"February 4-15 , 2001 Between the Keys and Bahamas" Key Biscayne Travelogue by grandmaR

Mooring field in 2003

We get underway early and motor sail back. We seem to go faster towing the dinghy. We get back to the mooring about 4:30, and pick it up in spite of the many onlookers and little boats rushing about.

Truck SIL, daughter and granddaughter (not flatter

Bob thinks we will have to make two trips in the dinghy (food, clothes, computers, trash), but we do it in one, and find the truck which our daughter brought down and get everything loaded into it. Bob's knee is still bothering him.

Going to PlayStation in Miami - garage

Between Feb 4 to Feb 13th, we were at our daughter's in Miami. We went out to the boat a lot. Our daughter and SIL and friends went to a Jimmy Buffet concert, and got a sitter for the grandkids and their friend Charlie, and when we got back from the boat, the sitter was able to go home. We moved back onto the boat on Tuesday, and got ready for the trip over on Wednesday.

Key Biscayne from the channel in 2003

The Miami Boat Show was that weekend, and I had thought we might go (but in the end we didn't), and people were coming in for that and the moorings were filling up. Bob and I went down to Homestead AFB to the commissary and exchange, I cashed in my gift certificate and got a wet suit and other such errands.

Earlier, we had been unable to park close to the dinghy dock, and had to carry the dinghy over. I wasn't able to go more than half way across the parking lot, but a nice guy helped Bob with the last half of the trip. After that, and Bob decided that he could leave the portabote at the dinghy dock and just take the motor off and put it in the truck. So he was able to go down to the boat without me.

Ultralight landing in mooring field

A big blue ketch came in and took a mooring and left a long lead on it, and it was apparently running into other boats, as the catamaran behind it moved over behind us, and several people shortened the boat's lead. No one was on board the ketch. We talked to the couple from the cat at the dinghy dock, and the next day Bob took them shopping in the truck, (after we reconnoitered and had dinner farther down the Key), and they left for the Bahamas on Monday night.

Rusty Anchor from channel

Wednesday was Valentine's Day. We decided to eat at the restaurant at the marina called the Rusty Anchor. We had forgotten about Valentines. However we had a nice romantic dinner on the water although it was so dark that the waiter had to supply a flashlight to read the menu by.

Bill Baggs Park from the channel in 2003

So, therefore, we left the mooring Thursday morning and went over to Crandon Park Marina on the other side of the key to get fuel and water. Then we went down near the end of the Key near a place called No Name Harbor, and anchored, and took naps, and had dinner before we left for the overnight trip to the Bahamas.

Crossing the Gulf Stream