Back in Boot Key Harbor!

From: Tarpon Basin, Key Largo, FL MM 1140.0

To: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL MM 1195

L/L: 24 42.40N 81 05.34W

Distance Traveled: 56.7 miles

Hours Underway: 8.6

Average Speed: 6.6

Weather: Mostly sunny; low 43, high mid 60s (75 in bubble); N wind @ 10 to 15 knots light to moderate chop in the waterway, light chop in Hawk Channel

Comment: After a chilly morning, it warmed up nicely in the bubble. Traveling was easy and we made good time, arriving at the entrance to Sister’s Creek before 1500 hours. We continue to see fish floating on the surface, apparent casualties of the cold water temperature. Today we saw another victim,. This times it was a sea turtle was floating lifelessly on the surface. We have read that turtle rescue centers have had more calls than they can handle and are unable to respond to all of the calls they are receiving. An recent news article explained that the cold temperatures cause the iguanas to lose conscientiousness an fall from the trees on which they are perched.

Even though the high temperature reached the 60s today, we saw people ashore dressed in ski parkas with ear muffs and gloves.