Entering the Florida Keys

For some interesting history of this area click here: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_Biscayne,_Florida

Today was the last day of mega everything, endless cityscapes, and pesky drawbridges.  It's time for some new scenery and different challenges.  Viridian danced on the anchor rode all night as the ever-present wind from the east blew a constant 10 mph.  After bringing up the anchor with a 12 lb. hunk of coral and what was left of an old pair of underwear attached, we turned south once more and sailed into Miami, FL where a fresh new definition of BIG was experienced.  No use pulling out the camera because it would be like throwing a cup of water on a forest fire trying to capture the vastness of this area.  We felt very small as we eased down from Hollywood, FL, past Hollywood Beach, Golden Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, and west of Dodge Island and into the city of Miami, FL.  Virginia Key was our first glimpse of the beginnings of the Florida Keys.  The water became crystal clear and turned that beautiful viridian color we all love.  The horizon opened up to the South and we were able to see the curvature of the earth once more.  Key Biscayne lay off to the east just south of Virginia Key.  Here is where we headed for our anchorage in a place called Hurricane Hole.  To get into this place we had to make sure we were entering on high tide because the entrance would be too shallow for our draft otherwise.  There was only one boat anchored here, and we slipped past it and headed closer to the eastern shore to hide from the winds.  What a beautiful place.  Clear viridian water and a very light breeze made for the perfect spot to spend the night.  A dinghy ride around the area after the sun got lower gave us our first glimpse of the elusive manatee.  We saw two here, but they were pretty shy so we didn't get to see them very long.  The southern tip of Biscayne Key is the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.  Back to Viridian for some fishing and grilling hamburgers for supper then settling in for the evening.  Oh, no bugs either.  Well, that's the news and here are some views.

There weren't any bugs but while we were exploring in the dinghy, George and I saw three 18" iguanas right on someone's back deck!!! They were not in a cage!!! I'm not feeling too comfortable about this and I was reminded that pythons grow down here, too.  In fact, as we ate supper last night, I saw on the news where a state record python was killed in Florida!!!

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here

Today's Passage going south

Bird's Eye

Anyone remember the Miami Vice theme song?  Glad I couldn't otherwise it would be stuck in my head all day.

Miami, FL

 Goodbye mega cities

 Into the viridian waters of the Florida Keys

 Inside Hurricane Hole Anchorage

Areal view of today's anchorage in Hurricane "Hole" Harbor.  

Interesting note: 

Key Biscayne was first developed for coconut cultivation. The earliest mention of coconuts on Key Biscayne is a Spanish account from 1568, although the reference may be to cocoplums rather than coconuts. Mature coconut trees were on Cape Florida by the 1830s, likely grown from coconuts sent from Mexico by Henry Perrine to the first lighthouse keeper, John Dubose.

Some interesting shells to start our collection