Matacumbe Bight to Miami

Matacumbe Bight was such an awesome anchorage, but all good things must come to an end and after spending a week there we started towards Miami.



Approaching the bridge



Passing under the bridge

Channel #5, not to be confused with the perfume

Our first stop was Key Largo and we had plenty of company at the anchorage.



Key Largo Sunset



We departed Key Largo at first light the next day and anchored in Card Sound later that afternoon.

The anchorage we chose in Card Sound was awesome! There was a deserted island to take the dogs to, snorkeling, and a gorgeous sunset to finish the day.

The island we named “Trash Island” since it was covered in bottles and other miscellaneous items washed up from peoples’ boats.



Bottles and cans

Gross

Barnacled mangrove roots

First bridge to the keys, Route 1

Rei rolling in something stinky

After one night in Card Sound we headed for Miami and anchored in the Marine Stadium.

It was really cool to arrive in a major city by boat, no traffic jams, no misguided GPS taking you through the ghetto, just other boaters enjoying the beautiful day.





Approaching Miami

Miami harbor

Really awesome boat anchored nearby


Marine Stadium bleachers. They used to race boats here but now it's just an anchorage.

View of the city from the boat

Miami at night

Matacumbe Bight

From Marathon we traveled in the Florida Bay to Matacumbe Bight, a beautiful anchorage behind Islamorada.  

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts (deedely dee)

 

There wasn’t much to do here and as such we kept to our regular schedule with modifications suiting the environment. 

Sunset in the bight

Pirate girl

There was a piece of privately owned land with only one (uninhabited) home built on it and plenty of “no trespassing” signs staked along the perimeter.  However, because of the dogs, and lack of a public landing, we were somewhat forced to explore a small section of the land out of necessity.  I do not enjoy, nor do I condone trespassing, but we all enjoyed going to shore here twice a day to stretch our legs, play, and observe the wildlife.

A pair of bald eagles had roosted in an Australian pine and we were lucky enough to see them in flight, hear their calls, and catch a glimpse of their eaglets.

"Noman" Island

Rei-skeroni-pony

Family portrait...no idea where Ransom's shirt went

Rei running...

...from dad!!!

Palm tree stump

Main St. at sunset

Coconuts, yum!  We need a machete!

Charles looking dashing

Rei looking a bit protective of her piece of palm

Eagle in flight

Eagles' nest

 

In the afternoons we would all go swimming.  Ransom and I would snorkel a bit first, then the dogs would do a long lap with us for some exercise.

One day we took the dinghy over to the mangrove islands to the north of us for a change of scenery.  Wow!  Everything was so green and full of life.  Lots of fishes and birds and mangrove roots as far as you could see.

Mangrove tunnel

Mangrove roots

Mangrove roots

Osprey

Don't they look like they are having just a horrible time?

Really, these dogs are soooo bored

Sea birds...smelly, smelly, sea birds

To the south of us we found a place to tie up the dinghy; and within walking distance we found a Cuban restaurant (delicious food), a “country store” (glorified convenience store, but we were able to restock some provisions), and a dock with a hose we could “borrow” water from (42+ gallons worth). 

On our last day in the bight we met a kayaker who invited us over to the small resort (run by former sailors) he was lodging at for “dusk drinks.”  We shared some tales and drank some beers among the company of other mariners.  When the sun set a conch shell horn was blown to salute the close of another day and we returned to Vitte to prepare for our departure to Key Largo the next morning.

Key West to Marathon

We finally left Key West after spending two weeks there and way too much money.

Finally leaving Key West!

From Key West we sailed (but mostly were forced to motor-sail since the wind continued to not cooperate) to Newfound Bay off Big Pine Key.  The stars were brilliant at this anchorage!!  Skies so clear you could see the Milky Way.   ^_^

The next day we traveled up to Bahia Honda State Park and anchored right off the beach.

We immediately went to shore to explore and walk the dogs. 

The park was beautiful!  We walked through their butterfly garden and saw some indigenous plants and wildflowers (ironically no butterflies though). 

There is a trail up to the old bridge where you can walk out on the maintained portion and get a gorgeous view of the park on the Atlantic side and the bay side.  You can also look down the old Bahia Honda Bridge and imagine what it was like to see trains run on the lower portion (before the roadway was constructed above), and cars drive on the upper level (after the train track was decommissioned).  

Old Bahia Honda bridge trail

View of Bahia Honda State Park from the old bridge.  See if you can spot Vitte  ^_^

The old bridge, note the paved road for cars above and the railroad trestles below.

The old bridge

Rainstorm on the horizon

Gorgeous sunset between the old and new bridges

 

That night we enjoyed more spectacular stars in the sky and a light show in the water.  It was like being on some alien world!!!  I first noticed a glowing neon green dot floating on the surface of the water and immediately thought I was seeing things, so I called Ransom over to confirm and there was a continuous flow of them passing the boat!  We identified them as jellyfish, but don’t ask me what kind, I could not tell you (maybe a bit of research…).  When one would get close to the boat at the surface the green dot would “smear,” creating a wispy trail of neon green.  So amazing!!!  Unfortunately we were unable to photograph this phenomenon.  It’s nearly impossible to capture the true essence of phosphorescence, experiencing it firsthand, however, is incredible!  It truly makes you feel as if you are on another planet.

Leaving Bahia Honda

From Bahia Honda we traveled to Marathon via the Atlantic, and seas were rough.  Once again we were forced to motor-sail (the combined effect of which had us going 5.5-6 knots).

We’re pretty sure we hit some 7 footers out there.  The dogs were not happy.

Seven mile bridge

Finally calmed after the rough seas

In Marathon we met up with our friends, Laurence, John, Jimmy, and Rankin, who were playing a gig at the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar. 

After the show John and Laurence came out to Vitte and spent the night aboard.  It was awesome to have friends from the Carolinas out on the boat!  It was a pure stroke of luck that we happened to be in Marathon the night they played.

Anchored in Marathon (photo by Laurence)

Jah Creation (L to R: Jimmy Jam on keys and trumpet, "King" Laurence on drums, John Picard on bass, and Rankin on congos)

Poolside at Sunset Grille, not a bad place to chill and listen to some good reggae music.