Salty Podcast: Sailing

Salty Podcast #34.5 | BONUS: ⛵️ LIVE from FL Keys - Key West John’s Lower Keys Sail! ⛵️

• Captain Tinsley | Key West John • Season 1 • Episode 34

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Ever dreamt of sailing through the Florida Keys? Join us as we connect with Key West John on his sailboat, White Lady Boy, as he shares his captivating experiences navigating the Lower Keys loop. Learn about his favorite anchorages, the serene spots he retreats to for a peaceful night’s rest, and his ambitious plans to venture from Marathon to Key Largo. John's stories are not just inspirational but packed with practical tips for both seasoned sailors and those new to the waters.

Curious about the liveaboard lifestyle in Marathon? Key West John and Tinsley talk about Safe Harbor Marathon, a haven for liveaboards and transiets. From the camaraderie of the sailing community to the top-notch amenities like laundry, showers, and a saltwater pool, John’s insights are invaluable. Discover the ease of mooring, the beauty of local bay areas, and get to know the best spots for kayaking around Boot Key Harbor, all through Tinsley & Key West John's enthusiastic narrative.

This episode also explores the breathtaking Bahia Honda State Park and the tranquil Picnic Island. Navigate the old railroad bridge with us, tackle the challenges of night sailing, and uncover the hidden gems for a perfect swim. From the bustling main harbor in Marathon to the quieter creeks and mangroves, we discuss the best mooring options, local eateries like Burdine's, and the unique experiences awaiting sailors. Whether you're plotting a continuous journey to Key West or planning stops along Duck Key to Key Largo, this episode is your ultimate guide to an unforgettable nautical adventure in the Florida Keys.

 #SaltyAbandon #SaltyPodcast #Sailing #KeyWestJohn #LowerKeysLoop #SailingAdventures #BoatLife #SailingCommunity #LiveaboardLife #MarinaLife #SailingInTheKeys #OceanJourney #NauticalLife #BoatLovers 

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SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

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Capn Tinsley:

Welcome back to the Salty Podcast bonus, episode 34.5, and we have Key West John in the house. If you dream or already enjoy sailing in the Keys, you're going to love this episode. Key West John's in the middle of his Lower Keys loop on his sailboat. John lives on his boat in Key West Byte Marina and from time to time he sails around and loops the lower keys. We're also going to talk about his plans soon to loop the upper keys, so stay tuned for all the best anchorages and marinas along his route. So let's bring him out. Welcome, key West John on sailing vessel White Lady Boy. I messed that up, didn't I?

Key West John:

Hello, key West. John, coming to you from the Well, I missed that, didn't I? I think we've talked about it before my story about being a looper. You've been to Goodland and we pulled into Goodland one time and people helped us with the lines. Then a guy said are you guys the loopers? I said no, we're the Fletchers. That's where I knew about the course that they did. I just didn't know that the people were called loopers that do it. I'm not that adventurous. So I've developed the lower keys loop that goes up the Atlantic side to Marathon and then back down, maybe on the Gulf side, and trying to expand that to include everything up to Key Largo and maybe even Boca Chita, which is not Chica but Chita, which is northern, and up around Key Biscayne. So that would be a big adventure for me to include the full keys and be a full keys looper.

Capn Tinsley:

OK, well, I appreciate you talking while I get my tech adjusted. I got part of my head disappearing.

Key West John:

OK, well, I know your head's in there, I'll keep talking. So right here, I got your full's in there. I'll keep talking. Right here, I got your full head in there.

Key West John:

So yeah okay, while you're doing tech stuff, you know really welcome anybody's inputs on posts from, say, marathon, doug Key all the way to Key Largo. You know great places to stop, anchorages and things. You know I know the Gulf, the Bayside, gulfside and the coastal waterside have some you know comfortable places to anchor. But the Atlantic you know I've gotten to that point. You and I have talked about it I'm tired of banging around at night in one and two-foot waves, so I like the protected.

Capn Tinsley:

That's no fun.

Key West John:

I know it's just like I like the protected anchorages where you get to like a lake, a. I know it's just like I like the protected anchorages where you get to like a lake Newfound Harbor, around just you know, around Big Pine in that area, it's a really good one. Of course, the Cudjoe Bay is a good one too. All right?

Capn Tinsley:

Well, you want to talk about where you are right now? Right now, I'm in.

Key West John:

Marathon, the first which there's a map of the. I'm staying at the Safe Harbor Marina. They purchased the Marathon Marina and Boat Yard a few years ago.

Capn Tinsley:

Let's show where it is Okay. So there's the seven-mile bridge.

Key West John:

That's where you can take a sailboat under right there. Yeah, it's on the. You know where you pass under the bridge is still three and a half four miles from Marathon, so you know you do have to do a lot of backtracking, but this is on the western end of Marathon. So you get the, you're out here, you get the good sunsets and it's a really nice little place. You're quickly out in the Atlantic.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, this is. I was right here in this marina and it was just straight up sunsets off here to the west.

Key West John:

Right, right it's a good little spot and then they have a really good staff here. The staff is just excellent and you know they kept a lot of the people that were here when they bought them and then they made the normal safe harbor changes. You know some good and some that you don't like, but all in all they've really done well with the place. They've got the floating docks and then I think we talked about you can zoom in right there a little bit to the right of your pointer. That little blue top building is the shower. So, and I'm staying right, not that boat that you see, but right there where the pointer is that's slip no, come back down, Come down right. Not that boat that you see, but right there where the pointer is that slip no, right there, come down one more. And now one more. Now right there, that's slip 10 and uh either 10 or 11.

Key West John:

I like is you know? It's really good because you're just right across from the uh, from the shower system, actually yeah talk about these are new showers right here.

Key West John:

Yeah, they, that's nice because normally you have to walk all the way around here to get to the oh yeah, yeah, if you. Yeah, they've done that little floating uh bathroom shower, uh uh units and it really makes it convenient. Uh, you know, they just opened that one in goodland the last time I was there and and it's so easy, just rather than because that one too, goodland's another long walk if they don't have that.

Capn Tinsley:

So oh yeah, I haven't seen the floating. Or have I seen the?

Key West John:

I don't think you have it's out there, right, uh, you know, like eve I want to say g around the g pier and uh in goodland. So it's really, really convenient to have that so you don't have to walk all the way through that little jungle area. So, but yeah, they're doing a really good job with it and uh and uh, right now they're having the summer 2024 25 discount. You know, now through um, I think it actually goes to october. I don't know how they're doing that a lot, but Marathon is doing it. But anyway, most of us all on that floating dock that you saw, that's where most of the transients will be parked and then over where you were before when we did some maintenance on your boat those are mainly their liver boards are over there. So they're mainly it works out good because they have the fuel docks here. You come in, you get your fuel and then you pull into your slip and you know it's a really nice setup.

Capn Tinsley:

Do they not let you over there anymore? This is where I was about, right?

Key West John:

Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah you can still go over, especially if a hurricane is approaching. They won't let you stay on the fuel docks. So last year I was here for Ian Was that last year or the year before, whatever year Ian was? And I told Dottie I wanted just to stay here rather than going to Key West, which would be closer to Ian. So I stayed here. But she would not let me stay on the floating dock. It's the safe harbor policy and I can understand, because if you get a large enough surge then the dock is up high on the pylons and then it creates more of a force. So I can understand why they don't want you on the floating docks. So I had to move over to the hard docks, but it was nice to stay there and you know I knew the winds were going to be out of the south. But it was nice to stay there and you know I knew the winds were going to be out of the south. So I requested a tie-up that I would be on the north side of the finger.

