We arrived at Boot Key Harbor in the city of Marathon (itself located on Vaca Key) at about 1430 today after a reasonably easy passage across windswept Florida Bay.
We had to wander about the mooring field just a bit to find our assigned buoy amongst the hundreds of buoys and vessels here. I like the mooring arrangement which has a small float attached to the substantial mooring line. The line is about ten feet long and has a large nylon thimble (hard eye) spliced into its end. After you get to the dock master's office for check-in, they give you a sheet with several recommended methods of attaching to the thimble, but I observed what several boats around us did and copied that. What is done is to run two independent lines through the thing from each closed chock (hawse holes to some), through the thimble and then doubled back aboard so you end up with four lengths of line going to and from the eye. If you just run a single line out through the thimble, you end up getting the line sawing back and forth through it. this way, there is no sawing action.
We went ashore and walked across Ocean Highway to the keys Fishery Restaurant, which is an open air affair overlooking Florida Bay where you order and the window and give them your favorite TV show which they use to announce your food ready to pickup. I gave them Dancing With The Stars for Mary. I noticed the table next to us with two little girls used Dora.
We then found a convenience store to get some needed groceries before returning to the dinghy dock. A harbor tour followed with interesting boats and homes and waterfront establishments to view.
Sunset saw the usual Keys celebration of the event with conch shells being tooted here and there. A lot of laughter emanated from the boat next door as a wannabe conch artist just couldn't seem to get a decent toot out of the object.
We have elected to remain here until Saturday watching the weather to decide about the 36-mile run in the Atlantic to Boca Chica. The few miles we did in it getting into this harbor were fairly rough.
