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Apr. 21, 2006 Yesterday we began a voyage from Miami, Florida which is considered the tropical zone to Key West, Florida in the subtropical zone. We took on about 330 gallons of diesel at $2.67 per gallon, topping off is the official term for this, at about 7:30 am from Shoreline Fuel. We backed down the South channel out of Bayshore Landing Marina and turned in the crowded basin as agile as a Mini-Cooper in a football field. We motored past the 85 foot Oceanfast sportfish “Sea Force V” that was previously owned my Greg Norman of PGA fame. Pat the numerous boats tethered in Dinner Key Marina and out toward Dinner Key Channel. The skies were slightly hazy, winds were light from the south-southeast, and the seas were nearly flat calm as we headed out Dinner Key Channel towards Stiltsville Channel and Bug Light for Hawks Channel which takes us along the eastern seaboard toward the Florida Keys. A couple of playful bottle-nosed dolphins swam alongside us and jumped in and out of the waves. A large gooney bird dove into the surf and came back up with a moderately well sized Hound Fish. He tossed his head back in hopes of swallowing the fish whole. He gulped a time or two and the tail was all that remained visible from our vantage point. The third gulp and the large catch was halfway to his stomach. The dolphins dove and surfaced a couple more times before we lost track of their path. At about 9:00 am our captain, Hiram, noticed that there was a slight vibration on our starboard engine that reverberated and shook our bow railing on the same side. He throttled back to neutral and asked me to take a look overboard from the swim platform to see if I might notice anything unusual. I couldn't tell from my vantage point if there was a line caught around the propellers or not. I came back into the aft deck and brought out my brand new snorkeling gear. Hiram donned the mask, slipped out of his shirt and shorts leaving only his skivvies and dove into the emerald green froth. He swam around under the stern and resurfaced to tell us that there was indeed a long black line caught around the propeller on our starboard side. He asked for a knife to cut the line free. We provided him with one and he dove again this time returning with about 50 feet on ¼ inch nylon line. He hopped onto the swim platform. I handed him a fresh towel. He dried off, put on his shorts and came back to the pilothouse to engage the engines. Viola, they spun freely and we were off again on leg one of our adventure. Ten hours later we began our turn into the Boot Key Harbor Channel in Marathon Key. Prior t o landing here we had made reservations to dock for the night. The dock staff leaves at six so we were unsure which slip we were supposed to take. We decided to lay alongside the fuel dock. Gently we came to rest alongside the fuel dock. We tied off the bow and then the stern. Next we added a couple of spring lines to keep us from moving fore or aft. We hooked up the hose to the shore water and tested our pressure water system. We hooked up our two, fifty amp shore power cords and shut down the engines and generators. I took my dog Abu off for a much needed potty break before preparing dinner for her and my cat, Zack. Abu usually hangs around with the people aboard during our voyages while Zack doesn't care for the sound of the engines and rocking of his “house” and thus hides away until we are safely moored for the night. As soon as the coast was clear Zack was out scampering about as if nothing had changed. We washed down the boat. We relaxed for a few moments prior to taking a quick shower and heading up the dock toward the dockside restaurant for a bite to eat ourselves. Enroute we encountered a few of the locals enjoying sunset over a couple of dockside cocktails. A group of Australian tourists stopped us to ask if we would take their picture. We obliged and even took two for good measure. They thanked us profusely. The docks were wide and made entirely of concrete. Their pedestals for power and water were shiny and new. Finger piers were long and the pilings were a good height and fitted with horns to hold your lines above the water. We entered the side door of the restaurant and looked for the hostess station. As was to be expected, the restaurant was filled with tourists. Inside was air-conditioned and noticeably vacant of patrons. Outside along the dock looked like the place to be. The staff was cheery and efficient. They seated us outside under the fading sunset and ceiling fans. Off to our right was a long bar filled with social drinkers swapping tall tales. Once seated we ordered ice waters all around and a cool bottle of chardonnay before mulling over exactly what suited our fancy from their well rounded menu. I settled on the Yellowtail Piccata with a Caesar Salad, Pat has the Shrimp Scampi with their house salad, and Captain Hiram had the Dolphin-not Flipper-sautéed with the house salad. Once sated we ambled back along the dock back toward our vessel. We stopped and looked into the darkened sky trying to make out the Big and Little Dippers. There were no city lights to confuse the glimmering stars and no air traffic to mistake for falling stars or satellites-just a vast blackness punctuated with shimmering diamonds all shining only for us. The perfect end for a perfect day! ------------ About the author: Michelle Malsbury was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. Currently she resides in Florida. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and a Masters Degree in Business Management. Travels have taken her from Europe through the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and across much of the United States. She enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, water-skiing, hiking, bike riding, working out, and fishing as well as reading, music, theater, playing with her two amusing pets (Abu Chez, her 7.5 year old Australian Blue Heeler and Zack, her three year old yellow tabby cat) and writing. "Three Years With Adonis" is the first to be published of several books that she has written. It is now available in all the better bookstores, but can also be found and ordered at Amazon.com, Booksamillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or ordered directly from her web sites, www.3yearswithadonis.com, www.threeyearswithadonis.com, or www.MichelleMalsbury.com. In addition to "Three Years With Adonis", she has authored four other books and three screenplays while continuing to explore all that life hands her. Email Michelle Malsbury: zackywacks@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. 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