Racing to Race Week III with Bogey,Bacall and the African Queen--Key Largo, Jan. 15-17



Pekabu and Brunelle under sail

 We departed the Rickenbacker Causeway at 8:00 a.m. on a breezy and beautiful morning.  In Biscayne Bay, we had heavy seas and swells with 20-25 knots; but things calmed down when we passed the buoy marking the Hawk Channel.  Glen cautiously let out a reefed jenny, but then all of her.  Winds from the NE 10-15, good for scooting down the Hawk Channel the 50 miles to Key Largo.

Key Largo is gorgeous--lovely pastel colored homes, the canals, very leafy palms and colorful flowers, boats packed tightly along the fairways into the various marinas. Lots of bars, restaurants and little hotels and inns mixed in with marinas.

 We chugged up the canal to "Crash" Corner where we had to send a Securite warning on VHS to avoid--the "crash."  The fairways were tight and we missed our slip, having fixated on another boat with red trim, NOT Pekabu, to get next to.  So we had to back out, turn around, and enter our slip.

Our stay at Marina del Mar was pleasant indeed. We were provided with towel service, a lovely pool and hot tub, as well as a veranda near our boats where breakfast was served each morning.  We also had use of the veranda for group dinners.  Brunelle served Crockpot pork roast and sauerkraut one evening, and Glen and I made bow tie pasta with hot Italian sausage and vodka sauce the next.  We ate out a couple of times as well.  For dinner at Sharkey's, Glen ordered  Hogfish stuffed with crab, and I the grilled double lobstertail; and the flotilla enjoyed a fun lunch at a Holiday Inn Tiki bar between storms on our layover day. 

Thunderstorms prevented our moving out as planned.  Inside the marina hotel lobby, we viewed the classic Bogey and Bacall movie,  Key Largo, during that  stormy third night.  The movie also featured a hurricane sequence, so our real time sound effects added another dimension to the movie.

The gals took a walk to the flea market, several drug stores, and NAPA--for filters, of course..  I walked over to Andiamo's side of the marina--located in the Marriott section, and on the way I discovered that  original "African Queen" was moored there.  She's pretty small and hasn't aged very well.  The sign advertises that she is available for cruises, but I don't think she looks seaworthy.  I wonder what Kate Hepburn would think of her now.    

     

We did have a fine time at Key Largo.  Time to get on to Key West.  Tomorrow, Marathon!          

                                                                    

                                                           So far, so good.  Hope our luck continues.

                                           

                                                            

                                                            Glen and Maureen

                                                             January 17, 2011