KEY WEST: 500 miles South Bound

I dedicate this excursion to Susan. Please know that we are with you in love and spirit, beside you, fighting this battle of cancer. God is our Great Healer, sustainer. Our prayer is that He holds you close during this turmoil. You are teaching us just how precious life is. You and Tom are teaching us what faith looks like.

January 9^th, Monday. And, so we began our journey traveling only 31 miles from Ortega to Palm Cove Marina, Jacksonville beach area. We planned to stay in a marina because it was cold and we could stay warmer hooked up to shore power. Double bonus was we were finally able to hook up with Don & Brucie Hooper who lives in the area. (We didn't get a picture of you! Pooh!)  We enjoyed eating seafood at Marker 32, one of the favorite local eateries and on the grounds of our marina. Fun to catch up with our friends.

We filled our tanks with over 200 gallons of diesel. Rich, the dock master did his job well. He made us feel welcome, safe, and comfortable. Good tip for him.

Passing St. Augustine

January 10^th. Tuesday. Made up the miles today traveling about 83 miles to the South Town bridge which is at Daytona Beach area. We left at 8 am and dropped anchor at 16:40 (4:40) Dinner on boat of spaghetti & Italian sausage washed down with some cab. Enjoyed full moon.

Sun rise at South Town Bridge

Bald eagle on our way.

January 11^th. Wednesday. Traveled for over 70 miles to Honeymoon Lake where we anchored for the night. Very quiet and dark. Alan and I enjoyed steak on the cockpit facing the setting sun. We were all alone. Enough said.

January 12^th. Thursday. Cruised 61 miles to Ft. Pierce where we docked at the city marina. We enjoyed our 10% discount at the original Tiki Bar only a couple hundred feet inland. It has been 72 hours since we had our feet on the good old terra firma.

Fresh snapper. Yum!

We took on another 100 gallons of fuel. The further south, the more expensive the diesel, the bigger the boats and houses. And. . . more attitude. Looking forward to being in Key West where there's . . . NO attitude.

Friday the 13^th. Only 57.2 miles today to West Palm where we have once again anchored. This time at Cocoanut Grove. It took us a while today because there are many slow or no wake matinee zones.

Our night view in West Palm.  Trump plaza.  

Speaking of sea life, I bet we have seen a couple hundred dolphins on this trip. Many have enjoyed swimming along side of us as we trek south. If I am driving, I abruptly hand the wheel over to Alan so I can take pictures. I usually have it on cruise control anyway because there are so many straight and long passages. You do have to stay in the passage, though, because right out of the channel it may drop to 2 feet. Traveling south you keep the red markers on the right (starboard) and the green on the left (port).

Hello from the fly bridge.

Saturday, January 14^th. We averaged 7 mph all day. “minimum wake zone” or “no wake”. But, we saw the most fabulous “home & garden” show slow cruising through Ft. Lauderdale to Hollywood Beach. Anchored in South Lake, Hollywood.

Sunday. The 15^th. Pausing this morning to pray for Susan. What a week she has had. Transfusion and continued nausea and edema. We pray continuously for her and Tom to have comfort during this anguishing time. That they will experience some peace with all the family gathered in support of their mom and sister and wife.

Cruising through Miami to Biscayne Bay.

There have been lots of low bridges, because there are lots of highways that cross over to the ocean from the mainland. The bascules average about 20-25 feet and they usually open on the hour and half hour or by request. Sea Jamm is 22 feet. Well, our Captain made a judgement that we could fit under one of the bridges considering the tide and signage written on the bridge. Well we fit, minus our anchor light which is the highest part when the antennas are down. That means we cannot anchor tonight without an anchor light. So, we are treating ourselves to dockage and dinner at Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay. Frankly, I could use the break!

One of those low bridges.

Miami from Biscayne Bay

There is a whole process to docking “stern to” (backing) in a slip. We have gotten better at it. But, sometimes it can be frightful depending on the current and winds etc.. Today as we pulled up, our slip was right in front of the restaurant were we had at least 150 spectators. I'm glad we did “good” today. Will be staying for 2 days!

Spectator gallery

Sunday & Monday (MLK holiday) We enjoyed the community of this place. These Spanish speaking friends and family are all gathered along the banks of Cutler's cove enjoying the weather and each other. Mamas and papas pushing baby strollers, kids playing on bikes, scooters, and on all sorts of skate boards, yapping little dogs and strolling big ones, little boom boxes and big ones, fishing, grilling sizzling steaks. Everyone belonged.

Pelicans are my favorite.

Nice to relax a bit. Even rented a car to drive over to West Marine to purchase those necessary items, such as a new anchor light, in order to pander Sea Jamm . . . or her Captain. The Captain's wife treated herself to a new skipper's shirt!

Black Point sunrise, Cutler Bay

17 January, Tuesday: We tried out our new anchor light in an area west of Lignumvita Key for the evening and night. After fighting crab pots, we finally grabbed a mooring ball for a very calm, peaceful and dreamy night under the stars. We were the only one in the pool of sea.

18 January, Wednesday: This was the only spot we actually had to go into the ocean to get to Key West. We entered Hawk Channel which was pretty choppy. One of the things we have always liked about Sea Jamm is that she will cruise in the 20's. We have only been impelled to do that twice. Once when we were in the rivers trying to make it to a fish camp before it closed, and now this time because we were rocking and rolling. We made it in 2 hours!

Looking a lot like Key West.

A welcoming committee of one in our marina slip!!!

I have learned a few things on this journey: On auto pilot, the boat will hunt : that is venture off course a bit to the left (port) and then to the right(starboard) while overall maintaining a straight course. The venturing off course concerned me somewhat until my captain explained that a boat has to hunt to find it's course.  Hmm.  Reminded me of life. 

The other is, I take joy in discovering other boat names. This particular name caught my eye as I once again thought of Tom & Susan. They have had a rough week. They are tired. And their journey is far from over. If you are reading this, take a moment and send a prayer that these two and their family will keep their strong unwavering faith, and that the doctors will discern and administer the best course for her comfort and healing.

This is the end of this particular journey. We have made it the the southern most part of the US, or so some books say. We have arrived to mile marker “0” by highway.