On to the Keys

 We finally had a weather window that included at least a little wind from the right direction for sailing so off we went.  We thought about diverting to Naples or Little Shark River in the Everglades National Park but the forecasted window wasn't supposed to hold open for long so we pressed on to Boot Key.  That and they had one mooring ball open.  That didn't guarantee us a spot but we gambled that it would still be open once we arrived.  We were lucky and we arrived early enough on the 14th (Valentine's Day) to get on the ball, settle up the financials with the office and still make it to the Dockside Bar and Restaurant for a celebratory drink.  Then it was back to the boat for a bowl of soup and crash in slumber.  Neither of us had managed more than a few hours sleep on the crossing so we needed to catch up.

Leaving Fort Myers we ran across this tug pulling

a large barge with a crane.  He wouldn't answer our radio

calls so we slowed down to avoid him and the drag line between

them.  Usually tugs are very responsive and let you know

their intended course.  Thank God we had plenty of light and room. 

One of our favorite places.  The water between

the old 7 Mile Bridge and the new one.  Marks the

meeting of the Gulf waters with the open

Atlantic.

Into the Atlantic and off to Boot Key Harbor