Day 12 – April 10

We’re up early to head for Boot Key Harbor, about 45 miles away.  We motor out and I am on the southwest side of the bay, supposedly in 7 feet of water and the depth sounder starts reading 3.5.  I make a 90 degree turn and head back to the middle of the bay.  Just like in the Bahamas, you do not cut corners in the Keys, and I wasn’t according to the charts and GPS.  The last time we were here, we had a great sail on Florida Bay.  The winds today are about 3 to 6 knots out of northwest, so we are motoring.  We are in turquoise waters, passing small islands to our beam.

We get to the 7 mile bridge and have to motor 3 miles southwest to the opening, and then motor 3 miles back to Boot Key Harbor.  On the way into the harbor there is a motor yacht anchored in the channel, and soon after we see him being towed to the mooring field.  We stop for gas, water, and a pump out, and the place is busy.  The lady running the fuel dock has it under control.  She puts us on one dock, and the other boat which got a little testy with her on another.  She says she will get to us shortly, and I reply, no hurry, we’re on vacation.  We dump our garbage and get fuel and water.  The other boats seem to be in a big hurry, and we tell her, when they’re gone you can help us.  We get a mooring in Boot Key Harbor, although we have a bit of a problem finding it.  Once secured, we register and take showers.  Pasta and spinach is on the menu tonight.