Key West: We Made It!

Two months and nine days after leaving Norfolk, we arrived in the waters surrounding Key West. The area was buzzing with boat traffic. The Southernmost Regatta was taking place.

There were lines of shrimp boats, and an assortment of motor vessels and sailboats. The water was a beautiful tropical color combination of blue and green hues, and the sky was clear and sunny. We were able to sail most of the way without running the motors which made for a very pleasant day! After leaving Big Pine, the crab balls were not as numerous which added to the relaxation.

We spent the first few days getting the lay of the land. See prior blog post regarding Key West Cruiser Logistics for our discoveries. We took the dinghy out and explored the mooring fields, Garrison Bight and Key West Bight. Ben spent time talking with the dockmaster gaining information regarding anchoring, laundry facilities, grocery stores and dinghy docks. The Key West Bight marina folks were friendly and helpful. This was a pleasant surprise after our bad experience in 2020 during the height of COVID.

We had lunch at one of my favorite places, Alonzo’s Oyster Bar. I love their grilled shrimp salad. It was just as good this time as it was five years ago when Ben raced in 2017 Key West Race Week.

While watching tour boats and sunsets, I worked on daily menus and a provisioning list so that we could shop efficiently at the grocery store. The stores are not close to us and we would not want to go too frequently.

The next day, we walked by Pak Mail and then on to Winn Dixie. Ben detoured by the hardware store, Home Depot and Walgreens. After gathering our provisions, we took an Uber back to the dinghy at Key West Bight and loaded her down.

After storing the groceries onboard, we decided, since we had already paid our daily dinghy rate, to go back into town for lunch. We ate at Pepe’s Café, one of the oldest eateries in Key West. It was usually packed with a line out the door, but we lucked out and were sat immediately. Ben had a scrumptious bacon, lettuce, crab cake sandwich and I had a bacon burger.

We walked around town looking at all the cool Key West homes. Many are now Airbnb’s, small hotels, but some are still private residences.

We ended up having happy hour at Funky Rooster Coffee House and Wine Bar. There were roosters all over Key West. They were believed to have been brought over from Cuba and some were used in cock fighting before it was outlawed.

January 24, 2022, Monday

Michel and Karolyne rode the bus down from Marathon today and we spent the day sightseeing. We went to the Key West Aquarium which was rustic compared to other aquariums I’ve been to, but it was very personable with staff available to answer questions, frequent talks, turtle feedings and hands-on tanks where you can touch or examine sea life up close. They have several turtles that they have rehabbed. Rocky lost one of his paws in a boating incident and has a bubble under his shell. So, he has a weight attached to the back of his shell and a float on the front to assist him in surfacing to breath. There were tanks with eels, rays, fish, and a few snakes.

Next, we went to the Shipwreck Treasure Museum which covered the history of Key West Wreckers who salvaged boats after they ran up on a reef. This was big business in the early days of Key West, and still remains as a viable career for some seaman today.

Before Michel and Karolyne caught their return bus, we stopped at Mangoes so that we could have one last “chin, chin” which is how the French Canadians toast instead of “cheers”.

January 25, 2022, Tuesday

We had more fun today with a prior co-worker, Anna Griffith and her husband, Chuck. They came to Key West to celebrate her recent retirement. We met for lunch at Waterfront Brewery and then walked around the harbor looking at boats, and watching the fisherman feed the fish and birds.

Of course, after each busy day we relaxed in the cockpit and watched the sunset from our boat. We also felt blessed that so far, we had not encountered the cruise ship crowds. The ships make the town look like a miniature village. I could only wonder how crowded the streets, attractions and restaurants would be when one of these monsters came to town. I am sure it’s good for the economy especially after the COVID shutdowns.

We had hoped to catch up with Anna another day during her stay, but the forecast was predicting a huge nor’easter that would affect the weather all along the east coast. We were predicted to see 40 knot winds on Saturday.

January 26, 2022, Wednesday

So Wednesday we went into town to the laundromat and grabbed a sandwich at the Old Town Bakery. Then we prepared the boat to leave. The anchorages in Key West were crowded. So putting out enough scope for 40 knot wind was difficult. Thus, we have decided it would be prudent to leave and go back to Big Pine Key, where we rode out the last 40 knot storm.

I will say I am glad to be here in Florida rather than back in Norfolk, VA. This towel sums up my thoughts:

Stay safe and warm folks!

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