Chart view of our trek through Shell Creek and other bodies of water.
Click on chart for a close up view of our route.
Legend, Black, first day, orange second day of sailing. Incidentally, 20 Kts. of wind on the second day, a two reefer!
The entrance to Shell Creek, whose idea was this anyway? We just wanted to explore another body of water on the other end of this creek. No, we did not have to come back the same way, we entered Long Sound, sailed into Little Blackwater Sound from there, into Blackwater Sound, through another cut on the Intracoastal, into Tarpon Basin, Buttonwood Sound and finally back into Fl. Bay to our home port.
We actually had to hack our way into this small creek that joins two bodies of water, we left Fl. Bay and entered Long Sound. Notice the Mangrove debris on the deck that is from the mast hitting the trees as we went through the creek.
To all that view this Blog, Happy Thanksgiving! I know that I have a great deal to be thankful for, I'll bet that if each one of you give the slightest thought about your family, friends and your life you will have no problem coming to the same conclusion as me.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Charley
IF, BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR, I GIVE YOU THIS!
My friend David and I went into the Back Country yesterday for a little fishing , we caught a variety of fish, including Jack Crevalles, Spotted Sea Trout, Lady Fish and a couple of Sharks. Because the season for Trout is closed until January we did not bring home dinner. The Jack's and the other fish gave us fun sport and all were released unharmed.
Picture below is David with a 2 1/2 Lb Jack. No David is not Hamas, the face cloth is made from special cloth to protect you against the sun's rays.
David with Jack Crevalle, they get much larger in the Keys but no matter what the size they are fun to catch.
This is my other boat, a Mako 17 Flats Boat
As explained in the next post, I take every opportunity that I am afforded, to encounter these small Outward Bound craft and their sailors. Typical groups that one might expect to encounter are disabled veterans, cancer survivors, troubled youth and on and on. They all come out here for one reason, to look inside their souls and sort things out, the experience with others that are in "the same boat" coupled with the beauty of the Fl. bay is a powerful force.
Group sailing on the newer version of an Outward Bound Boat
In for the night off Bottle Key, sleeping on the boat this night
Old School, full crew for this trip
New style boat with Roland aboard Ibis acting as their wing man
Ibis Leading the way
Roland was /is on the Board of Outward Bound
Back in the late sixties, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in an Outward Bound program. The course was a sailing course that took place on Blue hill Bay and surrounding areas of Maine waters. The vessels were 30' double ended pulling boats, with a co-ed crew of twelve people, powered by either wind or rowing. These stout little vessels had no head, no cleaning facilities or bunks on which a person might catch a good nights sleep. The course lasted thirty days, no base camp, just small islands which became our homes for the night.
I learned a great deal about working with others, team work, group dynamics, and yes, when to keep my mouth shut. It is because of the lasting impact that this course had on me and my teaching, every chance I get to talk with other students, especially during their course, I jump at the opportunity. There is an Outward Bound school here in the Keys, they go out in similar craft as I did and in a new and improved version. Every time I see them out on the Bay I either sail or motor out to greet them, take their pictures and post them on my Flickr site so their families can share a little of what it was like.
Here are a few pictures and videos of some of those encounters. The first two videos are of the Old School vessels and the third is the modern day version, even has a head.
North Nest Key is one of two keys located in the Florida Bay, about seven miles North of where I live in the Keys. It is in the heart of the Florida Everglades National Park and one of only a few Keys that you can actually land on. You can camp there but you must have a permit and as on all the Keys in the Everglades, you cannot have pets on land. Nest key is a favorite stop for avid Kayaker's as the trip out and back is moderately challenging, especially if the wid kicks up.
Yesterday, after communicating with two other Catboat owners, we all agreed to meet at Nest Key for lunch. I was the first to arrive, as I left early, then came Roland on Ibis, after a short time JC and Rose on Green Eyes arrived. It was a great sail out and back. The wind was perfect, 10 - 15 ESE, so one long tack out and two tacks back.
I am posting 4 pictures taken from my cellphone, the reason being that my regular camera battery was dead. I will post other pictures as they arrive.
LEE MARIE sitting quietly off Nest Key!
Nest Key shoreline
One of several Star Fish I saw yesterday
The Star Fish is under a foot of water here
Roland and IBIS, foreground
CB and LEE MARIE middle ground
Green Eyes and owners JC and Rose background
Trying out a new motor here, donated by a friend
2.5 HP Evinrude
I just finished several hours cleaning up after the workers left, grading the yard, raking the coral and wetting down the ground so that the dirt that was mixed with the coral is now under the pea rock. It does not look too bad but I think that a few yards of new coral pea rock is called for.
Jeff (?), you will be happy to know that I did not have to wait until next year after all.
Amazing
A few days ago there was nothing but trenches here.
In an attempt to clean up, preserve and improve the water quality of the Keys, a sewer project that extends from Key Largo to Key West was started last year. While I had to deal with our streets torn up, for three months, this year we have to deal with the hassle of sewer connections from the house to the street.
Now, when it comes to maintaining my property, I am a bit of a fanatic. Each day I rake the coral as if I were maintaining a Zen Garden, you can only imagine how stressed I am watching the process of connecting the sewers unfold.
Here are some pictures of a once nicely manicured coral yard. The workers say that it will be put back to it's original condition, we'll see about that. More photos to follow, after the job is finished.
