Bahia Honda Key

Bahia Honda Key is one of the only Florida Keys with a natural sand beach. Because there is no surf to speak of, there is not a natural way for sand to accumulate and form a beach. 

The Train Bridge with a section removed for boats

Not Feeling the Love

Cooper's Rendition of Marathon Harbor

If there was one place everyone we talked to about the keys said to go, it was Marathon. "We loved Marathon", "you gotta go to Marathon", "we stayed in Marathon a month", etc., etc., but we don't get it.  It's nice enough and I guess in full season (we are definitely off season now), there is a lot going on, kind of like the George Town (Bahamas) of the Keys. Two hundred plus moorings in the harbor, morning nets (where they talk about activities going on over the VHF), and pot lucks at night (everyone bring a dish!).  We stayed 2 nights, got much-needed showers, laundry done, and some more food (pricey but not too bad).  But, there's not much else to keep us here. We're not really the type that likes to gather with the other cruisers and definitely do not like to cook, I avoid cooking whenever possible (which can be troublesome too).  We have been looking mostly for nice beaches that we can take the boys to to feed their swimming addiction.  Unfortunately Marathon doesn't really have a beach area. You can dinghy over to one, but it's a bit of a ride and very tiny, so it gets full pretty quick; it's also full of sea grass, so it's not as nice as some others.
Anyway, 2 days later we are off to Bahia Honda Key where there is supposedly a nice beach. We'll let you know.

We Made it to the Keys

After being indecisive for months, we finally decided to head for the keys instead of the Bahamas for the next month. One of the main reasons was because we'd have to pay $300 to enter the Bahamas, and we expect to be there next fall; besides we've never been to the keys and may not be here again.  So, we're missing the Endeavor shuttle launch which is slated for the 16th, but if it gets scrubbed again, we can see it when we head north.  

Canaveral Lock