The great escape

“Are you a slave to the grind? Do you feel like leaving all behind and embark on a journey that will make you grow? Be one with nature, do you wish to be in tune with your surroundings? I got the solution for you.

Forget about those” adventures” on jail-like ships, surrounded by passengers carrying a stench of menthol and sunblock, enough of those flower-printed shirts and hats. Is that’s your idea of an adventure on the high seas? Well, allow me to erase those boring memories with my proposal.

Let’s do a visualization exercise, picture yourself lying in the sand, a soft breeze blows from the South East. The sound of the tide blends with the snap and crackle of fire, a delicious scent comes from the fresh wahoo fillets that receive a delicate sprinkle of sea salt and freshly grinded pepper. Those are the sights and sounds on my getaway. Does it get any better than this? Yes! it can, let me prove it to you.

Florida, all the way down south, a string of islands stretching about 120 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is that we can address as our backyard. Turquoise and green, with several shades of blue adorned the view on the Florida Keys. This idyllic location is perfect for an adventurer like you and me.”

Making his eyes meet at each one of those gazes in sleek defiance he continues:

“My idea is simple, to sail all around the Florida Keys for a week. No Mallory square crowded sunsets, forget about endless nightcaps at Sloppy Joe’s shinny wooden top. We’re taking about spending a week of sailing and fishing, with only the wind as partner in crime."

The crew consist in three experienced sailors as skippers and three crewmembers, three Hobiecats 16 ft. as our fleet. Can you imagine 6 friends embarking on a voyage of self-discovery so close from home and yet so far away from it all?

Our journey will start at Flamingo FL. The plan is to sail straight to Rabbit Key and spend there our first night under the canopy of stars. If the wind decides to abandon us before reaching our destination, we can always head to Sandy keys and wait for better conditions to departure. According to the chart, the water around Sandy Keys is extremely shallow, with our catamarans, we got plenty of room to maneuver.

Rabbit key offers a quiet secluded anchorage on its north side, it has a small dock where we can sleep away from its muddy soil. Due to the abundance of mangroves, the amount of mosquitoes must be out of this world, my advice, bring plenty of bug repellant.

With the wind on our side, we can put ourselves to work and head to Long key. Inside there’s a State park with a fully functioning marina, I’m sure that we can find a nice place to moor our cats and have a nice rest away from it all if that suits your fancy.

If we continue southwest, Marathon will be our next destination, we could simply spend a couple of days resting in Marathon and then made the journey back to Flamingo. Or why not, keep on going south adding miles to our expedition.

As you can see, there’s plenty to see without sailing into open water. With our vessels is better to keep a low profile and avoid open water sailing. Those boats are ideal for this kind of endeavor, looking at the chart right now, I think it would be better to sail northeast and keep on exploring the inner keys that could be impossible to reach with any other kind of transportation.”

Rising his eyes from the chart he is holding, he continues:

“Dare to cut the noise and embrace solitude. Remember that out there, you might feel alone, but there’s someone who always listen.”

A round of applause was all it could be heard. His audience gave him a standing ovation in frenzied approval.

“Say no more, you got me with the “Dare to cut the noise and embrace solitude.” But I had enough of solitude, what about some female company on such a journey?” Said Roberto, a born and raised Puerto Rican who took a wrong turn in his quest for the American Dream.

Feeling all those eyes staring at him without blinking, Pablo dares to break the silence and answers with drive:

“Sure, we can arrange something if that’s what you crave for.” Spinning around like a dancer with feathers as heels he gets closer to Roberto and merrily adds:

“South Florida has everything your heart’s desire. Tell me, you like them Latinas?”

“No, I prefer a nice “gringa” with blonde hair. Their whiteness needs a bit of my Mokka.”

Everyone cheered with delight, whistling loudly with cheeks inflated to the point to almost burst.

“Say no more, South Florida has it. I know your type, I got tired of seeing them wander alone along the pier. They got a soft spot for young, well-build Latino’s like you. Everybody, take a look at this specimen, 5.8, muscular, the kind that can put any blonde on her toes.”

Another round of applause followed this heartfelt recollection only to be interrupted by the rude sound of the 4:30pm siren. Through the speakers an almost intelligible voice announces:

“Recreation time’s over, back inside.”

They all start to head straight to the gate, Roberto looks at Pablo, gets closer and whispers:

“Tomorrow add a little bit more drama, I got a soft spot for unrequited love.”

“Alright, so be it.”

They both take their place and march towards the Sanitarium gate like partners in crime. There’s nothing like make those poor souls fantasize about what could be done outside the gates of Pilgrim Psychiatric center.”