Sail Beausoleil

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We have seen some incredible things along the way, and met some of the most amazing people as well.  Here is a little insight into the trip from Annapolis to St. Augustine, FL.  I hope you enjoy the pic’s.  We love to hear from you, so keep the comments coming.

See you soon!

Well, not me or Shawna, but “Ole Moe“, the resident hammerhead shark in Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys, about 35 miles east of Key West.

We were anchored in the harbor in Bahia Honda, just having taken a dip by diving off the bow pulpit, 8′ above the surface, into the clear blue waters this park is known for. I dove in twice, while Shawna just took a dip off the boarding ladder – the current was running fairly strong then. After our swim, I stayed on deck to inspect our anchor rode, and Shawna went below for a shower. Just another day in paradise…

While kneeling down in the anchor pit at the bow, inspecting the chafe gear protecting our anchor rode, I heard an outboard engine racing, so I looked up just in time to see a fishing skiff with one of the local guides running through the anchorage. His client was on the bow, his fishing rod bent almost in half – he’d hooked a large tarpon. Then, before I could really digest what was going on, a huge upwelling of white water – a miniature maelstrom – surrounded the tarpon. From the center of it, a hammerhead appeared and latched onto the tarpon, yanking it cleanly off the fishing line. It proceeded to flail around, then actually released the tarpon (which could have temporarily escaped on its own, but I doubt it!). The tarpon took off faster than I would have thought possible and passed in front of Gitana, a 45′ schooner anchored in front of us.

The hammerhead followed, along with two sport boats full of spectators with their cameras. As I turned and ran down below to get my camera, I saw over my shoulder the hammerhead lunge and catch the tarpon again. Apparently a hammerhead’s bite isn’t quite as strong as you’d believe, because by the time I returned on deck with my camera, the shark was making another pass for the tarpon. I snapped a quick shot, and then it was all over. Ole Moe lunged one last time, and that’s the last I saw of any struggle. Just ripples in the water to mark what happens again and again throughout time – predator catching prey.

Old Moe is famous around these parts. With all the park visitors here year round – swimmers, boaters, snorklers – I’m sure he just wants to eat his meals in peace.

Well, we scanned, we strained, we squinted – but the atmospheric conditions just were not there for this sunset in Key West. But, no matter – a beautiful sunset can still stir the heart. If more people took the time to contemplate sunsets, there’d be no more wars. I’ll bet there’s a song in there somewhere…

This is what Key West’s famous sunsets look like. No green flash this time, but I’m sure plenty have seen it.

Just a quick note – we’ve been extremely busy since our last posting. We’ve got the watermaker installed and running nicely – no regrets taking a nice long shower anymore! I’ve also been trying to recover my bicycle which was stolen from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove in South Miami. The Miami PD did a great job in recovering it, but trying to get it back from their property unit is, shall we say, a test in overcoming departmental beauracracy at its finest (pun intended!).

We’re currently in Marathon, FL – the central Keys. We made it out to Key West, and are now heading back up north for the summer.

More detailed updates to follow – including one whopper of a shark tale!

EDIT: Ok – today (Sunday, April 26th, 2009) we watched sunset from Marathon, and Shawna and I were discussing whether the legendary green flash was when the lower limb of the sun touches the horizon, or when the upper limb dips below the horizon. Shawna was disappointed when we didn’t see it as the lower limb of the sun kissed the horizon. So as she was reviewing pictures of the sunset on her digital camera, I continued looking. And, sure enough, when the upper limb of the sun dipped below the horizon of the Gulf of Mexico – there it appeared. Live, and in person – the Green Flash! So, my dear readers – the legend is true. There truly is a Green Flash.

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