Tavernier, Florida Keys

Monday, February 15, 2016 -- We arrived after dark at the Mangrove Marina, but Heidi was here to show us around and help get settled quickly.  We'll get a chance to look around more tomorrow.

View from of our boat looking from Dock 300 to the northeast.

Tuesday, February 16 -- It looks pretty good so far.  The supermarket is within walking distance, and we have quickly found everything we need.  At night the wind plays quiet songs in the halyards of boats, and the waves slap gently on the boat.  

From our dock, looking NE

The houseboat, named Sand Dollar, is about 500 square feet of living space, with a loft which we use only for baggage.  It could be sleeping quarters for a couple of kids. We have a shower, toilet and washbasin in the bath, a queen-sized bed with two night tables, and a gas kitchen with refrigerator/freezer, a living room with sofa and a porch on each end.  The east porch - toward the 200 dock - is our entranced and it's screened, mostly.  There are two televisions and two A/C units which we've not used.

Looking west

Since I got my fishing rod and reel at the Islamorada Flea Market and Festival on Saturday, I've been fishing from the west porch, which faces the so-called 100 dock.  For some reason you can fish from your boat but not from the docks.

The marina has a number of live-aboards who seem to be spending the winter here.  However some boats do come and go, and this is clearly a place for fueling as well as lifting boats out or into the water. There are shower and toilet facilities on shore as well as washing machines and dryers.

February 17 -- we stopped at Robbie's to see the tarpon and the pelicans fight for fish.  These white herons are posing everywhere, and they were much easier to photograph than the submerged tarpon.

We also paused at Whale Harbor for a few minutes of "near sunset" photography, but the view would be better of the sunrise.

Whale Harbor

We ended the day Wednesday at the "Pulse of Islamorada,"  the Lorelei Bar overlooking the ocean view. There were people everywhere, cars parked all over, bartenders going crazy. Pretty cool place for a mojito just as day fades to night.

February 18 -- Anne's Beach, further down the Keys toward Key West, is a lovely Florida state park. Keys Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean, but there is almost no wave action, due to the wide, shallow water typical extending out from the land. There is a boardwalk that meanders through the mangroves from one parking area to the other, and that's where we saw this little guy.

 February 20 -- The big annual Islamorada Nautical Flea Market is today, so we parked at the school and rode the shuttle to Founders Park. It's a super place for bargains on boating fishing, diving, and nautical-themed gear.  We didn't need much of that, so after the pancake breakfast, we mainly walked and looked. Lots of used boat fittings and electrical parts, fishing and boating clothing, jewelry, etc.

Oh, yes, and many clever signs.  I thought this seemed especially original.  I kind of wonder where it comes from, or on what kind of location it was meant to be placed?