February 4, 2015 - One step closer to Bahama sunshine!!

We had a great month in Key Colony Beach with Bev & Gordon, so were landlubbers again. While we very much enjoyed it, we are so very, very happy to be back on the water again. There is something about the water life that has magnetism and gives great energy and excitement to our lives.  

After leaving the house in Key Colony on February 1, we took the short trip to Key Colony Beach Marina where we took over the pelicans’ resting place and settled in to “our” slip. Jim and Gordon watched the MSU/Michigan basketball game, we played our last game of cards, and went to Sharkey’s for happy hour snack & drinks/dinner/and watched the Super Bowl at our tableside television. Bev and I bowed out just before halftime and came back to the boat to get things ready for our early departure to the airport the next day.  We arose at 5 a.m. and drove to Miami to drop them off at the airport. Just a note…avoid Miami during morning rush hour at all costs. It took us FOREVER to get there because of construction and traffic.

After returning from the airport we returned the rental car, prepared the boat, and took a very short journey to Little Crawl Key, Curry Hammock anchorage. This ranks near the top of our list for anchorages, as it was well protected, private, nestled in the middle of a state park, but with a great view of the Atlantic just outside the inlet. On our way to the anchorage we saw dolphins, and a big stingray and then were greeted by a pair of manatee in the anchorage. We never tire of seeing the saltwater wildlife!

On Tuesday we met Tom & Sue Hamman "Andante" just outside our anchorage and traveled with them to Islamorada. Seas were great for traveling and, once again, crab pot dodging was the rule of the day.

We settled in at our anchorage in Islamorada and went for dinner at Lorelei Cabana Bar. Good food, fantastic tiki bar atmosphere, gorgeous sunset.  

Today we are heading to Key Largo where we will spend the night, with plans to cross Biscayne Bay on Thursday. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that the weather will hold and allow a Monday crossing to the Bahamas.