3/16/22 Back to the aqua waters of the middle keys

March 16, 2022

We left Tarpon Basin around 11:30 am and motor sailed to the Manatee Keys, a short way south and west. 

Sunrise in Tarpon Basin

Tarpon Basin to Manatee Key

Manatee Key

My kayak trip around Manatee Key

Manatee Key anchorage 

Pretty cloud formations 

A look from our "living room"

                                                                                          Sunrise

Moonset

March Full Moon

The following morning, we motored around Florida Bay to once again top off the batteries. We’ve had very good solar days but the batteries still needed a boost. We moved over to Bottle Key for a new view.

Ahhh, the colors are so beautiful

Another kayak trip around the island

Mangrove Nursery

A Little Blue Heron stretching his neck to see me

An abandoned Osprey nest

Ed's catch, a Barracuda! They just love those lures!

Not sure if its visible.  Under the water is a small turtle, about the size of a dinner plate.  This guy was swimming by and got spooked by me and my kayak.  He quickly swam up into the mangrove roots and froze.  I watched him for several minutes and I could see him stretch his neck out to see if I was still there, but didn't move any other part of his body.  I finally felt bad and left him be.

This crab WAS chasing another, but he stopped to check me out

A rather large lobster got caught out from beneath his hiding place. 

Just a neat looking old Mangrove root

When the winds are blowing 15-20 kts, I get a ride to and from Manatee

Sunset to close another day

 

3/14/22 Chores

March 14, 2022

We obtained local knowledge the very first day we anchored in Tarpon Basin.  This dinghy landing is at the end of a local neighborhood street.  A1A is a short half mile.  We got into a routine of emptying garbage in the Little League Park dumpster across A1A and another half mile walk to Publix.  

A short stretch of woods leading into the neighborhood

It takes only a couple hours to re-provision and dinghy back across the bay to Manatee.

March 15, 2022

It's been 6 weeks and we are in need of refilling our water tanks (we carry 230 gallons for showers, dishes, etc) and a diesel top off.  We left the anchorage early, pre-sunrise to arrive at Gilberts' fuel dock, hopefully before anyone else.  It takes a LONG time to fill the water tank with the low pressure their hose has.  It rained on us at Gilberts, but hey, it's Florida.  It does that whenever it wants. But sometimes we are rewarded with the most amazing skies.  This rainbow appeared as we were leaving Gilbert's.  It was such a perfect rainbow, you could almost envision the pot of gold at the ends!

Then it's back down the waterway to Sunset Cove, the next cove down from Tarpon Basin, to another dinghy landing that we were told about, again at the end of a street in a neighborhood.  It was only about a mile's walk to the laundromat.  We had a bit of laundry, thank goodness for that handy cart!

We got through our laundry task easily.  We enjoyed a great Jalepeno Chicken Avocado wrap from Eco Eats next door to the laundromat.  

Then its back to Tarpon Basin for the evening.  Chores are all done and we are ready to go find that aqua waters of the Manatee Keys.  

3/11/22 Another big blow…back to Tarpon Basin

 March 11, 2022

Yes, another big ol’ blow forecast for Saturday. Tarpon Basin is only a four hour trip back and it definitely provides the best protection from the East and South. We had an uneventful trip back up to the Basin.  We weren't surprised that other boats had a similar plan.  The anchorage was a bit crowded, but we were able to anchor in a good spot for the east winds.  Shortly after getting settled and feeling secure the clouds started building and before long it was blowing.  "There's whitecaps on the water, and we're watching for waterspouts".  (Jimmy Buffett) 

Just as the first gusts came in, this 36 ft sailboat started dragging anchor and making way for the trawler.  It came within a few feet of the other boat before the captain gained control of his runaway ship.  The captain of the trawler (on the left) had started his engine and steered away just in time to avoid the collision.

And of course, Capt. Ed watching it all.  The dragging sailboat captain had a real rough time keeping his boat out of other boats, and after about an hour finally settled in, far enough away from us and re-set the anchor.

Choppy waters!

Heeling over at anchor, extended gusts  

Good Night, everyone stay put!

March 13,2022

A beautiful sunrise for a special day.  My birthday!  I made it through another fun filled, adventure filled trip around the sun!

AND a COLD FRONT!!! But the sun came out and it warmed up.  We stayed on board as the winds were still howling out of East.  

A quiet day, with lots of phone calls from children, grandchildren and dear friends.

     

3/10/22 Shell Key Preserve State Park

 March 10, 2022

We weighed anchor after a restful night.  It was a short trip to Lignumvitae Key.  We had wanted to walk the guided tour last time we were here but they weren't doing the tours until December due to mosquitoes. The weather was nice and we were going to anchor but the reviews on Navionics said you should use the mooring balls.  So we did that.  It went so easy with me at the helm and Ed reaching over the lifelines at midship to thread our line through the lanyard on the ball.  So quick! We relaxed and looked on line about the park hours, cost etc., only to find out that the tours (and doing the walks without a ranger is prohibited) are only available Friday through Sunday.  This is Thursday and we really didn't want to hang out here on the ball for a day and night.  So we left the ball and went a short distance to Shell Key.  We anchored and enjoyed a nice kayak and dinghy paddle around the island.  It was beautiful (as they all are).  It turned out to be a very nice stop!

off we go!

It's early spring and nesting season. This mama Osprey was guarding her new nest

Flowery type jelly fish on the bottom, not very colorful but pretty all the same

                                                And the end of another lazy, fun day!

3/9/22 Newfound Harbor to Channel Key and the Birds of Channel Key

March 9, 2022

We started our trip back up the Keys under sunny skies and winds ESE 15 kts. It was a good breeze to motor sail up along the coast before ducking under the 7 mile bridge in Marathon. It sounded great, but as soon as we got out in the Hawk Channel, the seas were a bit rougher than we anticipated. I didn’t have a great time, immediately started feeling a headache and a bit woozy. The seas were 3-5 ft and rough. I sure wish this wouldn’t happen to me as much as it does. But we did have a very nice sail and the water was so pretty. 

We stayed on the main sail alone, to minimize my discomfort. After about 4 hours, we went back under the bridge and made our way to Channel Key. All things considered, it was a good run. Once back on the bay side the waters immediately settled down and likewise did my stomach!

The shade created by the sail

We reached Channel Key at 3:15 pm and were happy to enjoy a peaceful anchorage. 

The following morning was calm enough to go out for a bird-watching dinghy ride.  Our motor is only a 2.3hp, allowing us to go slow and steady so as not to disturb the morning rituals of the Cormorants, Pelicans, Osprey, Blackbirds, Herons, gulls, buzzards and even Magnificent Frigatebirds and many more bird species.  As much as we tried, we still managed to disturb a few. 

From the distance that we anchored, it looked like Mangrove stumps on the beach, but no. Cormorants and Pelicans just hanging out

Peli  Flyover!

Pelicans and Cormorants busy bathing, playing and just hanging out

Great White Egret/ Heron

Cormorant, fishing for his breakfast

Osprey fishing for his

So cute, they were all looking the same direction

Cormorants that preferred the water

We might have spooked them

Buzzard and Cormorant sharing an old tree

The Magnificent Frigatebirds! 

Great White Egret in flight (Pelican's yawning)

The Pelican tree

Great White Egret or Heron

We've never seen a gull that looked like this, very stocky body and larger than most gulls

This Great White looked old and tired

Manatee!