04.08.01
fka keys - sat
Sat. April 7, 2001
Well, we just spent our first full day in the keys. My mom and I started the morning off with a walk around the area to see what was around.
Then we all went to the main pavilion for the Saturday morning pancake breakfast. It was like feeding time at the zoo and the main attractions – the Seniors, otherwise knows and the Floridian Octogenarians. After breakfast, we went back to the house and got ready for a day on the water.
First, we had to put the boat in the water. There was a launch right at the park marina. Getting the boat in the water was an ordeal in itself. First we watched someone take the boat out of the water so we could figure it out – in reverse. Then it was out turn to try. It took a few turns to get the trailer on the ramp straight. Then we had to do some pushing here and there to keep the boat away from the pillions. Finally, we were in the boat and underway.
We followed the channel around the park and towards the bridge that would bring us to the Gulf side of the keys where it was a lot less windy. We weren’t quite sure how to read the buoys – what did the white ones mean? What did the read ones mean? Oh well, must not be that important.
We were going a pretty full speed out towards open water when, really quick, Ken shut cut the engine. We found ourselves on a shoal. Oops. A little more maneuvering, pull up the motor, get out the poles to push and we freed ourselves. Ugh. We took a closer look at the nautical map and made some course planning.
We made it out through the channel on the second try. We went out towards a sandy island where we dropped anchor. We hopped in and splashed around for a while. Dad and Mom explored the rocky island. Then we had lunch in the boat and wandered off for another adventure.
We headed out to the edge of the islands on the Gulf coast and Ken and Dad threw out some lines. The first fish caught turned out to be a half a fish. As Dad was reeling it in, another fish came by and bit it in two. The only thing that made it was its head. Three fish wad caught in all.
I fell asleep and got a little more sun than I wanted to for my first day. I’m gonna hurt later.
At 5:00 we made our way back in. This time we navigated the shoals better and made it in in one piece. We emptied out some of the stuff at the marina and took the boat to the lady’s house that we were renting from. It wasn’t far from the park.
Of course we got stuck again trying to make it into the channel to get in to her canal. Ken and Dad had to jump in to free us from the sand. Low tide didn’t help either. There was an audience on shore watching us trying to get the boat in.
Once we were docked, we started to wash off the boat. Unfortunately, the keys are in the middle of a severe drought and washing the boat was a big no-no. Another oops.
Now we’re washing up and getting ready to go out to dinner. After a day like today, I’m gonna need a big dinner!!
8:48 a.m.
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"Notes From A Small Island"
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