Sunday, March 4 - "Ocean Reef" at Key Largo

 We had winds up to 20 mph during the night last night!  While the winds have calmed some, they're still at 17 mph!  We debate whether or not to leave, and then decide that if the seas are too rough, we'll just turn around.  A dock hand helps us untie our lines, and as he hands the last line to me, he says, be careful out there, you could run into six to eight footers!!!  I look at Dave and we both exchange uneasy looks!  Should be an interesting cruise!

Leaving Marathon Marina and Resort, thinking I would like to stay!

We enter the channel that leads us out to the Atlantic Ocean, and what's the first thing we see; a crab pot!  Seriously?  We're getting a little tired of watching for these!

YEP!  It's a little rough out here!  We experience three to four foot waves, and every once in a while the spray from the wave hits us on the fly bridge!!!  The only good thing is that we are going right into the waves; no rolling, thank goodness!

Soon we pass a home that is sitting on its own island!  

WOW!  I wonder how much that must have cost?!

We say goodbye to Marathon and hello to six more Keys until Key Largo.

After a few hours, Captain Dave brings the boat in closer to shore so that we're in 

shallower water (fifteen feet).  Shallower water means smaller waves!😃  Here's one of only three passes to the Gulf of Mexico; wish it was deep enough for us to travel on that side, as I think it might be a little calmer.  Instead, because our boat has a draft of five feet, any vessels with that or more need to run in what is called "Hawk Channel Offshore".  This channel is not officially part of the ICW, it lies southeast and south of the Keys, taking the form of a somewhat protected "channel" running between the line of Keys and the Florida Reef (actually a series of reefs paralleling the islands).

We left the dock this morning at 8:00 a.m. and now at 11:00 a.m. we are starting to see the waves change; we now only have two to three footers . . . yahoo!!!  Out further into the Atlantic Ocean we see what might be an oil outrigger drilling for oil.

Just when we are free of crab pots for about fifteen minutes, we get a treat: ocean blue colored ones that blend in perfectly with the water!!!  In the distance we can see a cement structure that we have seen by car when traveling through Key Largo; we're getting close to our destination!

 And here we are: "Ocean Reef" at Key Largo!!!

Ocean Reef is a private membership community and because we have been 

invited by our Looper friend, Chip, from New Jersey, we can stay!  We are the envy of many of our marina friends back in Legacy Marina in Fort Myers; I think we're in for a treat!

We first approach the pool and beach area.

And then a row of mega-yachts (100 foot and larger)!!!

It's quite a windy path to get to our tie-along, but we're just excited to have a spot!

Here we are passing by "Rambunctious", one of our Looper friends that arrived yesterday 

for this quaint reunion.

And here we are!  Chip gives us specific directions from his "Looper Boat", MaryLou, and his brand new boat that he just brought here this morning from Miami!

While we arrive at 2:00 p.m., Gary and Angie arrive one hour later.  After checking in and getting acquainted with this beautiful community, the group gets together for drinks and dinner.  We are looking forward to this four-day reunion!!!  Stay tuned for more pictures!

Left to Right:  Angie and Gary from "Unruly", Bobby (Chip's Friend from New Jersey who we met in Clearwater),
 Chip (our outstanding host!), Walt, Dave, Kelly, and Midge (Walt and Midge are from "Rambunctious")