BoaterHomer
New member
Behind again on posting details about this trip. Oh, well. Life is relaxed in the keys!
The weather continues to be fabulous. Gorgeous. Amazing. Perfect. Casey did this trip in 2010 and it was bitterly cold. I'm so happy its been warm this time around. It may change but so far, we've had a couple of incredible weeks.
Bahia Honda State Park marina was the most expensive marina we've stayed at so far on this trip (that will change when we get to Key West!). But at $2/foot it was very nice. Showers were a bit of a walk but were clean, hot and had great pressure. There was a beautiful beach (the only natural sand beach in the keys), a nice lagoon for the boats to tie up around (as opposed to the old half docks at Pennecamp), no bugs, fabulous ice cream cones, and the best part is that my young cousin is the naturalist there and took us home with her (to No Name Key) for dinner. Her boyfriend (who could be a chef) grilled up a WONDERFUL whole mutton snapper he had just caught and it was a delightful and delicious evening.
This photo is of Bahia Honda with the historic railroad bridge in the background:
The next night was on Ramrod Key tied up behind our friend Linda's house...in fact, this is our third night there. First night: catching up with Linda and then dinner of excellent pizza at the famous No Name Pub near No Name Key (but actually on Big Pine Key). Awesome place with thousands of dollar bills on every surface. Fun enough that Casey bought the T-shirt.
Second day: we dropped Linda at her job and used her truck to bum around Key West for 9 hours until it was time to pick her up again. We drove around NAS Key West Sigsbee stopping at the commissary and the exchange. And drove out to the marina at NAS KW Boca Chica to scout out options for our boat trip farther south. We were pleasantly surprised that they (currently) have lots of space and its only $1/foot for retired military. (So we will be probably be staying there tomorrow or the next day). We then did the mandatory touristy Key West stuff - watched the sunset on Mallory Square, had drinks and dessert at a wonderful Cuban place called El Meson de Pepe (beautiful garden setting decorated with lights), and then walked Duval Street. We slept very well!
Third day (today): another gorgeous day. The morning was slightly cooler and the locals called it "cold". (It was 70 degrees). We went snorkeling and I watched Linda and Casey dive down and catch about 15 lobster. (I watched because I didn't have a fishing license...plus it was a lot easier
). Only five were large enough to keep but hey, five lobsters made a great supper!
After snorkeling, Casey drove into Marathon to check out those binoculars and I went back out with Linda on her 19' Boston Whaler for an awesome mangrove tour ... FAST and lots of fun.
Over the last few days we've visited, done our laundry, played hard, and eaten VERY well. Tomorrow we plan to head out and continue on south toward Key West. Not sure if we will make it down to Boca Chica tomorrow night or if we will find a little nook somewhere to anchor in for a cozy evening, just the two of us, for some rest and the ultimate relaxation we seem to find only when anchored out.
The weather continues to be fabulous. Gorgeous. Amazing. Perfect. Casey did this trip in 2010 and it was bitterly cold. I'm so happy its been warm this time around. It may change but so far, we've had a couple of incredible weeks.
Bahia Honda State Park marina was the most expensive marina we've stayed at so far on this trip (that will change when we get to Key West!). But at $2/foot it was very nice. Showers were a bit of a walk but were clean, hot and had great pressure. There was a beautiful beach (the only natural sand beach in the keys), a nice lagoon for the boats to tie up around (as opposed to the old half docks at Pennecamp), no bugs, fabulous ice cream cones, and the best part is that my young cousin is the naturalist there and took us home with her (to No Name Key) for dinner. Her boyfriend (who could be a chef) grilled up a WONDERFUL whole mutton snapper he had just caught and it was a delightful and delicious evening.
This photo is of Bahia Honda with the historic railroad bridge in the background:
The next night was on Ramrod Key tied up behind our friend Linda's house...in fact, this is our third night there. First night: catching up with Linda and then dinner of excellent pizza at the famous No Name Pub near No Name Key (but actually on Big Pine Key). Awesome place with thousands of dollar bills on every surface. Fun enough that Casey bought the T-shirt.
Second day: we dropped Linda at her job and used her truck to bum around Key West for 9 hours until it was time to pick her up again. We drove around NAS Key West Sigsbee stopping at the commissary and the exchange. And drove out to the marina at NAS KW Boca Chica to scout out options for our boat trip farther south. We were pleasantly surprised that they (currently) have lots of space and its only $1/foot for retired military. (So we will be probably be staying there tomorrow or the next day). We then did the mandatory touristy Key West stuff - watched the sunset on Mallory Square, had drinks and dessert at a wonderful Cuban place called El Meson de Pepe (beautiful garden setting decorated with lights), and then walked Duval Street. We slept very well!
Third day (today): another gorgeous day. The morning was slightly cooler and the locals called it "cold". (It was 70 degrees). We went snorkeling and I watched Linda and Casey dive down and catch about 15 lobster. (I watched because I didn't have a fishing license...plus it was a lot easier
). Only five were large enough to keep but hey, five lobsters made a great supper! After snorkeling, Casey drove into Marathon to check out those binoculars and I went back out with Linda on her 19' Boston Whaler for an awesome mangrove tour ... FAST and lots of fun.
Over the last few days we've visited, done our laundry, played hard, and eaten VERY well. Tomorrow we plan to head out and continue on south toward Key West. Not sure if we will make it down to Boca Chica tomorrow night or if we will find a little nook somewhere to anchor in for a cozy evening, just the two of us, for some rest and the ultimate relaxation we seem to find only when anchored out.
