Busy day in Key Largo

We had an early start today because the tide was high a 7:53 am and we wanted to take a spin outside the canal to test the adjustment Dan made yesterday. Everyone (except Pete who had a 7:15 conference call) joined us for our morning run and we set off a few minutes before 8. We are so isolated from the real world here at Marina del Mar that we forget that there are strong winds once you pass the jetty at the entrance to the canal. It is also hard to imagine that Rt. 1 is only 500 yards away in the other direction. Anyway the wind was pretty strong out of the east as we headed out, but it didn't keep us from reaching 7 knots - - - this time we made it up to 26 RPMs - - - still not what Westerbeke and PYI would like to see, so Fred wrote this evening suggesting a further 4 degree adjustment. Dan isn't sure whether to do it here or wait until we get across.

We were back in the slip by 9 and got a call from Enterprise saying our mini-van was ready and we could pick it up any time. Long story short, John and I walked up and waited over an hour outside the office before finally getting the van. We came back and picked everyone up for a lunch excursion. Candi, the dockmaster, suggested Gilbert's Raw Bar and Grill about 9 miles north and on the bay side. It was a great place and lunch was good. We stopped at a farm stand on the way back and got some fruits and veggies. We also hit Publix hopefully for the last time and I got permission from Candi to freeze all my meats in her chest freezer when we got back.

Tonight was dinner and a movie. We ordered pizza and Joy and Dean (from Saskatchewan) who live aboard all winter down here brought African Queen for us to watch. What a treat. Tomorrow the Miami Boat Show. ~~~_/)~~~M&D

What a loyal bunch, everyone got up early to join us on our morning test run of the new propeller settings.

The invasion is moving into Port Largo Canal. We went through a fleet of Portugese Man of War jellyfish on our way out this morning.

Our lunch excursion to Gilbert's was a nice change. It gave us a good look at the Florida Bay side of the Keys plus a good lunch. We liked the name of the Catalina 36 we saw moored off the restaurant.