Heading to the Keys - Anyone Else?

[Bobby P.]

Happy Holidays, Y'all!

We will be towing our R31CB from Baltimore to the Keys, starting tomorrow (December 27). We hope to splash in Key Largo on the 29th. We will be cruising between Key Largo and Key West for just over two weeks and are targeting Mavin Key to hang on the hook for a few days. It's a beautiful set of sandbars with pristine waters and good protection form wind and waves. Marvin Keys is on Gulf side about between Sugarloaf and Key West.

If you are down in the Keys between January 29th to December 14th, let us know. It's always fun to rub fenders with fellow RT and CW owners.

Best,
Bobby and May

 

[Katmat]

Happy Holidays, Y'all!


If you are down in the Keys between January 29th to December 14th, let us know. It's always fun to rub fenders with fellow RT and CW owners.

Best,
Bobby and May

Looks like you are going to be in the Keys for about 11 months.

There are a couple of tugs hanging out in Mathathon at the Marathon marine & RV.

 

[Bobby P.]

Ha! 11 months in the Keys sounds even better.
Correction, play dates for the keys: December 29-January 14!
We plan to stop in Marathon, for sure.
Matt, you should consider it.
Bobby

 

[Annie Time]

We are headed your way should make it to Marathon in a few weeks. We just got in the water today in Fort Meyers. We’re head East towards Stuart than down the East side.


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[fishheadbarandgrill]

You can say hi to SEA SHANTY in Marathon. We are at Safe Harbor Marathon until 15 March.

 

[Bobby P.]

Happy New Year!

We made it down from Baltimore, only blowing two tires along the way. I had all my tools, so it wasn't so bad. I'm going to get 6 new tires (14ply) in Key Largo before we go back.

We splashed in Key Largo on the 28th and spent 2 nights on a mooring ball in Pennekamp State Park ($26 per night). We snorkeled Grecian Rocks on Molasses Reef and then anchored the night of the 30th in Little Basin. The morning of the 31st we caught a Florida Pompano on the Gulf side and made fish tacos for breakfast. After that, we motored over to Lignumvitae Key and toured the Island. Park rangers met us at their dock and gave a brief of the island. We walked ourselves and the dog, then headed back out on the water to go over to Indian Key (another state Park). Both Indian and Lignumvitae have mooring balls that you are welcome to use for several days, free of charge. We grabbed a ball at Indian Key and toured that island. Very cool stop. We then went back to Lignumvitae and grabbed a ball for the night, as that Island is on the Gulf side and had better protection. Indian Key is on the Ocean side.

Later today we will head over to Shell Island, another State Park owned Island. They have a few mooring balls there, so we will grab one tonight. These three Island are all located in the Islamorada/lower Matecumbe area and make great stop overs.

Don't know where we will be tomorrow. On Monday and Tuesday we are going to stop over at the Marathon Marina.
Following that, we will head further south, hoping to spend a few days in Marvin Key.

Looking forward to seeing some of you in Marathon or at anchor.

Best,
Bobby and May

 

[Gypsy]

Bobby,
Where did you launch the boat, and where did you leave your truck and trailer? We are hoping to make a similar trip.

 

[Brian 27 OB]

Bobby,

We almost overnighted at Matanzas mooring field in fort Myers before our stay at Pink Shell Beach, but have a miniature schnauzer aboard makes it tough. How do you guys stay on the hook with a dog? I assume a potty mat and a well trained pup?

 

[Bobby P.]

Launched at Pennekamp. You pay $26 a day for a mooring ball. That allows you to launch, pull back out, stay on the mooring ball and keep your truck and trailer in the parking lot. You also could use their pump out and can fill your water tank. They are super nice.

So I paid for the mooring ball for two weeks. I used it two nights we first got there and I’ll probably use it for a night or two when we get back. I told them that we were going to be gone for most of the time and could let somebody else use the mooring ball, but they said nah, just keep it for myself.

