It’s been a very quiet week. We’ve only seen a few fishing boats go by our anchorage. It’s been calm too with the boat barely moving. The weather has been picture perfect, blue sky days, day time temps in the low 80’s and low 60’s overnight. The only downside is the pesky no-seeums that come out in full force just before dark. We’ve needed our screens and have had to stay inside starting around 4:30 in the afternoon.
We got up very early one morning – before 4 a.m., bundled up in blankets, mostly to keep the bugs away, and sprawled out on the deck to watch the most amazing meteor shower. We turned out the anchor lights and it was completely dark, a cloudless sky and very, very quiet. All of a sudden we heard a huge sound and we all jumped – it was a dolphin surfacing next to the boat! He sounded huge in the dark!
We’ve also managed most days to go exploring. It’s a long 2 mile dinghy ride to the most beautiful uninhabited islands. One of the islands had a beautiful beach stretching all down one side, with mangrove trees, and a swampy area in middle. Another island had a smaller beach but it had a beautiful tidal pool to explore. We saw such an abundance of sea creatures, most of which were unfamiliar. We took lots of pictures so we can do research when we get to the library in Marathon.
Coleen and I took the dinghy early one evening –(just before bug time) and explored through the mangroves islands. We stopped so she could fish for a bit, and no sooner had she launched the line of her princess fishing pole – did she catch a white cat fish – a Sail Catfish that is. I had a heck of a time trying to get the lure out and finally had to cut it free. She caught two cat fish during our time here.
We made it into Everglades City on Sunday. It was very quaint, but unfortunately not particularly friendly to cruisers as they did not have a town dock – or really anywhere to tie up and explore – unless you wanted to buy lunch. We would have done that, but I had no money – which goes back to the nearly lost wallet episode of a couple of weeks ago. I’m still waiting to get a mail drop to get my new ATM card delivered. We’re down to a few coins at this point and any place that takes American Express – hard to find in a little town.
Anyway we finally found a dock at the very edge of town that belonged to a place that gives airboat rides. It was huge and empty. I went in and asked if we could tie up and they agreed! We took a walk around the entire town – in about 30 minutes J Unfortunately the museum was closed on Sunday – so we missed that.
So as soon as we get to Marathon, I’m having a pina colada, and maybe even an ice cream – and even a big glass of iced tea. I cannot wait to have ice again! I’ve tried this cruising without ice and it’s not for me.
And one other item – saving the best for last. I actually get to have a 3 week vacation starting just after Christmas – and we’re headed to the Bahamas. We’re going to island hop for 2 weeks and save one week for “shit happens” --- which probably means waiting for a good weather window to do the crossing – there and back.
I know it just sounds wrong to be sitting in the 10,000 islands, heading to the Keys tomorrow, while planning a trip to the Bahamas – but someone has to do it.