Cruising Back to the USA!

It was time to depart Cancun environs and get the boat back to the good ole USA! Danny flew home to spend some time with his fam, and Brads friends David & Mark joined for the grand voyage & comic relief. They left Mexico last Thursday morning and arrived in Key West late Friday afternoon. The seas were horrendous and it was a very rough cruise north. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they pulled into Key West. They had planned to stop at the fort in the dry Tortugas, but the ocean just wasn't cooperating to make the stop worth it. Here's the fray in Key West with a massive Disney cruise ship docked behind them. 

The water in the keys is blue as can be!

Cruising at 12 knots in the keys and über shallow at 5' 9". Typical though! 

The almost 80 degree water temp isn't too shabby though. 

A narrow stretch as Brad navigated their way to dock at a fishing cannery since there wasn't a marina that could accommodate the size of our boat. They tied up at the cannery with no electronic or water provisions. Luckily we can run our own generators and make our own water, so the evening dockage was a welcome stop. 

Their dinner choice in Key Largo. Quite picturesque for that Key. You never know what you'll get there as it's normally just fried food options, but some yummy peel n eat shrimp was a treat Brad tells me. This restaurant is located behind the original Bass Pro Shop & part of it. 

This is a huge Tarpin fish almost 6' long. 

He liked hanging out beside the restaurant so he could enjoy the scraps. 

Brad is prepped for the coming Easter season with his fearless fashion sense. 

This is a screen shot of the fishing cannery where Incognito was docked for the night in Key Largo. As you can see, it was a search through the waterways to even locate it.

Heading to Ft Lauderdale at 17 knots! Not our usual 10-12 cruising speed, but a lunchtime arrival was the name of the game. 

Offshore downtown Miami. 

David, Mark and Brad were met in Ft. Lauderdale by their buddy
Mike and his 30' center console boat. 

He took them on a fabulous tour of the Ft Lauderdale environs and they sure had a ton of FUN!

One of their "fun" stops at the home of Mike's neighbors Dick & Denise. 

Such nice people and I can't wait to meet them on our next trip!

Action at the docks! Here's the boat washer who used a styrofoam float to wash the side of the boat that faces opposite the dock. His use of physics is intoxicating. HA!

Here's our marina neighbor docked next to us. As you can see, somehow the boat moved backwards & the swim step jammed underneath the dock. As the tide kept rising, the front of the boat actually raised up as if it was doing a wheelie. 

The docks here are stationary and not floating as we are used to on the west coast. 

Junior, Mr Z and Bonus Bob departing Incognito en route home.