Capn Tinsley:

That way I'm being blown away from the and not being blown into the finger. So it worked out good. Well, I had a good time at this Marine. I don't know if the same staff is there when I was there Not many years ago.

Key West John:

Yeah, it's a lot's changed. I think one or two are still here that were here then, but but a lot has changed.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah.

Key West John:

But they, they, they have it going good. You know, at first I didn't like it that safe Harbor had taken over, because it was it was a good little family place. But then that's just the way America works.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, so many are being bought out and on one hand, I don't really like everything turning corporate, but on the other hand, Safe Harbor. You know, it's like staying in a Marriott hotel. Yeah exactly it's going to have standards, oh yeah.

Key West John:

Oh, yeah, that yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, that's what I like to say, and so they were pumping the money into it.

Key West John:

At first they were kind of slow on getting some things done, but then now they've redone the laundry room and the showers over there on the main pier, and then of course they added this floating Can't get any closer on this, unfortunately. Yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

But that is where, um, the showers and the laundry are right here. There's a restaurant over here, lazy days. There's a pool, um, and there's some rv slips over here, and then there's a big boat yard. So this place really does have everything. And then there's this dock store right here and there's fuel.

Key West John:

Yeah, right here yeah, and that, that yeah, and that fuel dock's really nice because it's floating as well, and you know, so it really makes it easy.

Capn Tinsley:

It's easy to get in and out of there, even by yourself.

Key West John:

Right, yes.

Capn Tinsley:

So anything else we want to say about this, Marina, Because I'm also going to talk about the fun things to do around there.

Key West John:

Well, the good thing, you know, you got it in the picture there now they still maintain the boatyard and it was really nice because oh look, I'm able to get in there.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, there you are. Yeah, there's the boatyard.

Key West John:

It's really nice and it's right up at the end of that little channel right by all the you pass all the slips. And last year I was here and I needed to change the uh uh valve on my uh inlet for the air conditioner water and, uh, I did a a noontime uh haul out, noontime haul out, for of course it was $178, but it was only for an hour.

Capn Tinsley:

Wow.

Key West John:

Yeah, I would just you know. So they lifted me up, kept me in the sl sling, I changed the valve and right back in. So it was oh nice it was affordable yeah, I mean that was because I've done a lot, as you know, some of my craziness, uh, especially mark helping me and a friend of mine in cudjoe. We've done a lot of these in the water and, uh, you know, done three or four stuffing boxes in the water and, you know, dripless boxes.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, kind of get your adrenaline up, doesn't it? I think I've had enough.

Key West John:

Yeah, I think I've had enough excitement and I just said I want to be able to just relax and you know that changes in the water. If you're prepared and you've got a helper, you know it's fun, it's exciting and it gets it done quickly without having to haul out. But I just last year I said I just want to haul out and they worked. I said okay. So they pulled me out and all the staff went for a lunch break and I stayed in the sling and got it changed and then plopped back in.

Capn Tinsley:

We have Augustus Wright. His name is Goose. He said call me Goose.

Key West John:

So if you've seen top gun, talk to me goose, what's the?

Capn Tinsley:

policy towards? What's the policy towards liverboards there, as goose wants to know?

Key West John:

oh they, they're still, uh, they're still taking liverboards here. I don't, I don't know what the availability is, but they, they, uh, they are are very uh appreciative of liverboards. They, they kind of cater to them.

Capn Tinsley:

Nice. Wow, yeah, people seem to be getting away from liveaboards. That's nice to hear, yeah, not like my neighborhood in Key West.

Key West John:

Yeah, yeah, so, but yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

You're grandfathered in in Key West right.

Key West John:

Great-grandfather, great-grandfather.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah great-grandfather.

Key West John:

They really encourage liveaboards here, and so they have a good liveaboard group here.

Capn Tinsley:

Let me get in here so we can look at some other things here. So we have this. Is that back area? You're way over here. This is the dock store right here.

Key West John:

Right.

Capn Tinsley:

And this is showers and laundry and everything right and I was really happy yeah, I was like right in here, so I was like I could just walk over here and do my laundry it was awesome and go in the restrooms and the showers and everything right and yeah, um, and then back here is the dock store and and that's nice and the people are really nice in there.

Key West John:

Oh yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

And I don't remember what this is over here. What is this? Let's see. Oh those are the apartments and the places you can rent to stay.

Key West John:

Yeah, you can stay in those apartments there.

Capn Tinsley:

There's like one-bedroom suites and everything.

Key West John:

Oh yeah, yeah, I think they have four or five units, six units in there. One other thing to mention to Goose about the liveaboards. I don't know what their rate is, goose, but call, you can find the number. It's easy. You know the Safe Harbor Marathon and ask for Dottie and they can fix you up if they have a big board.

Capn Tinsley:

You heard it here on the Salty Podcast QS John in the house. Okay so, goose, you got that. I want him to comment back. Let's wait for him to comment back. So yeah, so here's. I like this. So if the water's a little rough, I was glad that they had these here in case. You know, I needed to just get off the boat for a little while and get a break.

Key West John:

Yeah, get your laying legs back right.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, get your land legs back right. Yeah, and then over here is the saltwater pool. This is so awesome and I can't wait to come back down here. It's a great place to stay. I may not be able to see it from here, but let me go back.

Key West John:

Yeah, there it is. You have to go through that gate.

Capn Tinsley:

You've got to have a pod to get through the gate even when you on. Okay, so here it is from above, even when you're on the internet oh well, we got it.

Key West John:

Yeah, they won't even let you through without a pod and that's.

Capn Tinsley:

And then here's uh yeah, this is rv parking like. So if you have an rv, you can come down here too. And then here's the road, the road that goes back up to um overseas highway overseas highway.

Key West John:

Yes, I did a lot of bike rides here yeah, you're an easy walk up to a convenience store and several good restaurants.

Capn Tinsley:

Uh, seven mile grill west marines up here too yeah, oh yeah.

Key West John:

It's a half mile down to west marine. I'm getting ready to walk down there. You know, you always got to find a little extra money and go spend it at West Marine. It's the great boat way.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, it's hard to stay out of there, isn't it? Yeah, it is.

Key West John:

So I got one little project.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, so Goose says he's got it Okay.

Key West John:

good, yeah, if he can check with Dottie there, because I don't know what their availability is, but I think he'll really like it here. You've got great I mean the view out there, especially over there where the liveaboards are. You're right on the edge of the Atlantic, looking out the seven-mile bridge and all the openness out there.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, these were nice views. This is a great sunset view and I also would take my kayak out in this little bay area right here, oh yeah, go back.

Key West John:

I think that's what you're looking at Right there. That picture I have that I turned it to the left of the shower room. That goes all back through some backwaters that you can kayak in there and easily and go over.

Capn Tinsley:

There's several restaurants you can kayak to or do I want to go in Boot Key Harbor.

Key West John:

Yeah, yeah, yeah Okay.

Capn Tinsley:

Let's see, let's get this going back, going north, or whatever. Okay so, and so I took some days I was riding my kayak, or some days I was riding in my dinghy and I just went right through here under this bridge, to nowhere, and then you can see all the anchorages.

