Saturday, January 28th - exodus from Cayo Costa

After a well-deserved day off, the solar collectors on Cutter Loose are back on the job today.  Sunny skies have returned to southwestern Florida.  One by one, our group of four weigh anchor and carefully sound their way on a rising tide along the beach and over the shallow bar at the entance to Pelican Bay.  From this vantage point, we are afforded an excellent view of waves in the Gulf breaking in the Boca Grande inlet.  Catspaw and CAVU are bound for Boca Grande on Gasparilla Bay, while Island Spirit and Cutter Loose head east, then north into Charlotte Harbor. 

[caption id="attachment_2897" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Punta Gorda anchorage"][/caption]

Our destination is Punta Gorda, an easy sail of 20 miles.   The forecasted winds from the northwest fail to materialize.  With a favorable current, we power through the flat water of Charlotte Harbor.  With its forested shoreline, Charlotte Harbor reminds us of the Chesapeake Bay.   By 1:30 PM, the anchor is down in the harbor in Punta Gorda.  The forecast calls for 20 knot winds out of the northwest, north and northeast over the next few days as a dome of high pressure in Louisiana gradually moves east.  Since the anchorage is exposed to the north and northwest, we set the anchor carefully and pay out an extra measure of scope.

[caption id="attachment_2898" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Competitive darts at the Ice House"][/caption]

Our dinghy captains, Hayden and Radeen shuttle us ashore to explore the town, pausing to dine at a Cuban restaurant.  After dinner, we are treated to an unexpected fireworks display directly above the dinghy dock.  The very notion of observing fireworks in January, dressed in shorts and t shirts, is foreign to us.  It has been yet another satisfying winter's day in southwest Florida.

[caption id="attachment_2899" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Tonight is the night they painted the sky"][/caption]

Friday, January 27th

At 4 AM, we are awakened by the sound of thunder and steady rain pelting the deck of Cutter Loose.  This change in weather contributes to a lazy start to the day aboard Cutter Loose.  By mid-morning, the precipitation has passed.  The residual cloud cover and cooler temperatures are a refreshing change to two weeks of perfect weather.  The debt that we owe to the weather gods has been repaid for now, hopefully setting the stage for another fortnight of warm and sunny days.

[caption id="attachment_2883" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Ranger escort to the State Park amphitheater"][/caption]

We dinghy ashore to the park amphitheater to listen to the Park Ranger's explanation of on the history of Cayo Costa.  The first residents here were the Calusa Indians, as evidenced by two pre-Columbian mounds in the southern area of the island that have been the subject of archeological preservation.  Some 10,000 years ago, as many as 1500 Native Americans lived on this Island.  In the early 1800s, Cubans established fishing camps on the Island.  Since 1976, 95% of the island has been operated as a State Park.  One of the primary goals of the State is to preserve the ecological makeup of Cayo Costa, which involves the removal of non-indigenous vegetation.

[caption id="attachment_2884" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Park Ranger mixing it up with Island Packet crew"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2882" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Late afternoon Island Packet rendezvous on the docks at Cayo Costa"][/caption]

We return to the island in late afternoon for an impromptu gathering of Island Packet owners on the state park docks.  Our intrepid group of four buddy boats has expanded.  In addition to the IP 420 Flatlander, today we are joined by the crew of Optimystique whom we last saw in North Myrtle Beach on November 9th.

Thursday, January 26th

[caption id="attachment_2860" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Sunrise at Pelican Bay"][/caption]

Cutter Loose remains on the hook in Pelican Bay today.  We take advantage of this relaxed setting to explore the beach at Cayo Costa State Park.  Access to the park is provided by small boat docks and a dinghy dock.  Ferry service is provided from Pine Island.  There are no vehicles on the island, other than those related to the operation of the state park.

