Quest on the Loop: Boco Chita Key, FL

We pulled our anchor this morning at 8:30 a.m. and followed Moor $tuff out of this beautiful anchorage. The bottom was sand and grass so we did have to wash down the anchor as it came up on the windlass. Our destination today was South Beach in Miami which would have been a trip of about 50 miles. Barb called and made reservations for us for tonight at $3.50 per foot dockage and additional charge for electric. Looks like this is what we can expect for the next few days until we leave Florida for the Bahamas. We got an e-mail from friends Greg & Barb on GonCruzen who are at Riviera Beach, FL and plan to cross to the Bahamas next Monday. We hope t

o catch them there.

As we were coming across Blackwater Sound we started hearing the conversation of 2 other loopers that had left the day before us. Carlton & Becky Moore on Seamoore and Jim & Brenda Hampton on Dream Catcher, who were planning on going into Boco Chita Key for the night.

Skip & I talked about the possibility of changing our destination for the sa

me place and after some discussion decided to go for it and are we glad. Boco Chita Key is part of the Biscayne National Parks located just 15 miles south east of Miami. It was originally a private island owned by the Honeywell Family that developed the heating controls. Story goes that he had lavish parties on the island and even had a circus come in to entertain his guests. He built the light house so he could guide his guest into the harbor but the Coast Guard removed the light just one night after he turned in on because it was on the wrong side of the island for ocean traffic and was not high enough as well. This island is only a few hundred yards wide and we can actually see Biscayne Bay over our bow

and the Atlantic Ocean from the stern. Honeywell sold the island in the 30's.

The entrance to the harbor goes in right past the light house then a starboard turn into the harbor where they say 30 boats can stay, however tonight we have 12 tied to the seawall with room for 4 or 5 more. I suppose they could anchor but it would be close.

After the light house picture we have 3 shots from the Atlantic side of the island. The beach is absolutely loaded with all kind of sea shells and that has created another passion for my creative bride. She plans to hit the beach again tomorrow morning before we decide to leave to get what wouldn't fit in her pockets the first trip.