Key West John:

Here's the anchorages, and then, I'm not sure, keep going, keep going right here, yeah there's a lot of them in the uh, where the, uh, the main harbour and this is all the city. Uh, mooring balls and it's, uh, it's, it's packed out there and it's lined up like streets. You know, they've got them lined up really good yeah, and these are the free anchorages right here.

Capn Tinsley:

These are the people, yeah, and here. So you can even go for free, or you can pay for a mooring ball. There's a price for everyone here. Oh, yeah, and there's even some more places to marinas back in here. And here's the state one right here. Like isn't that right, right, right? Yeah, I think so. Not the state, but the city marina, the city marina, the city marina. Yeah, and it's fun to go and look at all these boats to ride through here.

Key West John:

Yeah, you can see how they're lined up like streets there. Yeah, you can just, you know, ride your dinghy or your boat. Just ride your boat in and out all through there and check it out, and then you can go through there.

Capn Tinsley:

And there's a good beach down here, right here From Brayware Beach. Yep, there it is. So if you want to just like it's a great place to hang out and kayak or take your dinghy, cause that is a little bit of a far kayak, but if you're like me, you like to get out there and just hang out for a few few hours and and tool around, and then there's like another place that I went back in here and on the and I ran aground on my dinghy.

Capn Tinsley:

Oh gosh, back in here but it's fun to explore back here.

Key West John:

Oh look, there's, there's boats back oh, that's, on the edge, something they do up here and we've mentioned it before on one of the other podcasts. If a hurricane is coming, they go back in those little creeks and ram their boat up into the mangroves and tie it off and that's where they ride it out.

Capn Tinsley:

These are tied off.

Key West John:

It looks like the sterns are tied off.

Key West John:

Yeah, they get right up there in those mangroves and they tie them up. Good, that's where they ride the storms out. I don't think I would do it, but it seems to work for a lot of people. Are you drinking again? I'll talk you through your drinking. But yeah, I highly recommend it. Marathons are a good little area to hang out in. Then you're starting to really get into a pretty good sizedsized town. You've got all the conveniences the Publix, any grocery stores, winn-dixie's and all that kind of stuff, and West.

Key West John:

Marine, everything you need. Like I say, this is my northern end. I have been as far as Duck Key is about 10 miles up the road. I highly recommend Duck Key. It's a great, great place as well, and there's a publics that will deliver to your boat. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, you can get it delivered. And you know the one thing the marathon has a really neat taxi system. It used to be like five dollars anywhere on the island, or ten dollars, you know. Now they have little uh stages, so there's like three different prices, but it's just a straight fee, it's not, you know, they don't run a meter. Uh like, if I get picked up to go up to public's it's ten dollars or something like that, and um, or if you go to the airport, it's 12, I think, something like you know. So they, they really have a good system down here now.

Capn Tinsley:

It'd be cheaper than Uber, right?

Key West John:

Yeah, yeah and uh, you know, I don't, I've I've never used Uber up here, so I don't know if they.

Capn Tinsley:

Uh, I think I have.

Key West John:

Okay, so they do have it going on. So, uh, cause I know in Key West taxis and Uber are the same price, so when I'm, I never take my truck to the airport I don't usually. So when I come back in, I take a taxi from the airport because they're sitting out there ready and get to polish up on my Haitian language some.

Key West John:

And I'm really trying to learn that. I'm working with some guys and then, but then leaving, going back to the airport. I usually do Uber because they'll pick up within about a minute or two and you know whereas taxis sometimes take 15 or so.

Capn Tinsley:

Let's talk about this restaurant. You could take your boat there. Burdine's Good point or Burdine's.

Key West John:

Oh, Burdine's Very, very good place. Yeah, you can dingy over there and easily pull up or take your boat. They'll let you park over here or over here, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. That's a very good. Now go up that, that other channel to your left.

Capn Tinsley:

Um, I'm gonna show this first, okay, so this is like you can go upstairs and hang out and watch all the boats go by. It's a festive place. It's a typical keys fun place, right, yeah, yeah, hole in the wall. Oh yeah yeah, the birdhound is really good, I mean right now you can swim over there.

Key West John:

Actually it's the whole Keys fun place Right. Yeah yeah, hole in the wall, oh yeah yeah, the Burr Downs is really good. I mean, right now you can swim over there. Actually, it's so close, but it's just right around the corner from where I am now. You go right to the field dock and take a left and you're almost there Right, and then don't, I know you like, but don't forget Castaways, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been there. So you take one of the little that's right, one of those channels up through there.

Key West John:

Anyway, Cassidy's guy's been there, so he's been on Triple D and the thing that he features is the King of the Jungle Sushi Roll, which is a lionfish yeah, lionfish sushi. And of course, it's extremely expensive because they're not getting as many lionfish as they want to, which is good. Oh, you got Castaways on there and you can also dinghy right there. They have a dinghy dock at Castaways. You just pull right up and tie it right there and just tie it up to the dinghy dock.

Capn Tinsley:

Look, that's another I've gone to all these places and eaten, bought t-shirts I got oh my lord, you know that's always my little easter egg hunt is go out and buy t-shirts from all these places there you go, good plans but, yeah, this is so cool back here oh yeah, I mean you're, you're back and here's where you come up yeah, a lot of uh.

Key West John:

You know lobster is really big here, so you got, you got a lot of that going on and they, they come in, which I, yeah, I was. I came up, uh from um behind honda. Uh, I guess it was yesterday, seemed like two days ago but uh, I'm coming in the channels. You know it was low tide so I had to. If it's low tide, you got to stay um on, the opposite of what you normally do. You've got to hang to the greens, because toward the reds low tide is very shallow, so hang toward the greens.

Capn Tinsley:

What are we talking about again?

Key West John:

Coming in from into the fuel dock. I was talking about the lobster business, so nothing's going on. I called Rick at the dock and I said, hey, I'm coming in for fuel to not do gravity. Yeah, nobody's going on. So as soon as I start coming in and I'm doing what you're not supposed to do, I'm hanging on the left side of the channel coming in, because that's the deeper water and it's right at low tide and it was a super low, and so now look back.

Capn Tinsley:

Are we talking about? Where are we talking about? I'm sorry, I got lost. Pull your go to the left. We're talking about this, marina.

Key West John:

Yeah, coming in yesterday to the fuel dock in the channel right there, that channel.

Capn Tinsley:

Right here.

Key West John:

Yeah, if it's low tide, hang toward the green. It gets kind of embarrassing if you're meeting people and they're like what the hell are you doing on this side? Well, okay, I'm just trying to stay in the deep water.

Capn Tinsley:

I see it right there.

Key West John:

Yeah, on the red side it is very shallow and so at low tide you've got to watch it.

Capn Tinsley:

I'm going to hang right over here.

Key West John:

Yeah. So then I'm coming in and I say, okay, it's no problem, I'll hang on the green, it's not the right way. Then all of a lobster boats are right behind me and I'm like gosh man. So I have to use my best haitian language. I have to tell them that I'm going to the fuel dock. I'm going to hang back and let you pass, because I've got to go up here. I've got to go spin around in this narrow little area there to to tie up, you know, for the fuel dock. So anyway, I pulled over to the side and they all zipped on through and and anyway, Well, you heard it right here.