As a barrier island, Cayo Costa features an assortment of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks and mangrove swamps.  But the real attraction at Cayo Costa is its nine miles of white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.  From the dinghy dock, the trail to the beach is less than a mile in length.  A few dozen sunseekers are clustered on the beach near the trailhead.  We elect to stroll south along the water's edge where the only other creatures are sanderlings, oystercatchers, ruddy turnstones and plovers.  Every imaginable type of shell can be found on this beach.  Walking ankle-deep in water and gazing at the horizon places us in a beach trance.

[caption id="attachment_2865" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Birds of a feather..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2870" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cutter Loose at anchor in Pelican Bay"][/caption]

Winds are increasing out of the south today as a cold front approaches from the western Gulf.  When we return to Cutter Loose, wind speed has reached 18 knots and gusting.  There is a chance of a pre-frontal thunderstorm after midnight tonight.  Cutter Loose will remain at anchor here in the relative protection of Pelican Bay until the weather picture becomes clearer.

We leave you with images of this beautiful place called Cayo Costa.

Wednesday, January 25th

[caption id="attachment_2842" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Buddy boats Catspaw, CAVU and Island Spirit in Pine Island Sound"][/caption]

We continue to enjoy gorgeous weather here in Southwest Florida.  Since January 11th when an afternoon thunderstorm interrupted our visit to Key West, there has been no rain and only occasional cloudiness.  The fair weather trend continues today as Cutter Loose and her three companion buddy boats leave their respective moorings in Fort Myers Beach and enter the Gulf of Mexico through Matanzas Pass.

Our destination today is Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa State Park, some 37 miles to the north.  Instead of taking the outside (Gulf) route, we pass under the Sanibel Island Bridge to intersect with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) at mile marker zero.  Our course takes us west through the well-marked but narrow Miserable Mile, so named because the tide runs perpendicular to the dredged channel and the helmsman must compensate for the set of the current.  But today, the Miserable Mile is tame.

Passing the southern tip of Pine Island and the small hamlet of St. James City to starboard, we turn north and enter the pristine waters of Pine Island Sound.  To the west lie the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva.  To the east is Pine Island and numerous mangrove islands and keys.  The land here is undeveloped, much of it protected as part of the Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge.  The water in Pine Island Sound is shallow, so much so that dredged channels along the GIWW are required to transit this area.

[caption id="attachment_2841" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The terrace at Cabbage Key Resort"][/caption]

Approaching North Captiva Island, the small mangrove keys become more plentiful.  The white beaches of Cayo Costa to the west are clearly visible from the waterway.  The decision is reached to make an interim stop at Cabbage Key for lunch.  All four boats anchor outside of the GIWW channel in the lee of Useppa Island and dinghy the short distance to Cabbage Key for lunch.

[caption id="attachment_2844" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Hanging out with the money at Cabbage Key"][/caption]

Cabbage Key is a tiny island where beach cottages are available for rent.  The island is accessible only by boat.  It is the home of the allegedly famous Dollar Bill Bar and Restaurant.  Attached to the walls of this establishment are layers upon layers of one dollar bills that have been accumulating for fifty years.  The custom began when local fishermen taped bills to the wall as a source of ready cash to settle their bar tab.  Over the years, patrons have left behind an estimated $100,000 in one dollar bills, many of which bear the signature of the donor.  The walls are so thick with bills that every year, an estimated $10,000 in bills become unattached and fall to the floor.  The owners make good use of the fallen currency, making contributions to local charities.  After a satisfying lunch, we explore the grounds and return to our anchored boats by dinghy.

[caption id="attachment_2848" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Buddy boat lunch at Cabbage Key"][/caption]

Tonight's anchorage in Pelican Bay is only a few miles to the north of Cabbage Key.  But the tricky entrance channel to the Bay passes dangerously close to a white sand beach.  The passage is shallow and the charts are of little use.  We sound our way at low speed into the bay at mid-tide.  The deeper water inside is 7 feet at low tide.  Cutter Loose is at anchor, surrounded by mangroves and white sand beaches. 

Once anchored, our group is greeted by local Island Packet sailors Kathy and Al who are also at anchor in the Bay.  An impromptu gathering of Island Packet owners is quickly organized aboard the IP 420 Flatlander to celebrate another spectacular sunset.  Back aboard Cutter Loose, the stars and constellations in the clear night sky are overpowering.  Tomorrow, we will dinghy ashore to explore Cayo Costa State Park.

