We are in Long Key Bight.....aka "Multihull Bay"

So it's blowing 20-30kts outside and it has been like this for two days.  Long Key Bight is maybe 2 miles deep by 1 mile wide and we have:

- Grey Hound in 4 feet of water

- A Victory 35 Cat near by

- A Maine Cat towards shore

- A Dragonfly 1000

- And one monohull that is brave..............and by the way there are also 10 or so monohulls out in the mouth of the bay hanging on for dear life!!!

SHALLOW DRAFT RULES!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, Yeah,,,,,,,,,

By the way,  can't believe we're going north......................I Must Be Stupid!!!!

We Must Love 'Ya Man!!!!!!!!!

There would be a name if it had a name.

The best pizza in the universe was had in this place.......we'll let Twin Trees decide....

WE are gone from Key West and North bound

The winds were good enough to get us out of Key West yesterday afternoon.  The sail/motor out of Key West was interesting but it was not too much issue.  We pulled into Johnston Key and had a great evening.  We are in 8 feet of water and the channel into the anchorage was very interesting to find as the outside of the channel was 1 foot! 

The next day we headed east and decided to try for NO NAME KEY.  We've  been reading a book and wanted to find the pub.........we did and what a great sail we had down the Spanish Channel.   Lots of fun and we are just one of two boats in front of the bridge.

By the way we had a rider for the trip and we gave the little guy a ride till he decided to go to the V-berth......then he had to go.........a cute little not so bright finch.....

The Adirondack II is the fastest big boat (but not even close to Grey Hound) in Key West.....

Thank you,  Keals Marine & Ian Farrier

IT........ and.....

So,  If you know Dick at all,  you know he's (us ) are not really good at dinghies......... sooo  we have a brand new dinghy....and we are calling "it"    ............."nu it"  just 'cus,  we can.......... 

Old "it" was taken to dinghy heaven by "white Clyde"..........

Grey Hound Key West bound

In the Hawk Channel heading SW

And it would not be Key West without a sunset!

Key West......it is still Key West

With a little luck we'll be heading north later today if the winds back off just a little.  For the last 2 days we've had 20-30kts and we just didn't want to motor up the harbor in steep chop to get to the NW Channel.  We listened to one boat that left yesterday (a big double ender) and he couldn't get on deck to put the main up because it was too wild......so we stayed.  

We have been in town for one day to wander around to see the sights and to our relief "Crabby Dicks" is still in it's original location.  We did our oysters ($6.00/dzn) so another goal was achieved.  The wild and crazy people are alive and well and the pubs have almost an equal number of 4 legged characters as people.  Unfortunately we couldn't get into Santiago's for dinner because they were seating a party of 40!  We found some other grub so we'll have to try to get there another day.

Time to move along I'd say..............

Ok Tom.....

I know what a hot shot cat racer you are so here is that latest design for a fast cat....

Yep, it's ferro cement!!

A cottage for Cathy.....

Jeff, you are in luck!

Key West at last!!

From the start, one of our goals was to make it to Key West.  It is only the farthest point south on the North American continent.  With this sail we have now sailed on one of the highest latitudes lakes in North America (Lake Huron and the North Channel) and touched the oceans of the Caribbean all in one twelve month span.  Good ole Grey Hound has served us quite well if I do say so!

We will spend a couple of days here to see the sights since it's been a number of years since we have see the town.  We need to have our oysters and find more stuff for Teagan.....Steph says she has nothing at all!!

We had a heck of a time finding the Dockmaster but in Garrison Bight we came across all these houseboats.......

Off we go to Newfound Harbor

I know it has been a while but "nu-It" is set and we decided not to wait for the replacement credit card so we're off..........we didn't have a fast sail but it felt great to get moving and 24 miles later we anchored in Newfound Harbor for the night.  We had a nice quiet time and got to see Fat Albert keep an eye on us.  Actually it's a blimp the government uses for catching smugglers.

14 and counting!

Last night I decided to be chef Deek and attempted to produce a gourmet meal for Anne on our 14th anniversary.   So......surf and turf it was and  the wine was from our wine cellar at home via the Chief's wine picking a few years ago.  

Good wine.....good food and then we topped it off by inventing our own special cocktail - The Grey Hound!  (yea, like you expected something different)  More on that at a later date.

Back at Boot Key

Dick is back in Marathon and Anne will be showing up this weekend.  Earlier this week I had a calm day to take Grey Hound and Chris U. took Three Cheers out to Sombrero Reef to  clean the bottom and for a little snorkeling.  Jim from Kismet and Greg from another boat was on board.

The water was 79 degrees and very pretty as you can see.

And she likes a date out with Dad too....