Propane, phone calls and dinghy rides

Propane, phone calls and dinghy rides

Monday February 15, 2021

Early this morning Mike called around regarding where we could get our propane tank re-filled.  Strangely enough, Suburban Propane doesn’t deal with small tanks.  They were nice enough to point us in the direction of the Shell station that would.  More amazing, despite it being President’s Day—they were working.  Mike set off by bike.  I took the opportunity to call my sister.  

After the propane and deck washing, Mike came to the realization that we could get our dinghy out from the little wedged-in position between the boats by zipping under the dock (now that the giant power-boat behind had departed).  Putting the outboard on first would mean that we could take dinghy trips!  After lunch we tootled out of the marina and through the Fleming Cut (a bridge much too low for Cotinga).  We noted that the current runs pretty fast through this bridge area causing the water to resemble the Cape Cod Canal.  Not the place to have your engine fail!  Carrying on we went to look at the Garrison Bight Marina.  This is the second town marina in Key West—more on the north side of the island.  We couldn’t get to a dock there because although we could go around Fleming Key and avoid the bridge there are still power lines that are lower than our mast.  The marina does have a mooring field that appeared to be full.  There were also a fair number of boats anchored out there.  

When we got back to the boat, Mike called his niece Suzanne and had a nice chat with her and her husband Mark.  (He wasn’t on the phone nearly as long as I had been!) Right now, Mike is our taking photos.  He took his super big lens (super heavy).  Let’s hope he finds some pleasing shots so that the effort seems worth it. I’m here in the cockpit watching the light fade in the sky and enjoying the cooler part of the day.

Gloria

24 42.220 N, 81 06.131 W

p.s. we just heard from Tasha that this afternoon McKenzie tested positive for coronavirus. Since arriving back from Florida she had been busy preparing for a NOLS canoe trip on the Rio Grand that she is scheduled to instruct imminently. Then after a tiring two day ride down she started to feel rough with a sore throat. The positive result puts her involvement in the canoe trip in jeopardy, not to mention her health. Tasha has also been feeling a little off and will get tested tomorrow. Her canyoneering trip in Utah at the end of February is also now uncertain. We'll keep you posted.

It wasn't a great sunset but nice to catch the clouds lit up as the charter sail boat heads north

A cuban bar / restaurant near Mallory Square ... it was quite busy but most of the people walking through disappear during the very long exposure (~20 s)

The Cuban bar / restaurant

A gift shop near Mallory Square

There was a band playing at the bar / restaurant and people starting to dance in the street

An outdoor courtyard for dining

The Appledore Star, one of the many charter sailboats. The blurring of the bowsprit and foresail is not lack of focus but motion as the boat rocked gently during the long exposure