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Published: March 26th 2011
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Through one of the cuts
mangroves and clear waters Thursday morning we left Shell Key and continued up the ICW through the waters of Florida Bay bearing names as colorful as the greens and blues of the waters themselves: Cotton Key Basin, Buttonwood Sound, Tarpon Basin, Blackwater Sound, Barnes Sound, Little Card Sound, and, finally, Card Sound. We skirted the boundary of Everglades National Park, which extends way down into Florida Bay until we reached Jewfish Creek, where the NP boundary turned north to run parallel to US 1. We traversed the sometimes narrow passes and cuts: Steamboat Channel, Cowpens Cut, Ramshorn Cut, Baker Cut, Grouper Creek, Dusenbury Creek and Jewfish Creek.
At the north end of Card Sound, within sight of Biscayne Bay, we dropped our anchor. The wind was moderate, but forecast to calm and change direction, but instead intensified, and our anchor slipped. So we moved back to the south of end of Card Sound and again anchored, this time in calmer waters. Soon the winds dropped and changed directions, but we were secure. We watched the sun set over the cooling canals from the nuclear plant at Turkey Point and celebrated Sara and Trevor’s safe arrival in Bimini.
Friday morning should have been a
Florida Bay
Buttonwood Sound fairly quick jaunt to Matheson Hammock marina, but heavy fog kept us at anchor until 10:30. Biscayne Bay was smooth and beautiful, in shades of turquoise. We spotted the faux lighthouse on Boca Chita Key, the lighthouse on Fowey Rock, and finally the Cape Florida light. The tall buildings of downtown Miami, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach came into view. There was a sailboat regatta underway up ahead. The boat traffic was minimal and most minded their manners, not counting the go-fast fishermen in a big rush with their big wakes. Pretty peaceful for Biscayne Bay, but it was a weekday.
We pulled into Matheson Hammock marina and got fuel before pulling into a slip where our boat will rest for the next week. The pumpout was blocked by a boat that had broken down, so we’ll have to go down in the next day or two to get the toilet emptied. Kerry wants to change the oil, too, and I desperately need to vacuum the boat.
So we’re settled for the week at Mom’s in Miami Springs. Oh boy, Fox News and TBN.
More later.
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Martha
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Florida Bay
So happy for you guys to be on this exciting adventure! Sounds like something different every day. What a life! Thanks for letting us share in your travels!