Following Navigator
March 3, 2025 Tonight we sit in Ft Pierce City Marina where we end the first chapter of our journey. According to our Garmin Chartplotter we have travelled 1260 miles since leaving Gulf Shores Alabama on January 6th. From Ft Pierce will will return to Maine for a few weeks leaving Navigator tied up nice and snug and secure. In 6 hours since we have arrived at the marina we have already met about a dozen people on boats around us or who work here that will keep an eye on her while we are gone.
Just a couple nights ago Molly asked Liz if she was looking forward to going home. I sat back wondering what she would say. Her reply was 'Not really. Sure it will be nice to have a change and get home for a bit, but this last 50 days has been wonderful! - and there is so much more we can do'.
We are incredibly lucky. Navigator has been capable and safe. We have negotiated the weather, a few breakdowns, and managed to keep up with groceries, water, fuel and getting pumped out. And we have seen some incredible sights. Just this afternoon as I washed Navigator's decks I spotted a manatee snoozing off our bow. We are glad to be getting a break - and we will take this opportunity to adjust our goals - but we are definitely looking forward to more.
Several of you have asked for some maps showing our journey to date, so here are some. The blue lines show our path from Gulf Shores Alabama to our present position in Ft Pierce. The red stars indicate the begining at Gulf Shores and the end at Ft Pierce. The anchor symbols show where we spent one or more nights.
The Path So Far
The first phase was the 785 miles from Gulf Shores to Key West down the Gulf coast and past the Everglades to the Keys. Our journey down the Gulf coast was characteried by cold and overcast weather and by the constant reminder of Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Ian and Michael. We didn't see much of the sun until Marco Island, when suddenly the temperatures were in the mid 80's. We arrived in Key West on February 3rd, 28 days into the journey. For the next month we had almost continuous great weather.
The second phase was the side trip to Dry Tortugas - a goal that we had hoped to acheive - but one we knew was really a long shot. We needed an ideal weather window - and that weather appeared just when we needed it. Seventy miles out across open water (an 8 hour day), a day at the National Park, and then a third day to return. Just how long a shot was demonstrated by the weather a week later when there was 6 in of rain in 12 hours and 9 foot waves! That would have completely ruled out making it to Dry Tortugas!
The third phase has been getting from Key West to Ft Pierce Florida - about 270 miles. Moving north up the Keys to Key Largo was delightful blend of laid back and friendly. Once we got to Miami, the path has been entirely inside the Intercostal Waterway. This last stretch has been characterized by an overwhelming display of affluence (mansions & yachts) - and by inconsiderate boaters.
Key Largo to Ft Pierce
Here is a list of the cities and or islands we have spent the night at:
Gulf Shores (Alabama)
Ft. Walton (Florida)
Panama City Marina (3 night to repair bow thrustere)
Ice House Marina, Apalachicola
Tarpon Springs City Marina (2 nights after crossing)
Gulfport - St Petersburg (2 nights for Dali Museum)
Punta Blanca (Coyo Costa)
Edison Ford Marina (Ft Myers) (3 nights holding for weather)
Ft Myers Beach
Venice
Esplanade Marina (Marco Island) (3 nights enjoying sunshie)
Panther Key
New Turkey Key
Cape Sable (2 nights enjoying solitude)
Johnston Key
Galleon Marina (Key West) (6 nights enjoying)
Dry Tortugas (2 nights - miniumu stay)
Little Pine Key
No Name Key
Rachel Key, Marathon
Islamorada (3 nights repairing the steering on the tender)
Barnes Sound (2 nights waiting weather)
Elliot Key
No Name Harbor, Key Biscayne
Venetian Marina, Miami (2 nights enjoying city & repairing stern thruster)
Ft Lauderdale
Boca Raton
West Palm Beach
Manatee Pocket, Stuart
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