[Rhodes22-list] Favorite cruising areas

Bill Effros bill at effros.com
Sat Jun 11 01:10:43 EDT 2005


Joseph,

This is exactly what I need to know!  Thank you.  I've driven through 
the Keys innumerable times over the past 50 years, and watched them (and 
the roads and bridges) change.  I've chartered boats and gone out on 
both the Atlantic and Gulf sides.  I've snorkeled at Pennekamp, and I 
love it.  But I've never put it all together with my own boat, which, 
because our home waters are spectacular, has remained something of a 
home body.

We stay with a friend in Coconut Grove who is within walking distance of 
Dinner Key Marina (Brad--Original base for Pan Am's flying boats--by the 
way, who else has ever had one of those things land ((is that the right 
term in this instance?)) over them while sailing? Scary!) and every time 
we go there I wonder why I didn't bring my boat.

Armed with this additional information, maybe I'll make it this year.  
Everyone else on this list has heard that before, but maybe, just maybe...

Thanks again.  Any other recent experiences with marinas and facilities 
will be appreciated.

Bill Effros

J Cook wrote:

>I have made several trips to the Keys. We go to Brachia Honda State Park, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. We've also been to the Everglades National Park a few times, but with a 16 foot Gheenoe and a 25 foot motor cruiser.  The were all great, but the Everglade is VERY BUGGY during the summer.
>
>If you like to snorkel or scuba, Pennekamp is great.  A nice little marina, moorings and campsites are available. Bahia Honda didn't have official mooring grounds when we were there last, but they do have some nice cabins.  
>
>Reservations at Bahia Honda campground are tough to get.  They start taking reservations a year in advance and, especially for popular dates, they fill up within an hour or two of opening their phone lines in the morning. We haven't had any problem getting into the marina though.  It's tucked back in and very well protected.  
>
>Pennekamp has been less crowded for some reason.  And the coral reefs there are terrific.  We stayed in the marina, but it looked like there were plenty of protected places available for mooring out.  It's been a two years since I've been there, so I would give the park a call concerning rules etc. 
>
>I can't personally say what summer sailing is like down there.  But around Christmas and Easter we enjoyed it.  The weather is usually pretty nice then, but you can hit some rain and cool temps, which we have a time or two, but it was still great.
>
>There are plenty of private parks, marinas etc. but be certain if it is on the Gulf or the Atlantic side.  There are some low bridges and getting from one side to the other may take a little doing.  We especially like the Atlantic side, weather permitting, because clear water is fairly near shore.  On either side, careful navigation is important because of the shallows.  I would love to do more exploring down there myself.
>
>Joseph
>
>   
>
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Bill Effros<mailto:bill at effros.com> 
>  To: The Rhodes 22 mail list<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
>  Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 12:57 PM
>  Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Favorite cruising areas
>
>
>  Joseph,
>
>  My plan to someday trailer down to the Keys has become something of a 
>  bad joke, like the Cubs winning the World Series, still, any information 
>  you could provide would be welcome, and will surely go into my personal FAQ.
>
>  Bill Effros
>
>  J Cook wrote:
>
>  >We're from the Gainesville area. We just pulled our boat out from the St John's River, which is nice during the winter but I don't like it as much during the summer.  She (our boat) spent last hurricane season moored out in the middle of our pasture.  But we may be able to make a run for it this year.  
>  >
>  >We've trailered her to the Keys from here a couple of times.  That's a full day's drive for us. Towing isn't my favorite part of boating, but even if I take it slow and easy, is sure does boost the hull speed.  
>  >
>  >I've just been having fantasies about some cooler weather of late.
>  >
>  >Joseph  
>  >  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  >  From: Robert Quinn<mailto:rjquinn at bellsouth.net<mailto:rjquinn at bellsouth.net>> 
>  >  To: The Rhodes 22 mail list<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>> 
>  >  Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 8:57 PM
>  >  Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Favorite cruising areas
>  >
>  >
>  >  J:  Is this the J from the Pensacola area?  I think you are just running 
>  >  from the storm brewing to the south of us.  Kathy and I were supposed to 
>  >  head down to Marathon today for a week but we cancelled out.
>  >
>  >  Ten Mile, TN looks real nice.
>  >
>  >  Bob and Kathy on the "NoKaOi"
>  >
>  >
>  >  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  >  From: "J Cook" <joscook at msn.com<mailto:joscook at msn.com<mailto:joscook at msn.com<mailto:joscook at msn.com>>>
>  >  To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>>>
>  >  Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 5:39 PM
>  >  Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Favorite cruising areas
>  >
>  >
>  >  Just wondering, what might be some ideas or favorite places for extended 
>  >  vacationing with the R22  that our list members may have.  Maybe some 
>  >  favorite areas with good moorings, throwing in a nice B&B or hotel once in a 
>  >  while and some good restaurants.  It's getting a little warm down here in 
>  >  Florida, and I was thinking about towing up a few degrees to the north.
>  >
>  >  Joseph
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