Saturday, January 21st to Tuesday, January 24th - lay days in Fort Myers Beach

Our extended stay at Fort Myers Beach affords an opportunity to visit with family and friends and to enjoy the relaxed ambience of this casual beach town.  The outstanding weather this weekend attracts a massive migration to the beach. 

[caption id="attachment_2823" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Sunrise at the Matanzas mooring field"][/caption]

From a boating perspective, Fort Myers Beach is a worthwhile destination because inexpensive mooring balls are readily available in the City's Matanzas mooring field.  Our mooring is within a five minute dinghy ride to the town dock.  For a fee of $13 per day, the rental of a mooring ball entitles us to use of the marina's laundry and shower facilities.  Tidal currents in the mooring field can be considerable.  In this circumstance, a mooring is a convenient alternative to anchoring.

[caption id="attachment_2826" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Early morning cacophony in the rigging of buddy boat CAVU"][/caption]

One of the more memorable aspects of the harbor is the arrival of hundreds of cawing crows every morning at approximately 6:45 AM, just before sunrise.  There is no need for an alarm clock in this harbor.  These noise makers flock to the rigging of sailboats, leaving reminders of their visit on the deck below.   Precisely at sunrise, they take flight in deafening unison and are not seen again for 23.5 hours.  At the time of their departure, the harbor is reminiscent of a scene from Hitchcock's The Birds.  

[caption id="attachment_2820" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Times Square shopping and entertainment district"][/caption]

Ashore, Fort Myers Beach is somewhat similar in character to the Jersey Shore, absent the boardwalk.  In the center of town, Times Square is home to restaurants, bars, t shirt shops and sidewalk performers.  Estero Boulevard is a two lane spine road along the beach that is congested with bumper to bumper traffic.   Many of the license plates here tell the story of visitors from frigid places to the north.  Pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists compete for space on a parallel sidewalk.  A series of privately owned surface parking lots front on Estero Boulevard.  Each day, these lots are filled to capacity with tanned tourists toting their chairs, umbrellas and beach totes.  They gallantly charge through stalled traffic to make their way to and from the beach.  The daily tarriff for a parking space is five dollars. 

[caption id="attachment_2821" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Estero Boulevard"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2819" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Friends Jerry and Ginger in the salon of Cutter Loose"][/caption]

Friends Jerry and Ginger drive from their winter home in Largo, FL on Saturday to visit Cutter Loose.  From our mooring, it is clear that the weekend traffic is building on the Matanzas Bridge.  Our guests successfully navigate their way to the town dinghy dock and we spend the afternoon enjoying lunch and catching up on news from home.  On Saturday evening, we participate in a buddy boat dinner party to meet former Island Packet owners Craig and Debbie who arrive by Harley from their home in University Park, FL. 

Sunday morning finds us amongst a packed audience at Chapel by the Sea, the local Presbyterian Church.  After lunch, Craig applies his Island Packet experience and electrical engineering background to successfully diagnose and solve a generator problem aboard Cutter Loose.  Then it is on to Nervous Nellies, a convenient eatery located near the dinghy dock.  Here, we join our fellow buddy boaters and fervent New England fans in watching the Patriots defeat the Ravens.

Monday morning begins with a seminar on boat electrical systems presented by Art, an Island Packet owner and DC expert that lives in the St. Petersburg area.  We learn about the charging characteristics of batteries and an array of troubleshooting techniques that can be used to diagnose and solve boat-related electrical problems. 

