Marathon
We are still hanging out in Marathon waiting for our weather window to cross the Gulf Stream. Today marks the end of our second week here in Boot Key Harbor. We have had strong north winds for most of our time here. A tornado touched down about a mile from us during the strong storm that passed through Monday night. Two days ago was the coldest weather in Marathon since 1966. Can we attract good weather or what? I would like to drag Al Gore down here and show him global warming up close and personal. I'm sure he has accrued enough "carbon credit" to fly down for a visit--oh wait, a polar bear just went floating by. Next week is not looking real promising either, but we will wait and see. The Gulf Stream is just off the coast of Florida, with a strong current which runs south to north. Winds with a northerly component, counter the current, and quickly create large, steep, square, and dangerous waves. So the idea is to cross with winds 15 knots or less that are not from the north.

Boot Key Harbor Marina (really a mooring field) has the biggest dinghy dock we have seen so far, and maybe the biggest bike rack we have seen as well.

Big dinghy dock and big bike rack.

The staff here is very friendly and quite helpful. They even set up a projector for the Super Bowl, which was after hours. They need to quadruple the laundry facilities, and at present only have 3 showers. They have finished a building, which should open shortly, that will greatly improve the shower situation. 

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