This is the odyssey of Bryce and Helen to Key West aboard Dragon Lady during the fall of 2021. Dragon Lady is a 40 foot blue water ketch sailboat made in Finland.
We left Safe Harbor Marathon at 8:00 under sunny, warm skies. We spent the better part of the day motor-sailing in the Hawk Channel about two miles off the coast of the Keys. The wind was mild but we were beating into it and dealing with 2-3 foot seas on the beam, which made for a rock and roll ride. At 2:30 we anchored off Tavernier in 7 feet of water. We have opened all the windows and hatches and put up a wind-scoop, so temps inside are reasonable. Now for a glass of wine!
Today was a BAD DAY! As we were leaving the dock at 6:00 this morning, the line on the bottom of the fender that was attached to our boat rail got caught on a cleat on the dock. I tried to pull it free and was tossed overboard along with the boat rail, hitting the dock and breaking the teak rail with my leg. I am writing this from the Carteret Co. ER where I have been X-rayed for two fractured ribs. We are docked at Casper’s Marina in Swansboro where we arrived at 3:30. I insisted that I wanted a nice seafood dinner in town before spending the next several hours waiting in the ER. Such a nasty conclusion to a wonderful trip! Ugh!
Well, we did it! We completed our circumnavigation to Key West and back! Well over 2500 miles- yay! We have mixed feelings today- so pleased that we took one more thing off our bucket list, happy to get back to life on land in Cary, but also sad that we left Key West and friends we made down there. There is always the possibility that we may do this again- who knows!? Now it is time to clean up the boat and take home so much stuff that is part of life- checkbooks, clothes, shoes, books, business files, meds, food, computers, etc. Oh my…what a pile of boxes and bags! Good thing my wonderful brother brought down the Suburban to cart it all home. And “Happy Birthday” today, bro! A girl couldn’t have a better brother!
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