Bahia Honda State Park or BUST!!!

Since Donnie and Greg helped Dan and Biddi out on their boat by repairing their leaky stateroom window, they wanted to treat us with a day on their powerboat.  Biddi and the Beast is only three feet longer than Marquesa (she's a 37'), but she is huge!  It's like a tri-level home.  In fact, it has been their home for the last three years, as they 'sold out' and are permanent live-aboards like many are in this marina.  Dan and Biddi are from Louisville, KY, and they are great people.  We love having them as our neighbors.  Since they are such a beam-y (wide) boat parked in front of us, it really cuts down on any rocking motion from the Gulf if the wind is out of the north.  Most days here it steadily blows between 10-20 knots...perfect for sailing.  Let me tell you, it was a real treat to spend the day with them.

The plan was to motor down to Bahia Honda State Park for some swimming, snorkeling, and hiking on the trails.  (Not all of those things were accomplished as you will soon discover.)  We have admired this park for many years as we pass it on the way to Key West.  It has a beautiful little harbor, a campground, two swimming beaches, and the original railroad trestle that ran down to Key West.  A break in the trestle provides an opening for sailors to pass through into the harbor.  Otherwise, it is easily accessible for power boaters from either the Gulf or Atlantic side.

So, Biddi offered to make snacks for the trip down.  Wanetta and I brought all the fixin's to introduce them to hobos on the grill, and Don (and his son Justin) offered to bring drinks and dessert.  Don comes down to Banana Bay from New Jersey each year for about seven weeks.  He trailer's his 26' MacGregor power/sailer.  We had a few of those at the Muncie Sail Club back home.  It is so bizarre to see a sailboat planing off at about 20mph zooming across the Gulf!  Don's wife, Sandy, had to return to work a few days before, and Don and Justin were pulling out early Sunday morning, so this was their last big hurrah trip before heading home.  His son, Justin, was on spring break like Elliebug.  I think that pretty well explains it all...it's important to set the stage on everybody and everything before I launch in to all the pics.  You'll see why.....

Here's Cap'n Dan at the helm of Biddi and the Beast, heading out of the
marina in just three feet of water- yikes!  Loved his big monitor for
watching the charts...very nice.

Here's me and my BFF, doing our very best to be bow babes.
(or "Bow Bunnies" as Dan calls it :) 

Ellie is in the cat-bird seat, up on the bowsprit!

"I'm the queen of the world!"

As we were entering the harbor, preparing to set anchor.  This schooner
was carrying a group of boy scouts who were on a spring break
sailing trip, earning their badges for various things- cool.

The first issue was Dan's dinghy motor would not start for love nor pete.
So that left Donnie, who volunteered to paddle...and this shows you
how far it was to the beach!  The current was also screaming through
the bridges from the Gulf side to the Atlantic side, and we darn near
ended up on the rocks or out to sea on our way to Cuba!  And for all the
people, gear, and crap we were carrying, it was multiple trips.



After the first near-disaster, the boys got smarter and paddled like
they were rafting, with Donnie and Greg both paddling up front.
Here's the last group coming ashore.  Let the party begin!



Wanetta and I made hobos for everyone, and Greg's job was on the grill.
(Note the gallon jug in the forefront beside Wanetta, this is significant)

Greg asked for a timer for the hobos; they cook for twelve minutes on
each side.  Dan's alarm on his phone is a rooster...I HATE roosters!!!
I would kill him if I had to wake up to that every morning...true story.

Okay, so the gallon was Don's contribution...it contained "voodoo juice"
which was a blend of several types of rum, orange juice, pineapple
juice, and grenandine.  In a word, about 50% alcohol. 
The party was in full swing, and people were getting tuned up!

SOMEBODY (who shall remain nameless) was getting grafitti'ed!

The beaches, the water, was absolutely gorgeous.  The pictures
don't do the colors justice.  The girl is gorgeous, too :)

Elliebug and I took a walk on the old railroad bridge...

Greetings from Bahia Honda State Park!!! Looks just like a  postcard.
The view of the Atlantic side from the bridge.
Meet my new screen saver :)



And the view looking out on the harbor on the Gulf side from the bridge.
See Dan and Biddi's boat?



And looking out over the end of the bridge. You can see
the break where you enter into the harbor from the Atlantic.

Another post card view of the harbor and park from the bridge...notice
that Dan's boat is the only one left in the harbor... it was getting late in the day.
The boys were having too much fun with the voodoo juice!

A view of part of our group as we head out for the return trip on
the dinghy back out to the boat.  We had to walk the boat way up the
beach to catch the current and float back to the boat.  That was the
plan anyhow.  Ellie was not looking so convinced, as the paddlers
were well into their cups at this point...the gallon jug was empty.

The kids and I made it safely back to the boat, but this is how the
boys travelled back. Yes, that is Dan's big, white, a** you see...  BOYS!

Yep, they had a good time, for sure.  Greg and Donnie were
soaked from the boys in the back splashing them as they paddled.

Our soused Cap'n was playing peek-a-boo through the companionway
with Ellie bug...she's like, "Yeah, I see ya', shouldn't you be driving the boat?!"

Donnie's trying to get some mardi gras beads
from the Cap'n until I made him get off the bowsprit.
He was feeling no pain here.

"I can't see that damn red line on the map!"

...as we pounded into the waves coming home!

"No worries, I've got it all under control!"

Ellie and I had the perfect view of the setting sun fron the stern deck.

Justin and Elliebug...it was getting chilly as the sun started to set.

The view of Marquesa from his top deck as we came in to the marina.

And I don't know how Cap'n Dan did it in his inebriated state of mind,
but he brought that big wide boat into a small marina, turned it around
on a dime, and eased her right into the slip in front of us...WASTED!

"Tah-dah!"  Cap'n Dan says he always parks the boat
better after he's been drinking, otherwise he wouldn't
have the nerve!

and we got back in time to see another glorious sunset!

We were all starving, so the gang all walked to the Conch Cafe
for a late night dinner...the snapper and mahi-mahi was fabulous!
Whew!!!  What a day!!!