Another strong norther

The coldest norther of the year is coming through the Florida Keys now. [Wind chills of 27 F in Southwest Florida!] 

Here in Boot Key Harbor, in Marathon: Very choppy. 

Here's what it looked like from our cockpit on a previous calm day - These boats are a combination of abandoned, derelict, or occupied by single guys. Hope their anchors hold or they will end up hitting boats at docks to our right.

Weekend report: 68 degrees here, sunny, wind at 28, gusts to 35. Stronger winds coming. Lots of water banging on the stern of the boat. Wind is pushing water up to this end of Boot Key Harbor. The water level is very high. Tide negligible compared to the surge.

Overnight report (Sunday night): Thump, thump, thump, vibrate, vibrate, vibrate. The quarter berth and stern are taking a beating for 48 hours due to much too strong winds. ARGH!  Hard to sleep with all the noise and bouncing.  And we are spider-webbed into the dock and pelican posts.

Better on Monday, but cold – in the 50s! Ilona went to the Crane Point Nature Reserve and a movie. Bob took a truck ride with the Coppedges to check out some anchorages, down towards Key West on the ocean side.

Then, later for both of us - great sundowners with sailors at Blackfin Marina and Resort, including the crew of sv-Muddy Wench. AND THE WIND IS DOWN. YEAH!!!! It is quiet onboard. NO THUMP, THUMP, THUMP! due to the water pounding on the hull. 

Wind is down at the moment. Did not expect it to drop tonight. Enjoying it immensely. Small but huge changes. But getting cold - we actually have the boat's heater on, and used the electric blanket (!) for a few minutes last night.

We might make a run for Biscayne Bay and Miami, starting on Tuesday if the winds continue dropping and we have the courage to go for it.  Should take us 3 days to get to Miami, assuming lighter winds, moderate waves, and no more idiot boaters.