From: "Jonathan Bickel" papillon31@earthlink.net

Subject: Papillion update

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 15:27:53 ñ0500

N 24ƒ 42.37 W 81ƒ 05.63

Sunday morning finds us sleeping in, mainly because its about 50ƒ outside and its warm in the bed. We have moved to Boot Key Harbor which is located on Vaca Key in Marathon, FL. We left Key Largo and decided to stop over in Islamorada on the way to Marathon. Our stay in Islamorada was not what we expected. The day we arrived a front moved through that night and the anchorage became what we call rough with the winds out of the North (they were forecast out of the Northeast). We were protected from a NE direction but open to the North. So we sat and endured being bounced around for two days before being able to pick up and move again. Shortly after we arrived in Boot Key another cold front moved through and the winds have been blowing 20-25 knots out of the NNW to NE for two days.

The difference being this harbor is well protected and even with these winds there is barely much more than a ripple on the water. Thus Ruby has moved back out to the cockpit to ward off all these creatures flying around. The wind here is actually welcome because the wind generator is working around the clock providing all the power we need.

We will probably be staying put for the foreseeable future. The harbor is crowded and an anchoring spot is hard to find. All the Marina's are full, the moorings are full and the anchorage is full. One of the advantages of having a 31 foot boat is it is a lot easier to find a hole to stick it into. The other great thing about Marathon is you have good shore access. For $60 a month you have use of the Dinghy Dock, laundry, showers, lounge and mail drop. They charge $5 to pump out your holding tank, which is done using a "Honey Barge". There is a bike rack to secure your bike ashore and a grocery, restaurants and shopping is a mile or two from the dinghy dock. So you can see why there are 300+ boats here and it is a popular spot to spend the winter. Key West offers some of the same amenities but does not have an anchorage that is protected from 360ƒ like here in Marathon. I will most likely go to Key West from here before heading back North in the Spring and not have to resettle here.

Check our position and view updated pictures at http://liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/Chartourcourse.html

"Goin where the weather suits my clothes"

Capt Jon & Ruby

View Ruby's page at http://liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/Rubyspage.html