[caption id="attachment_2817" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A visit with Butch and Ann aboard Cutter Loose"][/caption]

Monday is also sibling day aboard Cutter Loose.  In the afternoon, we enjoy a visit from Pat's brother Butch and his lovely wife Ann who have traveled to Florida to escape the big chill in Pennsylvania.  During their stay in Florida, they drive from St. Petersburg Beach to have a look at Cutter Loose for the very first time.  Then later in the afternoon, we enjoy an overlapping visit from my sister Dianne and her husband Terry who are en route back  home to Spring Hill, FL from a trip to Key West.   All of our guests today are good sports in waiting their turn to be shuttled to and from Cutter Loose via dinghy.  Late in the afternoon, we stroll with siblings and their spouses to witness sunset over the glassy waters of the Gulf.

[caption id="attachment_2824" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sunset at the beach with Dianne and Terry"][/caption]

By sentiment of the majority of buddy boaters, our departure from Fort Myers Beach is postponed by 24 hours.  We use this time productively to catch up on correspondence, hike to the grocery store and prepare Cutter Loose for departure.  We will leave for Pine Island Sound early on Wednesday morning.

[caption id="attachment_2818" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Egret on hippo"][/caption]

Friday, January 20th

It is 7 AM in Factory Bay.  The sound of clanking anchor chains can be heard across the anchorage as our group of Island Packets simultaneously get underway.  Cutter Loose brings up the rear of the parade leaving Marco Island via Capri Pass as the first rays of sunlight peek under the bridge to the mainland.

The wind freshens as we enter the Gulf of Mexico.  It is now blowing a steady 10 knots out of the east.  Cutter Loose leaps anxiously onto a comfortable beam reach bound for Fort Myers Beach to the north.  There is nothing quite so effective in setting an optimistic tone for the day as being under sail to a new destination during the first few hours of daylight.  Our hopes soar in the belief that this favorable wind will remain with us for the duration of this 37 mile journey to Fort Myers Beach. 

[caption id="attachment_2783" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Matamzas Pass channel at Fort Myers Beach"][/caption]

The highrises of Marco Island are still visible astern as the skyline of Naples comes into view.  North of Naples, the wind subsides as we approach the shoreline of Estero Island and enter San Carlos Bay.  A well-marked channel to starboard takes us alongside the beach and into Matanzas Pass.  This inlet leads to an inland waterway that passes under the tall Matanzas Bridge connecting Estero Island to the mainland.  Cutter Loose is on a City mooring just south of the Matanzas Bridge.  

[caption id="attachment_2784" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Downtown Fort Myers Beach"][/caption]

We celebrate our arrival with a group meal at Nervous Nellies at Snug Harbor Marina under the bridge.  After dinner, we stroll towards the beach where the sidewalks are filled with tourists and street performers.  We will remain in Fort Myers Beach, enjoying our new digs through the weekend.

Thursday, January 19th - lay day at Marco Island

Cutter Loose remains at anchor in Factory Bay today awaiting the arrival of sailing friends aboard Catspaw and Cavu.  A weak cold front has stalled over southern Florida.  Winds  are from the north and northeast.  Temperatures are in the 70s again today.  There is not a cloud in the sky and the humidity is low.  Every day, we give thanks for perfect weather.

[caption id="attachment_2781" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Jane Hittler Park at Marco Island"][/caption]

We take advantage of this opportunity to explore Marco Island.  Development began on this highly planned community in the 1960s.  Upscale homes, highrise condominiums, hotels and marinas are everywhere.  But there are also smaller 1960s subdivision homes and modest apartment buildings that create a certain degree of economic integration on the Island.  Unlike some resorts, there are few gated neighborhoods on the Island.  The boulevards with their decorative light fixtures and center islands are perfectly manicured.  Smaller shops and restaurants abound, but most of them are locally owned and operated.  Many of the streets have designated bike lanes.  Marco is an attractive community, which has not gone unnoticed by flocks of snowbirds from the north who migrate to this area every winter.  It is upscale, but at the same time, down to earth.

Late in the afternoon, we meet our sailing friends at the Snook Inn, which attracts a sizeable happy hour crowd.  Tomorrow, our group of four Island Packets will sail north to Fort Myers Beach.

Wednesday, January 18th

The anchor is up in the Little Shark River before sunrise.  But to our dismay, the no-see-ums are awake before our departure.  Winds are light out of the east and the water is flat calm.  Although the sails are drawing, the diesel engine will do the lion's share of the work today.

