Made It To Islamorada

We left Key Largo today and headed 20 miles south to Islamorada.  Islamorada was not one of intended stops, but on Saturday, we met Skip and Barbara at Gilberts Bar who have a slip off Snake Creek and offered it to us to stay until Wednesday.  At first we were a bit hesitant, but then heard the winds were kicking up so we thought why not.  We contacted them and the offer still stood, so we are docked in the Venetian Shores neighborhood until Wednesday morning.  We are so grateful for their hospitality!  We hope we can pay it forward to someone else soon.  They also own a rental property in Venetian Shores, so it anyone is looking for a place to stay when visiting us next year that might be an option.  They are on Air bnb 109 Venetian Blvd.

We pulled up and it is just what I thought a neighborhood in the Keys would look like.  Tons of pastel colors, crazy architecture styles, and canals with boats in the rear yards..... so cool!  I couldn't stop taking pictures. 

Barbara gave us a ton of restaurant/bar options so we thought we would check out two for lunch/drinks.  The first was Hog Heaven... great food/drinks and the waterfront bar/dining area was like nothing we have seen before.  The French fries were outstanding.  The other place was Island Grill.  Both places allowed boat dockage so that might be in our future.

When we walked back to the boat, I decided to go for a walk and take house photos.  I have a ton below.

Then when I got back to the boat, Corp had made friends with our short term boat neighbors, George and Jolene, who also live 5 houses away.  They are from Savannah, GA.  George gave us some great tips on spring lines.

Corp made a much needed maintenance fix to the anchor.  We were not far from loosing it, which would have been a major problem.  Photos below will help show his improvements.  He also rigged our bumpers to serve as a cushion to protect the front of the boat from the concrete wall.  Also a photo below shows what he did.

Wally the iguana sunning himself in the trees right outside our boat.

He is about 4 feet long.

 

Photo shows our anchor pin was ready to come out.

Photos shows where Corp wired the anchor pin so we have nothing to worry about now.

Leaving Key Largo behind.

Ramshorn shoal.  The photo doesn't show the beauty and change of water color in this area.

 

Coming up the narrow canal to Skip and Barbara's slip.

Houses along the canal.

Corp was worried about depth and space until he saw that big fishing boat.

Narrower canal then we are use to.

Loved the open air ground levels.  Check out the large boat in the back.

Love the turret.

Love the color of the house.

 

Love the color of this one too.

My favorite house.

Houses with boat canal.

House across the street from the boat.

Love this seahorse mail box.

Love the shutters on this house.

Check out the ocean in the background.

House across the street from our boat.  Great scenery!

Corp is happy with his bumper rigging. 

No worries the boat will hit the concrete in the front now.

Outdoor patio at Hog Heaven.  I discovered iguanas swim....didn't know that.

Dry dock boat storage amazes me.  Boats stacked three levels high.

More dry dock storage.

Docking at Island Grill.  Makes the docks at Maynard and Fletcher look hugfe.

Hog Heaven.  Check out the plane tail on the left of the photo.

Hog Heaven sign make us laugh.

View of the Snake River from the top of the bridge. 

Our boat is docked in the residential area on the right.

Our boat after its docked.  George and Jolene's boat is in the background.

Streetscape of dock area.