We left our friends at Marathon's Boot Key Harbor, and motored east in 20 knot winds to Rodriguez Key.... We decided to anchor on the windward side of Rodriguez because we 'knew' the "holding" there was excellent, and the minimal protection on the south side didn't seem to make up for that big "h" on the chart... (meaning hard bottom)....
Anyway... holding was great, and the shear weight of Autumn Borne (20 tons), made the ride that first night fairly smooth.... a little up and down, but nothing like the waves in the Hawk, or ocean.
today we motor-sailed, just barely off the wind, to Angelfish Creek, then scooted through to Card Sound. Then the course was more northerly, and we sailed all the way to Miami in 14 to 24 knot winds.... Very nice sail.
As we suspected, No Name Harbor, on a Holiday Weekend was very busy... to the point of NUTs.... So we're anchored outside the harbor...
Tomorrow, we'll move up to the Venetian Causeway.... (near south beach).
Happy Easter to all.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tunnel of Love - Cayo Costa - Cabbage Key
While we were anchored at Cabbage Key, we took the dinghy over to Cayo Costa and went through the 'tunnel of love' (as someone called it !! ). That someone was really sick...
Although the end of the tunnel waterway comes out in the most gorgeous beach, the waterway itself is narrow, shallow, and full of all sorts of tree trunks that could hang up, or puncture an inflatable.
The waterway, obviously can be done by inflatable...but it's really a kayak waterway.
See the photos.... Great shelling on the beach.... and once you reach the beach you're alone...
Wonderful time.
The tide was high when we left the Autumn Borne, but was falling fast when we got back in the dinghy to exit from the beach to the waterway, and back to the back bay where Cabbage Key is located.
Although the end of the tunnel waterway comes out in the most gorgeous beach, the waterway itself is narrow, shallow, and full of all sorts of tree trunks that could hang up, or puncture an inflatable.
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| shallow and crowded with debris |
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| Driver with motor tipped way up |
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| Entrance to the tunnel of Love waterway |
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| overgrown mangrove area |
The waterway, obviously can be done by inflatable...but it's really a kayak waterway.
See the photos.... Great shelling on the beach.... and once you reach the beach you're alone...
Wonderful time.
The tide was high when we left the Autumn Borne, but was falling fast when we got back in the dinghy to exit from the beach to the waterway, and back to the back bay where Cabbage Key is located.
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| mangroves grown over waterway |
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| Wonderful pond next to sand dunes |
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| tons of shells |
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| beachcomber |
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| Susan on the gorgeous beach |
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| dinghy in pond, back of sand dunes |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Cabbage Key - Dollar Bar
I'm not even sure of the name now, but yesterday we followed the cruisers tradition of signing a dollar bill, and pasting on the wall of the ,Cabbage Key Bar and restaurant.
Now that I think about it, we should have added the year (2011) to the bill... Oh well... next year... maybe.
They estimate that about $15,000 hangs there at any one time.... some fall off all the time... They only give you masking tape.... Not packing tape !!! ;)
They were saying that about $75,000 have been left there over the years.
Jimmy Buffett sang there quite a while ago.... his pictures are all over the bar.
Rick Lenard (from RCR Yachts) wrote and asked if we'd seen 'his dollar' that he tacked up there 20 years ago.... We had not... but then again.... we'd be there for weeks if we'd started reading all the messages, and names.
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| Stick on Wall with others |
They were saying that about $75,000 have been left there over the years.
Jimmy Buffett sang there quite a while ago.... his pictures are all over the bar.
Rick Lenard (from RCR Yachts) wrote and asked if we'd seen 'his dollar' that he tacked up there 20 years ago.... We had not... but then again.... we'd be there for weeks if we'd started reading all the messages, and names.
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| entire bar filled - go ahead. Find the AB dollar. |
Visit with Cousin
While anchored out near Punta Gorda we had a visit from my Cousin Sue (Porter) Gray. They (Sue, and Howard) drove down from Bradenton, where they live. Wonderful to see them again.
They had visited us a couple of times in Titusville (driving across the state) as we sail north or south on the east coast. This is the closest we've been to their home.
They had visited us a couple of times in Titusville (driving across the state) as we sail north or south on the east coast. This is the closest we've been to their home.
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| At Fisherman's Village |
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| Sue and Howard |
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| Lunch at Harpoon Harry's |
They brought us some dog food for Sydney, and some mail from up north. Nice people! Nice day!!!
The top of Charlotte Harbor, near the Peace River was not really sailboat friendly... (with respect to anchoring out)...
I'm sure if you have a slip, or a canal to secure your vessel it's wonderful.
Other than seeing Sue again, I don't think we're return there. Maybe next time we'll sail on north to Sarasota.
We've left Punta Gorda now, and are anchored at Useppa Island, and Cabbage Key.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Charlotte Harbor - Punta Gorda
We moved from Fort Myers Beach mooring field up through the GIWW (Gulf Intracoastal WaterWay) up to Useppa Island, and then sailed up Charlotte Harbor to the Peace River.
We're now anchored near Fisherman's Village, where we've arranged to meet my cousin Suzanne.
But... I will say that this area is not really sailboat friendly... like Marathon, or Fort Myers Beach, (at least this side of the harbor, anyway).... Tomorrow we'll check out the north side of the harbor. Outside of Fisherman's village, at least with a 15 minute walk, is nothing but expensive houses...
AND...
although the bottom here seems to be "good holding", only the fact that AB weighs close to 20 tons keeps us from being jostled around by the fetch coming up Charlotte Harbor with the southerly winds.
We've got the riding sail up, and the tent awning (for Sydney).... She gets so hot during the days here... It's been in the high or mid 80's (F), every day.... So today, after Sydney came out of the water.... I kept spraying down the deck, and awning (for some evaporative cooling).
We met a really nice couple, and talked to them again today... Pat and Bill Garner on a trawler doing the 'great loop'.
We're now anchored near Fisherman's Village, where we've arranged to meet my cousin Suzanne.
But... I will say that this area is not really sailboat friendly... like Marathon, or Fort Myers Beach, (at least this side of the harbor, anyway).... Tomorrow we'll check out the north side of the harbor. Outside of Fisherman's village, at least with a 15 minute walk, is nothing but expensive houses...
AND...
although the bottom here seems to be "good holding", only the fact that AB weighs close to 20 tons keeps us from being jostled around by the fetch coming up Charlotte Harbor with the southerly winds.
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| Sydney cooling off ! |
We've got the riding sail up, and the tent awning (for Sydney).... She gets so hot during the days here... It's been in the high or mid 80's (F), every day.... So today, after Sydney came out of the water.... I kept spraying down the deck, and awning (for some evaporative cooling).
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| Lifeguard at the "pool". |
We met a really nice couple, and talked to them again today... Pat and Bill Garner on a trawler doing the 'great loop'.
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