[caption id="attachment_2760" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Marco Island skyline"][/caption]

Our destination is Marco Island, a journey of 57 miles.  Our course takes us northwest, past the Ten Thousand Islands and into the Gulf of Mexico.  In order to reach Marco Island, we must steer a dogleg course to the west of the numerous shoals that extend off of Cape Romano.   Once clear of the shoals, it is another 15 miles due north to Marco Island.  The highrise condominium buildings coming into view on the horizon hint at the resort character of this community.

[caption id="attachment_2762" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cutter Loose at anchor in Factory Bay, Marco Island"][/caption]

Cutter Loose is anchored in Factory Bay, surrounded by waterfront homes, condos and marinas.  The toll bridge to the mainland is clearly visible from our anchorage.  In the evening, we dinghy ashore with friends Hayden and Radeen to the Snook Inn, a nearby waterfront restaurant.  After dinner, we stroll along Bald Eagle Drive to the ice cream parlor.  Tomorrow, we will continue our exploration of the Island.

[caption id="attachment_2761" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Capri Pass entrance to the harbor at Marco Island"][/caption]

Tuesday, January 17th

A dozen or more slipholders at Harbour Cay Club gather dockside on Tuesday morning to bid us farewell and assist with our docklines.  Our departure is akin to leaving a family reunion.  Waving goodbye, we make sail at Fanny Key and enter the shallow waters of Florida Bay.  Just  north of Marathon, we pass the lighted daymark at John Sawyer Bank.  This is the last aid to navigation that we will see for the next 8 hours as we sail to the Little Snake River, 37 miles to the north. 

[caption id="attachment_2758" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Under sail in Florida Bay"][/caption]

It seems counterintuitive to travel north from the Keys in January.  But today, the skies are sunny and the wind is from the east at 8 to 12 knots, beckoning us to sail north on a comfortable beam reach.   We refer to these idyllic passages as "free days" because the favorable wind eliminates the need to run the diesel engine and the solar panels provide 100% of the energy needed to power the refrigeration, instruments and other boat systems.

[caption id="attachment_2759" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Anchorage on the Little Snake River in Everglades National Park"][/caption]

By mid-afternoon, land appears on the starboard horizon.  It is Cape Sable.  Rounding the Cape, we can barely make out foilage on the shore being illuminated by the afternoon sun.  The Little Snake River is located in the Everglades National Park.  It is well-marked, pristine and deep from bank to bank.  This is a remote mangrove swamp, visited only by cruisers traveling to and from the Keys.  Herons, egrets, pelicans and alligators call this place home.  There is no FM radio, television or cell phone coverage in the Little Snake.  But there is an unlimited supply of mosquitos and no-see-ums, which force us to make a hasty retreat to the cabin as soon as the anchor is down in the River.

It is a quiet evening aboard Cutter Loose, reminiscent of our early days of sailing and anchoring out overnight at Pymatuning Lake in northwestern Pennsylvania.  After dinner, reading and board games consume the evening hours.  Tomorrow, we will continue our journey to more civilized areas of southwest Florida.

Thursday, January 12th through Monday, January 16th

[caption id="attachment_2740" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Manatee visits Cutter Loose"][/caption]

Our final days in Marathon pass rapidly.  With access to shoreside amenities from our slip, we succumb to the laid back approach to life in the Keys. 

[caption id="attachment_2737" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bike Fridays at Sombrero Beach Park"][/caption]

One of the many advantages of establishing roots in a marina is that the bicycles are always assembled and secure, ready to ride in a moment's notice.  Every day, recreational rides are blended with shopping and dining.  Our carbon footprint has decreased and our level of fitness has increased since arriving in Marathon.