Capn Tinsley:

This is how you handle low tide right Coming into Safe Harbor Marathon.

Key West John:

Stay toward the green on low tide.

Capn Tinsley:

Before we leave Marathon, I want to also point out that there is a up here a diesel engine Diesel place. Yeah, I'm trying to remember what it is. It's like Marathon Diesel or something. It's like somewhere along this road or something.

Key West John:

Yeah, there's a lot of maintenance facilities there and they'll have some pretty good parts inventories. I found some Yanmar parts there that I didn't expect to find.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, it's somewhere. Where is it? It's like on the road to Castaways, Like I rode my bike down here or something Right there next to that white building.

Key West John:

Which white building?

Capn Tinsley:

It's in there somewhere. Yeah, it's somewhere in in here, but it's real close to the marina. So if you need a part there, it is Marathon Diesel Repair Right here.

Key West John:

They have a pretty good inventory.

Capn Tinsley:

I had to go in there. Of course, if you have a boat, you're always having to know where parts are.

Key West John:

Oh yeah, you better have a parts supplier ready.

Capn Tinsley:

Here it is marathon diesel repair yeah, yeah I think the guy who came and and did whatever he did and I can't remember what what he did came from this place, right here but I've also been in there to buy parts yeah, yeah, it was some guy.

Key West John:

you and me tried to fix that Something to do with the fuel filter.

Capn Tinsley:

No, the fuel something.

Key West John:

Yeah, I forgot what it was. He finally came over. I just remember that we threw the towel in on it, or something like that.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, I was having to bleed the lines or something. I remember a couple of times I called you and you walked me through it. I was about to go under the seven mile bridge and it just yeah, yeah, and you walked me through it.

Key West John:

I felt like a. I felt like a boss because I did it myself. Yeah, that's good.

Capn Tinsley:

I tell you, I had just gone 18 hours from marco, so I was pretty proud of myself um, okay, you're, you're getting the hang of it. Good, pretty proud of myself. Um, okay, you're, you're getting the hang of it. Good, he was john. Walk me through it.

Key West John:

So where did okay, so before this you were at bahia honda, correct? Yeah, that's well, yeah that you know backtracking. So before I came here was a honda and great, great uh state park. I mean really really well done. You can stay there for two2 a foot the marina. They probably can tie up 18 or 19 boats and you know, it's just a circular type marina with all side ties, so you'll like that. But it's really really well done. A great concessions place and they're super nice people with great, great prices $2 a foot.

Key West John:

Let's see, let's go back to.

Capn Tinsley:

Bahia, honda State Park. I went there the first time last year.

Key West John:

You get to do the fun, exciting thing Come through the old railroad bridge that has a cutout in it.

Capn Tinsley:

There we go.

Key West John:

You got a good picture of it there and, uh, you know which?

Key West John:

is, and you did it at night and there's no lights we talked about it because it's great in the daytime, but I had to do it three times at night and now finally, uh, I finally figured out I'm gonna you know, I've got that full vimini top I'm gonna just collapse the front half if I have to come through there at night again, because it is insane to look over the edge. Get your flashlight out, make sure you're going through the gap, because if you don't hit the gap you're hitting old steel railroad bridge. But yeah, bahia Honda, help me find it.

Capn Tinsley:

I can't find it on here for some reason. Oh, right here, you're pretty close, is it right here?

Key West John:

Yeah, and then there you can probably see the little white line is the old railroad bridge, oh, over here.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, there it is.

Key West John:

There's the gap, there's the gap.

Capn Tinsley:

And I went through there, but I made sure I went through the day.

Key West John:

Yeah. Oh yeah, daytime, Then you come right over Then when you go in the, and it was good, I checked it the other day.

Capn Tinsley:

Right, here I was going in.

Key West John:

Yeah, I was going in the inlet at low tide and you still had about five feet of water going in at low tide right there through the little cut. See the little small cut. You've got rocks on both sides and you've got to just stay right in the middle.

Capn Tinsley:

The first time I went through, I was a little intimidated, but everything went well.

Key West John:

Especially at night, it's even more intimidating, and this is my favorite place.

Capn Tinsley:

This is where I parked right here, and you said that's your favorite place.

Key West John:

That's slip one. That's ideal because it's an easy walk right over to the Gulf Beach and easy walk to everything.

Capn Tinsley:

And so let's back it up and show the route so you come in.

Key West John:

I guess the channels over here, yeah, you gotta stay, See all that shallow water Before you go east. Leaving there you've got to go way out to go around the shallow water.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, we're not looking at a chart.

Key West John:

So we're just. You can see the light color there. You can see the bottom right there Right.

Capn Tinsley:

And this is the old railroad trestle, right, right, and here's your cutout and that's where we come through. This is the new overseas highway, this is the old one. So you come through and you try not to come at night because not lit Like. So you come through and you try not to come at night because not lit like QS.

Key West John:

John did Gosh, don't do it.

Capn Tinsley:

Three times was enough. I can't believe you did that. And then you come in here and there's all this space and when I was there there was no hardly anybody there.

Key West John:

Yeah, on big holiday weekends Memorial Day it might get packed and hard to get in. Now the RV parks are usually hard to get in and the campgrounds, but usually you can get a boat spot and it really makes it nice and they are just super, super nice and helpful.

Capn Tinsley:

We could see by ground. Here there's the beach.

Key West John:

Yep, there's the Gulfside Beach and you know they have the Atlantic Side Beach there as well. You can walk across the street and go over there.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, and I like the fact that I was by myself. I'm not a scaredy cat or anything, but they locked down this park at night.

Key West John:

Oh, it's very well behaved. Very well behaved, yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

No alcohol.

Key West John:

It's just really well done.

Capn Tinsley:

I lost it. Where is it?

Key West John:

John, it's 10 or 12 miles from you're getting close. It's 10 or 12 miles from here in Marathon, so it's a nice little easy, you know, trip you know down there or up from there.

Capn Tinsley:

Yes, so this park, the gates are locked and there are park rangers in here.

Key West John:

Right.

Capn Tinsley:

And it's very safe. I mean most marinas I stay at are safe, but you never know.

Key West John:

The most dangerous thing in this one is what I showed you the picture of the other day which I think you have. Let's see if I can show.

Capn Tinsley:

Oh yeah, I'll show that. I'm trying to show the little store here we go. Here's the store.

Key West John:

They have snacks, oh great sandwiches, ice cream and Just about anything.

Capn Tinsley:

Do they have alcohol? Do they have any beer or anything? No, alcohol is not allowed in the park.

Key West John:

Okay, alright so Goose, talk to me. Goose, do they have alcohol? Do they have?

Capn Tinsley:

any beer or anything. No, no, alcohol is not allowed in the park. Okay, all right. So, goose, talk to me. Goose, between the two of you, what's the best place to stay for a year down there in a marina, as a liveaboard? Restaurants, groceries, all that other stuff. Well, it depends on your budget.

Key West John:

Tiki bars come to mind. A good value. Yeah, I would say, if you want to go all the way to Key West and you spend a lot of time here, is out at Stock Island, at Marina Village, the Perry Hotel in Marina Village. I would suggest that if you want to stay in Key West, it's not that cheap anymore, is it?

Key West John:

No? No, They've gone crazy and they've built a couple other marinas out there, remodeled a couple others, but I would say Stock Island I would first try the Perry, and I think the name of that now is the.

