Faro Blanco - Departure

Thursday 3/1/2018
Depart: Faro Blanco, Marathon 9:15
Arrive: Little Shark River Anchorage 2:45
Distance: 37 nm

A number of boats departed from Faro Blanco this morning. We being late risers were, of course, the last to go.

Craic

Lone Star

Ramble On

Sunset Delight

One of the benefits of being the last to leave was the farewell committee that had time to form. We had a large group arrive at our dock to send us off. As I said to them at the time, I could feel their love!

Jim - Third Degree
Jim - Hour Plan
Jim / Mandy - Shell Belle
Chad / Michele - ???
Yasmine - Yasmine Ann
Ann / Mel - Morning Star II

Bill / Sandy - L'Attitude Adjustment

AC of Hour Plan was not with the group to wave farewell. As the self-appointed "farewell photographer", she positioned herself at the far end of the marina to capture pictures of boats as they departed Faro Blanco. Most of the above boat pictures are thanks to her willingness to take so many pictures of departing boats.

Picture of AC heading back after taking pictures of Sunset Delight
Thanks AC!

Soon after the excitement of waving farewell to so many wonderful people wore off, the tedium of traveling many miles through crab traps quickly set in. Today proved particularly difficult as we had dark red crab trap markers in areas with dark red weeds floating in the water. Then we had white crab trap markers surrounded by white caps on the water. Of course, every once in a while we got a sea gull or other bird posing as a crab trap marker just to make it interesting. It certainly kept us on our toes and thankfully did not generate any negative excitement, i.e. diving under the boat to untangle a crab trap from our prop.

Dark Red Crab Trap Marker

Dark Red Weeds

After five hours dodging crab traps, we arrived at our stopping point for the night at Little Shark River in the Everglades. We could see Viator already anchored as we came in.

Viator (on right)
Little Shark River Anchorage

Clark decided not to enter the river and instead dropped our anchor just before the entrance to Little Shark. In this way he hoped to avoid mosquitoes.

View of Little Shark River Anchorage from our boat

Although the view of the land was not wonderful, we had an unobstructed spectacular view of the sunset from this vantage point.

As well as a great view of the full moon.

The only aspect of anchoring out in the open water that I did not care for was the excessive rocking of the boat. I guess I spent too many nights in a protected slip. I did not sleep well. Clark on the other hand slept like a rock as he enjoyed the motion of the boat.