I spend a LOT of time in the “backcountry” in the Lower
Keys, with the Nordic Tug, the 19’ Whaler, and the kayaks. Over the years I have explored a lot of great
places. When I had the Miss Vi, with her
30” draft, I had run the “inside” of the Keys up as far as Long Key, but, I’d
never been above that on the Gulf side, I’d always taken the Atlantic side with
the larger, commercial vessels. This
past week I fixed that!
I knew that I had a few days forecast of unseasonably calm
winds and warm weather, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. So, I packed up the Nordic tug, hooked the tow line to the Whaler, and
headed out.
I knew that the Gulf Stream was close in, and decided I’d go
north on the Stream, and come back through the back. Since the trip was pretty much spontaneous,
however, I changed my mind when the Stream was rolling more than I wanted, and
the wind was blowing harder than forecast.
I headed for Mosier Channel and went under the 7 mile bridge, (63’
vertical clearance) continuing to the north.
Drawing 4’, I had no trouble cutting through between
Marathon and the ICW channel, ducking between Rachel Bank and Marathon. I joined the ICW just north of Grassy Key
Bank, and followed the marked channel to the NE as far as Matecumbe Bight,
where I anchored in excellent holding.
I explored with the Whaler, and found that I could tuck up
into the eastern corner of the Bight with the Nordic Tug if I needed to, (good
info to know on the way back!) It is a
good place to get away from a NE wind, the prevailing winter winds direction in
the Keys. There is a creek through the mangroves, a pretty ride in the Whaler,
to Lignumvitae Channel. I never saw less
than 6’, but the channel is narrow, and the branch overhang would prohibit
taking the trawler through. A right turn
would take you to Robbie’s Marina, and a turn to the left would take you to
Lignumvitae Key.
Lignumvitae Key had three mooring balls that I saw, on the
northwestern side. Shell Key had no
moorings that I saw. (12/12)
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