1/8 - Marathon, Florida

Boot Key Harbor located on the Atlantic side of Marathon

Seven Mile Bridge (from the Atlantic side). This bridge connects Marathon to the Lower Keys.

Seven Mile Bridge. The bridge on the right is the new highway bridge the one on the left is no longer in use. It was an old railroad bridge that was converted into a highway bridge after the railroad was destroyed in a hurricane.

The island in the center of the picture is Pigeon Key. It was used as a work camp during the construction of the "Overseas Railroad" in the early 1900s.

The wind calmed and the temperature was pleasant, so we took this short opportunity between weather fronts to take "Reflection" out for a ride on the Gulf through the Seven Mile Bridge and into the Atlantic Ocean. The boat had been sitting at the dock for over a month and it was time to "knock the barnacles off the bottom". Upon entering the Gulf we took "Reflection" up to cruising speed (about 15 knots). The water was almost as smooth as glass. We ran the engines up to maximum speed and skipped across the water at over 19 knots. If there was any growth on the bottom, it was gone now.

The sea conditions continued to be absolutely superb as we passed through Seven Mile Bridge heading to the Atlantic side of the island. The water was crystal clear and you could easily see the bottom through 20 feet of water. While heading toward Boot Key we spotted two large sea turtles that dove under the boat as we approached them. Looking out toward Sombrero Light we spotted many fishing or diving boats out near the reef.

We continued on through the Sister's Creek entrance into Marathon's Boot Key Harbor which we toured from north to south, and then returned back through the bridge and the Gulf to our marina. This was a perfect 3 hour tour! (This kind of a day is about as close to Heaven as some of us will get.)