We decided that since Bear's back was still not up to par, we would put in at Marathon's Boot Key Marina for a few days and seek medical attention again. That entailed finding an available clinic and for that we also decided to rent a car and do some land based sight seeing and provisioning.
Rather than stopping in at an emergency room we found a public health clinic that takes walk-ins. After answering a five page questionnaire about STD's, sex habits and related young people history we were ushered to a room where we sat for just under three hours. Since we did not have public insurance, this was a cash deal but not as expensive as it would have been at an emergency room.
This did underscore the value of those traveler's air ambulance policies one can procure for overseas travel. Her back is vastly improved today and heck the meds might get her past this ordeal. Sailing can kick you in places you don't realize you have been kicked.
This is a way cool marina. Marathon, being one of the places a sailing vessel may pass from the ICW of the Western side of the Keys to the Atlantic side, it is a crossroad. The harbor may be a thousand acres in size with over 266 mooring buoys, limited anchorage and several marinas. We are staying in the City Marina which manages the mooring field and the limited dock space. In winter, it is very busy with this being a jumping off point to the Bahamas. The field is about half full now. The facilities are complete with the largest dinghy dock we have ever seen and there is yet another one at the end of the channel. Together, we believe they will dock several hundred dinks at the same time. The main building houses a day room with two large screen tv rooms, several wi-fi ports, large tables and a library where cruisers take and leave books. Those aboard that Bear has already read will be left at the library for others. There is even an organized cruisers net every morning at 0900. The net is the place to buy, sell, trade stuff, discuss weather, link up with other boars to "buddy boat" and other stuff related to boating without land transportation. We were here five minutes and some fellow offered us a car to shop. We have heard of the nets but this is the first one along the way. Good stuff.
There is a tizzy in the Keys. Seems some tar balls have washed ashore and that won't sit well on sugar sand beaches. Already, there are volunteer groups formed to stem or repair the spill as it gets to the Keys. Not sure this area has ever seen tar balls. At least it is not slick crude, at least not yet.
We will be here long enough to get our mail. Thanks to Paul, who is kind enough to forward it when we land somewhere long enough, we have still be able to stay in touch with land. This is, in no small way possible because of Paul's efforts. Thanks friend, we owe you big time.
It rained on us yesterday and will do so again today. That is a good thing as it helps wash the sea from the rigging. This week is Bear's week to relax and my week to clean ship. Think we will put the dink in the water and do some exploring. Getting it off the foredeck uncovers our sleeping quarters and forward head hatches-- sunlight below is a good thing.
Our latest equipment acquisition, and one every cruiser should have, is fly swatters. We had one fly aboard for three days, an elusive little green eyed quickie that finally died from old age. At least in some sun conditions they were green. It had the annoying habit of landing on my ear. We hope it did not leave a million or so little legacies aboard. We are now armed which is fair warning to others wanting to sign on.
No comments:
Post a Comment