JUST MEANT TO BE?

Yesterday we decided it was time to put Tarpon Basin behind us.  Valentine's Day had brought high winds and although we were anchored securely we processed back and forth and back and forth all day long.  Monday morning brought more wind but we were ready for a change.

With weather predictions for 15 - 20 knot winds we motored away and into Blackwater Sound.  Then into an even larger body of water called Barnes Sound.  It was huge so we threw out the genoa and were flying across the water.  Had to reef as winds picked up to 30 with gusts to 35.  Not exactly what we had in mind.  We pulled off the Intercoastal and just threw out the hook south of Pumpkin Key and relaxed for about an hour and a half.  Then picked it back up and went into Angelfish Creek.  Finally, a calm anchorage even in the winds.  

Molly looking for angelfish

Angelfish Creek is a staging point for jumping over to the Bahamas.  There was already one boat anchored in there.  John went over and asked them if they were going to the Bahamas and they said no. 

We had been considering whether or not to cross today (Tuesday) as it looked like the winds were finally going to be favorable.  We prepared our ditch bag and got other things in order in case we decided to go.  A ditch bag for those of you who don't know is a bag that contains safety items, food, communication devices and so forth that you have ready to go in case you need to abandon your boat.  Every good sailor will always be ready with a ditch bag if it is needed.  We always had one in the Great Lakes and definitely made sure we had a good one ready to go this time.

And then there were the buts...

But, the tide was such that we would have had to leave at 3AM in order to safely exit Angelfish Creek to the Ocean.  There are rock reefs out at the exit that can only be passed at high tide.

But, there were possible thunderstorms in the forecast.

But, we had no buddy boat to cross with.  

So, after battling winds all day Sunday and Monday and throwing in all the "buts", we decided this was NOT going to be our window to go.  As it turned out, we did get a thunderstorm and Miami in fact experienced 5 tornados that were not forecasted at all.  All in all we are glad we held off.  

Angry sky means no go

Instead we waited for the storm to pass and headed North towards Miami.  We called every marina between Key Largo and Miami trying to find a slip and every single one was FULL.   There were some that we couldn't get into due to depth but we called at least 6 and could not believe we could not find a slip anywhere, regardless of price.

Well, all's well that ends well as we are now sitting at anchor in No Name Harbor in Key Biscayne.  Just got in at 4:30 and luckily found a spot.  This is just a fraction of the size of Marathon.  Only about 20 boats in here and not room for many more.  

Yet another awesome sunset

John went in to pay and came upon a boater's happy hour.  Within minutes he met another couple with the same boat we have, a Catalina 42, who is from Wisconsin, with a 2nd home in Door County (where we live) and they are going to the Bahamas.  Looking forward to talking to them more tomorrow but we may have just found our buddy boat.  Perhaps it was all just meant to be...