BOOT KEY AT MARATHON February 10, 2009

Tom woke up about 7, the sun is up, the gnats are biting and we are off in minutes, minutes, minutes. There are so many lines anchoring Catrina. We must pull in everyone, some with anchors stuck in the muck! Let's see, we had two tied together on the port side, four tied together on the starboard and one at each end - that’s eight? When we finally get into the middle of the Little Shark River (we never saw a shark) and start coiling the lines and stowing the anchors, we smell like mangrove scent! Our hair is still clean but that is about all!

Last night we decided to have a Refresher Course on changing the Settee table to a queen bed. We found that the easiest method is to strip off the cushions, lower the table and then replace the cushions. We first tried it with the cushions to the sides but they kept slipping into the work area.. Tom was in charge of electrical and co-axial lines. Okay, now we know how to teach our first guests how to make their bed! We lay back and watch Obama at his first press conference. This bed is actually a little bigger than a queen but we are not sure which direction we want our head to face. The mast post adds variety to this central bed!

Today we head for Marathon Key. It is a 40 mile straight shot if the wind continues from the east. The spinnaker is flying and will as long as the wind stays 55 or more degrees off our port bow and it does not get too strong.

Mid morning we felt a big jolt. The top of the spinnaker ripped down the windward side. An extra large puff hit us and took us way over 15 mph. During this strong wind we were able to each grab a bottom side and pull the spinnaker on to the foredeck. If it went into the water, our job would be monumental. Then Tom pulled the sleeve down as far as it would go and hugged the rest. Debbie lowered the Halyard and we stuffed it in the spinnaker bag and stowed it until we found a sailmaker. That was more excitement than we needed! Sorry no pictures. All hands were busy.

Catrina approached the 7 Mile Bridge south of Marathon Key. Look for the cut in the old bridge which we pass through first and then under the new bridge. Two sailboats were following us all the way to Marathon and we wanted to get to the Marina before them so we could be next in line for a buoy. They must have turned off before the bridge because we never saw them after that!


As we motored 3 miles up the Atlantic side, we saw a group of boats moored along the boundary of Boot Key.
As we approach the second bridge, the one to Boot Key, we look back at the moored boats.
Tom calls the bridge master and he raises the bridge for us. We could see many sailboats through the gap. We covered 40 miles in 7 hours.

As we move from marker 1 to 22 we see many catamarans located among the moored boats. Debbie starts counting but stops when she gets to 15 with no PDQ’s.

Marathon City Marina consists primarily of buoys. We took Tigger up to register. You can reserve one by the day, week or month. We are about 12th on the waiting list for 35 feet and under boats. The majority of the boats are sailboats with some trawlers. We know sailboats were a novelty on the Rivers but they are a majority here.

We stopped at our Canadian friends Pat and Colin boat. They invited us aboard and gave us some good ideas about the area. We look forward to seeing them again.

On the Atlantic side of Boot Key Bay is a space for boats waiting for buoys. We dropped our anchor there at no charge. When we returned to Catrina, Tom put in a stern anchor while Debbie cooked dinner - Beef Stew with extra vegetables and sauerkraut with bread. We may have fruit later!

As the night grew dark, we turned on the light at the top of the mast and soon we could see lots of lights high in the air!

EVERGLADES February 9, 2009

The moon was just setting before the sun got up. We took one look and decided it was too early to get up yet. After all, we are retired!
Mid morning as we left Catrina in Tigger to explore the everglades, we looked back. We discovered that many open waterways from our home for the night.

Water, Snack Bars, Bug and Sun Cream, Camera, and Apples - Oh, yes, Hats and Rain Gear, and we are off. We had selected a circular route along narrow canals for our morning adventure. Mangroves were everywhere. We had read that hardwoods were in the Everglades but we did not find any.
The mangroves on Little Shark River LSR grow out and up. They are not short and could be called trees!
The tide was flowing out and the many mangrove roots showed. Roots were caked with mud. At Low Tide, this group of Mangrove Roots look like a sci-fi back drop.

Part of our trip took us to Ponce de Leon Bay which opens on to the Gulf. The trees along the Bay were dead and we wonder if a hurricane has passed a number of years ago.

We arrived back at Catrina to find the tide was pulling her in the opposite direction. Our two anchors had dug in and with Debbie cleating one line on the wrong end, we had a major job pulling them up. Finally after many words and lots of muscle work, the anchors were up and we moved Catrina just off the entrance to the LSR. That would subtract 10 miles from our trip tomorrow.
Tom added side lines in addition to the Bow and Stern Anchors. The Stern picture shows the two lines to the banks. We hope this will stabilize our satellite contact.

Tom also attached the two traveler cam cleats which has ripped out a few days ago when Debbie back winded the main. A big puff lifted her into the air, removing both cleats and depositing her on her back on the transom. The traveler allows the angle of the boom to be adjusted windward or leeward. Debbie was holding it windward to trap more air and give us forward momentum.

