An afternoon swim at the key West Harbour Yacht Club and I took a few minutes to take some pictures of the boats in the channel between Boca Chica and Stock Island, where I was standing.
I learned to sail on the fractious and complex waters of Coastal California on Monterey Bay, a place of strong winds, extremely deep waters and very large swells and waves. Every time I left the Santa Cruz Harbor on my sailboat it was to head out into the face of large swells and northeast winds sweeping down the coast at twenty miles an hour or more. 
I always craved warm waters, never finding much pleasure in sailing in 55 degree salt water that had made it's way south from Alaska. Anchoring in a relatively quite cove did not mean one could go swimming unless one was a polar bear. I had a girlfriend for whom swimming was an imperative and in the way that one does I learned to put a brave face on my dislike of freezing cold water, but when the relationship ended so did my swims off the boat. 
To live in a place where one can go boating in a t-shirt and not shiver, in waters so calm one can stand up in kayak and not lose one's life. That is bliss.
My boat has had it's Spring service and the evenings are longer before darkness falls. All of which means that it's swimming season in the Lower Keys.
To have had access to a heated pool during the winter was excellent. To have access to a heated ocean in summer is equally fine.
A neighbor of mine asked me if I ever use my boat. All summer long I replied. All summer long.
I learned to sail on the fractious and complex waters of Coastal California on Monterey Bay, a place of strong winds, extremely deep waters and very large swells and waves. Every time I left the Santa Cruz Harbor on my sailboat it was to head out into the face of large swells and northeast winds sweeping down the coast at twenty miles an hour or more. 
I always craved warm waters, never finding much pleasure in sailing in 55 degree salt water that had made it's way south from Alaska. Anchoring in a relatively quite cove did not mean one could go swimming unless one was a polar bear. I had a girlfriend for whom swimming was an imperative and in the way that one does I learned to put a brave face on my dislike of freezing cold water, but when the relationship ended so did my swims off the boat. 
To live in a place where one can go boating in a t-shirt and not shiver, in waters so calm one can stand up in kayak and not lose one's life. That is bliss. 
My boat has had it's Spring service and the evenings are longer before darkness falls. All of which means that it's swimming season in the Lower Keys. 
To have had access to a heated pool during the winter was excellent. To have access to a heated ocean in summer is equally fine. 
A neighbor of mine asked me if I ever use my boat. All summer long I replied. All summer long.
3 comments:
This is one of your essays, where after reading, I wonder why I still live in San Diego.
While I can't imagine not living near the coast, I haven't been in the water in about four years. It's too damn cold. My dog loves it though.
As a guy who motored through Boca Chica channel a couple weeks ago (jet-ski tour, at no-wake speed mind you), I can agree with you wholeheartedly. It is nice, smooth, warm waters with lots to see.
Thanks for reminding me of this great little channel.
There are parts I miss of California, friends, trwity roads and lots of them. But...
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