18 January 2017 – Marathon – Key West Florida
Today we left Faro Blanco Resort on Marathon at daybreak to begin our final passage to Key West, Florida.
This section required us to go out to the ocean as there is no feasible “inside” route to Key West due to shallow water. As the sun rose, we made our way through the old bridge which has been dismantled in this section to allow passage by sailboats and under the 7 Mile Bridge before turning right to head southwest to the last island of the keys – the most southern point of the United States.
Initially the wind was light and so we motored, carefully picking our way through the minefields of lobster pots.
Halfway through the morning, the wind picked up, clocked around to our port side and we were able to raise the sails, turn off the engine and enjoy the blissful peace of silence as we moved through the water.
The water was a gorgeous turquoise and the day was a total joy sailing with good friends. (Ron’s wife Sandy had arrived two days ago and joined us for a week on the boat.) 
We arrived in Stock Island Village Marina and settled into our slip which will be our home for the next two months.
Now it’s time to explore Key West and rediscover some of our favorite haunts from years past. We have been looking forward to this.