Jumping into the Keys is like jumping into another world. Everything South of Key Largo revolves around Highway Rt 1 ... literally. In most areas, East to West is less than a half mile wide. The businesses line the road and the hospitality services area tucked into nooks and crannies of the Gulf or Ocean side. We had bought a pair of Segway Ninebot F35 scooters from Costco for the trip. They are perfect for this environment giving us a 12 - 15 mile range per day allowing us to hit restaurants, markets and tiki bars all over the islands. Aren't we cool?
The keys lifestyle is one of relaxation, social interaction and casual consideration for rules. The locals appreciate that their economy is visitor centered with the hospitality industry offering value discounts at every opportunity. Hey, if the day ends in a 'Y', it's a good day for happy hour!
Key Largo
Leaving the Everglades we had a 3 day window before our marina reservation in Marathon. We did an unusual thing heading north to Key Largo instead of south like most others. Key Largo is home to John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park.
From their web site:
Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of a kind, offering an amazing glimpse into the underwater world.
Renowned for being the country’s first undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses an impressive 70 nautical square miles. While many visitors view the park’s colorful coral reefs and teeming marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour, one can get an even closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling.
After meeting with the park rangers and mapping out the right reefs to snorkel, we took off and headed out. We forgot to consult Mother Nature. Upon entering the reef we snagged a mooring ball, donned our snorkeling gear and jumped in. With 3 foot waves.
The reef was stunning with fish galore and visibility well over 20 feet. The waves grew bigger. I loved it. My oldest son inquired if we had spotted the Great American Blob Fish (Smartass! Anyone want to buy a son?).
Before long, the waves were reaching 4+ feet and Terri was getting motion sick. It was time to leave, turns out, getting back on a boat in those conditions is really tough. The boat is going up and down with the waves threatening to squash you like a bug. That ended our day snorkeling ....
Islamorada
To get out of the winds and waves we headed south to the Islamorada gulf side. We found a perfect anchorage outside Lorelei restaurant. So Cool.
Lorelei's is a perfect Florida waterfront Tiki bar with live entertainment nightly. The food was good and the location even better. Entertainment that night was a magician that had debuted on America's Got Talent and apparently been featured at a milestone birthday for Jimmy Carter. He was amazing with birds appearing out of thin air, swallow a napkin and pull a flag out of his mouth and more.
What a hoot. It was worth paying a lot of money to see this and yet it was free. We spent two days there and enjoyed every minute. Went back to Mangrove Mike's for an awesome breakfast. The Keys lifestyle is addicting.
Marathon
Leaving Islamorada Key, we headed south to Marathon. Marathon Key has a relaxed vibe, surrounded by clear blue waters, and it feels a bit like a low-key city but with marine life. It is chocked full of restaurants, tiki bars, and other marinas.
During our stay at the Safe Harbor Marina, we were happy to catch up with Looper friends we hadn't seen in a while and made some new acquaintances. There were plenty of opportunities for (over) indulgence. One unexpected highlight was reconnecting with TJ and Lana Maloney, who have become cherished family friends through their close bond with my sister Catherine.
They had rented an Airbnb just south of Marathon and invited us for lunch. TJ, known for his exceptional culinary skills, treated us to a five-course lunch that amazed our taste buds. Each dish showcased his talent in the kitchen, making our visit a truly unforgettable and delicious affair.
TJ & Lana
Getting Together with Other Loopers
Experiencing the kindness of friends who make an effort to visit is truly special. During our time in Marathon, we were lucky to have two sets of dear friends join us, making our stay memorable.
First, Nancy Cason came from Raleigh, NC, and spent three great days with us. We explored Key West, enjoyed the lively atmosphere, and tried out places like Blue Heaven and LaTeDa for good food. It's worth mentioning that Nancy and I have a shared college history, as I used to be her RA. Over the years, Terri and Nancy have developed a strong bond and friendship.
Adding to the joy, Terri's college roommate, Mary, and her husband Greg, joined us for a relaxed and enjoyable long lunch. As an interesting twist, Mary was a fellow RA in college, and Mary's brother owns the well-known Key West LaTeDa. The moments we spent together were truly special, adding warmth, laughter, and the joy of cherished friendships to our journey.
