2026 January: Seagrass

 3 January 2026

Full Moon as seen from docks at 
Marlin Bay Resort & Marina

Marlin Bay celebrates each full moon on the Saturday closest to the event, so tonight we had a celebration of the "Wolf Moon".  We had a live band

and pizza with a discounted drink menu.

The bar had a full contingent of boaters taking advantage.

As I walked back to the boat from the pool bar, I snagged a couple more pictures.

Taken near the pool bar - moon low in the sky

Taken from the east docks 
(no moon shown but I loved the reflection of the buildings)

None of my pictures compared to one taken by a friend from the Faro Blanco Resort (shown below) and "borrowed" from Facebook.

5 January 2026 - Sunday

The band / music director at the church was on vacation for today's service, so the rest of the crew were on their own for the program and songs. Without their usual leader, the group decided to get together at 9:00 a.m. this morning to have extra practice time before the service at 11:00. 

Clark checked the weather and thought he would need to leave by 8:30 as some rain might be passing through. Radar showed Marathon clear, so I poked my head out to check out the sky. We got no rain, but the cloud cover was impressive!

I typically go with Clark if he is getting there for a 10:00 practice, but I draw the line there. I saw him on his way and then went about my own business onboard until closer to time to arrive for 11:00. 

Today at St. Columba church they celebrated the "Feast of the Epiphany". This year they are taking some of the activities that occur during the more formal, 9:00 service and incorporating them into the 11:00 Contemporary service. 

The procession of the "Three Kings Bearing Gifts" today is one of these carry-overs.

The other novelty of today's service was "Bring your dog to church" day. The pooches came up to the altar for blessings.

Pastor Deb Blessing the Pups

Our friend's dog - "Diesel"

Later in the day, we took a second bike ride and stopped into Winn Dixie for some items. Since we were not in a rush, we stopped into the "Surf Style" store that moved in where K-Mart used to be. The place is huge! Perfect if you want a t-shirt, sandals, beach toys, or memorabilia. Everything I looked at cost more than I was prepared to pay.

I accidentally took the wrong door to exit and found myself in the surfing room. Two young men were in there practicing their moves! This was a great "mistake"! Clark had waited outside with the bikes while I stuck my nose in to snoop around the store. I sent him in to take a picture or two, and he came back with a video.

Later, at sunset, I was on our boat and heard someone blowing the conch and a bunch of folks cheering. I quickly ran to the bow for the sunset picture for the day.

5 January 2026

Once again, seagrass has invaded our space at the marina. Depending on the wind and current, the seagrass takes turns visiting each of us in its time. If the seagrass is piled up high, it refuses to move along and forms the equivalent of an island. 

We have have several islands form behind our boat, and we keep breaking them up and sending them on their way. It's good for building upper body strength! We have to pick our times to send the seagrass on its way so that nature. i.e. wind and current, helps to move it along; otherwise, it is a useless endeavor. Today our choices were mid-morning or mid-afternoon! I took advantage of both opportunities.

A recent island came to visit bringing us a coconut! We passed on the offering however and sent it along to the next customer.

Seagrass behind "Sunset Delight"

The slip beside us did not have a boat in it, and the seagrass filled in the spot!

Port side of "Sunset Delight"

Unfortunately, when it piles up and refuses to move, it dries out and starts to smell pretty darn awful. My allergies are not a fan! Thus, we bring out the boat hooks and start breaking it up. 

One of our boater friends, Del, has gotten more aggressive with the seagrass islands. He uses his dinghy as a plow and pushes the grass out of the basin.

Del pushing seagrass island

I saw him later using a hook to try to move the seagrass away. Later he told me he grabbed the "island" with a small anchor and towed it out that way.

Del getting ready to tow the
seagrass "island"

For the moment, we have gotten rid of the seagrass that sat at our stern. 

Looking good until the wind shifts direction

Neighboring boats have not been tended to in quite some time.

I heard the conch as I was typing up the blog post and ran out to get tonight's sunset pictures.

t

Our neighbors to the west

Sailboat on the horizon - to the east

Clark is friends on Facebook with the Dockmaster here. The ballad below is something she posted ...

(To the tune of "The Sounds of Silence" Simon and Garfunkel)

The Smell of Seagrass: A Ballad of the Blowing North Wind

Hello winter, my old friend,

It’s time to smell you once again.

Because the tides are slowly creeping,

And dead seagrass has started reeking,

And the stench that was planted by the breeze,

On the Keys...

Still remains...

Within the smell of seagrass.

In restless nights I walk alone,

By mangroves green and seafoam blown.

‘Neath the humid glow of the dock light,

My nose assaulted in the moonlight.

When my lungs were stabbed by the whiff of decay,

That day...

It split the air...

And formed the smell of seagrass.

And in the salty air I saw,

Ten thousand tourists, maybe more.

People coughing without speaking,

People Febrezing without breathing.

People trying hard to find where that smell came from,

And moved along...

To flee the smell... of seagrass.

“Fools,” said I, “don’t you all know?

That’s the Keys’ perfume that blows!

If you don’t like what’s decomposing,

Head back north where things are frozen.”

But my words, like pelicans’ squawks,

Echoed off the docks...

Carried by the smell... of seagrass.

Then the north wind starts to blow,

From the mainland down below.

And the locals grin and bear it,

‘Cause this stink’s our badge of merit.

And we raise our drinks as the tourists flee in fear,

“See you next year!”

We’ll still be here...

With the smell... of seagrass.