MARATHON KEY

DECEMBER 6, 2022

WE HAVE LOTS OF CATCHING UP TO DO, DON’T WE?

FRIDAY, 12/2

When we last posted, we were leaving for Ft Pierce, traveling by ICW because the winds were still too strong outside.  I was studying the weather apps all week, expecting to see a shift, but this pattern of strong NE winds and waves continued the rest of the week…

We stayed at the Ft Pierce Municipal Marina – right in the heart of all the action:

• Friday night was First Friday, where the town draws thousands of people to a street festival with music, food and retail.

• Saturday morning found the park transfigured – it was now a Farmers’ Market!

We were shocked on Friday night when we ran into David and Linda Hall – the folks we had stayed with on the James River earlier in the trip.  They had come down to pick up their boat, which had been stored for the summer.  I must honestly report that we consumed a LOT of alcohol that night – (beer, Rum Runners, beer).  I really felt it Saturday morning.

SATURDAY, 12/3

Lynn picked up some Cuban coffee and a couple of breakfast tacos, and we set out for Palm Beach.  ICW again…the wind would not “lay down”.

That night, we met my nephew Brian and his friend Lexi (whom we had seen in Palmetto Bluff) to enjoy dinner and the Boat Parade!  It was amazing luck to find ourselves in Palm Beach on the night of the boat parade:

• More than 50 boats

• Decorated with thousands of lights

• In a miles-long parade that winds its way north along the ICW from North Palm Beach to Jupiter

• Thousands of people all along the route

• Fireworks finale

SUNDAY, 12/4

Once again, we decided to stay inside (ICW), on our way to Ft. Lauderdale.  This was a decision designed to keep us comfortable and safe, but this is a long, slow trip.

• Lots of Slow Speed Zones

• Lots and lots of bridges

The speed limit signs were a constant source of consternation: 

• They have WAY too much text on them

• They are 50 feet outside the channel – difficult to read even with binoculars

• They seem to change from fast to slow every mile or so for no discernable reason (manatees which we never saw).

The good news is that you see some spectacular homes and boats.

We stayed at the Bahia Mar Marina.  It is located right across from Ft Lauderdale Beach, but regrettably, this was the weekend of the Aubrey Music Festival on the beach, a true scream-fest that lasted to 11:30 Sunday night.  It would have been nice to sleep with the hatches all open, but we settled for air conditioning.  Oh well.  

We did catch the highlights of the Eagles game in the lounge, followed by a cornhole tournament on tv and a billiards match – I won but it was close. Folks, this is close to total depravity:

• You’re in Ft Lauderdale
• It’s a sunny 80 degrees outside
• The beach is just across A1A
• Wadda ya wanna do?
• I’m exhausted. Let’s drink beer and watch a cornhole tournament!

MONDAY, 12/5

We checked the weather apps one more time…everyday expecting to see the prevailing winds slowly settle down…

Besides our decision to “hole up” during Hurricane Nicole, I viewed this as one of the most important decisions we would make this trip:

• Remain in the ICW through Miami and take the “inside route through Biscayne Bay to Key Largo, or

• Go straight out of Ft Lauderdale, go right around Miami, and race down the Hawk Channel, which lies between the Keys and the offshore reefs

• I much prefer the Hawk Channel, but after the uncomfortable ride to St Augustine, we have been playing it safe.

BUT ON MONDAY MORNING, WE FINALLY GOT THE BREAK WE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR!  Realize that we are consulting 5 different weather apps every day, seeking a consensus on a wind and waves forecast that we can live with.  Finally, the shift I had been looking for seemed to be happening.

We left Ft. Lauderdale at 7:30 AM, out the inlet, right past Miami, and on to Key Largo.  SMOOTH SAILING!   YOWZA!

Monday evening, we re-provisioned at the local Publix.  (Thank you, Uber.)  Lynn picked up some Cuban sandwiches, and we crashed early.

TUESDAY, 12/6

This morning, we took off early for Marathon Key under cloudy skies, but the trip down was very pleasant.  I finished a Michael Connelly novel as we travelled on Autopilot. And we had lunch underway – autonomous piloting!

TOMORROW, 12/7

And tomorrow, we finally expect to reach Key West.  We’ll write and let you know we arrived safely.

TTFN