Capn Tinsley:

What about Marathon?

Key West John:

Oh, yeah, yeah. But if you want to come on up, I would say if you're going to come as far as Marathon, because the next really place that you're going to be able to find a liveaboard for a year or two is going to be Marathon area. There's just nothing else along the way.

Capn Tinsley:

Oh true.

Key West John:

Unless you're going to stay in a marina.

Capn Tinsley:

You could probably get in at Stock Island.

Key West John:

It's going to cost you.

Capn Tinsley:

And they charge nightly for using the amenities and parking. It just depends on what your budget is.

Key West John:

But it's got lots of amenities. I would first try Stock Island if you want to be all the way in Key West area. But if you just wanted to be in the Keys, I would go for a marathon right here, either here or Far Blanco, and one of those. And there again, I'm not up on the current rates because people always ask me about my rate, but I'm almost embarrassed to say, because it's ridiculous, it's like one-third of what everybody else is paying.

Capn Tinsley:

And he's talking about US because he's grandfathered in as a liberal board. There's no more availability there.

Key West John:

And then of course the other marinas there marina because he's grandfathered in as a little there's no more availability there, so well, and then of course you know, and, and then the other, the other marinas there, the, the galleon a and b and, uh, conch harbor, they're just, you know, way up there, I mean yeah, yeah, and so I I remember faro blanco being more expensive, um, which is in marathons on the on the north side of the road, but I don't know.

Capn Tinsley:

This one might be more expensive now because it's a safe harbor.

Key West John:

Talking, about the one where you are. I don't know what their current prices are. Donnie will be able to fix you up on that and help you, yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

Goose, tell her that you saw it on a podcast. And QS John, who's staying in the marina right now.

Key West John:

And.

Capn Tinsley:

Tinsley.

Key West John:

I don't know if you know who I am. Yeah, give us a free night's stay one time, right.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, exactly Okay, newfound Harbor, Is this it? Oh, let's see.

Key West John:

It doesn't look like it.

Capn Tinsley:

Summerlin Cujo, there's Cujo.

Key West John:

Yeah, you need to go right if you're in Cujo.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay.

Key West John:

Oh, I see, yeah, your way. Okay, yeah, go up to. Yeah, I think zoom in right there A little bit to the right, about one-third to the right.

Capn Tinsley:

Ramrod. It's near Ramrod.

Key West John:

Yep, yep, you're in there.

Capn Tinsley:

Where's that fancy?

Key West John:

place. It's right, you're just about to it.

Capn Tinsley:

Picnic.

Key West John:

Island here we are. Yeah, go down Right there at the end, at the bottom of the screen, in the middle that's Little Palm Island.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, that's that fancy place there Last time.

Key West John:

I was there a few years ago and I have a 30-foot boat and to overnight one night there, $800. Came through here, that's yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

Oh, right in here. Yeah, where is that place?

Key West John:

That's Little Palm Island right there at the end. But I mean it's great, you've got all the amenities, you know if you're staying on a boat.

Capn Tinsley:

This is it right.

Key West John:

Yeah, I think that's. Yeah, that looks like it.

Capn Tinsley:

Well, that looks like an old marina right there looks like it.

Key West John:

Well, that looks like an old marina right there. That looks like a full. Is that the?

Capn Tinsley:

very, yeah, little palm island, it's real expensive oh yeah, yeah it's, it's you gotta be a rich guy to stay there but the uh, but that's still by boat.

Key West John:

Just, you get full use of the island, uh, at the same as the people paying $4,000 and $5,000 a night for the cottages. That doesn't look like it, because that's a little too developed Let me just put it in Little Palm Island.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, here it is Resort and.

Key West John:

Spa. It goes by a different name. The actual island is called. When you look at your maps it might be called something different. But the only way you get there is by boat. Yeah, that's the boat area. That's where you leave from the boat. See where that little marker was? Okay, that's where you'll take the boat. But you can only get out there by ferry and they shuttle out there. So if you have reservations or if you're going out for Sunday brunch, which you know two people can have Sunday brunch for about $2.25, $2.50. And let's see, then you ride out there through that little channel there all the way out to a lot more to the south there.

Capn Tinsley:

I can't find it.

Key West John:

Yeah, it's right there. You're just about there. You're getting very close.

Capn Tinsley:

What should I do Go?

Key West John:

to the left Is the dining room on there.

Capn Tinsley:

Go to the left. Go to the left.

Key West John:

Well, okay. And I think you might have had it. I think that might have been it, the little dark where they had the dining thing there. Let me see Zoom in there a little bit.

Capn Tinsley:

For some reason It'd be million-dollar houses.

Key West John:

Yeah, yeah, I mean it's just all cottages. Let's talk about it.

Capn Tinsley:

Let's talk about the anchorages. This is the most awesome place let's go back where the folks live.

Key West John:

Let me show you.

Capn Tinsley:

Let me first tell where I stayed, because I was going to go up here, because that's where John told me to go. But I started going up there and there were signs everywhere and so I got scared. So somebody else told me to go right in here, so I hung a left right here and then anchored right in this little area.

Capn Tinsley:

right here there's this picnic area. There's a lot of boats hanging out here. Picnic Island. They said oh, the mayor of Picnic Island lives there. There was a barge. They said that's the mayor of Picnic Island.

Key West John:

It's an interesting place.

Capn Tinsley:

I heard they made him leave. Yeah, I don't know what the latest is on that, but I was right here and it was so awesome, like the picture that's in behind me, behind me right now, like this picture that's Picnic Island. I was like, oh my gosh, it was nice and calm. I jumped in the water and I swamam around and it was such a peaceful night.

Capn Tinsley:

But John likes to be up here, which if it was rough this would be a little rougher right there if it was rough, but it was not. But this is where you go.

Key West John:

Oh yes, real sweet. And here's what the channel has some fairly narrow spots, but then it doglegs to the left, coming up to the bridge. Fairly narrow spots, but then it doglegs to the left, coming up to the bridge. So as you're coming in, so I go to the east side of the channel, over on the red side, and you get about right there and you'll still have about five feet of water at low tide. And now all the boats, fishing boats, going to and from. Obviously they're going to do the fastest way, they're going to hang the inside, so they're staying over there close to the other shore, so you don't get that traffic. You know they're still way away from you. You don't get their waves or anything. And then it's an easy little dinghy in under the bridge and then on the left will be that nice little lunch and dinner place, kiki's Great place, and they've got a dock out there.

Capn Tinsley:

You know that you can tie up to um, you know and uh floating dock for your dinghy and it really is a good place there.

Key West John:

So I like that for an anchorage because it's you're far enough inland that it is very, very calm.

Capn Tinsley:

You don't get any crashing so this is, this is kinkies. Yeah, look at that, not kinkies. But kinkies another great hole in the wall. We love those, don't we? Yeah, yeah, that's great.

Key West John:

They have live music every night. There have a stage with live music, so it's really good. Good little place. So yeah, I missed it.

Capn Tinsley:

I didn't do it because I was too far away. I was. I was a scaredy cat, I was, I was was afraid to go because there's signs. What's the deal with the signs? Because there's some low-hanging wires or something.

Key West John:

Well, yeah, the power line is very close to the highway. I've anchored up there really close to it, but they warn you about you know, they call it a restricted area for sailboats because of the power lines. But you've got to get really close to the bridge to be close to them. But obviously they want to have a large margin of error. So I stay back at that little curve and it's about a 20-minute dinghy ride for me, which, by the way, this was the first trip I checked my dinghy out because I had a.