Regarding the dog… One good example is Penny camp. Also I just name three islands that we were able to use in a previous post. Also when we stayed in Little basin content over to the big sports center.
We are good about patronizing places, buying a cocktail or a date for fuel. I’m hoping when we were out at Marvin K it will be easy enough to walk him on the beaches. This is our second trip with the dog and we’ve never had a problem. Just make sure you got a good tank with the motor. He only needs to go twice a day but we often get him ashore more than that.

All the bars are pet friendly and we like to do a dock and dine/cocktail making it another good time for a dog P.

 

[Annie Time]

We are working our way down the coast. We are currently at the Rivera beach city marina. We plan to spend at least a week at the Marathon marina and rv park. Our reservation starts on the tenth we have two weeks booked. Hope to see see tugnuts in the area


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[Bobby P.]

Spent a beautiful afternoon and evening on the hook at Curry Hammock state park. There is a big lagoon, very well protected on all sides. Caught some snappers for dinner and had a peaceful night sleep! Heading out to Sombrero reef for some snorkeling this morning and plan to Take a slip at Marathon Marina today. Btw, Curry Hammock is dog friendly ; )

Bobby and May

 

[Annie Time]

Bobby P. How long you planning on being in Marathon? We will be headed there on Monday after the predicted blow on Sunday.


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[Bobby P.]

We actually left marathon on Wednesday to head further south and go way out back to an area just before Key West called Marvin Key. We made it pretty fate out back and could find no good landing we
to P the dog. We were still 30 miles away from or target of Marvin Key. Also with the coming heavy winds we thought it might be a challenge coming back so we turned around and headed over to Bahia Honda. Yesterday we came through Marathon but just stop for a dock and dine on the Gulf side at the fisheries Inc. food was very good. We ducked in the Cove just north of Marathon and had a quiet night on the water. We are now heading out to alligator reef for snorkeling and will end up in Islamorada tonight and then Key Largo for a few days. Hope to see you guys on the water once again. Are you guys trailering all the way to Marathon?

 

[Annie Time]

We are doing what is called the Florida mini loop. We put in Fort Meyers, went across the Okeechobee water way to Stuart, we have been working our way down the east coast of Florida. We are staying few days here at Pennekamp till the store blows through. We plan to be in Marathon on Monday. If your in the area stop by.


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[fishheadbarandgrill]

SEA SHANTY is at Safe Harbor Marathon now. Say hello when you arrive.

 

[Katmat]

SEA SHANTY is at Safe Harbor Marathon now. Say hello when you arrive.

We will next month!

 

[Bobby P.]

We are back in Baltimore! It was 14 degrees when we got up this morning (not on the boat). Funny thing... I got up in the middle of the night to use the head and thought, "Holy Crap this boat is big". Then I realized I was in my bedroom, on land.

Wrapped up our trip spending the last few days in Key Largo, hanging out with Annie Time and catching snappers. We did a day trip out to Nest Key (on the Gulf Side). This is one of our favorite spots and if the wind is right, easy anchorage for a few days. Good holding in sand and the mangrove island has some sandy spots to land, picnic and chill out. Great spot for the pup, tool!

Were were going to spend a few more days in Key Largo but saw there was a big storm heading for Baltimore, so we wrapped it up Thursday afternoon. Spent the first night about 2 hours south of Jacksonville. Second night we were in North Carolina. Got up the next morning and winterized all systems. We made it to Baltimore yesterday afternoon by 1:30 and it was already 25 degrees. We put her away and was home by 5pm for cocktails and crab-cakes. I'm already planning our next trip...

Nice to have met a few more tugnutters along our recent journey.

Looking forward to seeing more of you on the water.

Best,
Bobby and May

 

[Annie Time]

It was great to see fellow Ranger Tug folks down here in the keys. We enjoyed the fishing and all the pointers you provided. Big thanks from us. We’re still hanging out in Marathon. The big blow today was not too bad compared to up the west coast. We’re going to try to move north by the end of the week. Glad you made it back safe and sound! I’m sure we’ll cross paths in the future.


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