TEXAS RANGER: Fort Pierce to Marathon Nov--Feb

     We arrived at Harbour Isle Marina in Fort Pierce on October 26, after a much faster than usual trip from Jacksonville, and settled in for our first winter stop. One of our overnight stops was at Marineland, a marina we had passed on earlier trips but where we had never before stopped. We like Harbour Isle, and have many friends that also spend time at the same location for part of each winter. We retrieved the Element from Jacksonville, as wheels are essential at this location. It groans and rattles like an old man, and I hope it survives until the end of our boating days. I set about working on several optional projects for the boat, performing some routine maintenance issues, and repairing the three items damaged by the lightning strike of the boat adjacent to us at Ortega Landing. One of the projects I completed myself; two others required professional intervention. As is typical of lightning damage, all were "unusual". An extraordinarily talented lady has completely re-done our brightwork, and it looks "better than new"!
     We enjoyed the holidays in Texas with family and friends there, and in mid-January returned to the boat. By February, it was time to move on, and spotting a weather window, we moved south to the Lake Worth anchorage on Feb. 12. This is just north of the President's Palm Beach digs, but we knew we would not try to pass them in the ICW, but move out into the ocean for the next leg of our journey. We departed Lake Worth the next morning about 0330. I had planned to leave early, but not THAT early. Evidently during the night when I reached over to check the time on my el cheapo alarm clock, I inadvertently advanced the time about an hour, and so when the 0400 alarm went off, we got up and prepared to leave. Only as we started the engines did Kay ask why the clock on the microwave showed 0315... Well, since we were up, and could use the time on the other end (we are still on short winter days), we departed anyway, running the first several hours in the ocean before daylight. We were buzzed by a sheriff's department boat with no running lights on somewhere south of the Trump establishment, but he was presumably satisfied we were of no threat and were far enough offshore. He never dropped below about 30mph.
     We passed Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and entered Hawk Channel near Key Biscayne. The travel was ideal, and we did not even run the stabilizers. Running between the reef and the keys, we pushed on, reaching Rodriguez Key just at sunset. It was dark by the time the anchor was down, and we had a beautiful quiet night at anchor with about four sailboats nearby. The following day we traveled on to Marathon, arriving early afternoon on Valentine's Day. It has been 5 1/2 years since we last brought Texas Ranger here, and it is good to be back in this unique marina and town. There are many friends here, and a number of other Krogens. We will hang out here a couple of months, and are certain that we can finally put away all winter clothes. This winter has been much milder in Florida than last year, and we are definitely in the southernmost of Florida's three climate zones. Family will visit while we are here, and we also anticipate a number of side trips up and down the Keys.