January 13, 2014 Islamorada; Key Largo 24◦55'.611N 080◦38'.350W

Best Birthday ever.... Of course I say that every year but I mean it every year!

We left the Shark River at 7am and made our way towards  Key Largo to meet up with Sherrie, Randy,  Jim and Sharon. We had to dodge a few crap pots along the way. Crap pots are cage traps  set on the floor of the Gulf. In order for the fisherman to find them again, they hang a small ball at the end of the rope. Sometimes these balls are florescent green or white, but sometimes the balls are dark blue or brown which makes them awfully hard to see. 

Those little white dots are crab pots 

A crab pot ball close up. Note how hard it is to see in a wave

This problem is compounded when sailing directly in the sun. 

Spot the crab pots in this picture 

We managed to make our way here without getting any of these lines into our props.  My day was started with an anchor drag alarm going off at 4am, but it got better after this. The sail over was started with cards and gifts that were sent back with us from home. Cards from the kids, Mom C and Mom and Dad M. Thanks to all of you, they were all very lovely and funny. The rest of the day was punctuated with e-mails from family and friends with B-day wishes which made the day fly by. About 1pm, we got really excited when we heard Jim Sr's voice on the radio and more excited yet when we heard Randy's and Sherrie's voice on the VHF. We were both coming into the same anchorage but from different directions. Seeing their boat coming up on the starbord side was a real treat. We anchored around 3pm and I went for a quick swim in the Florida bay. Salty water in the eyes was not all that great, but the water was just lovely temperature wise.  

After my swim, I grabbed a quick shower and then we all took our dinghies into Islamorada to have dinner at a little restaurant on the beach. Then after dinner drinks on our Lido deck.

Thanks again to all who made my day so very special, I really appreciate it and I love you all.

Nighty night now.    

Jim and Sharon's boat at anchor in Key Largo