Quicksilver Sail Tales: Encounter with dolphins

Monday we had our main sail and our head sail out for the 8 to 10 knot wind we had. We were having a nice motor-sail when Jon pointed ahead to the pod of dolphins heading toward us from the south. I get our iPhone camera ready when they decide to stay and play with us for awhile. Well they were squealing and we were squealing and I 'm not sure when I've had so much fun. Jon and I can't talk about it without smiling. There were at least six that we counted and after they twisted and turned in our wake for several minutes, they left us as fast as they came. If you're on face book check my page for the full video. It was a "Flipper nut's" dream. The rest of the trip into Marathon pales to our encounter. And we are tied up to one of the city mooring balls for the next week.

Today as we came into the dingy dock to check out the marina we encountered four manatee. A mom, dad, and two babies. Again you can't get over seeing and interacting with these mammals in the wild(not sure if the dingy dock is the wild...but it's where they were). Again we are like two little kids talking to them and snapping pictures. They are so cute.

We then check out the canals and creeks around the marina. We headed through the creek that leads out to the city beach when Jon spots a sting ray jumping out of the water. I missed it...ugh. Anyway we enjoyed the beach after we emptied the dingy and scrubbed off the scum and barnacles. No more wildlife there, unless you count the older gentleman wearing his speedo.

We ended our day checking out the Dockside Lounge. It's an outdoor bar and grill that we find out is home to the Eric Stone Band (for those landlubbers that is the house band for Latts and Atts Magazine big parties.) Jon swears he saw Bob Bitchin (founder of the magazine) I could swear I saw Chong (as in Cheech and Chong) swilling one of the dollar beers and munching on the free food. This really is paradise!

The dolphins are so amazing