From the marketing pictures of the marina we picked, it said it was oceanfront- NOT! When I called the marina earlier to get directions all we got was turn at the red lighted buoy- we found that and didn't know where to go next- it was scary and pitch black- Steve kept calling channel 16- the Coast Guard channel- and was saying "Hey I need a little help here! I don't know where to go!!!" I was begging that he just drop anchor because I read that there were areas with rocks and also areas that gave no warning that were really shallow.There were no lighted directional lights showing where to come in the inlet ike there usually were.
We didn't know we would be
going into an inlet because I thought it was on the main channel! Anyway, someone- I think it was a fisherman on one of the boats-said "turn to the right you're about to run aground" Then we didn't hear anymore, Then "turn at the unlit red post!"- It's pitch black- you can't see the red marker (really- how much would it cost to put a light on it so no-one crashes???)
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| Red light that marked the inlet!!!! |
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Peoples houses in the tight channel-dark
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I ran down and got the flashlight and was trying to see the red marker and almost blinded Steve because of the glare of the light reflecting against the dodger- Steve was yelling turn off the !*!!** light I can't see anything!!! Of course then someone came back on the line- he told us to look for the tiny light out in the distance next to a house- which we barely saw. He told us that there was the "channel" we were supposed to go for- he said "stay to the right- theres a jetty to the left- the opening was not even big enough for two boats to pass- I figured this couldn't be where we were supposed to go- when we were about 20 yards away we could make out the rocks. I never have been spacealy(sp?) oriented and figured we would be scraping both sides if the rocks didn't cut the bottom of the boat. Steve made it through but it really looked like this wasn't right- this was a residential area- kind of like going down the little canals on Balboa Island- right Bobbi???
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| rock jetty- unlit!!! |
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| that is the inlet we had to come into last night |
We had the lights from people's pool and porch lights to guide us.. and felt lost.
The Harbor Master of the marina we were staying in called and said "just take a hard left up ahead." Then hung up- we went up the channel and it ended!!
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| looked like a dead end!! |
We called him back and he said that was the right place- there was a 90 degree turn called "crash alley". You couldn't see it- anyway Steve made the tightest turn and came into the narrowest channel with huge boats on either side- you have to call ahead because two regular sized boats couldn't pass.
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| hard left at "Crash Corner" |
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| Pilings on "dead end" we weren't the only ones that almost crashed!!! |
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| Piling at crash corner w/a giant hunk out of it! |
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| tight channel to the marina- it was even more crowded with huge fishing boats the night before |
By the light of the occasional Tiki Bar Steve was able to make it to the tiny slip....and then he had to turn around and BACK IN. With no help at the dock.... but he made it!!! I was freaked out and he was exhilarated!!! He definitely earned his Master Captain's license that night! There was something wonderful at the hotel connected with the marina......a jacuzzi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twice!!
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| small dock Steve had to squeeze into- backwards-in the dark!! |
The pictures aren't nearly as dramatic because you can actually see them in the day time but you get the idea!!!! Next Islamorada!!!!!! Can't believe we made it!!!
