Keys!!! Part Two — INDEPENDENCE CHRONICLES

Marathon Marina was a dream…great weather, fellow Nordhavn owners to bond with (so great to meet you Jenny and Ted from Southern Star!), a gym, a pool, laundry, great food and fun times. We will definitely be going back. Kappy and Mark Reed joined us at Marathon Marina for the passage north back to Jupiter. After some discussion and research of the upcoming weather we decided to head straight back to Biscayne Bay the following day. We did not anchor out in front of Key Largo on the way north as the winds were coming from a bad direction and it would have been a choppy, noisy night. The trip to Biscayne took about nine hours and was pretty bouncy for the first half as we got into the Gulf Stream to pick up a knot or two. We then came back into Hawk Channel after the majority of the crab/lobster pots were gone and we were tired of being slammed around by the wind and deep chop. It was a beautiful night in front of Miami…their skyline is gorgeous. The next day we played tourist on Key Biscayne, taking the tender to No Name Harbor and walking to the lighthouse and beaches. We then checked out the Yacht Club and town and headed back to The Independence for dinner. Another long day from Miami to Jupiter and happy to get back into the Bluffs Marina. We can not thank Kappy and Mark enough for their great crew skills, setting up a fabulous bar in the boat and all the wonderful dinners and company. We hope you will join us again soon!

Sunset view from our slip at Marathon Marina, FL

Only wishing we had more time to enjoy this pretty pool at Marathon Marina

Independence anchored out in Biscayne Bay as we take the tender to No Name Harbor, Biscayne Key

Seafood Paella, Plantains and grilled Snapper at the No Name Harbor Cafe

Great photo of the Independence with Miami in the background…Photo by Kappy Reed

Early morning views of the Miami skyline while anchored in Biscayne Bay after the rain

Making our way through the Miami shipping channel