Fun Times in Marathon

Always someplace to go or something to do. Where did the time go? An interesting bar we heard about on a nearby Key, the ceiling and walls covered in bills. A seafood festival at the neighboring park. A local play starring kids who live on a neighboring boat in the mooring field. Saturday night entertainment by the Blues Brothers impersonators. These are just a few more activities that made our stay in Marathon interesting and fun.  I never got one book read as we really didn't sit still long enough but we did sit still long enough to enjoy some beautiful sunsets!

The bar with the bills

                                                  Sunset from our boat in the mooring field

                                                   Saturday evening musical entertainment

                                               The dingy dock on a typical afternoon

                                

                                              Marathon Sea Food Festival

                                          St Patricks Day celebration at local watering hole

A home made Viking boat in the mooring field

                                                  Walking the 7 mile bridge in Marathon

                                         Meeting the Blues Brothers - They were really good

                                                 Sunset taken from the balcony of Burdines

 

 

Kayaking through the Mangroves

A short distance from the mooring field is an area of Mangroves that can be explored by kayak. Mangrove plants, or walking trees as they are sometimes called, are an important component of the Florida ecosystem. They provide shelter to many fish and creatures. Their unique structure recycles important nutrients and they protect the banks from erosion.  One afternoon Tom and I decided to check it out.  We were a little hesitant because there have been several snake hunts underway in the Florida everglades to help eradicate the unnatural, human introduced, (of course) population of boa constrictors that are damaging the ecosystem due to the large amounts of prey they are eating and their rapid reproduction.
The mangrove area is thick and at times you have to lay down in your kayak to get under the branches.  I was actually more concerned about spiders than snakes but still! Anyway we took off to explore map of water trails in hand.  There is supposed to be a loop through the mangroves but we never made it all the way.  They were so thick and passage so narrow you couldn't paddle. It was more of a push yourself under and through. After a while it became more annoying than fun so we turned around and came back out the same way we went in.  Did see bugs but thank goodness no snakes.

Marathon Turtle Hospital: So sad but so happy someone is helping

Just a 10 minute bike ride from the marina, the Marathon Turtle Hospital was a visit I won't ever forget. Its far from a fancy facility, with a variety of tank sizes under a cover that keeps the heat of the sun off of those that are healing and will return to the wild and those that are permanent residents. 
A few of the permanent residents suffer from a syndrome called Bubble Butt. The name may be funny but these guys have heavy weights glued on their backs to help them swim underwater. Without the weights they could only float on top of the water. The result would be to die of starvation. The most common cause of this injury is boat props. Slow down people and keep an eye on your surroundings!!
Others had intestinal injuries from eating plastic bags or balloons. In the water these resemble jelly fish to a turtle. Tom and I have seen so many mylar balloons and floating garbage bags while boating the ocean. It is really upsetting. If you would like to read more google Marathon turtle hospital. You can even adopt one of the turtles to support their care. You receive a photo and periodic updates. I did this using my granddaughters names so they would get the updates. They really enjoyed it.

 

A wonderful surprise at Boot Key Harbor Dingy Dock

 We maneuvered our way into a spot on the crowded dingy dock and noticed a crowd on the opposite dock looking into the water and taking photos.  Being a bit nosy I had to go see what the excitement was about. We had seen glimpses of these big guys on the ICW and in other areas of warm water but to have one so close, was just to cool! What is it you ask?  Manatees, also known as Sea Cows or gentle giants. These big guys and gals are adorable. He or she was near the fresh water hose hoping someone would turn it on.  They love fresh water and some locals will run hoses near their docks to attract them.  It is against the law to harm them, touch them and or give them water as they are an endangered specie. They love fresh water so much they will drink it rather than eat. Not a good thing. An adult manatee can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh as much as 3500 pounds. The average length is 10 feet and 1000 pounds.  Manatees are far sighted, meaning they do not see clearly at close ranges. This can be very dangerous for them causing them entanglement in crab trap lines, fishing line and tangle with boat props. They can also mistake garbage for floating plants. Any and all of these have caused harm and death.  We see so much garbage in the water on our travels. Whenever possible we retrieve it hoping that our little bit of work helps.

