Connie and Skip came by
Skip George Frank Eleanor Sally & Connie
Our plan is to go out Sister Creek to Hawk Channel and cruise to the Channel Five bridge where we will cross over to the ICW. Sister Creek was showing 9 foot at high tide which was good.....Hawk Channel had waves and when the Captain said we would have a beam sea Saddi and I were not impressed. When we turned north we indeed had beam seas and waves 3 to 4 feet. This was not the way to go so we turned around, came back through Sister Creek to Boot Key Harbor and headed toward the Seven Mile Bridge. Much better!!!!!!
Moser Channel look good
Old Seven Mile Bridge
Little has changed on Pigeon Key since 1912
The houses on Pigeon Key have the same pine floorboards that went down over 100 years ago. This was a construction camp for the original Seven Mile Bridge. Pigeon Key is less than 5 acres in size, yet during the construction period (1908-1912) it housed some 400 construction workers in barracks type housing and in tents. Today you take a tram, walk or ride your bicycle 2.5 miles over the old highway from Knight Key to Pigeon Key there and repeat the trip coming back. There is NO water access due to the surrounding shallows......
This is nice Captain!
We are on the ICW once we come through Moser Channel. You need to follow the markers and stay between the red on port and green on starboard (ICW rules). The old saying comes in mind because of the water colors....
"Old Sailing ditty"......Water that's Blue is deep and true (40 ft +).....As it shades to Green, the water gets lean (3 - 20 ft).....White or Yellow will ground a fellow (1 -3 ft sand).....If the water is brown, you'll run hard aground (rocky bar)....If the water is Black, you'd better turn back (coral head)
You can see the bottom
Stirring up sand
Well we are reading the charts.....following the markers.....and watching the colors of the water.....Sunny......less than 10 MPH winds....what a day!!!! I turn around and there is a boat with blue lights flashing behind us.......US Customs boat.....Captain stops and they come along side...."We would like to board your boat and check you papers"......Saddi gives them permission and two come aboard.....and check the Captain's passport and boat documentation. They do not even ask Saddi or Nancy for any paperwork.....They want to know where we have been.....where we are going....and did we know a cold front was moving in over the weekend.....and off they go......
US Customs and Border Patrol
You are next Mr Sailboat
Long Key Viaduct
Long Key Viaduct spans a width of 2 1/4 miles and is composed of 180 concrete semicircular arches, each some 50 feet wide. There was no other bridge in the USA of this type in those days and it was considered a marvel. Today a new bridge has replaced Mr. Flagler's remarkable achievement but the old Viaduct is still quite visible. Although Henry Flagler built "his" railroad all the way South to Key West he was proudest of the Long Key Viaduct.
Bowlegys Cut
Read the water colors
Cowpens Cut
Pigeon Key...nice anchorage
Key Largo
Buttonwood Sound Cut to Blackwater Sound
Gilbert's Resort & Marine by US 1
Live Music
Gilbert's has a special spot to watch the sunset. Just like Sandy, Rik's cousin, everyone gathers at sunset with a toast in hand. A group of campers from tha nearby campground drove over to watch the sunset and have dinner and added "spice" to the event. Campers and boaters are alot alike....they are friendly folks....
Gilbert's Resort & Marina Sunset
The old Boat Bums
Group of Campers adding to the event
This place hops on weekends
Captain is ready for Nite Nite Long Day!
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