FEB. 12, 2014 - MARCH 29, 2014 . . . MISC PICS

DURING FEBRUARY, WE BOUNCED AROUND BISCAYNE BAY, DINNER KEY, ELLIOT KEY, AND MARINE STADIUM SO WE COULD HAVE DECENT RECEPTION ON OUR LITTLE 12-VOLT 13" TV WATCHING THE SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS. BY THE LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY, HOWEVER, WE WERE STARTING TO GROW BARNACLES ON OUR BUTTS AND FELT THE STRONG URGE TO GO SOMEWHERE . . . ANYWHERE! SO THE LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY WE TOOK OFF SOUTH FOR PENNEKAMP STATE PARK & MARINE SANCTUARY ON KEY LARGO. WE WERE QUITE ENTERTAINED IN MIAMI AND COCONUT GROVE WITH ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON ASHORE . . . MIAMI STRICTLY SAIL BOAT SHOW, COCONUT GROVE ARTS FESTIVAL, AND CONSTANT BOAT RACING INCLUDING THE INTERNAT'L OLYMPIC CLASSES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT'S A FUN PLACE TO HANG OUT.

DAYSAIL OUT THROUGH STILTVILLE

GRANDSON CHARLIE & FRIEND PADDLING THE CAPTAIN OUT TO SUMMER BREEZE

SPRING'S FRIEND JORDAN OUT FOR A DAYSAIL ON BISCAYNE

MARINE STADIUM HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING A MAJOR REFURBISHMENT PROJECT TO BRING IT BACK INTO ITS HAYDAY, WHICH INCLUDED JIMMIE BUFFETT WATERFRONT CONCERTS.

BACK ON JANUARY 12th I GOT STABBED BY A HARDHEADED CATFISH WHICH HAS 3 TOXIC ICE-PICK-LIKE FINS; I'M STILL HEALING TWO MONTHS LATER.

VIEW OF DINNER KEY MOORING FIELD FROM THE PANORAMA RESTAURANT ATOP THE SONESTA HOTEL

BELOW: SOME RACING CLASSES, LIKE ETCHELLS, DON'T FULLY RESPECT THE FACT THAT FLYING THROUGH A MOORING FIELD WHERE PEOPLE "LIVE" IS NOT REALLY RESPONSIBLE SEAMANSHIP. IT WAS KINDA COOL TO SEE, HOWEVER, THINGS CAN HAPPEN !!!

FIDDLER ENTERTAINMENT AT SUNSET IN DINNER KEY MOORING FIELD

COOL, RARE, "LEE BOARD" SAILBOAT IN DINNER KEY

MOORING BALL MAINTENANCE AT DINNER KEY MOORING FIELD

NAN DOING SOME MANGROVE SNORKELING AT PENNEKAMP, KEY LARGO; YEAH, IT WAS A WARM WINTER IN THE KEYS.

ALIEN POD FARM at PENNEKAMP STATE PARK (We left before they hatched)


I NEEDED HELP WITH MY CATCH OFF KEY LARGO.

AROUND THE FIRST OF MARCH, WE DECIDED TO HEAD WESTWARD DOWN HAWKS CHANNEL FOR KEY WEST. LOOKOUT CRABPOTS! HERE WE COME!


HAD A REUNION WITH AN OLD FRIEND in front of Key West Aquarium where Autumn used to work.



"REMEMBER THE MAINE" MEMORIAL & CEMETERY


MARCH 6, 2014 - THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE COMING AT YOU AT SUNSET.
WE RODE THIS GALE FRONT PASSAGE OUT IN THE KEY WEST MOORING FIELD. IT WAS SCAREY LOOKING, BUT WE'VE HAD MUCH WORSE.

THIS GUY MUST HAVE FIGURED OUT A LITTLE LATE THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS HATCHES OPEN.

HEADING EAST&NORTH AGAIN FROM KEY WEST, I RAN OVER A 6-FT DIAMETER BALL OF FLOATING WEED THINKING IT WOULD SPLIT APART AS USUAL; IT DIDN'T. THE PROP LOOKED LIKE A BIG BALL OF POLYPROPYLENE LINE WOUND AROUND IT, MADE OUT OF STRAW, AFTER IT SHUT US DOWN. THANKFULLY, IT WAS A WARM AFTERNOON IN HAWKS CHANNEL.

IN MID-MARCH WE SAT OUT ANOTHER GALE ANCHORED OFF OF KEY LARGO IN THE EXCELLENT PROTECTION OF TARPON BAY. AFTER YEARS OF PASSING THROUGH THIS AREA, WE FINALLY LEARNED OF A GREAT LITTLE MILE-LONG MANGROVE TRAIL JUST PERFECT FOR KAYAKS, CANOES, AND DINKS. WE NEVER DID THE TRAIL AT NIGHT WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE SPOTTED THE RED EYES OF THE AMERICAN SALTWATER CROCODILES; MAYBE NEXT TIME. (next 8 pics below)

MARINE STADIUM at Virginia Key,Biscayne Bay

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO WETLANDS REFURBISHMENT AROUND MARINE STADIUM, MAINLY THE ELIMINATION OF THE INVASIVE AUSTRALIAN PINE; AND THEY HAVE PLANS TO REBUILD THE STADIUM ITSELF. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW GOOD FREE ANCHORAGES LEFT IN THE BISCAYNE BAY AREA, BUT I EXPECT SOMEDAY THAT THEY'LL MAKE THIS AREA INTO A MOORING FIELD.
BELOW ARE SOME PICS OF SOME OF THEIR RELANDSCAPING EFFORTS.

THIS IS MY "I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP" PHOTO.

ON THE WAY BACK TO INDIANTOWN TO PUT SUMMER BREEZE ON THE HARD FOR HURRICANE SEASON, WE STOPPED BY FORT LAUDERDALE FOR AUTUMN & MICHAEL'S WEDDING, APRIL 5. AND A GREAT FAMILY REUNION.