Marathon Life

We are about half way through our one month stay at Marathon Marina. The weather is cooperating nicely and we are enjoying each day. Steve has done some work on the engine, adding extra zincs to parts of the systems that are exposed to the salt water. Salt water is rough on the metals, even stainless steel rusts in this environment if not well cared for. He flushed both the main and generator engines with fresh water for the duration of our stay for further protection. Hurricane Wilma (2005) did lots of damage to the marinas in Marathon, but most have been rebuilt and are thriving. The Faro Blanco Marina was one of the largest and nicest marinas on the island with accomodations on both the Florida Bay side and in the Boot Key Harbor side of this narrow island. It has not been reopened and here you can see the damage to the docks. This is their signature light house office overlooking Florida Bay.

Right on the main channel into Boot Key Harbor, this Faro Blanco building stands deserted along with rows of empty docks. Seems like it wouldn't take that much to get it up and running again.

There are lots of boatyards and marine related businesses in Marathon. We came across this boat outside of one of them which supposedly was home built in secret in Cuba and carried several refugees across the Caribbean. There's an old wooden Chris Craft right behind it.

The old Seven Mile Bridge is a great bike ride, this is the view looking out the 2.5 mile span.

At the end of the ride, there's a gap and the old bridge continues on the other side, but is not used for anything. The narrow section beneath the roadway is where the trains ran. Can you imagine going 7 miles over water on this narrow tressel in a train? The roadway was placed on top after the rail was no longer used. To the left of the old bridge is the current bridge and you can see where it rises up to a 65' height at Moser Pass. This is where we entered the Atlantic.

The Keys are divided into the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys, running about 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West. Marathon is located about half way down the island chain. We rented a car for two days this week and drove to Key West. Even though it's only 50 miles, it's mostly a two lane road, moderate to heavy traffic and not a quick trip. There's a bus that will take you there for $2 and when we passed the Marathon bus stop, saw friends Tom and Diann (Noah Genda) waiting for the bus, so we pulled over and they hopped in. Here they are pictured in front of the old Customs House in Key West.

The restored building is now a history and art museum, so we toured it to learn more about this fascinating and spirited town. J. Seward Johnson is a renowned Key West sculptor and his life sized sculptures are displayed around and in this building. This one is is based on the Henry Matisse painting "The Dance".

The next day, we drove the other way, toward Key Largo and Miami to visit the Upper Keys. The World Wide Sportsman has the sister ship to Ernest Hemingway's boat "Pilar" on display in the middle of the store. Here's Steve by the helm...

...and here's the boat from the balcony above, among all the tee shirts and fishing gear.

We had to visit Shell World which is kind of like the Agate Store is to a rock hound. Totally touristy, but they had amazing shells in here, made my collection look pretty paltry.

We are busy with social events a couple times a week. Last night, Loopers gathered at the City Marina for Social Hour. There were several Gold Burgee Loopers present who had already completed a Loop and there were two cruising couples who are contemplating doing the Loop, so we gave them all an earful of how great it is. The guy toward the left in the back row left Afton, MN just two days before us, traveling on a newer 39' Mainship and this is the first time we've met him. It's a small world on the Loop some days.