Big Pine Key, No Name Key

We took a little trip today.....looking for some hiking......wildlife.......a change of scenery.  We got a map at the National Key Deer Refuge visitor center and hit all three hiking trails......none of which was longer than a mile :/

My, what big teeth you have!

Very different terrain from our favorite northern Michigan trails!

Controlled fires encourage pine rockland forest growth and inhibit tropical hardwood growth. The pine forest is critical habitat for Key Deer.

Ibis

Flat trails

Between trails #2 and #3 we stumbled upon the No Name Pub where David and his friend, Joe, had gone several decades ago.  It's still there and they're still serving homemade pizzas (although we had grouper sandwiches).

Yes, we found it!

We saw several Key Deer on Big Pine and No Name Keys.  They aren't afraid of people, that's for sure!  They're smaller than whitetail deer, maybe three feet tall at the most.

Key Deer are an endangered species.  Once there were only 50 left on these islands.  Now there are more than 600.

Cute little things!

Looking east (?) from the end of No Name Key

This trail should have been called The One-Mile Trail That Leads Nowhere.

Little did we know this trail would lead nowhere. 

We suspect the area floods with storm surges because we saw lots of things along the trail that belong in the ocean (horseshoe crab).

Shell

Crab pot marker

Unfortunately, we saw two boys on miniature motorcycles :(

The trail that lead nowhere -- it was a nice day for a walk...sunny, breezy, and 70 degrees :)

We rented a car for a week.  Duncan visits in two days!

The abandoned railroad bridge on our drive back to Virginia Dare

Dinghy to Boot Key Harbor

Two days ago, after finishing morning boat chores, we hopped in the dinghy and explored Boot Key Harbor.  They have HUNDREDS of moorings and a waiting list to get one!  When David called a month ago, the lady chuckled and said she'd put us on their list.  Plan B was formed and we ended up with an oddly shaped slip at a nearby marina.

Heading into Boot Key Channel

Crab boat and an abandoned marina just beyond

Hundreds of boats on moorings in Boot Key -- rows and rows of them!

And some very odd looking floating structures

Got pride!

This sailboat is from Onekama, Michigan!

Second floor addition?

Huge dinghy dock

Taking in the sights

Shallow - seagrass beds

Abandoned draw bridge

Pelicans everywhere

Just around the corner from Virginia Dare

Went for a swim!

Quick post......more to come in the next few days.

We spent Sunday night on the north side of Rodriguez Key.  After the anchor was set, we went for a swim and I tested the waterproof camera.  Voila!  Photos of Virginia Dare at anchor.  Of course, next time, I'll get the whole mast in the side view.....

Blue sky and warm water

Virginia Dare and toes

Virginia Dare at anchor just north of Rodriguez Key, Florida

:)

Dinghy motor mounted on the stern

 

Exciting day!

Well, we had a very restful 12(!) days in a quiet marina in North Palm Beach, but David was getting twitchy so it was time to move south.  Leaving North Palm this morning was mildly eventful: two rescue boats zoomed past us on the ICW with their sirens blasting (there was a report of a capsized boat off the near shore), two freighters were on their way into the Lake Worth inlet as we were heading out, and add to that several dozen fishing boats heading out for the day (they are always in a hurry).

This is one of the reasons why Florida is cracking down on visiting boats!

Always dredging the channels

There were ~100 boats anchored south of Peanut Island waiting to make the jump to the Bahamas!  Weather conditions just haven't been ideal for that.

One of this morning's freighters

But after we entered the ocean, conditions couldn't have been better for sailing......12-17 knots of easterly wind moved us along at 6-7 knots with the main and headsail up.......nearly perfect.  Just when we were settling into enjoying the sail (ie, not listening to the engine roar), one of our new fishing rods came to life!

Back story......David bought two salt water rods with Penn Senator reels while we were in North Palm.  We later bought lures from West Marine -- one for tuna and the other, sadly named Lil Stubby, for other fish.  Of all the lures in that endless aisle, Lil Stubby most resembled Bob Mette's favorite lure (he and his lovely wife, Christine, were the previous owners of Virginia Dare).

So, I manned the helm while David reeled in the fish that had chomped on Lil Stubby.  From the time the reel spun to life until David dropped fillets into the refrigerator and returned to the helm, less than 20 minutes had lapsed!  For some reason, I thought that whole process would last a lot longer.

Sails up, engine off.....peaceful sound of water lapping along the hull

Reeling in our first fish!

34" wahoo!  Say hello to Lil Stubby in the foreground :)

Man o' Daisy, that is a SHARP knife!

Containing the "goo" with a trash bag.  We might have to figure out a better way.

Lots of pretty sights along the way...

Fancy hotel(?)
My friend Greg Roth (DAHS '81...woot-woot!) just informed me that this is The Breakers Hotel built in 1925 by Henry Flagler.  Thanks, Greg!

Lots of people on a fishing boat (no less than 6 pelicans perched on the boat waiting for a treat)

Sadly, my camera was not on the proper setting to capture this visitor, but this is what I got....

Our view for most of the day

We entered Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale inlet) and headed south to a marina this evening.  David's grilling some of the fish for dinner.  The rest has been vacuum-sealed and frozen.

Does this Hyatt remind anyone of the Jetsons or is it just me?

Back to the ICW, but only for a mile or so

Glad the Coast Guard is always nearby.  Also glad we have never needed them.

Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale to the right of this photo)

Lush greenery :)

And thankfully we haven't needed this again!

BIG BOAT.  little boat.

We'll be up early and heading south.  Looking forward to catching up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins!  :)