Key West John:

The prop hub was spinning, which I've learned a little bit about that when you hit bottom it can break the prop away from the actual hub and that's why you know you try to you go three miles an hour but if you try to go faster, all it does it's like you're spinning in mud. Well, I changed that out, but I wanted to make sure that I had it on correctly and it went forward. So it did go forward and um but it. But it was good. It's about a 20-minute little dinghy ride in there, but my dinghy was running so good. The other day I was leaving about a one-foot wake. I mean, I couldn't believe it. I was like gosh. I got out of the no-wake zones now.

Capn Tinsley:

So nobody's ever said hey, you're not supposed to be here.

Key West John:

Right yeah, yeah, because I've anchored up really tight in there a couple of times and I've never had FWC anybody, anybody come by and say, oh, you're not supposed to be so how close did you get here?

Key West John:

Oh, I would say probably, you know, three or maybe a quarter mile from the highway. So I was. You know, I got up in there pretty tight, but yeah, I just. But now I just like it because it's uh, there are less bugs out there at the uh, at that little bend there's a red. I forgot what number it is red marker right here, right in here.

Capn Tinsley:

Uh, let's see near these houses here, oh I don't remember houses oh yeah, no, no you got to back down quite a bit.

Key West John:

Yeah, back down some more. Or go down yeah, come on down some more. How?

Capn Tinsley:

about there.

Key West John:

Yeah, I think it's right in there. Yeah, right in there, and yeah, yeah, right there. Okay, that's a good little spot because you're well protected. I mean the be just like a lake and uh yeah, protected from the waves right and from the from the atlantic right here, you got the, you got great protection there.

Key West John:

So, um, yeah, I like this very calm and, uh, like I said, you still keep uh five feet of water even at low tides. So, uh, if you, if you need a little more than that, just stay a little closer to the middle of the channel, but uh, yeah, you'll like that, but anyway, those are, yeah, that's a, that's a good.

Key West John:

I'm a fan. I'm sorry, I'm a fan. Oh, yeah, I mean, it's a newfound harbor is great and uh and come and then, uh, you know, so, coming up from the keys, I you know, you got places. You got cudjoe bay that you can stop in, and then there's one other bay, um, and then you got newfound harbor. Then you have, uh, bahia honda great state park and then marathon, but then from marathon on up north, that's where we got to explore and get some um places.

Capn Tinsley:

Well, I got one question first, so you went from. You went from key west to newfound harbor right, yeah, it takes about six hours. Oh, I thought it was like four, but it's been a while.

Key West John:

Well, if you know, a short cut, it's four, but that's not bad.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, that's not bad, okay. So now we're going to on your way back. Where are you going to go? I?

Key West John:

probably might go all nonstop to Key West. I might stop in Cudjoe Bay, though I non-stop the Key West. I might stop in Cudjoe Bay though I would. I like Cudjoe. It's a great little, nice little channel that comes in and then you're there and you're looking at. You know most of the bay's got five feet of water even at low tide, so you've got to make sure you get in the right spot. But it's a good little area, really good. Where do you go Right? But it's a good little area, really good, all right, where do you go Right in here? Yeah, kind of right out in the middle, toward the east side of it. What's that like? Is it rough? No, no, that is like a lake as well, because it's protected from every direction. So I've never seen more than a three-inch wave there.

Key West John:

Wow, I like that yeah it's great, it's good and the little channel coming in is well marked and it works out okay About right here. Yeah, I think that. Yeah, the channel's right in there. The only bad thing you're going to have tons of fishing boats coming flying by you, so, as you're trying to come in, you know you're getting passed and sacked and hitting some waves, but uh, if it's, if it's a busy time, trashed, yeah, okay.

Capn Tinsley:

So let's, uh, let's talk about um. So you're gonna go home because you have to be somewhere sunday or something.

Key West John:

Yeah, but the next one you're gonna go.

Capn Tinsley:

Where are you gonna go? And you're in a video.

Key West John:

I'd like to. I'd like to go, start going up toward Key Largo. I want to become a full Keys looper and, like I said, I've been to Duck Key After Duck Key. There are great little places that you can ding into. There's Wahoo Island Grill. What's the name of some of those other places? I forgot Several of them, but you're going to be anchored out in the open water of the Atlantic to a great extent.

Key West John:

Right you know, depending on how it is, you know, you can end up spending the night with the one and two foot waves, which a lot of people. They don't mind this, but I, you know, I like the smooth stuff. So I'm actually looking at staying on the Gulf side over on the intercoastal waterway side. Staying on the Gulf side over on the intercoastal waterway side and you can most of these places. You can get tight enough in that you just like you dig under the bridge to Kiki's from the other side. You can dig under the bridge on these places to get to these places. So I might do that part of the loop and try to stay on the Gulf side.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, so you would go under the Marathon Bridge and head north.

Key West John:

Right, yeah, and then there's, you know, there's a.

Capn Tinsley:

As we know, this can get rough too. Remember that when we came back from Everglades. Oh, yeah, yeah, we were beaten into the wind and my boat's not great beating into the wind.

Key West John:

I wonder if anybody has encountered. I mean, we look like we were making ice cream.

Capn Tinsley:

I mean yeah, margaritas, we looked like we were making ice cream.

Key West John:

I mean, yeah, margaritas, I've never seen so much salt in the water. I mean that was when I got into Bahia Honda at 1.30 in the morning because you turned and went to Marathon. I went to Bahia Honda because I had the fuel filter I needed to change and everything on the boat was sticky salty. I had to rinse the boat off, you know, before I could even touch anything. I've never seen that much salt in the water from the spray. So I don't know what the real reason was. Maybe somebody knows, Maybe the Florida Buckeye.

Capn Tinsley:

Sorry, I was muted. You could scoop it off the boat, the salt and make a margarita. I've never seen anything like it.

Key West John:

It was every rail, everything had. I mean, it was unbelievable the amount of salt. I just don't know. I don't know the reason.

Capn Tinsley:

Right.

Key West John:

Normally you got to spray and you can get you having to put your finger on leakage. You can say you know, maybe taste a little salt, but we had large granules of salt.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah. Yeah, and I came in at three, three o'clock in the morning or something at Faro Blanco? Yeah, and I don't think I I was tired, but I didn't hose my boat off like you did, but next day I did.

Key West John:

I mean, I got like two hours of sleep or something oh, I was just. I mean, it was like miserable, I just felt if I couldn't, and I normally like salt water before. That was just unbelievable, so it was hard.

Capn Tinsley:

I was um, I just, you know, I guess island packets are not great beating into waves, and oh really, okay, you're just, you were moving a lot faster. You kind of left me in the dust, but that's fine. But I finally made it, I finally made it and I tied up myself on a side tie. I asked for that. I said, hey, can you give me a side tie, because this is the easiest thing when I'm by myself. And it was late and so I wasn't interested in cleaning off my boat.

Key West John:

I felt so miserable. I just had 1.30 in the morning. I met Bahia Honda hosing the boat down. I was like I don't want to see him do that.

Capn Tinsley:

Well, that's the responsible thing to do.

Key West John:

Before we leave Bahia Honda, show them the pic of that crocodile. I'm sitting on the back of the boat there winding down for the afternoon.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay.

