including jet skies that they brought with them!  Oh yeah ... Yet another good reason to find a better anchorage.

Carter and Radar returning from shore leave.  Normally Radar stands right on the tip, top of the bow of the whaler but this trip was especially rough and he was a little more weary.   Carter had a great time riding the waves...and giving the whaler everything it had, even catching a little air. Radar, not so much!  LOL He was glad to get back to the Arc.

Except for the soft bottom, the spot we found at Fleming Key was great and is where we met Jeff. Jeff took pity on our plight and directed us to a hidden mooring he knew to be vacant. Carter was able to fish the 5/8" chain off the bottom that was attached to a 2 ton block of concrete construction debri someone had floated out there. Once attached to this we were anchored solid so no more sleepless nights. Thanks Jeff!

Jeff was also graciously invited us to dinner that night on his Island Packet 38 with a few other liveaboards in the anchorage.  It was a very enjoyable evening with good food, and interesting conversation about living the livaboard life in Key West.

Saying goodbye to Jeff, Gracie and Bill as we were departing Key West!

Good Folks and we hope our paths will cross again someday!