Day 27, 28, and 29

 This morning we got up and after coffee headed over to Ocean Reef to check in to see if there really was reciprocity with the Charleston Yacht Club. We had to putter up pumpkin Creek because it was very windy offshore and we were unable to go out Angel Fish Creek into the ocean and down to the entrance to the Ocean Reef. It was a beautiful ride through mangroves, a little narrow Creek  We actually saw a large snake. We think it was poisonous. We don't think it was a python but it wouldn't let us pet it anyway. Finally got to Ocean Reef.  We're amazed at the marina there. Massive yachts everywhere but no sailboats. We were able to find later that a 50-ft slip in the marina, just the slip, was $3,500,000. We checked in at the membership desk  Unfortunately discovered that there really wasn't any reciprocity with the Charleston Yacht Club unless we were staying at the inn. Unfortunately that meant that Florence'seafood buffet/ birthday party was off. The dock master allowed us to tie up the dinghy for a couple hours so we could look around and buy groceries. 

 We spent the night at anchor. We were up first thing and headed down to Key Largo. We had initially hoped to stay in Tarpon Basin but discovered there was no shore access from there. After eating lunch we pulled the anchor and moved on to Butternut Sound. There are multiple accesses to the shore here including a restaurant called Snooks which allows you to tie at the dingy dock if you get a meal there. Thank goodness we were able to have a very nice birthday celebration for Florence that included a wonderful seafood platter, a coconut filled drink, and of course key lime pie with a candle. Everyone in the restaurant sang Happy Birthday to her. I think we thoroughly embarrassed her which of course is par for the course on your birthday.

We have really enjoyed this Anchorage and were able to go grocery shopping the next day and also hit a drugstore and the dive shop. We've also been able to check into some scuba diving with organizations that go out of Marina del Mar. We're looking forward to doing some of that in the next day or so.