Day 280 - Marathon to Key West, FL
Day 280: Tuesday, January 31st: In spite of a questionable weather report, we left Marathon headed to Key West. The wind was on our bow at about 15-20 knots with rain showers as we cleared the Marathon harbor. As we beat westward toward Key West, the weather got more docile and that was good.
As we cruise further down the key, the famous water color developed. No camera can capture it without a filter; we don't have a filter:
We have complained so much about the crab pots in Florida that Ruth decided we needed a picture of one of them. Actually, this is the float attached to the pot that signals one is under it, or nearly under it:
And this one, Enchantment of the Sea was hot on her heels. We really don't understand these things. You aren't really at sea, you're on a city afloat. Notice in the very front of the "boat" the Y-shaped trapeze with the person swinging on it:
That's a device to give some thrill to being on one of these things. We just don't understand why people can't just enjoy the beauty of the sea.
To top it off, as the "boat" went by us we noticed the rock-climbing wall on the stern. It is the huge square thing that looks like a dark movie screen. If you want to go climbing a cliff, why book passage on a ship? This "boat" had all the toys. Probably three pools; we just don't understand:
Back to the real world. As we entered the harbor at Key West the current against us was running nearly three knots. The buoys were making wakes:
There are a couple or three schooners that take tourists out around the harbor. They are pretty boats; this is the bigger one:
.. and this is the smaller one:
The ship harbor was now empty and as we passed, we could see the original Key West Customs House, the red building in the center. Also if you look closely left and right under the pier, you can see the huge sausage-shaped fenders that the cruise ships use. They're twice the size of Integrity!
We rounded the point into the Key West Basin and headed for our marina, "A&B Marina." Just as we were backing into our slip in a rather strong wind, the bow thruster decided to quit functioning properly. That was BAD news because the slip had very little space around it. There were boats all around instead. Ruth had to fend off from sailboats, pilings and the dock. It was not comfortable but we made it into the slip with the aid of some rather good dockhands. WHEW!
We showered, hosed the salt off the boat and decided to walk the harbor. It is a study in diversity and tourist attractions; this character boat was typical:
Bill was thrilled to have "caught" this wonderful Marlin:
Key West can capture you. Like cruise ships, we suppose. We will be here two days and leave Friday morning, weather permitting.
Position tonight: N24 33.708 W081 48.204
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