Why is That Land Drifting North

Nighttime at sea is dark in so very many ways. The Captain and The Kid had caught the Gulf Stream low. This is the better way to cross to the Bahama Banks when under sail, or even while motor-sailing. You catch the Stream and ride it north until your exit. We decided to get off in Bimini.

"What happened to the sun?" The Kid asked.

"Not sure. Last time I saw it, it was heading west."

So, there we were, in the dark, on the ocean. No problem. GPS is working fine. Next stop Bimini. We were in some contact with a cruiser out from sight behind us. They were beginning their crossing from Marathon, and we had chosen Key Largo. Marathon can be better in that you can run more east and south before the turn north. From Key Largo, you head more south at first depending on horsepower and how much you are sailing vs motoring and where you plan to clear customs.

We took a call on the radio. By location and direction we were sure it was for us.

"Sailing vessel. Are you crossing to the Bahamas?"

"We are." The Kid handled the response.

"We see your light now and then just at the horizon. Good to have this company as we cross."

"We don't see you," The Kid replied, "but good to have you with us. We will watch for you."

In the dark a light is good to see, even if it is distant. We could not see our traveling friend. As it turned out, their sloop was smaller and the mast shorter than ours. The night got darker as we began to turn more north. Stars flickered as they darted in and out of clouds. The water was black. At night it looks thicker.

"Is that land?" The Kid pointed to the east.

It did not seem possible we could be seeing land already. But there was a row of lights in the distance that appeared to be land. Then there was a dark section and another row of lights. It seemed that we were too far south for Andros and too far west to see other islands. As I tried to peer through the darkness, I also tried to keep my mind in focus. At night your mind can be tricked. Add to it that The Captain has a mind that drifts some day and night and enjoys the tricks our eyes play with us. Something was becoming clear. This land mass was moving north.

"Is that land moving?" I asked The Kid to be sure it wasn't me drifting.

The Kid confirmed what we were seeing was moving north. This was an awkward feeling. At sea, movement is something you need to get used to. There are times when you think you are moving and you are not. Other things around you are. Then, there are times when other things are still and you are moving and did not realize it. This kind of perception is what can add to the whole idea about escaping that the sea can provide. You can always be on the move, going other places even when in reality, you are standing still.

As this Captain and The Kid watched the floating land drift north, we wondered about the stories we had read about the Bermuda Triangle. Yes, we were in the more southern part of it, but stories about floating land are ones we had not read.

The darkness grew more dark as the clouds thickened. Light from the stars would have been helpful to try to make out where this floating land was heading and if we were going to intersect with it.

"What's going on out there." Our night friend radioed.

Soon it would be clear what we were seeing that night on the Gulf Stream.
Next time more about the Land drifting north.

The Captain and The Kid
also see: http://hubpages.com/hub/Defragging-a-Good-Heart

Marathon, Florida Keys is never boring.

