Are you sure we're in Florida?

The weather here has defied the meteorologists' attempts to provide forecasts that are accurate for more than a day or two ahead. Several times they have promised warm temperatures low wind and calm seas in Hawk Channel (not more than 2' waves), and each time the next day the forecast for that day has been revised to what has been the normal weather here for the last week or so: 20-30 mph winds out of the north-northwest, temperatures in the 50s or 60s, 2-5' waves inside the reef (Hawk Channel), rough in the bay, small craft warnings.

On Tuesday it looked like we might be able to go Wednesday or Thursday, so we made preparations and called ahead to Marathon, where we planned to stop for the night on our way to the ICW route (inside the Keys) up the east coast of Florida to the entrance of the Okeechobee Waterway. That is when we learned that no one is moving, everyone is holed up just like us, waiting for a weather window. No moorage in Marathon!

That is when we threw in the towel. Bob and Barbara drove us up to Flamingo yesterday afternoon and we picked up the truck and trailer and returned to the KOA. If you're ever in Marathon and looking for a great lunch, be sure to stop at Keys Fisheries Market and Marina.

This morning I woke up to find the Lori Ann hard on her bottom, with the wind and temperatures just like January in Anacortes. Here are a couple of photos:

Low Tide

Our plan now is to get the boat on the trailer and head up to Punta Gorda where we'll spend some time in Charlotte Harbor and part of the Okeechobee.