Subject: Jim & Linda Heffernan enjoy Florida Islands as a Midwinters side trip in W2458
----- Original Message -----
From: james Heffernan W2458
Cc: Linda Heffernan
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:50 AM
Subject: W2458 visits Florida Islands after Midwinters

Here is a little write-up about our sailing adventures in Southern Florida showing the flexibility of the Wayfarer.

MORNING STAR VISITS CAYO COSTA AND BIG PINE KEY

With a two week span between the 2010 Wayfarer Midwinters and the George Washington Regatta at the Lake Eustis Sailing Club, Linda and I decided to take W2458 to some warmer parts of Florida.  We soon found out there were no warm spots, comparatively speaking, as Florida was smitten with cold and high winds.  We drove to Pineland Island which has a good ramp and secure parking for $15 a day at the Pineland Marina, where we launched for the six mile sail to Cayo Costa State Park.  



Cayo Costa is a separate island at the southwest end of Charlotte Harbor equipped with great camping and docking facilities.  We however, elected to rent a six bunk cabin which we would share with our kayaking friends who set out from Pineland an hour ahead of us.  We had planned for a two hour sail which would get us to the island well ahead of sunset and in time for transport to the cabin area.



The following east wind soon died and we began to paddle. When the light wind reappeared, it was on our nose and we were still a long way from the park.  As we approached what we thought was the entrance canal Linda once again paddled into the setting sun.



A feeling of dread began to creep into my head as I realized we might be at the wrong place. Soon we confirmed that this was the resident part of the island and not for visitors.  With only 20 minutes to sunset we furiously paddled out toward the Intracoastal Waterway looking for the entrance cove.  As we came around a point marked with a “Watch out for Manatees” sign, we could see anchored vessels and the far off docks of the State Park.  Well after sunset, we sailed up to the docks and tied Morningstar into a snug slip.  Knowing we had missed the last shuttle, we took only what we needed for the night and prepared to hike the .7 miles to the cabin area.  Fortunately we found a ranger to give us a lift on his ATV.   Our cabin mates welcomed us with a bottle of vino and a camp stove meal.



The cabins are sturdy and basic with six bunks , no electricity and a picnic table inside and out for $30 a night.  There are separate bathroom buildings with flush toilets and cold water showers.  Without ambient light, the night sky viewing is fantastic.  This is primitive unspoiled Florida as the natives would have lived.  Being remote, the day tourists are not as much in evidence and there is an abundance of peace and quiet, except for the Osprey living behind our cabin.



There are miles of pristine beaches with an abundance of shells. One visitor collected a beautiful arrangement  in one day and then displayed them on her cabin porch.



Within the State Park there are twelve miles of primitive hiking and biking trails.  Bike rentals are available with a selection of worn out and rusty beach and mountain bikes. This may be the end of the road for old bikes. We mostly had the beach to ourselves except for the shore birds and the Ospreys hunting near the surf.



After three nights, the return sail to the mainland was quick and cool as a strong north wind sent us skipping over the shallows and past the curious porpoises.



With Morningstar safely on her trailer we made the seven hour drive to Big Pine Key where we had rented a cabin at the Old Wooden Bridge fish camp.



This key is the home to the endangered Key Deer, a small species that look like tiny relatives of the Whitetail deer. Of course being protected, they are everywhere, eating anything they want including your lunch if you are careless.  Big Pine Key is also the spot where you can find the elusive No Name Pub, hidden on a back road near No Name Key.  This pub features good grub and thousands of autographed dollar bills hanging from every surface.



The sailing in this area is a little restricted due to low bridges and many shallows.  We mostly sailed near No Name Key, when the wind eased enough to get on the water.



The marina had kayaks for hire allowing us to explore the shallows and mangroves when the wind was too strong for W2458. The cold weather greatly affected the marine life in the Keys and also in the interior lakes.  The buzzards were happy as they consumed many of the decaying fresh and saltwater fish that could not handle the cold.  Even the Moray eels suffered.  As we kayaked and sailed, we did not see the usual small sharks and sting rays in the shallows. Let’s hope they recover with warmer conditions.
----- Original Message -----
To: james Heffernan
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:17 PM

Hi, Jim and Linda:
 
Lovely!! I have posted you with a front-page billing as well. Sounds like an enticing trip - part or all of which I could contemplate emulating soon! Your report is also the first part of Monday's Weekly Whiffle.
 
Thanks for the brightness your report added to my day!!
 
Best regards,
 
Uncle Al  (W3854)