His tale

Marathon Florida, a great spot to winter

Last January we spent 10 days on a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon Fl. before moving up the coast to cross to the Abacos. I really enjoyed our stay and suggested that we spend the winter there this year.  Tom agreed to the plan less than enthusiastically. I knew down deep he was concerned that he would get bored staying in one place so long. Following a month of playing softball on Tues. Thur. and sometimes Sunday, boat and happy hour gatherings and exploring he admitted his concern and how happy he was that there was so much to do it would be impossible to be bored.
 I went to yoga on Tues. and Thurs. and Zumba on Mon. and Wed.  Wednesday night was potluck night at the Marina, a great way to meet other boaters. Friday nights was movie night, we didn't usually attend, and on Saturday nights very talented boaters played and sang to a filled patio of boaters that gathered. I was in awe of the talent and equipment they had on their boats.
A radio show at 8:30 each morning on VHF 68 provided community information, a buy, sell or trade of equipment section, and an opportunity to ask for help with something on your boat. Each day boaters coming and going were asked to provide their names and info so that we could welcome them or wish them safe travels.  Tom especially enjoyed the trivia and actively participated in this segment of the show. Seminars were offered by fellow boaters on Solar panels, travel to Bahamas, Cuba, and more and on Tuesdays the ladies gathered for an afternoon of crafts, offering to teach you how to basket weave. I think you get the picture.  There is no way on earth you could be bored unless you really dislike being around other people.

Boot Key Harbor has 225 mooring balls and two long docks for those wishing electricity and water, which adds up to a community of about 450+ people, including families with kids.
After December there is usually a wait to get on a ball.  We waited two days this year four last.  They have a very large building that has three mini theatres with large TVs, a library, mail area and tables for crafts, internet use, or just visiting. There are also three other marinas within dingy distance from the mooring field. Many of the boaters live in the harbor all year around. We met one who has been on a mooring ball there for eight years. 

          The Tiki hut where movie night, the potluck dinners and music on Saturday night took place

 There are no facilities to handle births or deaths at the local hospital which is right in front of the marina so we frequently had a helicopter come and go overhead taking patients elsewhere.

 

               The old seven mile bridge is now use for walking and riding your bike. We went on a windy day. The bike ride one way great! Coming back, not so great.

The library and craft/meeting area tables. The internet area is to my back and the TV theatres to the right.

 

A view of one side of the mooring field

Celebrating the arrival of 2013

 We arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 29th, 2012. We have celebrated New Years in Lauderdale by the Sea before but never by boat so we were pretty excited. We contacted a fellow boater we had met several years ago at a Loopers conference to let him know we would be in the area. To our delight he helped us arrange dockage at his neighbors home. The location was perfect and the price reasonable. We were able to walk and ride our bikes to stores, the downtown area and to the condominium complex where Toms sister and family were staying. This stop was extra special for Tom because his daughter was also with us.

   New Years tradition at Lauderdale By The Sea was dinner with family and friends at the condominium then walk downtown.  The main street of town is blocked off and supports a lively party atmosphere with a live band at each end of the street, lots of food and drink options and a ball drop at midnight. We strolled from one end to the other listening to music and visiting with family and friends until the ball dropped. The best part? No driving involved.

The plan was to stay two weeks. After several "a couple more days" conversations, our fun filled stay lasted a month! Tom loved the daily 2pm Texas Hold em game and I enjoyed relaxing by the pool, and walking the beach everyday. It was fun to watch Tom reacquaint himself with old family friends and we met some really nice new Costa Del Sol friends.
  
Family and friends enjoyed several scenic boat rides down the ICW on Laughter. They really enjoyed the mansions and viewing the beach from the ocean. Our ocean run was quick as the inlet was pretty choppy and made several of our guests uncomfortable. Unfortunately one group also experienced the results of a holding tank pump out gone wrong when we stopped at a local marina. Channel #5 it wasn't! 
We took our toys, paddle board and kayaks to the beach one day. After several hard falls I gave up on the ocean boarding. It seems my balance is no match for the waves. Our inflatable kayaks were a big hit on the beach especially for those more mature and less adventurous( not willing to try to paddle board).  Full of new friends and great memories Tom gave the direction. Start the engines and we headed to the Keys.

                                    This big guy decided to walk down the beach with everyone else

Downtown Fort Lauderdale

The friendly 2pm poker game

On our way to watch the game on the big screen set up in town

                                         The ball drop in downtown Lauderdale by the Sea

                                       Taking a group of family and friends for a ride down the intercostal

                                                        A little kayaking on the ocean