TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 52 NM
We didn’t tarry this morning, after Dan and Steven raised the dingy up and I attempted to catch up on the delinquent blogs, we unhooked the line and Quest motored out of Marathon’s peaceful mooring field.
Now this speedy exit was not just a random thing. Dan had fishing on his mind and the hooks went in just as soon as he was satisfied that we were entering the “fishing” waters. When we entered the area that Dan had predicted to be his primary target, WHAM, Steven snagged a Dorado. Soon there were two lovely fillets just waiting to be dinner.
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| STEVEN AND HIS DORADO |
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| FILLETING THE CATCH |
It was just a perfect traveling day with the warm sun, clear skies and a gentle breeze. The water temperature rose from around 65 in Marathon to 75 as we motored our way to Key West. The horizon was dotted with many fishing boats. One boat screamed just of our stern and caught both lines, cutting them and loosing Dan’s favorite wood lure. He was not a happy camper!
We began to see Key West in the distance with the two Carnival Cruise Ships towering above all else. Motoring around the corner, we passed Fort Taylor which was named for President Zachary Taylor. The exiting Carnival Fascination chugged down our port side and we saluted the Coast Guard on our starboard side. Mallory Square, the famous Key West sunset viewpoint, was devoid of the usual horde of folks but then, it wasn’t sunset yet.
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| KEY WEST AS WE APPROACH |
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| FORT TAYLOR |
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| CARNIVAL FASCINATION MAKING ITS EXIT FROM KEY WEST |
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| THE U.S. COAST GUARD |
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| MALLORY PARK |
After passing by the Key West Bight Marina, our home from 12/23 to 1/2, we dropped anchor. Just as we were beginning to lower the dink, one of our neighbors gave us the word that we were still in the channel and would be severely chastised if we stayed there. So, up went the anchor as we repositioned and, once again, dropped it and secured Quest for the night.
What we expected to be a quick trip to shore for sunset at Mallory Park turned out to encompass the entire evening. We did just make it to join the crowd at Mallory as the sun dipped into the horizon then meandered through the streets and alleyways.
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KEY WEST SUNSET FROM MALLORY SQUARE Image via Wikipedia |
Stumbling upon the Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden, we stopped to take in the 36 busts of those famous and infamous past residents of Key West that were created by James Mastin. Dan was particularly taken by “Papa” John Hemingway. We also found busts of President Truman who made Key West his “winter White House” and the influential railroad baron, Henry Flagler.
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KEY WEST MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN |
Stopping in at the Schooner Wharf Bar for a quick drink, we ended up staying for dinner and the live music. We have to plan a litter better next time ‘cause we forgot the flashlight but we did have the bright moonlight to guide us back to our Quest.
 Image by David July via Flickr |
| SCHOONER WHARF BAR |
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