2/11/16 – 2/21/16        Marathon and Tavernier Keys

2/11/16 – 2/18/16        Marathon Key

The trip to Marathon Key was 43 miles among and around more islands in the Florida Bay. Below are some shots of Marathon and the 7 Mile Bridge during our approach. Check out Pigeon Key which can only be accessed by the old Bridge which was closed for repairs when we were there. But there is a visitor Center on Marathon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our destination was Faro Blanco Marina which was very nice. Of course I liked it since it had a lighthouse. We were actually docked right outside their lighthouse. As you enter the marina you pass Palm Island which is so close it looks like it is part of Marathon and the Marina.

That's us next to the Lighthouse

This is Palm Island right across the way

There were lots of other loopers at this marina, and our boat was right next to the dock where ‘docktails’ were held most nights. As you can see most of our nights and days there were really chilly. As a matter of fact, it never really did warm up. The big problem was the wind. It just never stopped blowing.

Docktails!

No that is not Bear or his brother! It's Louie from SC and Tim.

Most of the loopers we talked to were like us cancelling their plans to do the trip over to the Bahamas. With the continuous winds and their unfavorable direction there doesn’t appear to be any good windows in the near future.

We took the transit bus to Key West for a day. We didn’t stay to do the Mallory Square Sunset festival. We have been here before and have seen that. We did enjoy walking around and seeing some of the sights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found some pretty amazing tiki bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.  And of course, the sunsets are remarkable.

 

We also stopped at a tiki bar that had a pool right next to it and just outside the pool area we met some rather brave iguanas.

Here's his close up

Another big boy

A cute little family

 

2/19/16 – 2/21/16        Tavernier Key

This was another 45 mile trip. Tavernier is between Key Largo and Islamorada Key. We had no luck getting a spot in Islamorada as we had planned. Here again the weather has boats staying longer than expected. We are officially travelling up the Eastern Intracoastal Waterway at this point. There are some larger bodies of water, but the channels are very small. And once again, lot’s of little islands.

That really is sand just outside the channel.  And it is really this light green.

The variations of green in the water are indicative of how close the bottom is.

Coming into Tavernier Key

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boatman’s Mangrove Marina was full of all kinds of live aboards. It also had a large number of boats anchored in the little harbor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a small shopping center about ½ mile away that had a Winn Dixie so we could get some supplies onboard. It also had a couple of restaurants that we visited.  

The really good news is that it is finally getting warm. We are in shorts again!

 

We are in Sunny Isles in North Miami now and I’ll have pictures etc. when I do the next post.