We did it!!! We are finally in Marathon. But what a challange it has been.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I kept saying that yesterday. We left Marco Island and rubbed bottom several times before finally getting out to the gulf. We have finally decided that we must draft more than 4 feet. Draft is how much of the boat is under water. It is measured from the water line to the bottom of the keel.
We had a really beautiful cruising day. Sunny and warm and only a scattering of crab pots to dodge.
Then we got to Shark river. The entrance was good. There seemed to be room for the 3 boats traveling together and one that was already there and even 2 that came in after us. But Dick wanted to be out of the channel and he headed us just a little too close to shore. We were stuck in mud but able to somehow plow thru it causing the water filters to get clogged up with mud and the port engine to over heat. We set the anchor quicker than I thought possible and opened up all the compartments to dissipate the heat and smoke. Later my friend Mary fell down and hurt herself. After some acupuncture and bandages and a little vodka therapy she was a little better. Friends came by to look at the engines and help clean out the mud. And also for some beer therapy. Just when I thought things were going to quiet down for the night, Abby the boat dog started crying and moaning and barking that she needed to get off the boat to pee. There was no where to dinghy her to shore. After many hours of encouragement she was able to pee on the turf on the back of the boat. Everything got quiet and it was a lovely evening.
The dolphins were swimming all around us. We couldn't see them but we could hear them. It was delightful.
The moon was almost full and the stars were very bright. Mary felt this was the best part of the trip. It was a truly glorious night.
In the morning after looking the engines over again our friend Allan who is a boat mechanic, determined that the only problem we still had was the alternators and that we could get to Marathon without them. So we shoved off and had a lovely cruising day on the Gulf dodging crab pots. Allan got us to our marina without a problem and here we are. We have one very happy dog and very happy, sleepy crew. More to come.
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