2025 November: Marlin Bay Marina FL

 27 November 2025

Depart: Marathon FL anchorage 9:00

Arrive: Marlin Bay Marina, Marathon, FL 9:30

Distance: minimal

The weather forecast for today and tomorrow sounded pretty ugly. Wondering what plan we should use for getting to Marlin Bay, Clark talked to the marina dockmaster to discuss options. She told him that they have an offer for folks to come in early if they have a reservation and bad weather is imminent. So, we took them up on the offer and targeted to come in this morning ahead of the bad weather. 

Our friend, Steve, who works on the docks saw our boat anchored nearby and texted Clark at 7:30 this morning to tell us we could come in around 9:00 to the same slip we have used for the past few years.

When Clark looked out of the boat this morning, he was greeted by a rainbow!

 

Steve texted Clark just before 9:00 and said the dockhands were ready for us when we were, so we pulled up our anchor at 9:00 and were in the slip at 9:30. The hard part at this marina is figuring out the best way to tie the lines with the fixed docks. We finally had the lines in place at 10:15 with a firm understanding that the first time the wind comes in with any strength, we will be back out making adjustments.

Besides us, four other boats came in today. We know the boaters on three of them from years past. It was like a reunion. Folks were busy settling in and adjusting their lines like us, so conversations were mostly short. I also got to chat with the very friendly staff - some we know from prior years and others who are new since we were here last spring. 

Clark joined me on one of my "rounds" and had a chat with a fellow doing the Great Loop. He is only here short term as he heads to the Bahamas for Christmas with family.

I walked around the marina a few times today and captured some pictures as I strolled along. The sky was threatening but other than a light rain, we did not see any inclement weather today.

I checked the iguana crossing area and found an iguana resting on the rocks nearby.

Sadly, I found sea grass in the slips as I walked around. It is on the far side of the basin today. Hopefully the wind doesn't blow it our way!

It is pretty thick in the inner basin. Glad we are in the outer basin!

I kept checking the sky on my walks and got some great views!

Faro Blanco lighthouse on a cloudy day

Marlin Bay Marina

I asked Clark to stand in front of the observation tower to give the picture some "life". He refused.

Observation Tower

As the sun got lower and lower in the sky, the view got better and better!

We are glad to be in our winter home and look forward to more friends joining us in the coming weeks.

2025 November: Arrive Marathon FL

 25 November 2025

Depart: Sands Key anchorage 8:50

Arrive: Barley Basin, Islamorada, FL anchorage 3:00

Distance: ~ 46 nm

We woke to a lovely, peaceful day as the only boat in this particular anchorage. 

Sun coming up over Sands key

Boca Chita in the distance

Miami, FL way off in the distance

Options for interesting photos were limited through here as we traveled calm waters with little to no boat traffic. Two hours after leaving the anchorage we passed from Card Sound into Little Card Sound.

Bridge to Ocean Reef

As we approached Key Largo we passed through narrow cuts with mangroves on either side.  

Mangroves in background

Key Largo offered up the same set of photo opportunities we see each time through here.

Anchorage Resort & Yacht Club

In the past we have seen some wrecked boats near here. Apparently they have cleaned up the area. Now the only boats moored here appear to be in good shape.

Boat houses near the yacht club

Perhaps it was the time of day or the day of the week, but the resort across the way looked deserted.

Further along, also in Key Largo, we passed by a tall concrete tower that always catches my attention. I did a bit of research and found that it is an old AT&T microwave tower. The tower in Key Largo was first operational in 1957, and it provided a way that Cuba could communicate via telephone with the outside world. Having worked for AT&T for most of my career I found this fascinating. 

Concrete Microwave Tower

I recently complained to a friend, Betsy, that dolphins never play alongside our boat. Well, I guess the rule, "beggars can't be choosers" applies as today we had dolphins come to play in our wake. First one showed up, then another and another until we had six dolphins along side jumping in the wake.

The anchorage Clark chose for this evening was one that we have used in the past. Barley Basin has good water depth and is well protected, but it is a mine field of fish traps to be avoided while looking for a spot to drop anchor.

Clouds offered an interesting sunset tonight.

26 November 2025

Depart: Barley Basin, Islamorada, FL anchorage 11:25

Arrive: Marathon, FL anchorage 3:35

Distance: ~30 nm

Checking the radar this morning, Clark saw some rain off to the west. He decided we should hang out at the anchorage to let the storm system pass while he ran the generator to bring the batteries up to snuff. With a short distance to travel today, the batteries needed an extra boost.  While we hung out on the hook in Islamorada, I did some crossword puzzles and Clark did some boat cleaning.

He decided to "bite the bullet" and buy a new, totally different pump for the autopilot. We spent about an hour fighting with a cellphone transfer of money to buy the unit. With that nightmare completed, we pulled up anchor for the final stretch of our trip from NJ to Marathon.

With so many fish traps to maneuver around on today's path, the autopilot probably would not have been of much use. However, we will both be very relieved when we get it working again.

Amazingly, we had another pod of dolphins playing alongside our boat today. Once again, they had a limited source of entertainment as there was almost no boat traffic other than fishermen pulling in or putting out traps.

We have arrived several days early for our Marlin Bay reservation. As such, we dropped anchor with Marlin Bay visible to one side of us and the Faro Blanco lighthouse to the other.

