Day #22: Boca Chita, the picture perfect key during daylight hours, but a living hell after the sun sets. We should have been on edge when everyone cleared out early: the families, the couples, even the crazies. At first we couldn't believe our luck, to only have to share this beautiful place with one other boat. We did notice the crew going below decks at dusk and dogging all the hatches and port lights. In retrospect it's all so obvious, but at the time we were happy and considered ourselves fortunate. Before the sun was even down the attacks started. Quickly we took the cue from our neighbor and shut Nellie up. Vicki in the salon and I in the pilothouse called out each time we made a kill. The count was above three dozen in less than half an hour, and still they came. The 3/8" thick windows bowed inward from the onslaught. To survive the night we'd have to retreat to a smaller and more defensible space--the stateroom. While our retreat was fast we still weren't alone and the blood bath continued. Although it was 90F out we closed even the screened windows hoping to stem the tide. Slowly, and close to midnight, the battle went our way. Hot, but finally alone we went to sleep. We were out of Boca Chita, which would be better named Boca de Mosquita, by 6:45 am.
We're anchored in No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne tonight. It's only 13nm from Boca de Mosquita. We're afraid they'll find us... 359nm into the cruise. DBH.
We're anchored in No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne tonight. It's only 13nm from Boca de Mosquita. We're afraid they'll find us... 359nm into the cruise. DBH.
