January 15 We left the Anchor Lite after restoring order in our bags and packed the boat well from the convenient lower step of the dock off which it had been tied. Marinas and docks in general in these parts are all built with the assumption that the boats to be received have at least three feet of freeboard. We have six inches and, of course, a rigger that sticks out a foot beyond the gunwale, not to mention the oar that reaches another six and a half. We are able to ship the oars before getting out as long as we are careful.

We started out going through Fat Deer Key Harbor and picked our way through some small bridges to a wonderful canal headed East through mangroves and well protected from the wind. Here I took a rest while the boat lay quietly in the calm. We ate a lunch of Damien Wraps, soft tortillas wrapped around some cheese and peanut butter, Capri Sun dragon fruit juice and cookies. Leaving this canal we hugged the shore of Grassy Key to avoid the wind but an unfavorable tide held us back. We made it to Duck Key by about 4:00 with little energy left to attempt to cross the windy channel to Long Key. This would have to be done in the morning. We found ourselves in the harbor of the Hawk’s Cay Resort, a luxurious island of condos and a first class hotel with several restaurants, conference facilities, spa and every tropical amenity imaginable. This would be a fantastic spot for a TOTO sales meeting I thought! There were no other options on Duck Key. I parked the boat at the kayaking center dock and left Heather to go to the hotel office to see what I might negotiate. After being told at the front desk that their least expensive room was $250.00, I asked if I might speak with the manager. I was shown to the executive office where a pleasant secretary said I could speak with Tom Cherniavsky, the general manager. On briefly explaining our plight and a little about what we were doing, he said he would allow us to stay at their employee rate. Still a bit steep for our budget, I went to explain our options (There was only one.) to Heather who had been talking to a wonderful character named Remy who had already figured out that we would be staying and had called for someone to help get our bags out of the boat and persuaded the kayak concessionaire to let us leave the boat tied up to the end of his float. By the time we got back to the hotel with our baggage on a golf cart driven by a distinguished Dusty who seemed to be a retired fellow enjoying a second stress free career, Tom had gone for the day. I returned to the office where I was put on the phone with an assistant to whom I explained our plight and cause all over again. She asked me to go to the front desk and by the time I reached it she had called and asked the registration clerk to give us a rate that turned out to be even better. So we checked into a beautiful room, took showers and went out to dinner in a style I doubt will be matched on the rest of the trip. The staff of this resort was as well trained and pleasant as any I have seen in all of my travels. To take in two tired and weathered travelers who happened to land on their well manicured shores was an act of great charity that will never be forgotten. If anyone is looking for a luxury tropical vacation site, Hawk’s Cay Resort is the place!