Last year at Marlin Bay they had put some paint samples on the tower to decide what to use. Based on the fact that the tower has changed color, they must have made their choice.

Marlin Bay Observation Tower

Faro Blanco lighthouse

A few boats at Marlin Bay

Keys Fisheries

As we came into the area where we planned to anchor, we were haled on the radio by boating friends on "Agape" - Paul and Michele welcoming us back to Marathon.

Later, after we had the anchor down, we saw a boat that we did not recognize coming straight at us. Clark said, "Maybe it's someone we know." It was! Folks we met last year, Marcy and Jeff, bought a Ranger Tug, and it was them coming to see us to say welcome back and hello. As we talked with them another boat pulled up, and it was our friend, Brian, from "Solitude". What a welcoming committee! This is why we love boating!

After they left, Clark and I did some much-needed boat cleaning. Clark worked on the deck while I tackled the upper helm.

Later, as the sun sank in the west, I grabbed the camera.

Looking to the west as the sun dropped in the sky

Sunset by Faro Blanco light

Looking to the east, the clouds caught 
the last of the setting sun.

2025 November: Biscayne Bay FL

 

Lighthouse at Hillsboro Inlet

24 November 2025

Depart: Pompano Beach, FL private dock 10:20

Arrive: Sands Key anchorage Biscayne Bay, FL 5:10

Distance: 53 nm

With the holding tank full, it was time to untie the lines. We had two choices go find a place to empty the holding tank and 1) come back or 2) keep going. Having been at our friend's dock for several days, leaving seemed prudent. We chose today, Monday, so that the weekend "warriors" were off the ICW to make leaving less challenging and more pleasant. Traffic on the ICW is prevalent on the weekends.

With no particular rush to get underway, we spent some time with our host before pulling in our lines. As such, we arrived at the Hillsboro Inlet bridge in time for their 10:30 opening. Unlike the mad house on weekends, we had one incoming and two outgoing boats (including us) for the bridge. The incoming boat had "right of way" due to the direction of the current. The other boat waiting to go out into the ocean appeared to be one that would want to go faster than us, so Clark told him to go next, and we went through last.

"Baboo" going through the bridge

Looking back with sun shining on the bridge

Sun shining on the Lighthouse at the inlet

I thought it interesting that a Sea Tow boat was hanging around apparently waiting for business to appear.

As can be seen in the above picture, the water was as smooth as glass in the morning with barely a ripple in terms of waves. Boat traffic was mostly sparse and scattered as we traveled the ocean. We had one sailboat that the AIS told us was set up on a collision course with us. I maneuvered the boat to go around him from behind just as he chose that moment to tack. I noticed his sail luffing first and realized that he was planning to tack. and what had been his stern would become his bow, so I had to change direction accordingly. 

Later, as we passed Governor's Cut into Miami, we had to maneuver around another boat. This one a commercial vessel. Our paths crossed as he was entering the inlet while we planned to continue south on the ocean.

Marker near entrance to inlet

"Bimini Cat"

Other than these two "close encounters", the most interesting view today was the cloud cover. Clark pointed out to me the dark clouds in the sky behind us. The radar app, "Rainy Days", showed storms behind us but not reaching us. 

Dark Clouds behind us

As the clouds moved in, the city buildings became obscured. 

Building disappearing as clouds move in

Radar of sky behind us

Meanwhile, the skies to the front of us looked welcoming with white, fluffy clouds.

No storms ahead

Although Clark took apart and replaced our autopilot multiple times, it is still not reliable. Today, we did not even try to use it. When I was piloting the boat, Clark mentioned that he really liked his "new" autopilot (i.e. me!).

When we discussed travel plans yesterday, Clark targeted the "No Name" anchorage that we have used in the past. As we traveled down the coast today, however, Clark decided that, with the wind direction, we would have a more comfortable night in a more protected anchorage. I am not a big fan of "No Name" as it usually yields rocky nights from boat traffic and was happy to hear we would be continuing on past that particular option.

He found an appealing anchorage near Boca Chita that sounded attractive, so we headed there. Consequently, we traveled past Miami through Biscayne Bay and got to see the houses in Stiltsville. 

Clouds over Miami

Cloudy skies near Biscayne Bay

We passed yet another bird perch along the way.

Clark pointed out that the water was very low as we passed through here. As a friend used to say, "we could see the birds ankles as they waded in the water"!

Deep water where we motored with
very shallow water to our starboard side
(not the color difference)

We have seen the houses in Stiltsville multiple times now. Today, we noticed some boats anchored in "town" fishing.

The house shown below has an observation deck, and all the decking appears to be new. Someone is busy with upkeep.

Observation tower and new decking here

Silhouette of a Stiltsville house

The clouds continued to make an impression on us as we traveled towards our targeted anchorage.

As our voyage came to a conclusion, we could see the lighthouse at Boca Chita in the distance. We visited here on one of our past trips through this area.

Sun shining on the
Lighthouse at Boca Chita

As opposed to places we anchored along the way south, with 12 feet of water depth and an 8 foot tide change (for example), today we had only 3 feet of water and 1 foot tide change. Clark hoped to anchor in sand, but all I could see below us was green vegetation. We put out plenty of anchor line to get a strong hold in the weeds.

Blue dot is us at anchor
off Sands Key

Then, we sat back and enjoyed the show in the sky.

Clark told me to look for the green flash, but as per usual, I did not get to see it.