Key West John:

I'd always heard there were crocodiles in Florida and I'd never seen one.

Capn Tinsley:

Let me see if I can get these pictures up here.

Key West John:

But you know, of course we know about the pythons Up in the Everglades and the gators and all that. And now we got the Crocodiles, which a lot of people said, oh yeah, they see them all the time, little black sliver going.

Capn Tinsley:

Let's go back there it is Wait first, tell about this. This is the most important piece of equipment on your boat oh yeah, this is.

Key West John:

This is when I'm real roughing it. Yeah, I'm out there living off the land here. You know, I'm a pioneer. I feel like a real, real pioneer guy, you know well, why didn't you use your keurig?

Capn Tinsley:

I'm just curious curious.

Key West John:

Well, you know, if I use a Keurig, my inverter will you know. Run it, you know, but then you drain the batteries a little bit and then I hate to have to crank up the generator just to brew a cup of coffee. So I thought, okay, I'm going to be like a real live off the land person and I got the, turned on the propane and got the little.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, I've got one of those too I've got, but I don't bring it with me. Yeah, it was fun.

Key West John:

The bad thing is, though, when you, when you do that, it heats up the cabin tremendously, because you've got this.

Capn Tinsley:

And it's not the best tasting coffee. It doesn't make the best.

Key West John:

You don't like it? Oh, I like it, it's really good.

Capn Tinsley:

But oh, I like it, it's really good, it's strong, but I'll drink it because you know I have to have coffee.

Key West John:

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, what is this right here? Is that Little Palm?

Key West John:

That's a picture of Little Palm Island.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay.

Key West John:

That's a fancy place. Yeah, and they had to. That thing was, if I'd taken a picture of the over to the left, you can see how the vegetation was after Irma and it was just almost destroyed. And they and they had to. I forgot how many millions they spent just replanting everything and building the place back up and but, as I alluded to earlier, you know it's 800 a night. That was last. That was five years ago. I took the boat there and it was 800 a night.

Capn Tinsley:

It's amazing you actually paid that.

Key West John:

Those cottages, which are great. They're down on the water a little bit individual, individual cottages. They're $4,000 to $5,000, $6,000 a night for the cottages. So you're better off $800 a night on a boat and you get all the use of the island just like you were in one of the cottages.

Capn Tinsley:

Or you're better off just right where you were.

Key West John:

Yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

Free.

Key West John:

Okay, goose is talking here.

Capn Tinsley:

Goose is propane. French press Pete's major Dickinson blend Kick back and relax with the sunrise. He's ready, isn't?

Key West John:

he, yeah, goose. I have had Pete's Dickinson blend before and it's really good. But yeah, that's right. Yeah, I try to get rough it a little, I guess, but I get pretty lazy.

Capn Tinsley:

So Goose had an IP370 and he was asking me this morning on social media what I thought of the 320, and I highly recommend it because I believe it is a nice compromise between a day sailor and a cruiser.

Key West John:

Yeah, that's right, that would probably be a good description. Yeah, that's probably a good description, it really is.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, and here we got an alligator. Is it an alligator or a crocodile?

Key West John:

No, it's not an alligator, that's a crocodile.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay.

Key West John:

And then this is.

Capn Tinsley:

Safe Harbor. Yeah, some better pictures.

Key West John:

Okay, yeah, that's my boat and then looking down toward the. Okay, here's the floating. That's my boat.

Capn Tinsley:

And then looking down toward the fuel dock.

Key West John:

Here's White Lady. Yeah, oh, and White Lady is a banjo maker, so sometimes it takes some explaining. It's not a racial thing I know, but it's not spelled W-H-Y-T-E-L-A-Y-D-I-E. And it's a maker of a banjo, and here's his boat.

Capn Tinsley:

Tell us what it is, tell us about the boat. It's a.

Key West John:

Hunter 306. And I have to if there's. I wish I could talk to the engineers for this boat Because you know, you've heard me talk about it it is so comfortable and easy to work on for a 30-foot boat. It is comfortable and easy to work on for a 30 foot boat. It is amazing. I mean I can do everything without have on that boat, without having to do boat yoga. I mean it's just so easy to get to everything. I've even I've even changed the engine mounts, uh, on the boat, while all I did was sit down, um, in air conditioning and change engine mounts. It's just so easy to get to everything and that. So it's a I really have for a 30 foot boat. It's really well designed. So thank you.

Key West John:

Hunter Engineer, which are wherever you are.

Capn Tinsley:

Okay, gus Goose, if you prefer to go that route.

Key West John:

you know, and here's the showers that you were talking about, the floating showers right, yeah, I think so, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, there, it is okay, I see it now.

Capn Tinsley:

okay, I had a little glare I mean, you are right there now. Is that a bathroom?

Key West John:

or is it just? Showers oh yeah, they have bathroom showers and uh no laundry facilities. They still have to go to the uh main part to get the other side okay but, uh, I like, I love that you always request either slip 10 or slip 11 and uh okay it's so convenient here's where you go to to get hauled out right there, yeah yeah, very, very nice.

Key West John:

I mean good equipment. They keep that yard so clean and, like I said, I did that quick haul out with that, kept me in the slings and uh changed the valve right these are the units that are. No, no, that's, that's lazy days. Oh, it's built like that with little armors like that on each one. But yeah, that's the open air, uh, outdoor side of the lazy days, and okay, gust this is asking where we sorry I was confusing you Goose we went back to Safe Harbor.

Capn Tinsley:

Marina. This is the Safe Harbor Marathon and I've stayed there before. It was Safe Harbor. So I can attest to this. I've stayed there probably a couple times. I'll be back and I loved it. It's got everything that you need here.

Key West John:

Yeah, it's very convenient and it's nice and easy walk to about anything. I'm about to walk to West Marine. I found a couple of hundred.

Key West John:

Yeah, I know I found a couple of hundred this morning that I didn't know I had, so I go. I'll go to West Marine. That's the way it works, but anyway, I'm trying to expand if any ideas people have for places to stop along the way it works. But um, but anyway, yeah, I'm trying to expand if any ideas people have for places to stop along the way up from uh marathon to key largo and uh, because I really, really want to become a full keys looper, I mean when I come down there this fall, maybe I'll do it with you all, right, um.

Capn Tinsley:

so goose says I'm liking it, that's a good place to stay. Hey Goose, where are you? I can't figure out. He was on there talking on the last two podcasts and he knew a lot about the West Coast, so that makes me think he's on the West Coast.

Key West John:

West Coast of Florida or West Coast of California.

Capn Tinsley:

No West Coast of the United States. He knew about Cabo, he knew about, he knew about, like, um, cabo or um, he knew about the West Coast, uh, of the United States and he seemed to know about the West Coast of Mexico. He was talking about the cartel and things to look out for. So this is the third time he's come on, so he he was offering some really good information. Um, so tell me again. Let's see, I'm going to read your texts. You said that these are the places you're looking at for your North Loop.

Key West John:

Yeah, there's Wahoos, there's Island Grill.

Capn Tinsley:

Where are?

Key West John:

those, of course Snappers. Snappers is a good place, easy to get into. I just want to find but all those places you can get to, but you got to anchor out there in the open Atlantic. There's no place to really get that good. Newfound harbor, cudjoe, key and those kind of places where you can get protected water oh goodness. Newfound Harbor, cudjoe Key and those kind of places where you can get protected water, oh goodness he's learning how to walk again.

