Next message: Larry DeMers: "Re: lv-ab: Test"
>
> I have to sadly echo the others here - NYC to Key West trip over
> 2003 winter to spring of 2004. Once south of the Georgia line you
> don't begin to feel so welcome. St Augustine was my first
> awakening to rude water cops of all types and colors. Florida in
> particular seems to have more "police power" agencies than most.
> Hassle's over anchoring time, state registrations, dinghy landing,
> and ridiculous prices has made the Keys low on my future list.
>
> I stayed a month in Key Largo, had to rent a mooring for a month,
> $300 ......
> but a family meeting meant I needed secure anchorage. Don't even
> ask about slip rates.
>
> Marathon harbor was a mess, not a space to be found (of course it
> was really windy - blowing 20-25kts almost daily for 2 months).
>
> Key West harbor / anchorage is exposed to almost all directions.
> A slip was only $1500 a month.
> it's only $10 each way to use the water taxi or you can pay $6/day
> to use the dinghy dock and showers.
>
> I ended up on the Fleming Key city mooring field for $160/mon.
> which included a 1/2 - 3/4 mile dinghy trip to the dinghy
> docks...........then walk over the Garrison bight bridge to where
> the toilets and showers are located about 200 yards or so away.
> The rates were supposed to increase to $225/mon in the summer of 04.
>
> I Lived in Key West from 1971-1973, being stationed at Boca Chica
> Naval Air Station and living alternatively on Key West, Boca Chica
> and Stock Islands. It was a lovely slow spaced shrimping and navy
> town. Over half of Key West proper then was a military base.
> Driving over the 7 mile bridge was a "challenge" if a truck was
> heading your direction. (the old one). But it was a Caribbean
> paced life back then, with hippies, townies, sailors, the odd hari
> krishna groups, we'd gather at Mallory square to watch the sunset
> and listen to music.
>
> Fast forward 30+ years.........Welcome to Hollywood East / Neon
> and crowds, 3-4 cruise ships a day, exorbitant rates for just about
> everything. So only go there if you got lots of money, lots of
> tolerance for being hassled and you love being crowded in with others.
>
> For me, I doubt i'll ever be boating south of Ft. Meyers again
> while in the US, ever.
> The Chesapeake Bay, Carolinas Bays and Rivers, Georgia Bays and
> River, St. Johns River in northern Florida are all great places for
> cruising and hanging out at reasonable prices and friendly folks.
>
> Craig Poole
> m/s Jack B Nimble
>
>
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
