Cruising with "Best Mate": Key West to Islamorada, Fl

Total Miles Traveled 1868

We cruised 85 miles from our marina at Stock Island to Islamorada, at Plantation Key. We departed at first light Friday the 16^th and arrived 11 hours later at the marina. The ocean side was a little choppy but after passing under the 7 mile bridge at Marathon, we entered Florida Bay and much better conditions.

We had a great time at Key West!

Our favorite hangout, the Green Parrot

The Hogfish restaurant.

If you like Bloody Mary’s, the Blue Macaw will pour you a shot of vodka and let you make your own.

Somebody’s getting ready for Saint Patty’s Day

We visited the Rum Runner Distillery.

Our friends from “Chasing 80” Kevin and Jill came by one morning, carting their dive gear and offered to clean the bottom of our boat. It doesn’t take long for a boat sitting in salt water to have sea life start making a home. Thanks Kevin!

This stingray swam by the next day.

The biggest sailboat I have seen yet tied up to the fuel dock last week (they didn’t have a slip big enough for it). The boat “Twizzle” is a 189 foot ketch sailing yacht that can reach a top speed of 17 knots, that’s trawler speed x 2 !

At night, the top of the mast have red lights to warn local air traffic.

We cruised about 6 miles out to Sambo Reef and tied to a mooring ball for lunch. The bridle line that I attached to the mooring ball got caught on the anchor and I pulled my lower back trying to free it.

Our friends from “GypSea” Mark and Jody, the drinks we are having are called Painkillers. I had one for medicinal purposes only, due to my lower back issue.

The Kopok Tree, pretty cool.

Can you believe the artwork on this van was done with a sharpie!

No more quarters needed at the laundry! We were issued a debit card; you insert it in the machine and put cash in the money slot. The cash is transferred to the debit card. The washers and dryers will only accept the debit card so you insert the card and it deducts the amount from the card. The only catch is you do not get a refund on money left on the card and it must be returned to the marina on departure.