Return to Marathon

One of the boats used by Cuban refugees to flee the island.

Engine exhaust tube, prop and rudder

The ruder and propeller are cut from a piece of 1/4" steel.

The interior, note the bench seating not very comfortable for the long trip.

The boat seems to be made of some sort of thin plastic or fiber planks on a wood frame, all held together by glue and hundreds of small steel bolts We left Key West and drove to Marathon where Marsha and I stayed. Ray and Tena continued on to the Lake Okeechobee area to visit friends and do some Bass fishing. We found every thing fine on the boat.

Across the street from the marina in Marathon there is one of the boats, about 17 feet long and maybe 5 feet wide, used by Cuban refugees for the 90 or so mile crossing to the Keys I was told they usually load about 10 people into a boat this size. The boat is powered by a small engine, the construction is very flimsy, it shows the desperation of these people to get to the US.

Monday in Key West

The obligatory picture at Southernmost Point

Hemmingway's House

His Bathtub, not very fancy or big

Sunset Key one of the spoil islands the Navy made during WWII to portect the Naval base from enemy submarine attack.


The sunset from Sunset Key

This morning we went down town to visit the Southernmost point of the mainland US and have our picture taken there. Next we walked to a Butterfly consevancy for an interesting tour. After that we visited Ernest Hemmingway's house, it was very interesting to see the furnishings and many documents and books written by and about him. On the ground there are lots of six toed cats descendants of a six toed one given to Hemmingway when he was living here.
We had lunch at El Siboney, a local Cuban restaurant, Cuban sandwiches, platanos maduros, tostones, and Sangria all very good.

In the evening we took a boat to Sunset Key, a small island just off the coast, the Windham Hotel has a resort there, the restaurant is on the beach and is a prime spot to watch the sunset. The food was very good also.

Tomorrow morning we go back to Marathon, Ray and Tena drop us off at the boat and they go on to Lake Okeechobee for some bass fishing.

Sunday Marathon to Key West

Key West, Marsha Tena and Ray

Galleon Marina

One of many nicely restored B&B's in the town

The Key West Light house, built early 1800's operated till 1960's We left Marathon with Ray and Tena about 10 AM, our rooms weren't ready for check in when we got to the hotel around noon so we went into town to have a look around. It is Spring Break now so there are lots of college students everywhere, most seemed pretty well behaved. We had lunch at a seafood restaurantnear the Galleon Marina and later in the evening wtched the sunset from the roof top bar of a downtown hotel. Later we had dinner in town.

Saturday, Marathon

Getting ready to watch the sunset

The sunset

It was very windy last night and most of the day, temps in the mid 60s but sunny.

I took a walk to West Marine for a couple of things I needed. Our friends the Riches from Thibodaux arrived here about 2 pm. We had a late lunch with them then went to the Marathon Seafood Festival where there were lots of activities and crafts for sale along with the seafood. After we left the festival we went back to the marina to have a drink as we watched the sun set.

We plan to leave for Key West tomorrow mid morning.

Friday, Marathon

I brought the rental car back to Enterprise at the Marathon air port at 9 AM then they brought me back to the marina, that is a convenient thing about Enterprise, they will pick you up to get the car then drop you off when you return it.
Then I changed the oil (4 gal.) and filter on the Cummins (main) engine. We had lunch at a BBQ place across the highway from the marina. After lunch I changed the fuel filters on the Cummins engine and the generator.
It has been warm, low 80', and cloudy with rain in the evening. Miami and central Florida had some bad thunderstorms but happily they did not affect us. Dinner on board.

Thursday, to Key West by Car

Bahia Honda State Park on the way to Wey West, note the seaweed piled up on the beach

The MV JB Magruder one of Mel Fishers treasure hunter boats, Mel Fisher discovered the wreck of the Atocha in 1992.
For more information on Mel Fishers Salvage operations click on this link http://www.melfisher.com/

Lunch at Stock Island's seafood market with the Boelitzs

Key West Land Yacht.

Today we drove the car down to Key West to see friends boating there, it is about 40 miles from Marathon. On the way we stopped at Bahia Honda State Park, it is a spot many cruisers stop at in their boats. The waters and beaches are very nice but this time of year there seems to be a lot of seaweed floating around and washing up on the beaches.

We stopped at Stock Island which is just North of Key West the Boelitz s who we had met in New iberia are there in their boat it is a 63 foot shrimp trawler they have converted to a cruising trawler. They left Louisiana in the fall and will be here a while longer before heading up the east coast. We had a nice visit and lunch with them.

Next we drove to Key West and parked the car for a walk down town it is very interesting we will be back there for a couple of days this weekend so will have more on it then.

At the Galleon Marina in Key West we stopped to see cruisers who we had met when they passed through Houma last fall on their way here from Texas. We had a nice visit with them on their boat at the marina before returning to Marathon.

It was a nice warm day today cloudy and breezy but no rain.
This morning I went to one of the local hospitals I had contacted about having my monthly blood test to determine my Coumadin dosage. It was quite simple, I had brought the instructions from the clinic in Thibodaux the test is done here the results are faxed to the clinic in Thibodaux, my doctor looks at them and his nurse calls me the next day with his recomendations.
When I got back to the boat I changed the oil and oil filter of the generator engine In the next couple of days I'll do the main engine oil and filter change and the fuel filters on both. We went to a Nearby Cuban restaurant for lunch the Tostones (fried green plantains) were great the rest of the food was just OK. After lunch drove up the main highway north for a while just to see what was there there is a very nice State Park and beach the beaches I have seen here have had lots of seaweed washed ashore I dont know if it is normally like that or a seasonal thing.
When we got back to the boat I took a walk to the nearby West Marine to buy the Marine charts I need for the trip up the east coast of Florida. they have them but advertize they will be 25% off on St Patrick's Day (WHY?) so I'll buy it then.
Tomorrow we'll drive down to Key West to look around and visit friends in their boat there.