Over the past 30 years we have seen Key West change from a funky laid back town of local restaurants, bars and artsy shops to a full-on cruise port terminal filled with all manner of T-shirt shops, trinket stores, bars that are over crowded, and streets filled with tourists. That said, there remains a certain "charm" about Key West you just don't find anywhere else.
Fortunately, we were docked at the new Stock Island Marina which is a few miles east of "downtown" where the pace was slow and the vibe is easy. It is just a short ride into town (which is where the better restaurants are) so when you want some action, it is easy to find.
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| Our new best friends Angie and Zak at the Tiki Bar! |
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| Beautiful, well managed and friendly Stock Island Marina |
One of the best evenings we had was on the totally isolated Sunset Key, just a short boat ride from the downtown Key West docks. The Latitudes Restaurant sits literally (and I do mean literally) on the water facing west. A wonderful meal, drinks and desert as the sun slowly sets on the horizon. Perfect!
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| Latitudes Restaurant - right on the beach! |
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| An "Old Fashion" sunset! |
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| The best Key Lime Pie! |
Our last night in Key West was highlighted by a visit from our dear (old) friends, Alan and Susie Petrasek. We first Alan and Susie in 1989 as our "dock mates" at the Chesapeake Yacht Club near Annapolis Maryland. Over the past 30 years, despite our distances, we have managed to stay in contact and keep tabs on each other. They now live in Summerland Key just outside of Key West so they came by Endless Summer for cocktails followed by a delightful dinner at Le Te Da -- a Key West favorite.
So after four days in Key West it was time to move on to our next stop in Key Largo, The Ocean Reef Club. The winds have continued to be strong out of the ESE so the expectation that our run outside in the Atlantic via the Hawk Channel would be another sloppy day on the water. And it was! 2 to 3 foot seas aren't all that bad if you are down wind with following seas, but this was the complete opposite -- winds and seas on our nose and we were taking a pounding. Time to go to plan B.
About 20 miles east of Key West is one of the few crossings from the Atlantic Hawk Channel to the "inside" of Florida Bay. Since the wind was coming out of the ESE, getting to the inside should provide added protection and calmer waters. And it was!
The balance of the run to Key Largo, while meandering, narrow and shallow at times, was uneventful and relatively easy. Yes, it took about an hour longer going this was but the added comfort was well worth it. The only tricky part was cutting back over to the Atlantic side (to get to Ocean Reef Yacht Club) through Angelfish Creek at dead low tide. Endless Summer draws 4.3 feet of water so So when the depth gauge registers 4.5 feet, it's a little "tense" to say the least.
We arrived safely and with incident at Ocean Reef some 6 hours after leaving Stock Island. A good wash down, cold cocktail and dinner "on the beach" made up the balance of the afternoon and evening.
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| Key West to Key Largo 144 miles - Outside / Inside / Outside |
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| The Beautiful Florida Keys |
Sorry the winds haven't been favorable (that's supposed to stop this time of year!) but so happy you enjoyed Stock Island and your time in Key West. I'm sure you suffered at Ocean Reef as well!
ReplyDeleteContinue to drink it all in, in all the ways that it matters!!