Any Trip Wisdom?

Alexander · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:55 pm Post subject: Any Trip Wisdom?

We're going to take a week or two long cruise down to Miami - Key Largo- Islamorada area in Feb. We plan to spend a night or 2 on a mooring at Pennekamp State Park and the purpose for the trip is to have a shrimp salad on the beach at sunset at Loreli's in Islamorada. Looking for the Green Flash of course. Any other fun anchorages and good little places to go to shore and walk around? We don't care about marinas or resorts, strictly anchoring. Places to get water and groceries are always good. We have Active Captain on the computer but can always use good old experience of others. Thanks, Bob

Miafun1 · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:49 pm Post subject: Trip wisdom

Tarpon basin near Key Largo is a great place to anchor. Groceries are close. Dinghy to shore and go right a ways to a shopping center southeast side of highway one.
Active Captain has good information.

Alexander · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tip, I'll put it on my anchor list. It looks like we have twin boats. We're in Stuart so you went by us on your great trip to Marathon. Good pics. We haven't got our trailer yet but I was interested in how you liked using the boat for a camper. That was part of thinking when we bought it. We have plans for road cruising on our way to exploring other areas. Any tips?

thataway · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:55 pm Post subject:

Any of the C Dory make a great camper. Depending on time of year and where you are going, an air conditioner ($100 unit in the front window will work OK in most situations).

The other issue is gray and black water. We tried an adaptor to the thru hull from the galley, and ended up using a 2.5 gallon gas can with a separate hose from the galley sink to it, under the counter.

Pumping a marine type head/holding tank, can be a challange in a camp ground. We either waited until on the water, and a pump ot station, or used shore side facilities (as we did with the shower)

we have yet to have a camp ground refuse a C Dory as a "Camper"--especially when we show the host the rig and how we use it.

Will-C · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:46 pm Post subject: Any Trip Wisdom?

You can look up a place called Snook's Bayside has a small dock and a great happy hour and music not far from Tarpon basin on the bayside. Great food also. Also if you wander up the Marvin D Adams waterway which you will have to do to get from Pennecamp to the bayside. About four miles from Pennecamp headed south down Hawks channel and up a little canal is the Pilot House marina which has fuel and two decent restaurants Key Fisheries and the other is the Pilot House with a glass floor so you can watch the fish swim below. Happy days
D.D.

Casey · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:17 am Post subject:

Be sure to update your Active Captain database before you go. Very handy.

There are LOTS of good places to anchor but two that we particularly enjoyed were at Boca Chita Key (north end of Biscayne NP), and the cove on the ocean side adjacent to the north end of Curry Hammock SP on Little Crawl Key. Both are shown on Active Captain.

As you pass Elliott Key Harbor (Biscayne NP) check to see if it's open. NPS is in the process of rebuilding it, and I don't know if it's reopened or not. If open, it may be a good place for week days (not weekends, too many visitors). Personally, I like Boca Chita Key better, but check-out both.

Have a great trip!

Best,
C&M