After lunch on Catrina, we were off in Tigger up the LSR. We ran all the way to Oyster Bay, which is on the Wilderness Trail (a boat/canoe path through the Everglades from Everglade City to Flamingo). We bounced quickly along on the waves being kicked up by the wind on this wider section of LSR.
On the way home we picked a more gentle speed and side canals. We stopped for snacks up a narrow route between the mangroves. It was close to high tide and we were right up next to the mangrove roots.

We found an entrance to this secret spot where no one passing could see us easily.

The mangroves formed a canapé over our heads

We ran down to the entrance of LSR and four boots were already in residence. A black Cat Boat from Ontario was headed north from the Keys. The Gemini 150 MC also was traveling north and had dropped anchor right in the middle of the River. He was from Ohio - Lake Erie.

Back home we treated ourselves to showers. Tom tried a little fishing until the gnats got him and Debbie made the dinner of fresh Tomatoes and Onions, Carrots, Tuna Salad and Baked Beans.

LITTLE SHARK RIVER February 8, 2009

The Alarm rang at 6:45 and we were off by 7 a.m. Tom headed Catrina for the 951 Bridge and Debbie documented the sunrise (above). At the advice of Loopers Sarah and Ted who winter at Marco Island, we departed the city by the inland south route up the Marco River. This would eliminate having to go out so far into the Gulf around Cape Romano Shoal.

The Marco River is very scenic but we may have made a major error in selecting this route. First we were sailing directly into the sun with very poor visibility. We left at mean low tide. Later we confirmed that we were at LOW low tide. This happens each year in January and February. We saw a lot more of the river bottom than we anticipated.

Please look closely at the mud flat and note the tracks across it. They are not ours but were made by other boats rubbing their bottoms!
We crept along watching both of our depth finders closely and our charts. Did I mention this was the BIG Marco River not the Little Marco River, if there is one. We passed under the 92 Bridge, 2/3 of the way to the Gulf. Next was Goodland and the patriotic Old Marco Restaurant and Trailer Park. We entered Coon Key Pass. Our depth finder was beeping which indicates a 4 foot or less depth. We foraged ahead at barely one mile and hour.

When we pass Coon Key Island (above) and then Coon Key Light, we enter Gullivan Bay which is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico where depths should be 5 to 7 feet.

After studying the Charts we head up the north side of Coon Key. So far we have not seen one Coon. The Depth Finders move from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1.5 and we are pushing sand with our propellers. We backed up and tried another route. Same story. Maybe we picked the wrong side of the island. We tried the other side and the front depth finder registers zero and then nothing. Since it is in the bow, we either coated the bottom with thick sand or we are aground. Tom was able to back Catrina up so we weren’t aground. Tom was not ready to accept defeat and went back to the north Coon Key shore. This time he went up the left side and again the remaining rear depth (fish) finder showed 1.5 feet. Please remember our draft is about 3 feet deep. Maybe the depth finder lied or wasn’t accurate at low numbers. We continued slowly with both motors and after what seemed a very long time, the depths began to slowly got bigger 2 - 3 - 4 . Whew! We could see Coon Key Light in the distance. If the bottom was anything but sand, we would be buying new propellers and maybe motors, fins and rudders.

We passed Coon Key Light (that is Marco Island on either side of the light) and entered Gullivan Bay about 10 a.m. In three hours we had gone only 10 to 12 miles. But we could look back at Coon Key Island and know we had beaten nature!

Catrina is not quite as filled with instrumentation as an airplane but you be the judge.

Left of this picture are the primary Radio, Radar and Gear Throttles. The top row holds the GPS, the main Eyes of the Craft. Next down on the left is the Fish Finder which contains the Stern Depth Finder. The Compass sits in the middle. Under the Fish Finder is our second Radio and Air Horn. The bottom instruments are Speed, Depth (bow), Wind (direction and speed) and Auto Pilot. On the adjacent side wall are Motor RPMs and a blow horn. Tom cleverly placed the GPS so that it could be turned to face the Settee inside. The Auto Pilot has a Controller which can be used in the settee or front deck. On the left an indoor/outdoor Thermometer is mounted next to the Controller holder and on the Nav Station.

From Coon Key Light to Little Shark River is about 35 to 40 miles. Debbie is not sure the inner route saved us any mileage but it was scenic and exciting!

Little Shark River was reached about 4:30 after slow and fast sailing, spinnaker and no spinnaker sailing and some motor assisted sailing. A few motor boats, a fishing boat, a crabber and one beautiful blue trimmed sailboat passed us.

Can you pick out the entrance of Little Shark River? I’ll give you a hint. It is in the picture below!
We were not the first! Most of the boats you see will be leaving in the morning.

As we spent the next hour or more motoring up LSR, we saw many different sides of the everglades which we well explore tomorrow.

About 6 p.m. after 11 hours and about 50 miles on the water plus 10 in the everglades, we pulled off LSR in what we hoped with be a secluded spot for the night. We don’t have internet here but we do have satellite TV. Our nearest neighbor was down river a ways. The Moon was full and the night was so quiet we could hear all the everglade night sounds! This Debbie’s favorite night yet of this wonderful trip!