SV Sea Hawk Journeys: Boat Life in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon

We made it to Marathon in time to catch a few gloriously warm days and then sure enough it cooled right down again. Although I am sure if we wait long enough it will warm up again:-) I hope that cool weather isn't following us (?).
It feels great to be back in the Keys. We lived in Key West in the early 80's and things have really changed around here.

Sunset in Boot Key Harbor

The first thing we did is the typical mundane things, like taking a shower and washing clothes so people won't avoid us. After we were clean smelling again we did some socializing and catching up with people we had met earlier in our journey. We also checked out some of the local restaurants within walking distance and had an excellent breakfast at the Stuffed Pig and a great dinner watching barracuda feed just a few feet from our dining table at Key Fisheries. It was celebrity night at Key Fisheries and everybody had to choose a celebrity name to claim their dinner. Bruce chose Hemingway and he certainly looked the part sporting his new beard.

We met Carolyn and her husband Dave of Boat Galley fame. She was great and they shared with us their boat prep for Hurricane Irma. They have been here quite a few months, leaving for a short time during Hurricane Irma. Their boat did survive Irma at a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor. You can read her account of what they did to prepare for the hurricane on her blog at:

👉https://theboatgalley.com/hurricane-prep-lines/

Carolyn has some great tips for living a cruising lifestyle.

We are on week 2 and after doing a lot of boat chores the first week including commissioning our water maker. Yes! We can now make power with our solar panels and make our own water. We are using a Cruise RO Watermaker and so far it is working great. We had a few bugs to work through but Rich of Cruise RO provided great support.

After working hard and feeling pretty confident that everything is working the way it should we hiked down to Crane Point Museum and Nature Center for a day of sightseeing. This is a 63 acre property that includes the oldest house in Monroe County outside of Key West. The Adderly House was built in 1903 by George and Olivia Adderly. In 1953 Francis and Mary Crane bought this piece of property and built the Crane House. They were so enchanted with the rich variety of local plant life and wildlife that they preserved the property until 1976 when the Florida Keys Land and Sea Trust purchased the land and saved the area from being developed into private homes and shopping malls. It is a little oasis in a sea of shopping and residential areas.