If you get bored in the keys its because you brought bored with you. The Captain and The Kid have been waiting out the weather in Marathon, about the half way point on the Overseas Highway that stretches from Key Largo to Key West.
We were crossing U.S. 1 on our way back to our sloop anchored out in Boot Key Harbor just out from the City Marina, when a car rushed by nearly missing The Kid. A quick look revealed Charlie Daniels and Spike from Herbie's, and Loose Lips from Captain Tony's stuffed into a Kia heading north. The whole mystery about our missing pirate friend just became more intriguing. What were these three doing together? Did they just meet? Is it coincidence they are together, and was it by chance we had encountered them at different places different days? No way we could rush away, but with the weather clearing and the sea coming down we were ready to head up to Sarasota. Maybe where it all began on Siesta Key is where we will learn more to solve this mystery and hopefully find our friend.
This Captain and The Kid do not do bored. Too many places to go and too many opportunities to escape even when you cannot go other places. Back on our sloop we watched a small power boat head out through Sister Creek. It was a 25 footer with a walk-around cabin. Nice vessel. Behind it was a ketch that was all of 35' heading out the Creek. It is no problem for the power boat to use this short cut out of Boot Key Harbor, but a sailing vessel? The Creek is maybe 4' and at that changing with time and weather.
"She'll never make it out." A voice called out to anyone who was watching the Ketch.
"Hey Frenchy." I responded to the voice.
Frenchy is from somewhere off the Carolina coast. He is not French. He does not speak French and has never been to France. Frenchy likes French wine and French cheese and French pastries, but he is not French.
"Do you think they'll make Whiskey Creek?" I called to Frenchy.
"I doubt it. She must be drawing 6' if its a foot."
"You wanna help if she gets stuck?"
"We'll see. She looks like the type who'll call towing to me."
We watched, busied ourselves with some getting ready to getaway chores, watched some more, and then went below for some reading material.
When you have people to watch and things to read you cannot be bored. We wondered how far the Ketch made it up the twisting outlet of Sister Creek. I was sure she would not make even Whiskey Creek. When, not if, you get stuck on a sand bar, there a many ways to get yourself off. Kedging is recommended. Calling Boat U.S. is an option but if you can kedge your way off, why waste a call. Someone on another boat will throw you a line and pull you off, but be careful about this method. If everyone knows what they are doing, then go for it, but if its more good intention than good experience, go back to kedging or make the call to the pros.
We heard later the Ketch went aground. The stories about how she got off were mixed. The good news, she got off and made it back into the Harbor.
"What've you got?" The Kid asked about my book.
"Tales of a Sea Gypsy. You?"
"On the Spanish Main."
We settled into our books out on deck. The Kid opened a Red Stripe. This Captain opted for rum.
Don't bring bored with you, ever, but especially when you are visiting other places, or trying to escape. Stuck at Marathon is an expression about waitin' on the weather, or doin' repairs, or replenishing your kitty, but bored? Nothing about escape, the Keys, or Marathon are boring.
Keys to not being bored include this short list:
1--People watch and discuss what you saw, what you think you saw and what you would like to think about what you saw and watch that.
2--Meet characters. Characters are kind of like people except better. Characters seem to have a better view of life than people do and they never mind sharing that view.
3--Read books. Actually, reading isn't the best way to read a book. Being in a book is how to really enjoy them. No matter the style, narrative, or subject inject yourself into the story. Some books have a hard time letting someone in who wasn't written in by the author, while others welcome you to join in. Get in there, introduce yourself around, change your name if you want to, and get involved.
4--Eating, Eat fantastic. Cook it yourself, or spice it up yourself if eating on board. Food is secondary to the eating. Whatever food is decided upon, add escape to it. Maybe a dash, but better to make it heaping portions. If eating out look for places you cannot see. You see the Golden Arches, or the Red Lobster, but you don't easily, lazily, see Pink Gold off the Highway, or hard to beat Key Lime Pie at MM 50.5 Bayside. Look for and experience tasting other places and escapes.
5--stop trying to not be bored, or make lists to not be bored. Getaway. Escape.

If Webster is right, the seas will be down in the morning. We will go out the way we came in and then sail under the Seven Mile Bridge, head up the coast to Sarasota. The Kid wonders why we are not going back to Key Largo and set free the African Queen being held hostage at Holiday Inn. We will get there another time. It's possible Charlie Daniels and the gang are also heading to Siesta Key, so we gotta go.

