Keys to Miami

Day 57, 58 & 59
Feb 27, 28 & 29, 2016
Keys to Miami

Day 57   2/27/16
Left Plantation Key and headed north. We made it to Steam Boat Creek anchorage in Barnes Sound. It is the place the mosquitoes attacked on the way south.  We anchored out far enough not to be reached this time. We had high winds and quite a bit of chop on the open sound. We sailed a little when the winds were not too fierce but only with the main up. Had nice sun and warmth during the day and a restful night. 

Day 58   2/28/16
We left Steamboat Ck anchorage heading for Coconut Grove, FL but the wind picked up and the chop got rough. We detoured to Sands Key and got in a protected spot. We had a calm evening and night.  We will decide about going on in the morning when we see what the wind has in store. 

We sailed a couple of times today when we were in wide open places. We used the jib alone but got a some speed out of it. Love turning off the motor and hearing silence when we sail. 
Out of cokes for over 24 hours.  My go thru withdrawal if I do not get some soon.  

Day 59   2/29/16
Happy Birthday to you '29ers. We took off from Sands Key and headed to Coconut Grove, FL and Dinner Key in the sunny blue warm morning. God is smiling on us. Wind only 3 to 5 kts but at least there is not vicious bouncing. We could not sail but it was a lovely day to motor.  We arrived at about 2 and grabbed a mooring ball. No trouble finding the one assigned at all. It is a big mooring field and it can be hard to find the right  ball sometimes.  We only took the ball because a free water taxi services the mooring field every hour from 8 til 5. That way you do not need to take your dinghy to shore to their  very crowded dinghy dock. 

Well did something today I have never done before and at my age that is saying something.  I was having a caffeine withdrawal headache cause I had been without a coke for 2 days. Mitch and Martha have pepsi on their boat. Not coke but still has caffeine.  We pulled up close beside them and Martha tossed a coke to me on the deck of our boat.  Unfortunately it fell slightly short and it did not float.  We swooped around again and this time Mitch tossed me a pepsi. Success !! I caught it.  Pepsi is not bad when you do not have coke.  

We caught the 3 oclock water taxi to shore paid for our mooring ball and checked out the laundry facilities for tomorrow. I found a coke machine put in a $5 bill and got $2.25 Change back. Expensive 20 oz coke. When we got on the water taxi Stricklands were already on there with several other folks. I asked Martha if I could kiss her husband, she said yes. I kissed him on the cheek and he had to explain to the people why that happened. Martha got a pic of me trying to catch the bottle. 

We have arranged for a car tomorrow and will get a new sump pump for the shower, get a few groceries, do laundry and eat a meal at a restaurant, or at least that is the plan. Plans have a way of changing.