Cutter Loose is clean and shiny, having benefitted from frequent washdowns, polishing and vacuuming during our stay here at the Harbour Cay Club in Marathon...yet another benefit of spending eleven days at a slip.  Laundry here at the marina is accomplished in small loads every other day.  The laundry facilities are literally 12 steps from our slip and are accessible day and night at a reasonable cost of 75 cents per load.  This technique offers a distinct advantage over accumulating a week's supply of dirty clothes and devoting the better part of an afternoon, dinghying ashore and carting the laundry basket to a busy laundramat.   Yes, we are definitely becoming soft and spoiled.

[caption id="attachment_2738" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Saturday afternoon cookout at Harbour Cay Club"][/caption]

Saturday afternoon brings slipholders together at an outdoor barbeque.  Each participant brings a dish and food for grilling.  On Sunday, we attend services at the Marathon Community United Methodist Church where the minister delivers her message in the format of a television talk show.  Following the service, we bicycle to Crane Point where we tour the history museum and hike through the hardwood hammock.

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="View of Florida Bay from Crane Point Nature Center"][/caption]

Winds shift to the north during the weekend, delaying our departure by one day as we wait for a favorable wind angle towards our next destination.  We utilize this found time to return to Key West via public transit on Monday, Martin Luther King Day.  Old Town is filled to capacity with tourists as three cruise ships are docked in the harbor.  Key West Race Week, a major sailing regatta, is also taking place this week.

[caption id="attachment_2741" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Cruise ship calls at Key West"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2743" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="A taste of Buffett"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2744" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sharing sweets with Marilyn"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2742" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Hemingway House, complete with cats"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2745" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Matisse, Key West Style"][/caption]

 



During our stay, we have made many new friends at the Harbour Cay Club in Marathon.  Everyone has been kind and accommodating.  As much as we have enjoyed our time here at HCC, Cutter Loose will sail north in the morning.

Wednesday, January 11th

Today we travel 45 miles west to the southernmost point of land in the continental United States.  Key West.  Latitude 24 degrees, 34 minutes N.  Capital of the Conch Republic and THE east coast destination for those seeking an anything goes, laid back tourist experience. 

Our mode of travel is not by boat, but rather by bus.  Public transportation is provided between Marathon and Key West nine times daily.  And the price is right.  The cost is $2 for passengers that have attained the age of 60...$4 for less mature riders.  The 90 minute ride takes us over the Seven Mile Bridge and through a series of keys that offer outstanding views of the water on both sides of the highway. 



Key West is the largest town in the Florida Keys.  Our bus winds its way through the suburban fringe of Key West with its shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and busy boulevards.  Once in the Old Town neighborhood near the water, we pause to consume a pastry and stroll along Duval Street, the primary shopping and entertainment district.

[caption id="attachment_2712" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Truman White House"][/caption]

Some of the architecture here dates back to the Civil War.  It is miraculous that so many of these older homes and commercial buildings have survived 150 years of hurricanes. 

[caption id="attachment_2709" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Free-range roosters are ubiquitous and largely ignored"][/caption]

Free range roosters roam the streets of Old Town, unnoticed by the locals.  After a short time, we grow weary of the t shirt shops and bars on Duval Street and turn our attention to lunch.  We rendezvous with friends Hayden and Radeen at My Blue Heaven, an outdoor bar/restaurant on Thomas Street.  Cats and roosters are here as well, seeking handouts from the patrons.   This dirt floor establishment with minimalist decor was allegedly the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet's composition Blue Heaven Rendezvous.

[caption id="attachment_2698" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Blue Heaven Rendezvous"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2707" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Mallory Square"][/caption]

From here, it is on to Mallory Square where street performers entertain tourists at sunset.  But today, the Square is empty.  Thunder, lightning, wind and rain are the sole form of entertainment this afternoon.

In light of the weather, we beat a hasty retreat to the bus stop to catch the Lower Keys Shuttle back to Marathon.  A day trip does not do justice to Key West.  There are several museums of interest, and the waterfront is an interesting place to linger.  We will attempt to return here during our remaining time in Marathon.



[caption id="attachment_2703" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Papa Hemingway"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2708" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Key West, where the red shoe drops at midnight on New Year's Eve"][/caption]