The Captain and The Kid

Stars on the Water

We are still stuck in Marathon. Not a bad place to be stuck but we are still trying to get to Sarasota. A couple of places on Siesta Key we need to check out. More on that later.
Went back to Keys Fisheries for more peel-and-eat Pink Gold. The sun nearing the horizon reminded The Captain again about an unforgettable scene anchored along the edge of the Northwest Channel just out of Chub Cay. The polishing of north Bimini event took too much of our getaway early daylight we had hoped to bank for use later so we could make the run from Bimini to Chub before dark. Many places on the Bahama Bank, and coming into Chub is one of them, can be tricky to treacherous especially when your drawing 5 feet and it is dark.
Bimini is a great place to fish! The Northwest Channel is good too. Chub Cay, though, has a huge reputation for "world class fishing" that can stand on its own to measure up to the reputation Bimini has established from the Hemingway days of fishing in the Stream. The marina, which is only 35 miles west of Nassau and 125 miles from South Florida by boat, formerly had 96 slips. Now it is being rebuilt to accommodate more and larger vessels. The channel in has been dredged to 12 feet.
Transient rates are $4.75 per foot per day during peak season, and $2.75 during the off season (July 16 through November 14). Water is .40 per gallon.
Mostly this is a touristy place and has gathered to it some real attitudes that can make a true escape there a real challenge. Its not for every kind of tourist. Its for the boats from the States type. This remains, however, a good stopover before you cross the Tongue if heading east.
When this Captain and The Kid headed to Chub just ahead of its big bucks rebuild, it was good for escape. The few full-time residents we spent time with were genuine island-timers, not the faux island time that motors in to the newly constructed marina to pose as escapers and pretend that they are on a getaway.
We couldn't make the run before nightfall, so we anchored out. We hung as close as we could to the edge of the Northwest Channel. We planned to do watches throughout the night to keep an eye on our position and watch for vessels traveling through the night. The sunset was awesome, but as the night set in an extraordinary combination of just the right conditions developed.
Stars began to be visible. Time passed. The sea became very calm. More stars filled the night sky. Time passed and soon the stars were reflecting on the water. As you looked out across the watery expanse toward the horizon the sky shared its stars with the ocean. Just the right view across the Channel and the horizon did not exist. There was no clear distinction between the sky and the sea, both were filled with stars.
The Captain has seen something similar to this before, but that one night on the way to Chub Cay, anchored out in the Northwest Channel, would always remain as a place of escape to go to on any given starry night thereafter.
Take places you have been with you when you go, so whenever you need to or have to, you can go there in the twinkling of a star.

The Captain and The Kid

Marathon, Keys Fisheries

Its a hard thing to leave The Keys. The Kid wanted to eat at Keys Fisheries in Marathon, but that's just this Captain's excuse to hang out in The Keys a little longer.
You come in through the west channel entrance to Boot Key Harbor. The bridge opens on demand 7 to 7, 7 days. The harbor opens wider after the bridge as you get into the city mooring field. Around Marker 1A is the city Marina canal with a dinghy dock. This Captain thinks this is more of a dinghy breeding grounds, than just the place to tie up. We tied our inflatable and headed out across the highway and down 35th St Gulf to Keys Fisheries. Its at the end of the street. I'm pretty sure it has an address, but I'm pretty sure I don't know what it is and I'm certain I don't care. Addresses, in the conventional sense, are touristy markers and The Captain and The Kid don't do tourist.
At Keys Fisheries you order at the window and sit out by the water. Don't give your name for the pick-up at the window call. They will want your favorite song, or singer, or something else to call you by when the food's ready. Just an opinion, but it's pretty tough to find better seafood than here. We talked to Gary about this. He didn't act surprised because he hears it so much, but when The Kid told him that the pinks were gold, he hesitated.
Key West Pinks are the Key West shrimp. Peel and eat. No one does shrimp like this. No one. So, The Kid says, "These are Gold. It's a treasure find."
Gary liked that and now you can get them as Pink Gold. You can get full meals, sandwiches, chowders, etc.
If you really want to escape you have to eat here around sunset. The food, the sun, and the water will take you to faraway places, and when during the times you are visiting other places geographically, you will be able to visit here during an escape.
I watched the Sun begin sink, flatten out and sizzle into the Gulf. As it did I went with it to days and one memorable night at sea. Next time about that night. Right now, back to the Marina and the dinghy breeding grounds. We had tied up next to something that looked like a wooden Catspaw. Just the two of us, easy access in and out. After walking back from Keys Fisheries the breeding had spawned a litter of assorted dinghies. Escape at this point is literal. How do you untie, retie, tie-off, and not cast-off someones tender?
Step one: relax. Step two: who is tied to who? Step three: escape during the untangle. Step three makes for the enjoyment and takes you away from the frustration. Think about it. These dinghies are from all over other places. Each one has its story and adventure. Let yourself getaway as you are freeing up your inflatable and enjoy where you are and where this can take you.
As I was carefully re-tying painters The Kid said that it looked like we were in for some weather.
For good or bad depending on who you are and where you want to get to, we may be hanging out in Boot Key Harbor for a few days more than we thought.

The Captain and The Kid