note - site causing lots of trouble tonight - some great pics won't load . . . will have to try another time (but you're missing some really good ones!)
So I spent most of the night worrying about what the next few days would bring. I really MUST learn to let things go! We went to bed early again - the sailor's schedule is setting in - and after very little sleep, I was up before the sun and we pulled up the anchor before 7.
I don't know why I get so worked up! We had a great day again today. Right when we pulled the anchor and headed into our first channel, a family of dolphins chose our boat to play in the bow wake. Rob wasn't exactly thrilled that I jumped out of the cockpit, throwing the boat on autopilot while I came up and looked. Of course, we WERE heading into a marked and curving channel that the autopilot wouldn't allow for . . . but REALLY - a family of dolphins! So amazing, nature! The water was so clear you could see them all below the surface and they sure were having a great time playing in the wake. Great way to start the day!
We were able to set the sails and make good progress but then not far into the day, the channel started filling up with crab traps. I'm telling you - they were EVERYWHERE. It's not like there isn't enough room throughout the keys to set these darn things without putting them directly in the ICW channel . . . and it meant no autopilot and the engine on because we spent literally hours (maybe 4?) dodging them every 30 seconds or so. Exhausting!
But in the end, it was a great day - we made 55 miles today which I don't think either of us thought possible or expected. We're anchored between the Fanny Keys behind Marathon. We have only 40 miles to go to get to Key West but will probably anchor a bit before that tomorrow to assure arriving in Key West during the morning with plenty of time to get a good anchorage and get settled.
Tonight after we anchored, we started doing the odd jobs that add up throughout the day and the sun started to sink near the horizon. There appeared to be some kind of storm brewing and I mentioned it to Rob. The sunset was absolutely amazing with the dark clouds hanging over the horizon and it stay colorful and changing for 45 minutes! Right in the middle of this amazing sunset, that squall line decided to move right over us and we were blasted with high winds and driving rain for maybe 5-10 minutes. It was crazy! So we got a good shower and lots of the salt on the boat finally was washed away and then we were treated to the continued sunset!
We had a delicious dinner of pasta with grilled veggies and feta cheese while watching a flock of hundreds of pelicans returning "home" to this spit of land we're anchored off of. Great time to retire early for another exciting day tomorrow!
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