After arrival at our initial anchorage in Marathon on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, the crews of Casstaway and EWWE2 dinghied into Boot Key Harbor to register at the Marathon City Marina and put our boats on the waiting list for mooring balls. Since Casstaway was here almost exactly two years ago, we are in the marina’s system and our check-in is relatively painless. But Eric and Wendy had to start from scratch, which involves registration papers and other fun stuff. If you are ever a first timer at Boot Key, be sure and hail the marina on channel 16 in advance or call ahead to see what you need to bring with. Both boats reserve space for a month, not sure exactly how long our stay will be, but knowing that Wendy and Eric will soon make a short land trip to see their grandbaby and we’ll be keeping an eye on EWWE2 while they are away.
Monday morning, February 15, we cruise into Boot Key Harbor searching for a place to set anchor for as long as needed until a mooring ball becomes available. There are 226 mooring balls at Boot Key and lots of boats crowding the very limited anchoring spots while waiting for openings. I mean no disrespect to those who love Boot Key with a passion, but anyone will admit – it’s crowded, particularly in the limited anchoring areas. It is a difficult adjustment for Tanya especially, to anchor in such close quarters. EWWE2 finds a spot relatively soon, but the Casstaway crew circles a number of times trying to figure out just which boats we’re going to try and wedge in between. After some very “hearty” discussion between Captain and Crew, we set anchor near EWWE2 and a dozen or so closest neighbors and pray that we all swing together. Hot showers at the marina will help calm frayed nerves.
Tuesday, February 16. Happy Birthday Captain Todd! Steaks on EWWE2 tonight. Tanya makes smashed potatoes, peas and carrots, and tries out the oven again to make birthday brownies.
Wednesday, February 17 Todd and Eric install a battery monitor on Casstaway and Wendy and Tanya spend the afternoon doing laundry at the marina. Tanya still has several more loads back on the boat, so this won’t be the last trip this week. Laundry done for the day, we shower ashore and return to the boat. But then surprise, surprise, the view from our cockpit is good friends Jim and Jolene Shoop, who pull into our small anchorage on their sail cat, Enchanted. You may remember from a prior post that the Shoop’s are dockmates from Regatta Pointe and our most recent sighting of Enchanted was last November – a lovely evening of sunset watching with Jim and Jolene in Pelican Bay. We knew they were headed this way but thought it would be another day or two.
Thursday, February 18 begins with leisurely coffee time atop Casstaway’s bow. The afternoon is spent making water and watching our trawler neighbors attempt to move their boat away from the channel (where they were mistakenly anchored) and also provide a little more breathing room for Casstaway. This turned into quite the chore as their boat has no power except for a portable generator (which they very noisily run every evening during our cocktail time). With no windlass, they literally drop anchor and pull it up by hand. So, today’s move required a friend to dinghy over and tow the trawler out of the channel to its new position and help reset the anchors. A little apprehensive because they set two anchors with short scope, 3:1 if lucky, which causes them to swing differently than everyone else in anchorage. A few exchanges with the boat’s crew and we learn that they have been here for eight months! We feel very blessed to have a lovely boat that actually takes us places.
A trip into the marina on Friday, February 19 to do another couple loads of laundry, shower, and pick-up our first package delivery. This one is coming from our mail service in North Carolina and includes 90 day supplies of most of our medications. EWWE2 hosts a lovely RPM reunion dinner of Chicken Pesto Pasta for the crews of Casstaway and Enchanted.
Saturday, February 20. The anticipated front arrived during the night. Winds from the North/Northeast have moved in and are predicted to pick-up, 20+ knots, throughout the day and into tomorrow. Combined with overcast skies it will make for a chilly couple of days – we’ll need to put the sides down on the “two-season room” (wet and dry) and add sweatshirts for tonight’s dinner of Cajun ham and bean soup.
Winds died down by Monday, February 22 and we ventured a dinghy trip to the marina to pick-up our Amazon orders and grab showers.
Tuesday, February 23. We have finally worked our way up the mooring ball waiting list and have relocated to our new home, Ball D8. Just in the nick of time, as our trawler neighbor’s anchors were still dragging too close for comfort, and two sailboats attempting to better their anchoring positions were having a very loud and fussy turf war just this morning. We were ready to make our hasty exit.
By Wednesday, February 24, Casstaway, EWWE2 and Enchanted have all relocated to the mooring field and are preparing to settle into Boot Key Life.
Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26 were bright, sunny days filled with trips ashore to do more laundry and showers, and three miles of walking as Todd and Tanya make a trip to Publix for a few supplies. Lots of animal activity in the harbor – we’ve seen manatee (pooping at the dinghy dock), dolphin, colorful jellyfish, and are often startled by the pelicans diving for dinner.
Saturday, February 27, Eric’s daughter Diana, who had come for a week’s visit, headed home. We enjoyed meeting her and sharing a couple evenings of fun and frivolity. But sadly, Jim and Jolene’s sweet seven-month-old puppy, Salty, was taken to his eternal home – having very quickly fallen ill on Thursday and even an emergency surgery couldn’t prevent his passing. Tonight, we’ll all gather to raise a toast to Salty.
Our good Noblesville, Indiana friends, Russ and Betsy Bullis, made the drive down from their winter home in Venice on Sunday, February 28 for a couple of days. They picked us up at the dinghy dock and we quickly agreed to make our first stop Lazy Days South at Marathon Marina for a waterfront cocktail and appetizer. Then off to get R&B settled in their hotel and a quick trip to Publix for groceries and beverage supplies. Back at Boot Key we loaded people and goodies into the dinghy and headed out to Casstaway for a relaxing afternoon/evening of card playing, snacks, drinks, and gourmet burgers on the grill. Tomorrow, Monday, March 1 we’ll all take the bus (only $1.00 each way for us seniors) to make the three-hour round-trip ride to Key West.
It was a gorgeous, hot sunny day in Key West, but a nice breeze for just walking around town, people-watching, and enjoying some delicious food and libations. In Key West face coverings are required even on the public streets, so we felt safer in the crowds, but it was definitely uncomfortable in the hot weather. Hence, we were forced to do a lot of eating and drinking just so we could take masks off for a break. We ended the day again back at Lazy Days South for sunset-watching and a light dinner after finding that Castaways was closed for a private party and Sunset Grill was packed – we are definitely now in high season, Covid or no.
Tuesday, March 2 was spent doing a few boat chores and the now routine showers and package pick-up ashore. Drinks aboard EWWE2 as it is Wendy and Eric’s last evening before leaving tomorrow for some family visiting and errands on land. Here’s wishing them safe travels and good times.
More of Casstaway’s days in Boot Key yet to come…
I love reading about all your adventures! How long will you be there? And are you coming back to IN in the summer? Don splurged for a kind of extravagant Christmas gift— a gift certificate for 2 nights in one of the Art Suites at the Conrad. We are thinking a party one night would be, as Don’s dad used to say, “just the ticket!”. We’ll try to plan when you’re here if you think it may be in July, August or Sept.
Happy belated birthday to the Captain!
Deb
Love your adventure s, thanks for sharing
We’ll be in Indy from mid June until early September, with the exception of a week in July to spend the 4th with my sister and see friends in Missouri. A downtown party would be awesome! Miss you guys! We are buddy boating with some friends who are having work done on their boat so we’ve decided to hang out here in Boot Key til mid-April.