Capn Tinsley:

Oh my gosh, did you have an accident Goose? I guess so.

Key West John:

Is that what he's saying that's what I'm getting out of it he's trying to get back into it now.

Capn Tinsley:

We're glad to have you here, Goose. I'm glad you show up here because you've got good insights. I'll be happy when you get back on a boat. That'd be great. Oh yeah, tell us a little more about that. When you told me the first time I went to Key Largo, you recommended the Pilot House, marina, and I really liked that. Yeah, pilot House is good. I was sitting in my boat and the band was rocking.

Key West John:

And Del Mar is good up there, but Pilot House, I think Pilot House has the better reviews. So, yeah, once I get to Key Largo, I got you know a couple of places to choose there. I just wanted to, you know, have some stop along the way where you can just pull in and anchor overnight.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, yeah, he says, me too can't wait, yeah, I guess I guess he got hurt and, um, this is awesome, gotta have a goal, goose hang in there, goose, and talk to me.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, talk to me, goose um, but yeah, let's talk about pilot house. I got a lot. I came in there, okay, east coast in the winter, six o'clock it's like a blanket drops down like a curtain, it's dark, oh, and I went in the wrong canal and I went back in there and I was like, okay, this is not the right place. So I had to turn around back there next to all the big yachts. I was kind of nervous, came out and I called on the radio, just couldn't. I didn't know where that um, where that canal was. I was kind of I was much newer and somebody answered on the vhf and um, somebody that was in a house right there by the correct local knowledge local knowledge.

Capn Tinsley:

He kind of talked me through it. He goes watch out for this, watch out for that wall, watch out for the jetties, whatever.

Key West John:

And I got back in there and, um, it's very protected at the pilot house and very festive, like the music was rocking, oh yeah it's a happening place there, yeah, so, um, if you want to look quieter, I think go up to uh del mar, whatever that's uh, okay, that one, then you know which is just. That is probably where you were headed before you when you missed the turn. You were headed toward del mar. Yeah, I'm living at the moment day by day. Hang in there, keep getting each day going goose.

Capn Tinsley:

How long do you think it'll be before you're on your feet? Tell us that. Yeah well, you can meet us down there, we'll. Uh, well, he'll. He'll be on white lady and I'll be on White Lady and I'll be on Salty Abandon.

Key West John:

Yeah, if you get to Key West, right at the brewery at E-Dock, Echo 8.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, he's on E-Dock at Key West by and it's right in front of the brewery. What's the full name of that? Again, waterfront Brewery, waterfront Brewery. Yeah, so even if you go by plane or something or car, you can look up Key West. John, I'm in Gulf Shores in Orange Beach, alabama. But yeah, stay in touch, just keep coming and maybe we'll encourage you enough to get on your feet soon. Maybe we can help with that. Right, john? Right, yep, keep going. Whatever's happened?

Key West John:

just one encourage you enough to to get on your feet soon. Maybe we can help with that. Right, right, john, right, yep, keep going, whatever whatever's happened, just you know, one day at a time right I've, you know, my, my sister had an auto accident three months ago and she's going through same thing with physical therapy and everything, and trying to get a little bit stronger each day yeah, you've been, uh, you've been helping her a lot lately, oh, I wasn't sure what that full story was.

Capn Tinsley:

You just like oh, I'm helping her, I'm helping her.

Key West John:

This, I didn't know I'm just, you know, I I have, I'm kind of an overseer, uh, because sadly both of her sons have already passed away. So I'm the only one left.

Key West John:

So, uh, so it was finally she's, you know, really good and stable now and, uh, and, and back home, and so that's why I said I got to take me a week long cruise around the Keys and just get out, and it's been so nice you and me, we've been looking for a window to go to the drive-thru too, because this has been great, I mean, it's just been like a lake everywhere.

Capn Tinsley:

Well, when do you think you'll be able to do the Upper Keys?

Key West John:

Probably sometime in September, maybe October, oh, maybe when I'm there, yeah, yeah, so we'll try to time it together. So work out good.

Capn Tinsley:

So I wish I could just go like this Boom and the boat's there.

Key West John:

If you can, if you can take a three day nap, you can, you know, yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

I need day nap, you can, you know? Yeah, I need to take a mechanic with me across the gulf in case something goes wrong. That's the only thing I I have no problem going across, but if something breaks, well, we've talked it before you know.

Key West John:

So we've told the story you know several times about you. And uh, you know, scotty, changing a uh alternator belt out the water out in the middle of the gulf, so it can be done. John talked us through it on our in-reach explorer. Actually, we texted through it on the yeah through emails.

Capn Tinsley:

Text. He says getting old is not for wimps. I know that much now. But you guys are right on. Got to have a goal or it's time to hang up your spurs. Yeah, but you guys are right on Got to have a goal or it's time to hang up your spurs.

Key West John:

Yeah, well, I'm way up there, goose, so just keep trying to catch me, okay? I've got a pretty good lead on you, probably, but yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

I like that though.

Key West John:

Getting old is not for wimps. It is not. That's so cool. I try to be very careful, move slowly. I don't want to slip on anything, because you lose your mobility and, as goose can testify the way it really puts the whammy on you.

Capn Tinsley:

So uh, you're hanging that goose.

Key West John:

Just, whatever you're going through, just keep trying to get stronger and as what my sister's doing they the doctor friend of mine. She refers to it as recondition. You know she's deconditioned through her accident. Now you have to recondition and that's the hard part because you got to get. You got to get some muscle mass going.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, even when I, when I had my broke my ankle a few years ago, in two weeks my because I wasn't on my feet, I was non-weight-bearing for nine weeks. My calf turned into a flapping mess and I've never had. I was like what happened? He said what do you call it? When the muscles Atrophy. Yeah, atrophy. I said in two weeks he goes. Yeah, it's fast.

Key West John:

Oh yeah.

Capn Tinsley:

But he says but it'll come back, It'll come back.

Key West John:

Yeah. Yeah, and it did and it did. Yeah, I can testify, they did, it did.

Capn Tinsley:

All right, so we're going to probably end this now, but we need to talk about when you come back on. We need to talk about exactly where you're going to stay, so we'll put it up on the screen.

Key West John:

So, september, yeah, I hope to include way on up the line there. So we'll see what we can come up with.

Capn Tinsley:

I'll be looking for some places too. That's always fun A little Easter egg hunt.

Key West John:

It's great to get out the mountains, you know, scout out the things, like I say after Duck Key, I just don't have any ideas until we get to Key Largo, but I don't want to make that long a trail. I'd really have a good place to stop halfway along the way for a night.

Capn Tinsley:

Yeah, there's no reason to go for 10 hours if you don't have to. You know Right, yeah, yeah, so anyway thanks for I remember correctly, that's how long it takes to go from Marathon to Key West, if you go straight.

Key West John:

It's all there. Yeah, if you can get, if you can get a little wind, which I'm not supposed to have, but if you get a little wind, you can make it in about eight.

Capn Tinsley:

Otherwise, it's going to be about 10.

Key West John:

Just keep looking at the shoreline and going, but anyway, thanks for the. Saturday morning outing.

Capn Tinsley:

All right, I appreciate you coming on. This was fun. We'll do it again.

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