January 27 Launch

Tomorrow is Thursday/Launchday but tonight I don’t feel well. Up early to stand in a frigid pre dawn line for a Covid test the day of my launch is the last thing I want to do but the most important thing. The test is negative so my neighbor Dom and his wife come by to get our car at the marina as we finish loading water and supplies.

The first night out is against the side of a small island in Terra Ceira Bay called Bird Key. It was just 3 miles from the marina but 1,000,000 miles from all of the hassle and busyness. The next morning we set out before sunrise on a low tide and while pushing through some sand we work our way into Tampa Bay and down to Pine Island to hide from some big winds. After 2 days there we head for Indian Key and a special anchorage in the Everglades. 

A calm anchorage in Everglades national park

The dot is our location

It was very cold

This homeowner takes storm surge seriously

Stone crab lunch

We meet two couples there and on the last night had hors d’oeuvres and drinks together. One couple was older and had spent a decade on their boat before Conrad had a stroke. After a 5 year hiatus they bought another boat and fixed it up to return to the Bahamas but as they were close to leaving another minor stroke means they stay in the states. We are taking a package of gifts to their friend who runs the laundromat in Black Point Bahamas. The other couple is from New Zealand and recently bought a catamaran and hope to get all the systems working properly and head to the Bahamas in March. 

Returning fisherman entering Marathon

Thank you dinner out with Mike and Brenda

We spent 4 nights there then it was off to the inside of Marathon near where Mike and Brenda, my daughter Joanna’s, in-laws had rented a place. They agreed to help us with laundry, food, fuel, water and finally drive us thru Walgreens for a COVID test. 

On the morning of day 2 we returned from the final errands to see our test results, Positive…both of us. We were shocked as the trip was off, the next steps uncertain and how did this impact the Parkers. Thankfully they did not get covid from us and their family vacation was saved. 

The next 10 days we moved from anchorage to anchorage avoiding strong winds and waiting for another chance to get the right weather to cross. We spent a couple of hours one night in 20+ knot winds resetting our anchor three times as it would just drag through the weeds. Thankfully that doesn’t happen too often.

The famous upside down jellyfish as we kayak around the mangoes further north in Everglades national Park

In the middle of this is a broken transmission fluid cap that I repaired, rebroke, made a replacement for  and ordered a new one. The Fairfield Marriott just opposite our anchorage agreeded to receive the package on my behalf. 

Beach Day in Miami

After a three nights anchored off Virginia Key in Miami a weather window was opening, our replacement part was coming, our Super Bowl viewing was completed and we were ready to go. Plus after 18 hours a day of very loud Latin music I was ready for for two days of true sailing to get back to Marathon.

Thanks Kimberly

 The part was delivered then 48 hours of frantic looking and phone calls finally found in a second-floor storage room at the Fairfield Marriott. All the employees were helpful but one stood out and I captured her smiling face.

Because Mike and Brenda were entertaining family we found that water, fuel, laundry, shopping for food and a Covid test we’re just a logistical problem that worked out fine. We got our test and headed for the laundromat. Before the clothes were dry we had negative results and our spirits were lifted.

All of the documentation was approved by the Bahamas and we moved the boat closer to the Channel Five Bridge for a departure on Friday 2/18.

Our spot prior to leaving… Route 1 is very loud

Next crossing to the Berry Islands