On to the Keys

The morning we left Everglades City and the Rod and Gun Club, we had to wind our way back down the Barron River and through the mangrove swamps of the Everglades to the open Gulf. On our way we spot this huge area of "white something" on the far bank. What could it be?????????..........

As we get closer, the answer becomes clearer..........

Hundreds, if not thousands of White Pelicans, roosting on a sandbar, soaking up the sun!!

Back out in the open Gulf again with 92 miles to go before reaching the Keys.

Our first stop in the Keys was at Marathon, but we only stayed one night there because the slip they had for Ithaka    was too small to handle her 14' beam. Luckily, the marina at the Naval Air Station on Key West had a slip available for a retired Marine, so we moved the 42 miles down to Key West the next day. 

Not only is this a great marina, with better everything than Marathon, instead of paying $3.89 per foot per day to stay at Marathon, we are only charged $1.00 per foot per day to stay at Key West. It makes a huge difference when your boat is 42' long!

The view from our sundeck on our first night in Key West.

After 286 days since we began our trip and 5,838 miles under our keel, I don't think anyone will question why we plan to stay here at least thirty days! Just another day in paradise!