Key West - Southernmost City in the US
Sun is setting on our trip from Marco Island to Key West. Left Marco Island at 1400 thinking it would take an hour to reach the channel where we would set our course for Key West. Wrong! It only took 30 minutes. We were hoping to reach Key West Northwest Channel at sunrise - but at 0330 we were seeing the channel lights. Oops- time to slow way down! We totally forgot to factor in the increase in speed we would get from that bottom job (or I will say I completely forgot as I was the one doing the time/distance calculations). Wind was pretty good - not completely out of the east as we were hoping, but not completely on our nose either. Very good sail without any major issues - only thing that happened was the light on the compass went out so we had to rig something up to be able to see the compass at night. Northwest Channel into Key West is very long - took about 90 minutes to get down the channel and to Marina. So here we are hanging in Key West- eating good Cuban food and drinking rum! Going to stay one more day to plan our next leg of the trip, then its off to Marathon. Decided against the Dry Tortugas on this trip as it is so hot, hot, hot. There is no power, water or any amenities there. We would be at anchor with no AC - hard to do in Florida in September (one of their hottest months). So... we have decided to make that trip in January when its 70 degrees instead of 107. We have now reached the southernmost point of the US (started in Kentucky) and will begin our way up the east side of Florida. Hope to make it all the way up to Canada before we head back down. And from there who knows - Europe? For today - we will enjoy Key West and the chickens that are running around all over the place. Below this Mama is trying to herd her chicks to keep them from being run over by tourists. She has a wary eye - never know when you will need to peck someone. Watch yourself tourists!!
Sun is setting on our trip from Marco Island to Key West. Left Marco Island at 1400 thinking it would take an hour to reach the channel where we would set our course for Key West. Wrong! It only took 30 minutes. We were hoping to reach Key West Northwest Channel at sunrise - but at 0330 we were seeing the channel lights. Oops- time to slow way down! We totally forgot to factor in the increase in speed we would get from that bottom job (or I will say I completely forgot as I was the one doing the time/distance calculations). Wind was pretty good - not completely out of the east as we were hoping, but not completely on our nose either. Very good sail without any major issues - only thing that happened was the light on the compass went out so we had to rig something up to be able to see the compass at night. Northwest Channel into Key West is very long - took about 90 minutes to get down the channel and to Marina. So here we are hanging in Key West- eating good Cuban food and drinking rum! Going to stay one more day to plan our next leg of the trip, then its off to Marathon. Decided against the Dry Tortugas on this trip as it is so hot, hot, hot. There is no power, water or any amenities there. We would be at anchor with no AC - hard to do in Florida in September (one of their hottest months). So... we have decided to make that trip in January when its 70 degrees instead of 107. We have now reached the southernmost point of the US (started in Kentucky) and will begin our way up the east side of Florida. Hope to make it all the way up to Canada before we head back down. And from there who knows - Europe? For today - we will enjoy Key West and the chickens that are running around all over the place. Below this Mama is trying to herd her chicks to keep them from being run over by tourists. She has a wary eye - never know when you will need to peck someone. Watch yourself tourists!!
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