Matecumbe Harbor to Marathon, Florida

We woke this morning to a brisk wind from the east and a bright sunny day. We were underway shortly after eight o’clock looking forward to getting to Marathon.

We came upon several boats heading north in the ICW. The wind was blowing fairly hard as we travel along the way south. We felt like we were in deep water compared to the previous day. The charted depth just outside the ICW channel was showing seven to nine feet. This helped us relax a little more in spite of the continued obstacle course the crab pot floats presented. We had a good run and were soon in sight of the Seven Mile Bridge which extends south from Boot Key. Marathon is located on the southern tip of this key. Joe had phoned ahead early this morning to confirmed the availability of a mooring bouy at Boot Key Harbor City Marina. We decided to have our lunch on the bridge as we were still an hour and a half from our destination.

Just as we finished lunch I glanced across the water to the northeast saw what looked to be an approaching storm front. This was confirmed by turning on the radar. As we were traveling south the storm was moving northwest and we were on the lower edge. When we felt the wind gusts pick up and felt a few drops of rain we stowed away any materials on the bridge and found our rain slickers. We remain focused on the bridge and luck was on our side. The storm passed behind us well to the north.

As we went under the Seven Mile Bridge we immediately felt a change in the water. The waves were a little higher due to the increased wind and we were out of the protection of Boot Key Island. We followed the channel east and soon made our turn to the north heading toward the channel markers leading to the harbor. We did a little rock and roll for a while - those dreaded beam seas - for about half a mile and then into the channel where we were out of the wind.  We followed a sail boat through the drawbridge just prior to entering the mooring field. I phoned the dock master per his instructions this morning and he gave us an assignment and directions how to locate the buoy. 

After our usual boat clean up we launched the dingy. We took our shower gear and after we visited the dock master to sign we had a warm shower. There are only three showers for this marina which were being cleaned so we had a short wait.  A couple we met while waiting told us there are typically short waits.  

As we were heading back to the dinghy we saw our first manatee up close and personal. It was swimming around the dinghy dock. I took a picture of it to gage its size as it swan next to a dinghy in the water. We took a walk across the highway to a restaurant on the west side of the island, only a few blocks away. The dock master had given us coupons for a free drink so we said why not. On our way we walked past an outside storage for wooden seafood crated. It was a hot day and the odor was most offensive. I said to Joe that this is enough to turn off any thought of eating anything. We got the restaurant which had a separate pavilion and an eating area high above the ground. We walked in and found a pier which was the delivery point for the incoming days catch. This was more a snack bar with a walk up window. Everything on the bulletin board menu seemed to be fried and this place did not look clean. Needless to say this killed off whatever appetite we had left. We did a u-turn and headed back to the boat.

We returned to Surprise and did some reading before heading out again in the dinghy looking for a restaurant on the later at the far end of the anchorage.  It was close to five o’clock and this dock side bar was in fine form.  We had a light sandwich and sat among many locals and boat travelers as we waited for sunset. We watched a local band set up for evening entertainment. There was a man walking around dressed as a pirate. He looked pretty authentic and we never did figure out what he was all about. Another was walking around with a cask on his forearm and shoulder was wrapped as it had been dislocated. Maybe he just lost the fight. He was thin as a rail and was a pitiful sight. It appeared he was working there or for sure a regular We asked our waitress about a grocery store and Joe inquired if the Home Depot which he saw above the tree line was accessible by water. She told us it was not but many boaters come in for lunch, leave the dinghy for a while and walk up the street out front to the grocery store just down the street. We decided that would be our adventure for tomorrow.

Just as it was starting to get dark we headed back to Surprise to end our evening.

Next - Adventures in Marathon, FL