More Boot Key

 We have been here longer than usual so lots more pictures.  Enjoy.

Chickens and roosters everywhere.

It's dim but it's a pipefish.

Beautiful pelican.  They are always on the hunt

for fish and free handouts. 

We needed to inspect our holding tank (yuck)

so we had to move the table and open the 

inspection hatch.  

A local's favorite hangout.  Even famous people

like dives!

This dolphin was one of a pod of 8.  They

were chasing a large school of fish all around our

boat.  It was wild show! 

A decorative planter.  The plants are all succulents.

It may be March but the glass is still cute.

This is an unretouched photo without any special

filters.  The harbor was just that spectacular looking.

San Pablo

 San Pablo is our local Catholic church and whenever we are in Boot Key it is our home parish.  It is so beautiful on many levels starting with the people.  Over the years there have been several pastors but all great guys.  Every week they ask visitors to stand and be recognized.  On any given week during Snowbird Season, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the congregation stands and we're always warmly welcomed.  One of the most amazing things about the parish is their garden area.  Many volunteers and generous donors have created a space both beautiful and inviting.  I love walking along the paths.  If it wasn't such a long bike ride, I'd be there more often than just Sunday.  Notice all the gorgeous landscaping in each of the pictures.

This arch welcomes you to garden pathways.  The

dome is metal so it must take vigilance to keep it

from corroding.

This is a popular style of benches throughout the gardens.

A shrine to our Blessed Mother.

                                                              A gazebo in front of the parish hall.

Click to see the detail on the columns.  They are

seashells.  You can tell which way hurricane winds blow

from how eroded they are on one side.

A beautiful and lovingly constructed shrine.

This is a grotto put together many years ago by a 

loving family.  Each piece is a seashell placed by hand in 

the design.

The plaque with the grotto's dedication.

The pond is a reflection pond on the four gospels.

The fountain in front of the church.

Welcome sign to the gardens.

One area is dedicated to the Rosary.  Each of the

four mysteries are listed on its own sign.

You can pray the rosary step by step.

Just a cool fountain.

Quiet spots with benches are all throughout the 

gardens allowing for moments of prayer.

Statues are also place at points in the garden.

Arrows point the way.

St. Jude, patron of lost causes.

Another fountain.  I guess I love the sound

of flowing water. 

St. Peregrine.

Another spot for quiet reflection and prayer.

A memorial to all the children lost to abortion.

Boot Key Harbor

 This is such a convenient spot for cruisers.  There are large grocery stores a little over a mile away, a West Marine and lots of other support places for mechanical repairs and upgrades.  We can order items on-line and receive regular mail at the harbor headquarters.  There are so many social activities like potlucks and jam sessions.  There are regular bocce ball games, cornhole, pickleball, tennis, softball, Mexican train and so on.  A morning cruiser's net is held every morning by volunteers.  There is even a community garden.  You can participate in as much or as little as you want and if you ever need help folks are willing to pitch in.  It's an amazing place for sure.  The main building is comprised of what we call the headquarters which is the office end of things.  It also has spots for those needing to use power and internet for their computers.  The take one/leave one library is on one wall behind the table set up for mail.  There are also 3 spaces with chairs and cable tv for those wanting to see what's going on in the outside world.  Tables in the middle are for games, chatting, chart sharing, etc.

This large workspace is available free on a 

first-come-first served basis.  Everyone is nice and

keeps the area clean.  People really appreciate the availability

of the facilities and no one wants to be responsible for

the city pulling the spots if they have to pay somebody to clean up

the common use areas.

This building houses the laundry and rows of ensuite shower

rooms.

Some spots along the seawalls can accommodate some boats

with water and electricity.  It's also where the pumpout boats

call home and a sheriff's boat.

The south end of the main building is the socializing area.

This upper deck is shaded and has tables for eating.

The large tiki is site of many activities such as

potlucks and general get togethers.

Jam sessions are for anyone who wants to show

up to sing, play an instrument or just enjoy other's talents.

A bit of whimsy in the garden.  This unique scarecrow

is a community effort of parts.

The community garden.  Some plants are protected from

marauding iguanas with mesh cages.

The inside of the headquarters building.

This shot gives a little perspective on the size of the main  building.

Manatees seem to love the calm waters

of the dinghy canals.  We see one almost

every day.  In previous visits we've also encountered

electric eels and a weird water creature called a sea rabbit.

We've had pipefish come right up to our swim ladder.

It's fun to see what pops up next.

Getting Settled in Boot Key

 We took it sort-of slowly on the first full day.  Our priorities were getting the bikes to the shore, joining the local gym and buying supplies.  We signed up for at least 4 weeks which may seem like a long time but from experience, we know it will fly by.  So much of the area was just the same and that was nice for us.  We were afraid of developers turning our bit of keys paradise into condoville.  Our favorite after church restaurant, however, is gone.  Stout's was a Marathon icon and I know we're not the only ones disappointed in it's closing.  As always, we are so impressed with the overall management of the harbor.  The city staff do an excellent job of keeping everything running smoothly and facilities taken care of in good order.  The harbor is a mix of permanent party, snowbirds and those passing through.  I guess we're somewhere between snowbirds and passing through this trip.  We plan to be here until it's time to head back home but we're not here for the entire winter season like our Northern neighbors.

When we were coming in to the dinghy dock we had to 

watch out for some local residents.

Some folks have junk drawers but for the moment we

have a junk berth.  We really can stow things away and create

space for visitors.  Our forward bunk also has a sink for 

visitor's (and my) convenience.

Sunset our first night on the mooring ball.

We like to have power and comfort so we 

deployed our extra solar panels and

put up the air scoops to get the fresh air down below.

We love the dinghy space we now have.  It seems

like a new dinghy to us but we bought it in 2019!

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