Onwards to Marathon and the Keys

Everglades City to Marathon

Oops – a fellow boater has pointed out an error in a stats entry in March of fuel used as $41700 – no no no no it should have been $4170 – much better value for money – don't want to scare the boaters away!

We left to go south & on the way anchored in Little Shark Creek for the night. Very isolated, quiet & peaceful. We were surrounded by mossies, no see ums, alligators & shrimps. The no see ums are very tiny but vicious & I react badly with a huge golf ball swelling 2 days later. The shrimps we can hear at night around the boat - sounds as if they are feasting on crackers – we have encountered this most of the way down. The alligators left us alone.

We crossed Florida Bay with threatening rain all around us but it didn't pour until we entered our slip in Marathon marina. The crossing, wave & wind wise was OK – just a lot of sea grass & crab pots. That afternoon we watched manatees cavorting in the small canal in our marina – 1 male & 3 females we believe & it's spring so he is greedy. They are huge – I haven't seen them so up close.

We met up with former boating buddies Jane & Ben off “Jamminjane” - now on their new boat with repaired engine. We biked down to their marina Faro Blanco & spent the afternoon by the pool catching up on all the adventures. We also met another couple who are travelling to the Bahamas as soon as the weather allows. Our friends Chuck & Vicki who we left in Apalachicola are slowly catching us – we hope to travel in the Bahamas with them. They missed the weather window for the Gulf crossing and had to wait for at least a week. They have been stalled by strong winds going south so will come across Lake Okeechobee & down the east coast instead.

We cycled to the PO to send off all the boat insurance papers & money to cover the boat for the last couple of months here. We called in to see Jane & Ben on our way back & then met up for dinner at Lazy Days - the restaurant at our marina. Next morning with Ben & Jane we cycled across the old bridge & back. The water is shallow & clear under the bridge & we saw many rays & various fish. Docktails that night was on Movin' On with Doug & Pam next door & Ben & Jane.

The next day we took the dinghy for it's first run into Boot Harbour, a huge mooring field & anchoring basin that in the height of the season has 200+ boats there – some live aboards & many transient boaters. We were pleased to find that our propane propelled motor ran for over two hours on the cannister. We checked out a beach on the ocean side and had a dip along with Crockett the dog.

Pam & Doug kindly offered us their car to go and do our provisioning ready for the Bahamian trip where food is a lot more expensive so we collected Jane & Ben & believe now that what we have forgotten we will have to do with out.