A notable attraction in Marathon is the Turtle Hospital, a unique place with an interesting origin story. Richie Moretti, seeking retirement in the Florida Keys, initially opened a hotel to fund his golden years. As part of the hotel, an aquarium was added to attract guests.
The unexpected turn came in the 1980s when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze led to kids wanting to see real turtles but none were in the aquarium. This ultimately made Richie aware of the challenges turtles faced due to human impact on their habitats. Motivated to make a positive impact, he shifted the focus to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing turtles.
Recognizing the financial needs of this cause, Richie made a bold move. He turned the entire facility into a turtle hospital and opened it to the public to generate funds for the turtles' care. Today, this initiative reflects Richie's dedication and the resilience of the Turtle Hospital program.
Even in his 80s, Richie continues to lead the hospital, showing unwavering commitment to the well-being of these creatures. The Turtle Hospital not only provides a safe haven for turtles but also represents a community coming together to safeguard marine life.
To close out Marathon, how about a smile. Firsts ... Manatees! These guys were right by the boat most days. (You can make the videos full screen to see better).
And more smiles come with the night sky!
Bahia Honda (pronounced Ba-ee-a On-da) State Park
As our two-week stay in Marathon was coming to an end, we were eager to head back out to the open waters for Bahia Honda State Park. Upon arrival, we were struck by the natural beauty of the place. The marina at Bahia Honda, nestled within the park, has a quaint charm against the backdrop of green and blue waters.
The park, located on an appealing island, looked like a paradise with its serene beaches. Although our stay is going to be short—just two days—we are having a great experience. Bahia Honda State Park isn't just a brief stop; it's an impressive destination, showcasing the beauty that awaits those who explore its shores.
January 11 The Everglades Having grown up watching Gentle Ben, I was always awestruck by the very concept of the Everglades. I couldn't wait to actually see it. The idea of boating through it on my own craft was never really a childhood thought. It was too far fetched to consider. I have talked a bunch about the Shorebilly and it's versatility on the trip. Big Ben introduced the world to the airboat and made the shallows of the region notorious. One of the giant advantages of the Shorebilly her draft, which is only ~2 feet. Our first stop was Goodland. Here are two views of the navigation into the area. Dark red means less than one foot. Light red means 1 - 4 feet. These are essentially the same view just one is zoomed way in. Red is bad .... Click to enlarge But the Shorebilly went through without any problems. In the shallow areas I simply tilted up the engines and glided over everything. This from a boat that was able to also tame a 180 miles open water cro
April 11, 2024 Day 330 The InterCoastal Waterway We have really enjoyed the InterCoastal Waterway (ICW). Lots of areas (New Jersey .... Western Florida ...) list waterways as ICW. However, the ICW from the Florida Keys to Norfolk Va is managed and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Thus it tends to be deep and extremely well documented. For example, in my carting software (Aquamaps) I can overlay the USACE survey to see exact depths. To make this easier, a gent named Bob developed "Bob423 Tracks". No idea where the 423 comes from. Bob423 Tracks presents the optimum path through the ICW trying to keep boaters off the bottom. Almost daily Bob reads the reports of "shoaling" along the ICW and adjusts 1000+ mile route and posts these tracks for free for all boaters. There is great comfort in having an exact route to follow. But that is not the charm of the ICW. We were less than enamored by the Florida ICW. It was opulent and excessive to an ex
March 10, 2024 (Day 298) Finally, a day I can catch up on the blog. I have attempted this several times but the marina wifi was not strong enough to keep a link. Those of you following us on Nebo are probably wondering why we are stuck in Florida so long. Some have asked if we are having boat problems or health issues. No, all is good. The device we use for tracking us, Nebo Link, does not work with the Bahamian network so what it shows is as the last place it could communicate. We are in the Bahamas! The Crossing The crossing ... the crossing ... AGAIN??? Yea, it seems to be that I talk about that a lot. But you know ... heading 70 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean is more than a notion. We staged at Lake Worth near West Palm Beach Florida waiting for the right weather window. This time of year they are few and far between. We waited and waited. The difference between a good day and bad day looks like this: Bad Good The blue i
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Are you going out to the Dry Tortugas?
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