The Admiral, her winch and anchor

Some time back in Louisiana when we were pulling up anchor, we managed to bend the shaft a good 15 degrees- so if it lands on its flat side, the blade is parallel to the shaft and doesn't dig in.  Not good in a hard wind.  I was truly amazed the winch could bend a steel rod 3 inches thick.  Yesterday we hoisted the anchor up on this barge we're tied to, put it in bondage, and bent the shaft back straight again using the same winch.  Lots of fun.  In fact, we went out to lunch at Pepe's to celebrate our injury-free accomplishment.  Tomorrow we fill our fuel tanks up and think about other chores.

Stock Island

N  24 33.540

W -81 44.144

Anchorage in Key West, industrial-style. It's about a half hour bike ride from the center of town (movies, restaurants, library). We'll probably stay here for a few weeks, repair the anchor and do a few other projects. Like redecorate.  But first, we need to update our cat containment program.

Key West

N 24 34.872
W -81 47.307

After a few days in a backwater (ie, unpopulated) key we decide it's time to go on in to the big city. We're approaching from the north side of the keys and staying out in deep water heading for the main channel into Key West when I notice a line of whitecaps a quarter mile off running across and perpendicular to my course, and a line on the plotter at about the same spot, so I ask my sweetie and navigator, Honey, what is that line? Damned if I know, she says, but there's a similar line on the paper chart. So I say, Honey, does the chart say what that line is? She says yes, it's called the east jetty. At this point we're about 300 yds away going full speed right at it. It seems the main channel has a jetty on both sides protecting it. Flat out ruined my day.

Then we have to work our way through the tight little harbor with three gigantic cruise ships, an incoming fuel tanker to service them, two tugs to service the tanker, and a Coast Guard cutter nervously zipping back and forth.

Today we're sitting here trying to keep our anchor dug in while the north wind howls. It seems we have a few feet of sand over rock and the anchor will only bite so hard. When the wind dies down we'll go back into town.

And it is charming. After wandering around for a day, we realize: it's got the the bookstores, the market with the homemade bread, the Victorian houses (each with its own work crew). It's got the restored movie theater with movies that are not family-friendly. So it's worth visiting- even when overwhelmed by cruise ships.  

Tarpon Belly Key

N   24 43.830
W -81 31.437

another day another key

this one already has a lawn chair on it- very decorative!

the trip here was fun- I, Joyce, got to drive, and it's all about avoiding crab pots. Oh, while staying on course, I forgot that part! We're idling about today, and tomorrow probably heading for Key West. Our credit card was borrowed- luckily, by some idiot who used it on Match.com- so we have to go to the PO and pick up a new one.