Sombrero Dockside Marina, Marathon, Boot Key Harbour, Florida

Another beautiful warm sunny day in paradise. Took the dinghies out Sisters Creek to the Atlantic side of the Key to a pretty little beach. Had a picnic lunch and walked on the beach. We went with Eddie and Nancy, Scott and Marlene from Nomad met us there. Eddie and Scott tried swimming, actually the water was cool but nice. The rest of us just enjoyed being at the beach. Explored the area on the way back, went down some of the canals and looked at the houses and the boats.
As we entered the harbor on Tuesday, and as we dinghied today, we passed huge radio transmitters with big fences around them and signs saying that is it a US government installation, "Keep Out". We are assuming it is the transmitters for Radio Marti, or Radio Free Cuba, which was established in 1983 by President Reagan, with the mission of fighting communism. The original idea was to try to hasten the fall of Cuban president Fidel Castro. Existing North American broadcasters objected to the plans; they feared that Cuba would retaliate by jamming existing commercial radio broadcasts in Florida, and they were right. Cuba did manage to disrupt US AM radio staion broadcasts in several states. Cuba continues to broadcast interference with US broadcasts directed at Cuba, trying to keep them from being heard in Cuba. The station does broadcast in Spanish, heard by Spanish speakers in the US and probably in Cuba.
Also went by the mooring fields. I can't begin to estimate how many boats are out in the harbour on mooring balls. The rows of boats just go on and on.
Got together with Nancy and Eddie and Scott and Marlene for dinner, nice evening.

Nancy and Eddie heading to the beach

Maybe next time we'll take chairs

Wayne, Marlene and Scott

The dinghies were pulled up on shore when we arrived, the tide has now come in part way. Good thing Eddie brought his dinghy anchor.