Flying: Boyd's Key West Campground

Yesterday we faced a mild current coming up Tarpon Creek, but it increased to a roar during the night. Fortunately it was back to slack this morning. We broke camp fast and furious to escape the bugs, who left us alone as soon as we were on the water.

We are now horses headed to the barn. We flew over perfect snorkeling near Geiger Key without stopping. We passed families in boats playing on shallow sand bars. Nine weeks of perfecting technique and conditioning came together and we easily sustained four knots.

Our first impression approaching Key West was a bit startling.

We came around Boca Chica, a huge Navy base (with a constant roar of jets but no ships!), to see an industrial area with large storage tanks, towers, and shipping facilities. We tried to stay out of the busy channels, but then became stuck in the shallows. As we approached the campground we passed a floating village of harbor people in derelict boats and filthy water. The RV park is a little compound of white people in ritzy RV park; much less well off people of all colors and backgrounds are outside the gate amid junk yards and businesses with bars on windows. There are also modest homes and apartments, small cafes, and tattoo parlors. We are on Stock Island, just 5-6 miles from the final destination at the other end of Key West.

What will the rest of Key West be like?