| Surrounded by Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key, and Ramrod Key is a very beautiful and protected bay called Newfound Harbor. You enter through a narrow and shallow channel by Little Palm Key (the resort at the top). This is a fairly ritzy place. As we passed it a float plane carrying some of the visitors took off. Usually the guests arrive on a beautiful wooden ferry boat. Sneaking around the channel - 3 feet on either side and 7-8 feet in the middle in places (we draw 6.5) we proceeded into the harbor. We passed three sailboats but I wanted to curl around the center bar and park on the other side. As we rounded one marker i got a little distracted and wham! I found a small hill of sand - hard aground. After trying to back off, then kedge off, we gave up and waited for the tide to come in. Luckily we would get another foot around sunset. That's me at the bottom trying to set a kedge - note the dolphin in the foreground - they were everywhere.
When the tide came in we bounced off and went back to where the other sailboats were (doh!). As we anchored, one of the owners came by in a dinghy - Newfound Ed - that's him in the center. No I haven't gone that conch!. Anyway, Ed stayed for a scotch or three and Karen's wonderful lasagne. Ed's a Nam vet and has more stories than anyone I've met yet - delightful guy.
We stayed there for a couple of days, swimming and sunning and reading and bottom cleaning in the current - a little strenuous that. I can't say enough how nice a place this is.
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